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WPXI-TV will air the 34th annual WPXI Holiday Parade, which starts at 9 a.m. Saturday. The parade Downtown will follow Liberty Avenue from 21st Street onto Grant Street, turn west on Fifth Avenue to Liberty, then south on Stanwix Street and west on Boulevard of the Allies. Daily Photo Galleries Friday - Nov. 28, 2014 By Tory N. Parrish Friday, Nov. 28, 2014, 11:00 p.m. Updated 10 hours ago
Pittsburgh Public Schools will spend more than $200,000 during the next three years to help sponsor a holiday parade and pay for other promotions to boost its public image."
Does that sound more like communications, or an educational measure?
"One way to support positive teaching and learning is through enhancing public perceptions about the district, as with the marketing campaign with WPXI, according to the district."
Tenuous. Mr. Brentley is perfectly justified in objecting to the item being routed through the education committee rather than his communications committee. The article suggests that he would have compared a variety of communication approaches- sounds like he wanted to do his job.
Notice when it's. something likely to be perceived as negative it's usually ignored by the PG and covered by the Trib. Nothing in PG about a parade, maybe if it was in Wikinsburg...?
"Perceptions" and public relations will change DRAMATICALLY WHEN and ONLY WHEN the Teaching and Learning, Curricula and Instruction, and Attitudes about "Urban" children change.
It is the RESPONSIBILITY of Educational Institutions (SCHOOLS) to EDUCATE!
If they are NOT doing that, they need not exist!
"Marketing Campaigns" will NOT change what is happening IN our schools!
Oh the Editorial Board would be outraged if it was in Wilkinsburg- paying for a parade.
Strange- the parade is ostensibly intended to call attention to good things about the schools, but one of the good things is that the district is trying to get more effective teachers, which indicates a problem with existing teachers, which is not such a good thing. But since it's Gates money they apparently can't just celebrate the good things, it all has to come back to the teacher debate.
beyond the money spent to be a sponsor did the gates grant also pay for the construction of the floats and the matching hats and gear the staff, students and board members wore? I wonder if there should be polling done?Was there a bake sale or something held that paid for all that? Talk radio will have a field day with this one come monday.
10:45 Unless the leaders in the "urban" community are willing to organize, mobilize and lead 'for change' the plight of education in these areas will remain the same. Period.
12:24 - 10:45 Unless the leaders in the "urban" community are willing to organize, mobilize and lead 'for change' the plight of education in these areas will remain the same. Period.
Two responses: 1) Why should anyone need to organize to have access to a "civil right"?
2) Who says they have NOT organized, mobilized and undertaken countless initiatives on behalf of "urban" students, including countless interactions, individually and collectively, with PPS Central Administration WITHOUT tangible or beneficial follow-through or consequence?
What are you suggesting (?) "overthrow" , legal or political? Who in an "urban" community can afford either against Bill Gates and/or Eli Broad or this region's governing 'officials'?
Re: (1): No one should have to organize to access a civil right, but of course many groups have found it necessary.
Re: (2): One area where there has not in recent years been a high level of mobilization is school board elections. Promising initiatives would be to identify excellent candidates, work to remove obstacles to their candidacy, get out the vote, and contribute financially or with time.
And what happened to MLK? And others similar to him?
No one is giving up--the struggle continues--in as many ways--as many places--with as many risks as those who dare to take it on--"Power concedes nothing" . . .
Mobilizing so that every single public hearing had at least a few (or many more) parents from the worst affected schools testifying would be very different and the bigger the numbers, the more often testifying, the more likely to gain traction (or at least get some media attention).
Too often, the action has been to go and be told whatever the administration wants heard, in small group meetings that are not open to the public.
I don't know if it's still their operating procedure, but often times Mark Roosevelt or one of his deputies would call individuals who had complained at public hearings.
They would praise their brave/smart testimony as a first step, then try to co-opt that person. They'd offer to meet and give them "the real story" and do their best to shut them up.
Fairly sure that is still happening with Lane (and A+ schools). It's amazing how a little flattery with the promise of "inside information" (along with the knowledge that they know who you are and how to contact you) is so effective at neutralizing people.
