A surprising grade for Arlene Ackerman: C
by Helen Gym on Jun 02 2009
Superintendent Ackerman
It's not a poll, but it is a surprise to hear about lukewarm enthusiasm for Philadelphia Schools Chief Arlene Ackerman's one year anniversary.
The Daily News surveyed a diverse crew of a dozen "education watchers" on Dr. Ackerman's first year at the helm of our schools - whose anniversary is officially today. Participants were asked to grade Dr. Ackerman in each of six areas: school safety, government relations, community relations, vision, finances, and school improvement.
The overall result? Five C's and one B (for finances).
For the record, I was one of the education watchers who graded Dr. Ackerman. When I took the survey, I thought I'd be more critical than most because I had such high expections. But it turns out that reactions to Dr. Ackerman's tenure seem pretty evenly spread out.
That's particularly surprising since, unlike the City, Dr. Ackerman hasn't had to face hard choices in budgeting. This year's $3.2 billion budget is the largest in the District's history, protected mostly because of federal stimulus money and a (hopeful) state commitment to an equitable education formula. There are no cuts in services, and it establishes reduced class size and more counselors for schools.
The grades are also a bit troubling since there’s still budget uncertainty at the state level. Should that state money not come through, the District's budget - and many of its reforms - unravels dramatically.
To her credit, Dr. Ackerman has certainly been visible as a superintendent, hosting parent roundtables and a strategic plan outreach that drew thousands into a dialogue about the future of our schools. She's been responsive to individual and school-based concerns.
But there is a growing sense that Dr. Ackerman has perhaps taken the reins of leadership and budgeting a little too firmly . Though countless education advocates have worked for years to see the District reach $3 billion, few, if any, had any say in prioritizing how that money was spent this year. Though responsive in particular situations, Dr. Ackerman has seemed less inclined to share a place at the decision-making table when it comes to larger systemic reforms like teacher efficacy, community budgeting, high school reform, and the expansion of privatization. She's been resistant, and sometimes downright testy, when questioned. Other administrative offices - not all, but enough - reflect a more stand-offish approach as well.
It's important to understand why this tendency within the administration is more problematic than one might think. The average tenure of a superintendent of a major school system lasts between 3-5 years. The story of school reform for too many urban school districts is a story of change that happens in fits and starts, dominated on the national landscape by big egos and bigger salaries. In the words of scholar Charles Payne: “So much reform, so little change.”
The business of making schools work doesn’t happen from the top down, especially when the top is a revolving door. It happens in partnership with communities and advocates and with the respect and inclusion of long-term efforts by communities for change in their schools.
Moving ahead, I would hope that this administration appreciates the history of the District it has inherited. The previous administration left us in a tailspin. The public, parents particularly, worked hard to put this District back together to hand off to them. There is still tremendous good will toward our public schools.
But given the brief service of urban superintendents, every administration should recognize that leadership is not an entitlement, and that oversight, a transparent process, and an engaged and empowered public are critical elements now more than ever.
Comments (60)
Submitted by anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 06/02/2009 - 17:18.
hahahahaha...$500,000 dollars plus a year to earn a "C"...and from a reporter who is chummy with the district...
Hahahaha...I love it...and that picture says a 1000 words..."What ME, Worry?"
hahahahahaha...
Submitted by EnoughIsEnuff!!! (not verified) on Tue, 06/02/2009 - 18:58.
"The public, parents particularily, worked hard to put this District back together to hand it off". Sounds like a major piece of self-congratulatory propaganda. Just exactly how did these parents "work hard"?
It's been the teachers who have constantly picked up the slack for a school district that is corrupt and repeatedly lies about school safety and finances, parents who talk a good fight, but rarely show up for any of the heavy lifting, and political parasites who have always used our school funds to line their pockets. We've seen no change since Vallas. What exactly did these parents do? As for the general public, all they do is complain about things and suck up whatever the local media tells them. God forbid they should ever offer a hand when it comes time to rebuild. Gimme a break, Helen!
Submitted by Helen Gym on Tue, 06/02/2009 - 23:16.
Although you'd like to consider yourself last man standing Enuff, in fact, a whole lot of people have "picked up slack" and invested in our public schools. Parents helped flag problems when the District was going bankrupt in 2007. It was parents who were there rallying at City Hall and at the School District demanding that money be re-diverted into classrooms and away from contracts. It's parents who helped make education a top issue for an incoming mayor, helped get increased funds from both the City and the state, took on the Parking Authority and the BRT in order to raise public education concerns beyond 440 and our local schools. We weren't the only ones, but we were there.
But while you sneer at those efforts, what's surprising is how little you acknowledge the everyday people who are there in our schools, raising money for our classrooms, volunteering, and doing what they can to change our children's lives for the better. If you think education only exists in the classroom outside the context of the larger world, then you miss the larger reason why our schools are in the state they're in. As we work to right this District, you can choose to insist on demonizing the very people who are most likely to be your strongest allies or you can build coalitions that work from hope rather than anger.
