02/21/2007

Editorial

Parents' curriculum concerns deserve attention and respect

Memo

To: Gerald Morris, President, Traverse City Area Public Schools Board of Education

Subject: Your attitude

As a gentle reminder, Mr. Morris, the public school system in this community is owned lock, stock and chalkboard by tax-paying residents, many of whom have children in the schools you and other members of the board are overseeing.

The operative word here is overseeing. The school system is no one's private preserve, and the owners have a right to voice their opinions — when and how they want. In short, it is not up to you to summarily dismiss ideas from parents and blow off their efforts to improve the school system they own.

Case in point: Your response to a parental group that would like to see changes made to the mathematics curriculum. (What a concept — parental involvement.)

For purposes of recall, here's what you said in response to a reporter who asked for your thoughts on the subject:

"I think that they're going about this in an inappropriate way. This isn't a process for changing curriculum.”

Inappropriate?

Then, to drive home the point, you opined to the reporter that your curriculum review "process” is being circumvented.

Who cares? These parents are worried that their children's ability to understand basic mathematics is being compromised, that they'll be unable to handle higher math in college and beyond, that they'll fall behind. In short, they think the district's math curriculum has failed them, and they want more.

That seems a bit more meaningful than concerns about "process,” doesn't it?

You pooh-poohed parents' plans to sponsor a community meeting to explain their ideas and garner support and indicated you wouldn't attend such an obvious usurpation of authority. You doubted that other board members or school officials would show up.

Well, the parents held their meeting and talked about what they see as an issue with their children's math studies. It was an informative meeting. Even some students were there. (Imagine that. Parents and students at the same meeting to talk about mathematics.)

You weren't there Monday night, but the superintendent of schools and two members of the school board — Fred Tank and David Barr — were.

To see this from a district that is currently undertaking the biggest and most inclusive self-examination in decades is a puzzlement. The district has spent thousands of hours and thousands of dollars on consultants to talk about the future, but a group of parents worried that their kids are flunking math get the cold shoulder. It doesn't add up.

In short, you need an attitude adjustment.

(P.S.: This is going into your permanent record.)