Whether it is known or not, the great majority of people who go en masse, in small groups or individually to public hearing are NOT given any response (sometimes a postcard that has a pre-printed thank you for coming). Frankly, it is a waste of time, energy, pre-meetings, strategizing, speaking, etc. let alone getting ACTION that responds to the 3 minutes.
You end up feeling foolish for putting yourself out there only to be disrespected by lack of any real concern from Administration. The Board sees their role as demonstrating respect for the Administrators that they have voted affirmatively into the positions that they hold. To do otherwise is politically incorrect. The silence is deafening!
Until very recently, the public hearing could be heard only by those able to be in Oakland at 6:00 pm. With hearings now becoming available on community TV and you tube, the audience and potential impact will be much wider.
Just as a point of discussion: What do bloggers think would happen if some group filed a lawsuit against PPS for its failure to educate Black children in the thousands, tens of thousands over the past 8 years?
4:53 One reason PPS has been able to fail black children (and really all children) is their ability to hide what is really happening behind a shiny bright facade of good PR. One great example is U prep. A reporter is poised to expose the violations to children and adults at U prep and keep those who speak out anonymous and NO ONE will talk to her. PPS has manipulated and tricked the public by means of a slick PR department and fake grassroots groups like A+ schools. This is what the Gates money pays for. People are willing to post on this blog but will not speak the same things to a person who could actually help. Please see the u prep thread for Rebecca Nuttalls contact info and contact her anonymously regarding PPS issues that need to be brought to the attention of the public. In cities that receive Gates money, there are huge PR cover ups to keep the public uniformed or misinformed. That is what a lot of the money is for. There is now even a name for the fake grass roots groups, like A + schools, he funds to sway the public, it's called "astroturfing"
PPS will not be changed until they are exposed to the public and they know that no one will do that. It doesn't take money to fight these billionaire reformers and banish them. It takes exposure, that is why they give so much money to PR. For example, the Gates money PPS used for the parade bought them 30 minute "stories" on WPXI to promote whatever agenda PPS is pushing and present it to the public as unbiased "news" rather than a paid promotion. Cities that have taken their schools back from these reformers did it by exposing what was happening and getting the public back on the side of students, parents, and teachers.
But it is true that for some reason people won't step up to do something. Parents and teachers won't even speak anonymously about U prep to stop the abuse of children and staff that is written about at length on this blog. It doesn't get much easier than sending a copy of what you post here to a reporter who can make these problems public knowledge.
Linda Lane, most of central office, and many principals don't truly care about you, your children, or the teachers. They care about protecting their high paying jobs that exist only because of Gates money. They are not going to do what's right because you appeal to their humanity. They appear to have lost it. They will, however, respond to the threat of their job/ money being lost. They will have to change or go away if faced with negative PR and public exposure of their misdeeds. They absolutely count on the ignorance of the public and the fear of the teachers to allow them to do whatever they want and answer to no one. Big money is spent to keep the public fooled and the teachers afraid.
Exposure is the ONLY way to get their attention. We need to understand that and act on it. They are so certain they will never be called out, they wouldn't know what to do if many of the stories written on this blog went public. I truly cannot wrap my head around the fact that NO ONE will talk to the reporter and expose these things! And yes I am a teacher, so I understand the fear, but I have contacted Ms. Nuttall many times to try to help my fellow teachers and PPS students.
WE ARE ALLOWING this to continue. We must really be a joke to Lane & Central Office to allow them to continue to disregard us and our students and not say boo about it. What is everyone so afraid of? If things written on this blog were published, the public would be shocked, outraged, incredulous to say the least. It would be nationwide news. Do you honestly think, for example, if the U prep thread went public that they could fire us all? WE ARE ALLOWING THIS.
Please see U prep thread, contact Ms. Nuttall, expose what is happening. Contact her if there are things happening in your schools or to your children that you know aren't right. Stop allowing this to continue. How long do we allow this to continue before we are at fault for letting it continue? Now that we have someone who can actually speak out on our behalf and we aren't stepping up, we are at fault!