But as you note, words are words Enuff, and I think both of us ought to be judged more on our actions. Those, even more so than our words, will be the judge of how we're working for a better school system and whose words here are more hot air than truth to power.
Submitted by Ron Whitehorne on Wed, 06/03/2009 - 19:15.
Your disrespect for parents and your belittling of the contributions of Parents United hardly serve teachers. Teachers need parents as partners, both at the classroom level and in the larger political arena. This partnership can only be achieved when there is mutual respect and a constructive dialogue about differences. Yes, teachers are frustrated and do not get the recognition they deserve, but the real victims of the failure of our public schools are the children and the communities that depend on these schools. Your refrain of teacher victimization and relentless cynicism about everyone else involved in education doesn't help anybody.
Submitted by anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 06/03/2009 - 23:04.
I suspect Enuff is going to get a spanking from the Kommissars...Kommissariat...
Enuff...how about that "C" rating from the Daily Crazy Quilt...a "C" to a woman who is making $500,000 plus a year...and tell us "children come first..."
Silliness...tomfoolery...
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 06/16/2009 - 11:16.
Enuf-
Thanks for speaking your mind and being truthful. I am a 20-some year veteran middle school teacher of Philadelphia public schools and you speak the absolute truth. Where is the respect? The parental assistance (quote from parent of violent middle-schooler, when she can be reached by phone- "When he's in school, he's your problem" or "I know. He does that at home too.") is often well-intentioned but ineffective and infrequent. Ackerman is beneath useless, she is destructive...
another expensive debacle for the city. Every "reform" has been mentioned before, several time, by other "leader" and the Teachers' Union. Sma;;er class sizes? This is an innovation! Researchers, and the Union, have been screaming that for years, yet this year all miccle school classes at my school had more than 38 middle-school sized kids per class because Downtown decided we had too many teachers the previous June! Fools, Philistines, steaming piles all!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 06/16/2009 - 11:21.
Sorry for boo-boos- 8 year keyboard sticks on some keys. I'm surprised this was able to be sent using our ancient purple iMacs and the "updated" servers.
Submitted by EnoughIsEnuff!!! (not verified) on Tue, 06/16/2009 - 22:53.
You're welcome. Thanks for chiming in. The usual reaction to what I write is to attack my stance instead of challenging my posts with facts. That's why the Notebook desperately needs to allow current teachers of all makes and models (instead of those with TFA connections) to be able to bring up issues we want to see addressed. The general public does not know how bad things have gotten in the school district of Philadelphia. It's gotten so far out of hand the general mentality is the "kill the messenger" school instead of "let's do something about this problem(s)". Unfortunately it will take a murder in our schools before they get upset enough to want to make the changes needed.
Submitted by anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 06/02/2009 - 21:59.
Ackerman was selected by the SRC because she was deemed best able to improve academic achievement for Philadelphia's children. By developing "Imagine 2014" where our most troubled schools are to be managed by others, Ackerman has admitted she can't get the job done. C is a surprisingly high grade for her.
Submitted by anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 06/02/2009 - 22:15.
And?
And?
Is this the voice of God?
And?
She got a "C" even by a sympathetic DN reporter...and a "C" for a 50 percent drop out rate...and a "C" even though she earns more money than Mayor Nutter...what an outrage...
She is simply a photo-op...makes a nice pic...but hasn't done squat...go to any neighborhood and you will see...
high grade, my foot...
Submitted by EnoughIsEnuff!!! (not verified) on Wed, 06/03/2009 - 21:02.
Nice try, Ron, but your liberal guilt trip misses the point I guess it allows you to once again dodge my questions. My disrespect is only directed towards those parents are those who can't be bothered to show up for report cards; complain about schools, but can't be bothered to volunteer; have kids, but refuse to discipline them. Parents that pitch in are worth their weight in gold, but like gold are scarce in this city. I'm sorry if my observations don't meet your approval, but they are based on experience.
The more I read the posts on The Notebook the more it resembles The Catalyst out in Chicago. Some have accused it of being nothing more than a front for the Chicago School District. A way to pretend that the district is listening while maintaining the status quo. The same thing is happening here. Nothing has changed in Philadelphia: administrators are still getting away with breaking the law; money is being hijacked for non-educational purposes; no administrators are being punished when they are caught; teachers are being targeted for dismissal on trumped up charges; and the list goes on. Sorry if I seem a little short-tempered these days, but like the Who once sang, "Let's See Action".
It's time to start asking the SRC, Ackerman, and the politicians that use them some hard questions. Enough with softballs being thrown overhand. It's time for some linedrives with the hardballs for a change.
I've asked some very valid questions about Parents United, but you don't seem to want to answer them. If I am wrong then prove me wrong by answering my questions. They are legitimate questions that need to be asked. Teachers have been hearing the word "partnership" from all quarters, but we have yet to see any of these same people actually reach out to teachers.
I have no problem with parents that truly want to hold 440 Broad St.'s feet to the fire. However, Parents United did receive requests from teachers for inclusion in their meetings with the administration. Maybe you can tell us why our requests were ignored?