We can't continue to write about what they are doing to us or our children. They can only do what we are allowing them to do! If thy are reading this blog, Lane and CO must really get a good laugh about all these "outraged" and '"concerned" people who are too afraid of them to do anything but lay down and let them walk all over us. It is shameful!
Has anyone else, besides me, contacted Ms. Nuttall? She is our best hope right now! You are allowing this to continue. You are as much to blame as Lane and CO if you continue to remain silent!
I agree that expecting any answer or change from the public hearing is futile. However, it is necessary. It is necessary to show that someone has noticed, if you can get 10 people to show up, it is noticed that much more. If you got 10 or 20 people to show up at every hearing, many of them new, you might begin to pierce the consciousness of some of the board members. They might ask a question of the administration or visit a school. You could find other parents and community members to pair up with. You would meet some of the activists that have been trying to improve the schools over the last 4-5 years.
However, sitting at home doing nothing is not only futile, it's what they want you to do! That's how they keep this going.
Students, parents and teachers are natural allies. Yes there are circumstances where a given parent and teacher disagree, but on the whole they are on the same side. The Gates Foundation is facing an uphill climb trying to create an adversarial relationship that requires the intervention of entities like Gates.
Someone requested Ms. Nutall's contact information. It is:
"She has permission from her editor to keep you anonymous.
Rebecca Nuttall Staff Writer Pittsburgh City Paper 650 Smithfield Street Suite 2200 Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-316-3342 x. 175 rnuttall@steelcitymedia.com @PGHReporter "
I have watched the public hearings of other school districts. There is often an exchange after a comment and sometimes a district person or board member will actually discuss the topic covered with the speaker. At the legislative meeting Mark Brentley mentioned that the microphones have been removed (from each board member) during public hearings. I guess taking mics away is something discussed at executive session.
Hello, I was informed of this site. I held my tongue for a few years about UPrep. I was abused there as a sub, and now I want to speak to Nuttall also.
4:15PM ___ Where are the Sala Udins,the Tony Normans, the Rev.Dr. Johnnie Monroes, the Thomas Sumpters, the Rev. Sims, the Rev. Walls, the Jake Wheatleys and the list goes on. There silence is deafening and their inability to organize, mobilize and lead is incomprehensible.
9:11 Wheatley is engaged to a PPS CO staffer & in cahoots with the urban league which is pushing to end teacher tenure and use TFA which show they are under Broad Gates influence, the PG employs Tony Norman and we know by now that the PG is in cahoots with PPS CO etc, the Gates/PPS influence reaches far and wide which is why they feel so certain that can do whatever they want without repercussions. But why do need them? We have first hand experience from the frontlines and a truly independent unbiased reporter willing to put our story out there. Why are we wasting time wondering why any of these people aren't helping us? Why aren't we helping ourselves?
We should probably have a thread every month just to highlight the crazy stuff heard at meetings.
At the education committee meeting Dr. Micheaux mentioned a new program planned for aspiring administrators. One board member inquired how this will be different from PELA. I was an active parent during the early PELA and PULSE days and I would gladly share her response but my brain shut down when my BP went up and I just don't remember what she said.
More than an hour was spent on KDKA radio this morning The absurdity of this is beyond belief! Many callers talked about so many things that are lacking, missing, because there is no money to pay for basics. Yet, PPS paid $205,000.00 for a parade that had Superintendent Linda Lane and Board Members riding on a float and waving to the people! Has anyone looked at the state achievement scores in Reading, Literature, Math, Algebra, Science, Biology, and Writing? What is Pittsburgh coming to? How does this happen?
12:58 PPS didn't spend, Bill Gates did. That is this precious money that the children and teachers were sold down the river is used for. It was never for the kids. It is for PR, fake grassroots groups like A + schools, central office jobs, and teacher effectiveness (RISE & union/tenure busting)
How does PPS allow it? How does anyone allow it? Go to any student at CAPA, SCI-Tech, Obama, and Allderdice and ask them about what is going on at UPrep, and then ask their teachers if they would like to teach at UPrep. Ask all of them about the amount of abuse, drugs, and cutting that is going on in that school on a daily basis. I am a teacher at one of the schools mentioned above and I am saddened to hear what my fellow peers are going through under that incompetent administration. I would like to speak to Miss Nuttall. Do you think it will help?
I am a parent of a child at UPrep. Because I work two jobs I can't get in there. A parent who took her baby out of there told me to read an article in the Courier about UPrep that was written over the summer. One parent in the article said it is absolute chaos. Is that true?
Where is Tim Stevens, the Urban League, NAACP, all the big shots at Hill House? I taught in the Hill for 25 years and I can tell you these people will do nothing if the principal and/or the Super are black. I know this for a fact. Now if either was white, then you'd really see some mobilization. Why do you think these people were put into these positions in the first place? Because they had such great proven track records in education? They really raised scores and closed the racial achievement gap? They had any answers to the truancy problem or knew how to solve discipline problems? NO, not these people.
Wilkinsburg has had change in its Super/School Board and is making solid strides toward serving these students and community with transparency and common sense. It has been a grass roots movement and leadership at the helm is a must.
Wilkinsburg doesn't take Gates money and under Broad/Gates control. That is why they are addressing the behavior problems of the children and not covering it up or blaming it on effective teaching!
PPS would never come out and say students are out if control and we are going to deal with those students. They would say it was because the teacher is ineffective,
9:43 It will definitely help. If the real stories get out to the public, not the "fake" news that PPS sends out to the PG or local news, the public would be shocked and outraged. PPS would have to be held accountable, the cover up would be over. Please talk to her!
There is such silence from the leaders of the African American community that sometimes I wonder what REALLY is behind this?? I have not seen nor heard of any real challenge on any problems coming from ANY African American leader.Why?? They seem to have nothing to say. Some people thought that the addition of Dr. Regina Holly to the Board would make a difference in addressing many of these problems. It has not changed anything. Everyone wants to be so nice and reasonable. Have they been promised something personally from the Gates Foundation? Sounds far fetched doesn't it, and yet nothing would surprise me. This is all part of a much bigger plan.
8:06 Sadly that Gates money is earmarked for publicity stunts such this parade as well as paying for the bloated central office staff salaries. The irony is we were given millions of dollars but are still broke. The Gates money never touched the kids, something the teachers and those on the frontlines came to realize pretty quickly. PPS, the union, the mayor etc all rallied for this money and sold out the teachers and students and we got a frickin' PARADE?!!
P.S. I agree that Lane is audacious as well, in regards to many things she says and does, and audacious is putting it very, very politely
This Fox Chapel teacher who was just named Pa. Teacher of the Year teaches AP music theory among other music related areas. AP music? Does PPS even still have music at all?
Note that the article states that the Mayor's Education Committee had 4 meetings and several canceled. Their deadline has been extended. This was another PR move and a waste of time. Was the Mayor on PPS' float too?
He is all about publicity, I'm surprised he wasn't dressed up in the Owl Egbert costume riding shotgun in the float car with Lane! He should work as a substitute in a PPS class for a day! Now that would be a great PR stunt! He has zero business inserting himself into PPS and the "task farce" is just another thing that looks good on paper and gets him a little more press time.
Hey here is you all answers in reference to Tim Stevens He visit U Prep, A+ Schools had meetings in talks with Linda Lane among other things pertains to education He been there I hope that answer ? where are the black leaders he been there !!!!!!!!!!!!!
54 comments:
OMG!
Think about converting this into a RALLY for PPS students.
Our majority students are in desperate need of a
rally advocating for student rights and student achievement at the hands of PPS adults!
"sponsor holiday parade
If you go
WPXI-TV will air the 34th annual WPXI Holiday Parade, which starts at 9 a.m. Saturday. The parade Downtown will follow Liberty Avenue from 21st Street onto Grant Street, turn west on Fifth Avenue to Liberty, then south on Stanwix Street and west on Boulevard of the Allies.
Daily Photo Galleries
Friday - Nov. 28, 2014
By Tory N. Parrish
Friday, Nov. 28, 2014, 11:00 p.m.
Updated 10 hours ago
Pittsburgh Public Schools will spend more than $200,000 during the next three years to help sponsor a holiday parade and pay for other promotions to boost its public image."