Furthermore, I am not cynical about the real fighters in education. They have my utmost admiration. People like Mimi Shapiro and the PA Teachers Against Abuse group; Keith Newman and his constant posts on various internet blogs; Neal Schwartz and his revealing book on teaching the Philadelphia Public Schools; Karen Horwitz and her White Collar Crimes book and National Association for the Prevention of Teacher Abuse are the ones who will make the changes that need to be made in education. I'm just another footsoldier in the scheme of things.
Submitted by Helen Gym on Wed, 06/03/2009 - 23:01.
Enuff or Steve (whomever): There was one exceptionally vague request made by you at one time (maybe two years ago?) over email for outreach. And I don't know if you notice, but you have an unusual way of "reaching out." And like I said, I think people here can see for themselves whose words lead to action, seek dialogue and operate from a place of hope rather than bitterness. Thanks for posting! : )
Submitted by EnoughIsEnuff!!! (not verified) on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 19:57.
You're wrong! Teachers will be fired, the principals are merely moved to another location. The Teamsters union they belong to, CASA, sees to it that they are rarely fired. Usually transgressors will be "asked" to retire. Teachers . . . fired!
Submitted by EnoughIsEnuff!!! (not verified) on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 19:54.
Helen or Paul or Arlene (whomever): We have been posting on various blogs for several years. One of our members did contact you about the moribund message board on your own Parents United site. You said that someone was fixing it, but it seems to have died a death. Other boards like the ultraliberal Young Philly Progressives mentions school issues, but seems to think politicians will solve it. No politician, be they liberal or conservative, will sole the public school crisis. Both make money off the current school reform industry. They need to be scared enough to be frightened into doing the right thing for a change. That fright comes from parents who are working with teachers. I have asked you why we never see anyone else listed with Parents United other than yourself. It seems you run the show alone. Nobody else gets to speak to press? How many people are actually in it?
Why should teachers even have to contact you about working with Parents United. They know better than anyone what is going on in the schools. They are intelligence units of true school reform. Too often we've seen the school district give the public some song and dance and the issues fades away. You ought to be sending a car around to collect teachers that want to make change.
As for the "place of hope" I'm glad you have one because for most teachers in Philly at the moment the school district has become a place of anger, resentment and frustration after Arlene opened her mother yesterday. How somebody so high up could say such irresponsible nonsense without thinking of what impact her words would have is beyond me. It's not like this district is overflowing with teachers to begin with. Let's alienate the ones that are holding the fort a little more. It's time for Arlene to retire, not at the end of her contract, but this weekend! The SRC needs to wake up to the danger she is posing to the whole system. Frankly we've seen little change since Vallas skipped town. Ackerman is certainly no better than here, supplies are still missing, the violence is rising (even if principals want to pretend it's not), and there is no accounting for the funds that Philly is supposedly getting. We hear the same old wornout lines from each new CEO. Some of them forget that the previous CEOs also said the same damn thing. Does Arlene really think she's the first to institute "zero tolerance"? We heard Vallas say the same damn thing and both of them are out of touch if they think it's working.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 06/06/2009 - 12:25.
Enuff: I am a teacher in this system. On behalf of those of us finding ways to work with our schools and parents, you are an absolute embarrassment.
Submitted by EnoughIsEnuff!!! (not verified) on Sat, 06/06/2009 - 13:04.
Sorry, Anonymous, but on behalf of the teachers who have been holding the fort through every wackjob idea that the administration has thrown at us you will have to do better than resoting to namecalling. I have tried time and time again to work with parents and schools only to be repeatedly let down. This is not typical of successful school district where active parental participation plays an important role adn administrators have to toe the line. The few exceptions, parents and administrators, who actually do pitch in have my adminiration, but as I've said before they are rare. Sorry if my observations don't agree with yours over there in La-la Land.
You say I'm wrong, ok, tell me where I'm wrong. However, keep in mind, some teachers have never experienced what we've been through and think their world applies throughout the district. At least be enough of a teacher to back up your ridicule with some facts. Then tell me why the school district is in such dire straits if it's just me. I can take criticism, but cowardly posts like yours serve no purpose.
Disagreeing is what this blog should be about, but at least back up your side of things with some facts or experiences. Don't diss those of us with the courage to question why things never change in this school district.
Submitted by anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 06/06/2009 - 18:27.
Anonymous says Enuff is an absolute embarrassment...why?
Because Enuff speaks his/her mind?
Isn't embarrassing to have a district that can only graduate 50 percent of its wards?
Or a district that is constantly in arrears and needs to be propped up by Fast Eddie?
Isn't it an embarrassment that teachers get routinely beaten up and violated in Philly?
Anonymous, you speak only for yourself...big whup
Submitted by anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 06/06/2009 - 20:20.
Isn't it embarrassing?
Submitted by EnoughIsEnuff!!! (not verified) on Sun, 06/07/2009 - 18:52.
Pardon me . . . "Arlene opened her mouth" was what I meant to write. Sheesh, where is the edit button when you need it?