Does that sound more like communications, or an educational measure?
"One way to support positive teaching and learning is through enhancing public perceptions about the district, as with the marketing campaign with WPXI, according to the district."
Tenuous. Mr. Brentley is perfectly justified in objecting to the item being routed through the education committee rather than his communications committee. The article suggests that he would have compared a variety of communication approaches- sounds like he wanted to do his job.
Notice when it's. something likely to be perceived as negative it's usually ignored by the PG and covered by the Trib. Nothing in PG about a parade, maybe if it was in Wikinsburg...?
In a more perfect world, Mr. Brentley would be president of the PPS school board.
Heaven Help Us!
"Perceptions" and public relations will change DRAMATICALLY WHEN and ONLY WHEN the Teaching and Learning, Curricula and Instruction, and Attitudes about "Urban" children change.
It is the RESPONSIBILITY of Educational Institutions (SCHOOLS) to EDUCATE!
If they are NOT doing that, they need not exist!
"Marketing Campaigns" will NOT change what is happening IN our schools!
Oh the Editorial Board would be outraged if it was in Wilkinsburg- paying for a parade.
Strange- the parade is ostensibly intended to call attention to good things about the schools, but one of the good things is that the district is trying to get more effective teachers, which indicates a problem with existing teachers, which is not such a good thing. But since it's Gates money they apparently can't just celebrate the good things, it all has to come back to the teacher debate.
Just what we need...what will the powers that be think of next?? How about spending the money on our students so they learn to read and write.
beyond the money spent to be a sponsor did the gates grant also pay for the construction of the floats and the matching hats and gear the staff, students and board members wore? I wonder if there should be polling done?Was there a bake sale or something held that paid for all that? Talk radio will have a field day with this one come monday.
10:45 Unless the leaders in the "urban" community are willing to organize, mobilize and lead 'for change' the plight of education in these areas will remain the same. Period.
12:24 -
10:45 Unless the leaders in the "urban" community are willing to organize, mobilize and lead 'for change' the plight of education in these areas will remain the same. Period.
Two responses:
1) Why should anyone need to organize to have access to a "civil right"?
2) Who says they have NOT organized, mobilized and undertaken countless initiatives on behalf of "urban" students, including countless interactions, individually and collectively, with PPS Central Administration WITHOUT tangible or beneficial follow-through or consequence?
What are you suggesting (?) "overthrow" , legal or political? Who in an "urban" community can afford either against Bill Gates and/or Eli Broad or this region's governing 'officials'?
Re: (1): No one should have to organize to access a civil right, but of course many groups have found it necessary.
Re: (2): One area where there has not in recent years been a high level of mobilization is school board elections. Promising initiatives would be to identify excellent candidates, work to remove obstacles to their candidacy, get out the vote, and contribute financially or with time.
12:59 ____ what is being suggested here is very Martin Luther King like.
And what happened to MLK? And others similar to him?
No one is giving up--the struggle continues--in as many ways--as many places--with as many risks as those who dare to take it on--"Power concedes nothing" . . .
MLK feared not for his life and there in lie his power to move masses.
Out of the chaos a leader will emerge.
Mobilizing so that every single public hearing had at least a few (or many more) parents from the worst affected schools testifying would be very different and the bigger the numbers, the more often testifying, the more likely to gain traction (or at least get some media attention).
Too often, the action has been to go and be told whatever the administration wants heard, in small group meetings that are not open to the public.
I don't know if it's still their operating procedure, but often times Mark Roosevelt or one of his deputies would call individuals who had complained at public hearings.
They would praise their brave/smart testimony as a first step, then try to co-opt that person. They'd offer to meet and give them "the real story" and do their best to shut them up.
Fairly sure that is still happening with Lane (and A+ schools). It's amazing how a little flattery with the promise of "inside information" (along with the knowledge that they know who you are and how to contact you) is so effective at neutralizing people.
Whether it is known or not, the great majority of people who go en masse, in small groups or individually to public hearing are NOT given any response (sometimes a postcard that has a pre-printed thank you for coming). Frankly, it is a waste of time, energy, pre-meetings, strategizing, speaking, etc. let alone getting ACTION that responds to the 3 minutes.