Submitted by Erika Owens on Sun, 06/07/2009 - 21:29.
Friendly tip: if you create an account and post comments with your user account, you can edit your comments!
Submitted by EnoughIsEnuff!!! (not verified) on Mon, 06/08/2009 - 20:31.
Thanks for the tip! First I'd heard of it.
Submitted by Helen Gym on Tue, 06/09/2009 - 17:42.
To make it clear to others about "spokespeople" for Parents United, in the last month and a half alone, try looking:
But hey, why let facts get in the way of your rants?
Submitted by EnoughIsEnuff!!! (not verified) on Tue, 06/09/2009 - 18:05.
Check the facts!?!?! You first, Helen! Of course, that would require you actually having to ask teachers for their opinions and comments on their experiences. If you'd been through what many teachers in this district have been through (targeted for violence, denied help for ourselves and well-behaved students, the district's smear campaign, etc.) you too would be "angry". Of course, it's been so long since you actually worked in a classroom I guess being naive comes easily. You tend to take us for granted. The fact is that many issues of dire importance are not being brought up these parent groups.
The latest, is a quack contract that Ackerman has sent out to teachers without bothering to run it by the PFT. It stinks to high heaven and extremely vague about its purpose. The district claims that all teachers are suppose to have individual contracts even though they haven't bothered with them with for a couple decades. What's the rush now? Does it have something to do with the fact the contract starts on Sept. 1? Let's see a piece on that for starters.
Submitted by anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 06/09/2009 - 23:20.
PFT = District
District = PFT
Same thing...two peas in the pod...
Submitted by Ron Whitehorne on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 10:40.
Parents United, among other things, played a leading role in exposing the budget deficit under Vallas, challenged the Parking Authority’s patronage scam at the expense of the schools and has been as consistent voice for accountability and transparency when it comes to the SRC and the administration. Apparently none of this counts for anything in your calculus of who is “really” fighting for change.
As for your comments on parents generally a couple of points:
The few parents, you say, who are willing “to pitch in” are “worth their weight in gold.”
The rest are condemned as too lazy to take any responsibility for their children’s education including parents who “complain but can’t bothered to volunteer.”
Volunteering at a school is certainly worthy of praise but since when is it a pre-requisite for raising criticism of a school? Parents, apparently, should be seen and not heard.
You are right that the word partnership is often bandied about with little real content and I was probably guilty of this in my earlier post. So let me be clear about what I mean.
The traditional notion of partnership in urban schools is a one sided relationship in which parents carry out what the school regards as their responsibilities but are effectively excluded from decision making and discouraged from making criticism. The kind of partnership I am advocating is one in which parents are taken seriously and treated with respect both at the level of school decision making and in the day to day interactions with teachers.
Parents, particularly low income parents of color, have had many negative experiences in our schools. As co-chair of a PFT community outreach committee I was involved in a series of meetings with parent organizations in the 90s that tried, with some success, to build alliances between teachers and parents at the school level to make changes that both groups saw as necessary. Parents cited incidences of being ignored or treated rudely by administrators, secretaries and teachers, of teachers lecturing them about their responsibilities as parents, of failure to communicate either academic or behavior problems etc. In these discussions parents also had some common misconceptions about teachers which I tried to address. But based on my own experience, the problems these parents laid out I thought had validity, even if in some instances they were overstated. These negative experiences impact parental involvement.
If we want to improve parental participation these issues need to be addressed. I am not suggesting that there is no parental irresponsibility at play here. I don’t think there is any excuse for not showing up for a report card conference. But the problem needs to be seen in context.
Submitted by EnoughIsEnuff!!! (not verified) on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 19:32.
Ron,
Where or when did I ever say parents should be "seen, not heard"? Don't twist my words. I don't mind criticism if that same person is also working to make changes. Too many parents want to complain or run off to charter schools instead of standing their ground and taking back their schools. If more parents dropped (despite Arlene would have you believe, most teachers don't mind parents sitting in, it's just that we can't conference in the middle of a lesson because a parents decided to talk. You're adults, leave a number and the best time to meet.)
I am not only talking about volunteering, but taking part in their children's education. Many talk a good fight, but the results are evident even if you don't meet the parents. You can tell which kids have parents that read to them because they are the ones zooming through the reading tests. You can tell which ones have parents who are MIA because they are the ones that a couple of years behind in reading. Another thing, that drives me up the wall are parents who think signing their kids' homework means they've "helped" their kids with it. I get papers on fractions with answer with decimal points instead of fractional answers. A good sign that the child is using a calculator. When there are extensive calculations, but only the answer appears . . . a good sign the calculator is being used. At least make them write out the steps if you can't take away the calculator.
I also take issue with Vallas and the deficit. Teachers were yelling about that long before Parents United said anything. We know faster than anybody what is really happening in the classroom when it comes to finances because it hits our wallets the hardest. Of course, who listens to teachers in Philadelphia? We also raised our voices about the artwork that Vallas took and has disappeared. Helen ought to be raising questions about that. I did mention the Parking Authority, but what money has been delivered of the 47 million Perzel offered when he first took it over. I seem to recall some about around a million about a year or so back. Where's the rest?
With Arlene's recent declaration of war it's time that Parents United and all these other parent groups demand that teachers (and I mean critics of the system, not handpicked 440 puppets) be included in each and every public meeting (which from now on should be held in the evening, none of this daytime crap slots). We know when the district is lying and can ask the questions that will make them squirm. Handing in questions in advance. For the money these folk are getting they ought to be able to think on their feet for a change instead of lipsynching some speech that the lawyers prepared for them.
Since we rarely see parents I find the idea of negative impact to be a minor issue. You have to show up first to complain about something in the school. I have never minded any parents that want to sit in as they will usually come to see what we have to contend with. As one said to me last year, "How can you teach with a child like that?" This was when a major behavior problem (deliberately dumped in my room by a vindictive principal) went off once again. Let me remind you that it was the school district that suddenly got "worried" about parents coming without any clearance after years of being able to do that without even being challenged. Others have made a good point about the election on May 19th being a no kids day thanks to the administration not wanting people to see what was going on in school when the pupils are there.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 06/03/2009 - 23:58.
At the end of the day, this is about Ackerman and whether she -- with all the hype, the enormous salary -- has delivered anything for the public school students of Philadelphia. And the answer is pretty much no...she hasn't. She spent a lot of time and energy allegedly "engaging the public" in a farce planning process to produce a document that looks a lot like a collection of initiatives that Philadelphia has tried or run out of funding for over the years. Just think back to what other District leaders have suggested over the past 10 years..... anything sound familiar?
The most troubling part is the pattern in Ackerman's answers when you ask her about these plans... If you ask for details is either "we're looking into that" or "we're developing that next" or "enough of these adult issues." She simply doesn't seem to want to explain herself. Did we just pay $500K over the past 12 months for a vague collection of prior initiatives? If you question something she's said -- whether the reason is that you don't quite understand it or you think there's an alternative idea that could possible work better -- the only answer she has is that she has over 20 years of experience. Trust her. 20 years? So what? None of those places were as big or as complicated as Philadelphia and, frankly, nobody liked her (board, community, parents, unions, etc.) at any of her prior districts.
Ackerman's attitude is that if you don't like it, she'll just retire. How many times did she tell reporters that she made more money in retirement and, frankly, she can also just go back to retirement? There is no commitment to Philadelphia there, just to her own ego.
Nothing in any of Ackerman's plans or initiatives is new to Philadelphia. For those of us who have been around a while, it's old ideas repackaged with new names. But you can't explore any of the history of those ideas, or explore how they might work differently in this day and age, or even suggest that new ideas have emerged.
But the worst part is the Ackerman arogance. She wants to control everything and never be questioned about it. Her words claiming inclusion and engagement are simply not reflected in her blatent desire to control everything and never explain herself. I almost wish she would just retire so that we can find ourselves a District leader who bring fresh ideas, fresh perspective, and commitment to stick it out through thick and thin for the sake of our children.
Submitted by Keith Newman (not verified) on Thu, 06/04/2009 - 10:30.
We have real problems in this school district and dividing up into a who gets the credit for fixing it is very premature. City Council investigated violence in our schools in 1992 and for 16 years the problem has escalated. Local newspapers reported crime inside schools for the 2007/2008 school year were at record levels. When children learn violence at home they bring it to school. When they learn it in school they bring it to society. The real crime is for 17 years we have ignored this problem.
Our schools need a character education curriculum. Teachers and particularly Parents United must together to work with parents at risk of raising children at risk.
It's not hard, it just requires grass roots and government officials with common sense to organize and implement. The School District does not have this common sense and the it is not the PFT's responsibility to create curriculum.
As enuff has pointed out, I have consistently been involved promoting positive educational reforms. My reward has been a stalled career working under supervision that sees my effort as confrontational rather than as seeking solutions.
I will remain steadfast in my efforts to improve our schools. My mentors and role models suffered much worse fates than working in an environment where incompetence is promoted and the status quo maintained.
Submitted by Helen Gym on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 08:22.
Character education is a good idea. Under Hornebck there used to be a section under standards that measured something like this. Just as an FYI, though, this is generally not the kind of specific work that Parents United does - though we're fully on board with building intervention-based, positive behavioral support disciplinary policies (in other words, supporting the larger visionary framework rather than specific programs).
Submitted by Samuel (not verified) on Thu, 06/04/2009 - 19:11.
Helen;
I read the article in today's Inquirer while traveling to school this morning. Dr. Ackerman, self-scored herself with an A. Why the incongruence? And what supports are going to be put in place to support principals and teachers before they are rated poorly? What did you think about the article?
Submitted by Helen Gym on Thu, 06/04/2009 - 23:04.
Samuel: To answer your second question first: This is an obviously complicated and delicate area. On the one hand, everyone knows the frustration of working under an overwhelmed principal and with colleagues who've become victims and perpetrators of a dysfunctional system. Imagine when it's your own child in a particular classroom or school. So I understand the frustration and outrage that drove the strong rhetoric Dr. Ackerman used in the article. At the same time, while it may be in response to individual frustrations, it's not a system of growing and building a quality teaching force.