You end up feeling foolish for putting yourself out there only to be disrespected by lack of any real concern from Administration. The Board sees their role as demonstrating respect for the Administrators that they have voted affirmatively into the positions that they hold. To do otherwise is politically incorrect. The silence is deafening!
Month-in, month-out, year-after-year, with exceptions not even worth mentioning, the PPS Public Hearings are a total exercise in FUTILITY!
Until very recently, the public hearing could be heard only by those able to be in Oakland at 6:00 pm. With hearings now becoming available on community TV and you tube, the audience and potential impact will be much wider.
Refocus on Questioner 1:21's response. This is a blueprint from which to begin. A leader is needed.
Just as a point of discussion: What do bloggers think would happen if some group filed a lawsuit against PPS for its failure to educate Black children in the thousands, tens of thousands over the past 8 years?
There would be no Black Leaders who would witness for the Prosecution.
What about the Advocates group- has anyone spoken with them lately?
4:53
One reason PPS has been able to fail black children
(and really all children) is their ability to hide what is really happening behind a shiny bright facade of good PR. One great example is U prep. A reporter is poised to expose the violations to children and adults at U prep and keep those who speak out anonymous and NO ONE will talk to her.
PPS has manipulated and tricked the public by means of a slick PR department and fake grassroots groups like A+ schools. This is what the Gates money pays for. People are willing to post on this blog but will not speak the same things to a person who could actually help.
Please see the u prep thread for Rebecca Nuttalls contact info and contact her anonymously regarding PPS issues that need to be brought to the attention of the public. In cities that receive Gates money, there are huge PR cover ups to keep the public uniformed or misinformed. That is what a lot of the money is for. There is now even a name for the fake grass roots groups, like A + schools, he funds to sway the public, it's called "astroturfing"
PPS will not be changed until they are exposed to the public and they know that no one will do that. It doesn't take money to fight these billionaire reformers and banish them. It takes exposure, that is why they give so much money to PR.
For example, the Gates money PPS used for the parade bought them 30 minute "stories" on WPXI to promote whatever agenda PPS is pushing and present it to the public as unbiased "news" rather than a paid promotion. Cities that have taken their schools back from these reformers did it by exposing what was happening and getting the public back on the side of students, parents, and teachers.
Continued from previous post
But it is true that for some reason people won't step up to do something. Parents and teachers won't even speak anonymously about U prep to stop the abuse of children and staff that is written about at length on this blog. It doesn't get much easier than sending a copy of what you post here to a reporter who can make these problems public knowledge.
Linda Lane, most of central office, and many principals don't truly care about you, your children, or the teachers. They care about protecting their high paying jobs that exist only because of Gates money. They are not going to do what's right because you appeal to their humanity. They appear to have lost it. They will, however, respond to the threat of their job/ money being lost. They will have to change or go away if faced with negative PR and public exposure of their misdeeds. They absolutely count on the ignorance of the public and the fear of the teachers to allow them to do whatever they want and answer to no one. Big money is spent to keep the public fooled and the teachers afraid.
Exposure is the ONLY way to get their attention. We need to understand that and act on it. They are so certain they will never be called out, they wouldn't know what to do if many of the stories written on this blog went public. I truly cannot wrap my head around the fact that NO ONE will talk to the reporter and expose these things! And yes I am a teacher, so I understand the fear, but I have contacted Ms. Nuttall many times to try to help my fellow teachers and PPS students.
WE ARE ALLOWING this to continue. We must really be a joke to Lane & Central Office to allow them to continue to disregard us and our students and not say boo about it. What is everyone so afraid of? If things written on this blog were published, the public would be shocked, outraged, incredulous to say the least. It would be nationwide news. Do you honestly think, for example, if the U prep thread went public that they could fire us all? WE ARE ALLOWING THIS.
Please see U prep thread, contact Ms. Nuttall, expose what is happening. Contact her if there are things happening in your schools or to your children that you know aren't right. Stop allowing this to continue. How long do we allow this to continue before we are at fault for letting it continue? Now that we have someone who can actually speak out on our behalf and we aren't stepping up, we are at fault!