One of the strongest critiques many public advocates have of the District in general (pre-dating Dr. Ackerman) has been the steady disinvestment in establishing standards and measures of effective teaching. With more than half the teachers having less than five years experience, the challenge in Philadelphia is around retention and professional development. In 2003 I was among dozens of people who devoted hours to the Campaign for Human Capital, an ambitious effort to recruit and retain effective teachers. That campaign was completely abandoned, and as every teacher knows now it's a sink or swim approach with most teachers choosing to leave the system. Recently a number of groups have signed onto a renewed campaign utilizing new research and studies about the importance of establishing measures for quality teaching and leadership, and accountability when teachers/principals don't meet those standards. While some people tend to focus on the end result, the critical part is the input, which may include things like full site selection and incentives to attract effective teachers to struggling schools.
There's no question things need to change. There's no point in creating a blame game mentality where one side puts all the onus on the other. These are ideas some people have been working on. Do you have others?
Submitted by anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 06:38.
Samuel did you see Lerner of the principal's union crow...that Philly principals never get fired because of the process to hire them is so thorough and thus the district hires highly qualified principals...?
We all know that is a lie...many of the principals in Philly...went to Hamburger University...the district's version...to become principals...the quality of principals is rather low...what do you say...?
Lerner has a lot of nerve to make that assertion...
Submitted by Greg Moore (not verified) on Thu, 06/04/2009 - 20:46.
Dr. Ackerman's comment that "she wouldn't send her kids" to Philadelphia public school was, for me, her most telling recent comment. I found her comment profoundly discouraging. I appreciate that the comment might have been off-the-cuff and intentionally intended to get attention but such comments just play into the public's perception that all District schools are a mess. My experience is the opposite. Moreover, if one wants to facilitate improvement one wants, I believe, as many people as possible to buy into the schools. Whoever heard of dissing your own product and, presumably, driving business away? The District does a discouragingly poor job of public relations as it is and now the boss has joined the nay sayers.
Submitted by EnoughIsEnuff!!! (not verified) on Thu, 06/04/2009 - 21:39.
Is there some way we could persuade Ackerman's kids not to send her to Philadelphia public school?
Submitted by anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 06:54.
Enuff...what is the caption for the photograph of Ackerman...?
$500,000 plus perks...to receive a "C" grade...from a reporter who is sympathetic to the district...
Go figure...
Submitted by Helen Gym on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 08:25.
Jan: If you post one of your typically insulting "captions" it will be deleted. You've also made the same point three times in this same post. Give it a rest. Please.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 09:25.
Helen, be careful what you print...back up your facts...don't defame people...don't libel...back up what you say with hard facts...:)...obey the rules of a good journalist...
Submitted by anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 06/19/2009 - 21:43.
Ackerman was given a "C" by a sympathetic, pro-district Daily News reporter...that says a lot...
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 06/12/2009 - 21:42.
With all this talk about incompetent principals, perhaps a program to recruit the best and the brightest should be put back in place. Whatever happened to the ALPS program (Academy for Leadership in the Philadelphia Schools) ? It was slashed when Ackerman came to the district and should be reinstated. Allow others to share their visions and fulfill their dreams. Perhaps new ideas and renewed enthusiasm could re-energize the district, thereby creating a transformation that is surely needed.
Submitted by Helen Gym on Tue, 06/16/2009 - 18:29.
That's the missing part of the dialogue here. While the District may see p.r. advantages in slamming and threatening incompetent teachers, it's hardly a program for building your teaching force. The District's greatest challenge has been the ability to retain teachers and promote them as empowered professionals. Whether it's the Academy for Leadership or the Campaign for Human Capital, this has to be a major focus of the District.
Submitted by Cares for Kids (not verified) on Fri, 06/19/2009 - 21:06.
The problem with Dr. Ackerman constantly slamming "incompetent" teachers and principals is that she doesn't qualify her statements by acknowledging that most Philly teachers work incredibly hard to serve their students and do so admirably. Because of this, none of us know who she considers incompetent and how she forms this assessment. Many of us fear it is on test scores alone, which is grossly unfair, as some schools are populated with children who come to school ready to learn, while others cope daily with a much more challenging scenario.
We're taught to start off parent-teacher conferences with a positive not matter how difficult a child is, but this is not a practice familiar to Dr. Ackerman.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 06/16/2009 - 11:51.
In regards to steaming piles..."downtown"...that gave me a chuckle...the only way to defeat the Nazis...is to contact your state reps...and state senators and ask them to stop funding the district in excess this year...the district desparately wants Eddie Rendell's $300 million stimulus whatever it is...tell your local reps and senators to support Senate Bill 805...the district doesn't deserve the $300 million...let 'em work with what they got...and be accountable for it...
Submitted by Helen Gym on Tue, 06/16/2009 - 18:33.