We can't continue to write about what they are doing to us or our children. They can only do what we are allowing them to do! If thy are reading this blog, Lane and CO must really get a good laugh about all these "outraged" and '"concerned" people who are too afraid of them to do anything but lay down and let them walk all over us. It is shameful!
Has anyone else, besides me, contacted Ms. Nuttall? She is our best hope right now! You are allowing this to continue. You are as much to blame as Lane and CO if you continue to remain silent!
I agree that expecting any answer or change from the public hearing is futile. However, it is necessary. It is necessary to show that someone has noticed, if you can get 10 people to show up, it is noticed that much more. If you got 10 or 20 people to show up at every hearing, many of them new, you might begin to pierce the consciousness of some of the board members. They might ask a question of the administration or visit a school. You could find other parents and community members to pair up with. You would meet some of the activists that have been trying to improve the schools over the last 4-5 years.
However, sitting at home doing nothing is not only futile, it's what they want you to do! That's how they keep this going.
Students, parents and teachers are natural allies. Yes there are circumstances where a given parent and teacher disagree, but on the whole they are on the same side. The Gates Foundation is facing an uphill climb trying to create an adversarial relationship that requires the intervention of entities like Gates.
Someone requested Ms. Nutall's contact information. It is:
"She has permission from her editor to keep you anonymous.
Rebecca Nuttall
Staff Writer
Pittsburgh City Paper
650 Smithfield Street
Suite 2200
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
412-316-3342 x. 175
rnuttall@steelcitymedia.com
@PGHReporter "
re:Public Hearings
I have watched the public hearings of other school districts. There is often an exchange after a comment and sometimes a district person or board member will actually discuss the topic covered with the speaker. At the legislative meeting Mark Brentley mentioned that the microphones have been removed (from each board member) during public hearings. I guess taking mics away is something discussed at executive session.
Hello, I was informed of this site. I held my tongue for a few years about UPrep. I was abused there as a sub, and now I want to speak to Nuttall also.
4:15PM ___ Where are the Sala Udins,the Tony Normans, the Rev.Dr. Johnnie Monroes, the Thomas Sumpters, the Rev. Sims, the Rev. Walls, the Jake Wheatleys and the list goes on. There silence is deafening and their inability to organize, mobilize and lead is incomprehensible.
In various ways, the administration disincentivizes people from leading.
Could this Administration disincentivize the MLK of this world?
Nope. It looks like MLK's are few and far between.
9:11
Wheatley is engaged to a PPS CO staffer & in cahoots with the urban league which is pushing to end teacher tenure and use TFA which show they are under Broad Gates influence, the PG employs Tony Norman and we know by now that the PG is in cahoots with PPS CO etc, the Gates/PPS influence reaches far and wide which is why they feel so certain that can do whatever they want without repercussions.
But why do need them? We have first hand experience from the frontlines and a truly independent unbiased reporter willing to put our story out there. Why are we wasting time wondering why any of these people aren't helping us? Why aren't we helping ourselves?
We should probably have a thread every month just to highlight the crazy stuff heard at meetings.
At the education committee meeting Dr. Micheaux mentioned a new program planned for aspiring administrators. One board member inquired how this will be different from PELA. I was an active parent during the early PELA and PULSE days and I would gladly share her response but my brain shut down when my BP went up and I just don't remember what she said.
More than an hour was spent on KDKA radio this morning The absurdity of this is beyond belief! Many callers talked about so many things that are lacking, missing, because there is no money to pay for basics. Yet, PPS paid $205,000.00 for a parade that had Superintendent Linda Lane and Board Members riding on a float and waving to the people! Has anyone looked at the state achievement scores in Reading, Literature, Math, Algebra, Science, Biology, and Writing? What is Pittsburgh coming to? How does this happen?
Someone sent a post about U Prep. Did you contact the reporter?
12:58
PPS didn't spend, Bill Gates did. That is this precious money that the children and teachers were sold down the river is used for. It was never for the kids. It is for PR, fake grassroots groups like A + schools, central office jobs, and teacher effectiveness (RISE & union/tenure busting)
Gates money is matched with tax dollars. It is 50/50. None of it goes to the kids.