I considered deleting this comment, but its probably best to leave it up and let your "concern for the district" show in your hyperbolic insults and the fact that you'd like to see money denied to our schools.
Submitted by EnoughIsEnuff!!! (not verified) on Tue, 06/16/2009 - 20:39.
The fact is that even if Harrisburg ponies up the money it will soon be "denied" to the schools by the good folks down at 440 or the principals in the schools. That's why we are STILL hurting for supplies and books. Forget any luxuries like more teachers to lower class size or NTAs to help out in the room.
Until some system of accounting (by an outside auditor) takes place In Philly money will still be siphoned off with no contract bids and pointless purchases of things we don't need or programs that benefit the dealmakers instead of the children.
Submitted by Helen Gym on Tue, 06/16/2009 - 23:39.
I agree with you here and am all for accounting. But there's still a difference between demanding accountability for money and giving legislators who wouldn't care a whit about where the money does or doesn't go in Philly another excuse to deny money for education. The fight here is and always will be accountability for the money spent, but the fight in Harrisburg must be a different battle and message that demands accountability for proper investment in schools.
Submitted by anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 12:39.
There is no passing of dead-beat students in the Philly School District...there is no graduating of students who never come to school...
We are only following orders...he was a great man...I mean...I believe what they are saying...there is no impropriety in the district...they are not telling their teachers to graduate students who don't deserve it...
I believe you should all follow the directions of Dr. Ackerman...
Submitted by anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 06/16/2009 - 21:19.
Frau Helen...read closely...we said excess...you, as an advocate for the district, know that accountability is very important...we need to make sure the monies are used wisely...no-one has said no funding...or little funding...just don't overdo it...and make every penny accountable...
Submitted by Ron Whitehorne on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 11:25.
Let’s be honest about passing students who don’t meet minimal academic standards. Its been going on for decades, its going on now and everybody in the system knows it. It makes a mockery of all the talk about demanding excellence.
The pressure to promote failing students begins with the economics of retention. Retaining students drives up enrollment, requiring more teachers, books, classrooms etc .
Just ask Constance Clayton who in the 1980s sought to end social promotion, only to back track as the budget spiraled upwards.
The pressure to promote makes its way from the top to the bottom. The message is sometimes explicit, sometimes veiled. The cumbersome and largely dysfunctional CSAP process discourages retention. High numbers of failing students is a red flag that means that the teacher will be more carefully scrutinized and may be subjected to unwelcome attention.
But teachers, independently of external pressure, are inclined to modify their standard for passing. Imagine a classroom in which there are many students who, based on a strict reading of the numbers, have by mid year, virtually no chance of passing. How will they be kept engaged and motivated to increase their efforts? Many teachers, myself included, will gladly offer some flexibility in grading in exchange for an honest effort on the part of the failing student but draw the line at “multiple pathways” like completing a packet of worksheets at the last minute.
Finally the decision to promote is conditioned by the knowledge of what retention in our system means. Research suggests repeating a grade rarely helps and often harms “at risk” students. We need alternatives that focus on the particular needs of failing students, but this requires resources and empowering personnel at the school level to fashion programs that really work.
Submitted by Max (not verified) on Sun, 01/30/2011 - 02:30.
So the pinpoint is the inherent pressures of a capitalistic society? Do you think there's any possibility of large scale change or will it simply fall to independent systems that can work away from the standards?
Submitted by steve (not verified) on Mon, 10/05/2009 - 21:26.
Did anyone look to see how San Francisco handled the departure of Ms. Ackerman? It looks as though the same situations we faced with her here are happening over there. Did you also give her a housing allowance? Did she negotiate a golden parachute just in case she needs to leave?
We in SF finally got a real superintendent of schools that respects his teachers, listens to his peers, and believes in justice for ALL.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 01/09/2010 - 00:45.
Obviously not, the clowns that hired Ackerman for Philly could care less what went down out on the West Coast. The problems at Thurgood Marshall High out in San Francisco are similar to what happend at South Philly. I talked to one teacher that worked under her reign of terror out there and she could only wish me good luck. Look at how she killed the Urban Pioneer program which helped troubled teens for 32 years and had the King of England even come over to give them an award for doing such terrific work.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 12/09/2009 - 21:26.
I'm a high-school student, and my major issue is that Dr. Ackerman is trying to eliminate all of the magnet schools in the city. In elementary school, I received excellent grades and was enrolled into the mentally gifted program. I went to both Masterman and Central. The reason I got into these schools and was based on my performance in school. I believe it is silly that Dr. Ackerman is trying to break these schools apart and is attempting to get all schools on the same page (as if all high-school students are the same).
Schools like Masterman and Central are well-established and have different problems to deal with than the a typical Philly high school (for example, the recent racial issues dealing with Asian and African American students down in South Philadelphia High School would never occur in magnet schools like ours). Also, the students who apply to these schools deserve to be recognized for their academic achievements and should be able to get involved with more challenging academics if they are able to handle it.
I understand that Dr. Ackerman just wants other high schools to be more like magnet schools, but getting rid of magnet schools is not a good idea. The majority of kids who get into magnet schools are students who perform well in school. Many students, like me, could go for more challenging courses that most neighborhood schools do not provide. Magnet schools tend to provide more AP/IB classes, and even dual-enrollment programs. It is much more convenient to have separate schools that allow for this rather than mixing all students together and allowing less opportunities over all. Private schools also provide these kinds of opportunities, but magnet schools are basically like private schools without the cost (based on grades instead of family income, kind of similar to the idea of academic scholarships v. paying for college).
Furthermore, the breakdown of the statistics ends up being the same (or maybe less) even with mixing the student body of different schools. If 99% of the students of Central attend college upon graduation and only 50% of the students of another high school do and these students both mixed and went to the same school (disregarding the population of the schools at the moment), the college attendance percentage would be the same overall in the end (about 75%). These students are just in different schools. It could arguably be even lower just because Central receives so many different kinds of scholarships (from alumni) which helps its students tremendously by allowing them to go to college without worrying about how the money will be paid off later, and so could arguably be a factor in which why so many Central graduates attend college.
Sometimes, it's not about the big picture. The little details also matter. Also, maybe it's not just the schools or the way the school district is set up. My school is able to follow to the core curriculum and get through (although since I'm graduating this year, I'm not sure how it has been changing and if it has been causing trouble) as well as teach beyond that. Maybe it also has to deal with how the students respond. A high-school student who does not do his/her homework/study, cuts class, has bad behavior, and does not show up to tutoring (or talk to the teacher) when it is needed will not do well in school as a student who shows up to class all the time, listens and takes notes, does the homework, asks questions in class, studies, gets the extra help he/she needs in school, etc... These things should be taken into consideration.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 12/28/2009 - 20:40.
It is obvious she got her job because she is the right demographic.
Submitted by jmcduffie (not verified) on Thu, 01/07/2010 - 15:32.
Well, well! Why are the teachers' comments always negative. We, as educators, always blame it on the parents, administration, the students. What about our part? Do we really engage our "disconnected" students or we just blame it on others? Do we really believe that "all students will learn?" The power of student success begins in the classroom regardless of the students prior baggage. Stop complaining and teach. I worked under and with Dr. Ackerman and she inspired me to be the best teacher I could be. Excellence without excuses!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 01/08/2010 - 00:53.
Has anyone noticed the number of falsehoods Steve Volk's piece about Ackerman in the new issue of Philadelphia Magazine? It's written like he is angling for a PR job with her.
Submitted by Erika Owens on Fri, 01/08/2010 - 11:47.
Here's a link to the article entited "Queen Arlene." The full piece isn't available online. Thanks for flagging this, I missed it over break! I'll have to track down a copy this weekend and post about it on Monday.
Submitted by The Truth (not verified) on Thu, 01/20/2011 - 23:05.
Divide and Conquer the PA way. Everyone is half right and truthfully your fighting with words are sad. We forget our children. Most parents care about their children's education due to uneducated parents. Welfare mentality parents, "not all parents on welfare" the welfare mentality ones who seeks to live on welfare generation at a time. We need to combine and look at the problems. Put a cap on how many kids a mother could put on welfare. Their are 18 to 21 of age with three or more kids and still making babies. I seen in neighbor hoods mother's with 8, 10 & 13 kids all on welfare, all races not just one. They make it bad for the parents who actually need it. They are uneducated parents, on drugs, alcohol etc raising these kids just to put them on SSI to collect a check.
These parents are creating disfunctional kids and they go to your childs school. On the other hand if Arlene Ackerman did an audit, she would find truancy in the inner schools is a joke. Over 20% of the kids in the inner city schools has 30 to 90 unexcused absents and no truancy for each, only some schools in Phila take it serious. So what is the truancy dept heads and staff doing, watching Jerry Springer and why arent these schools reporting it.
Their is good and bad faults in each side. So whats next. Unite Duhh and enough is enough is right the schools get nothing. Once it passes all the political hands and gets to the schools, whats left is crumbs. Look at how much gang violence in Germantown HS alone and the school district does nothing, among other violent schools, only when it hits the newspaper all others are swept under the rugs.
Change laws, Cap these babies making babies for free cash. PA has the most State legislators in the Tri-State area, the most staff members in the country. How many City Council members. And we have the lowest population in the Tri-State area. You do the math, we have more than NY and NY has 3 times the population.
The state and the City pays the Head of Septa so he can continue to live like a king. The head of septa has a full floor penthouse with all meals included. His food bill alone that Septa Corp pays for is more than what you grocery shop for a month for a family of four. His Penthouse rental is paid each month. He has his private helicopter pad on the roof of his penthouse, paid by Septa Corp. he has several personal jets, paid for by Septa Corp and also has the highest salary than any executive in PA. All paid by yes us tax payers who the state and city gives our tax dollars to when Septa cries broke.
So many wars and we fight among ourselves. I guess thats why they been getting away with this for over 25 years. All of you look in the mirror and you will see why.
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