How does PPS allow it? How does anyone allow it? Go to any student at CAPA, SCI-Tech, Obama, and Allderdice and ask them about what is going on at UPrep, and then ask their teachers if they would like to teach at UPrep. Ask all of them about the amount of abuse, drugs, and cutting that is going on in that school on a daily basis. I am a teacher at one of the schools mentioned above and I am saddened to hear what my fellow peers are going through under that incompetent administration. I would like to speak to Miss Nuttall. Do you think it will help?
I am a parent of a child at UPrep. Because I work two jobs I can't get in there. A parent who took her baby out of there told me to read an article in the Courier about UPrep that was written over the summer. One parent in the article said it is absolute chaos. Is that true?
Where is Tim Stevens, the Urban League, NAACP, all the big shots at Hill House? I taught in the Hill for 25 years and I can tell you these people will do nothing if the principal
and/or the Super are black. I know this for a fact. Now if either was white, then you'd really see some mobilization. Why do you think these people were put into these positions in the first place? Because they had such great proven track records in education? They really raised scores and closed the racial achievement gap? They had any answers to the truancy problem or knew how to solve discipline problems? NO, not these people.
Wilkinsburg has had change in its Super/School Board and is making solid strides toward serving these students and community with transparency and common sense. It has been a grass roots movement and leadership at the helm is a must.
Would that have happened if the Broad-trained person originally tapped for Superintendent had taken the position?
Hard to say 10:07, but I'm sure Wilkinsburg, in light of it's current leadership, is not looking back!
Wilkinsburg doesn't take Gates money and under Broad/Gates control. That is why they are addressing the behavior problems of the children and not covering it up or blaming it on effective teaching!
PPS would never come out and say students are out if control and we are going to deal with those students. They would say it was because the teacher is ineffective,
9:43
It will definitely help. If the real stories get out to the public, not the "fake" news that PPS sends out to the PG or local news, the public would be shocked and outraged. PPS would have to be held accountable, the cover up would be over.
Please talk to her!
There is such silence from the leaders of the African American community that sometimes I wonder what REALLY is behind this?? I have not seen nor heard of any real challenge on any problems coming from ANY African American leader.Why?? They seem to have nothing to say. Some people thought that the addition of Dr. Regina Holly to the Board would make a difference in addressing many of these problems. It has not changed anything. Everyone wants to be so nice and reasonable. Have they been promised something personally from the Gates Foundation? Sounds far fetched doesn't it, and yet nothing would surprise me. This is all part of a much bigger plan.
And Lane had the audacity to tell legislatures that Pittsburgh is hurting for money!
8:06
Sadly that Gates money is earmarked for publicity stunts such this parade as well as paying for the bloated central office staff salaries. The irony is we were given millions of dollars but are still broke. The Gates money never touched the kids, something the teachers and those on the frontlines came to realize pretty quickly. PPS, the union, the mayor etc all rallied for this money and sold out the teachers and students and we got a frickin' PARADE?!!
P.S. I agree that Lane is audacious as well, in regards to many things she says and does, and audacious is putting it very, very politely
http://www.post-gazette.com/local/north/2014/12/08/Fox-Chapel-educator-named-Pennsylvania-s-2015-Teacher-of-the-Year-Mairi-Cooper/stories/201412080155
This Fox Chapel teacher who was just named Pa. Teacher of the Year teaches AP music theory among other music related areas. AP music? Does PPS even still have music at all?
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2014/08/25/Pittsburgh-Mayor-Bill-Peduto-early-childhood-education-panel/stories/201408250230
Note that the article states that the Mayor's Education Committee had 4 meetings and several canceled. Their deadline has been extended. This was another PR move and a waste of time. Was the Mayor on PPS' float too?
12:59
He is all about publicity, I'm surprised he wasn't dressed up in the Owl Egbert costume riding shotgun in the float car with Lane!
He should work as a substitute in a PPS class for a day! Now that would be a great PR stunt! He has zero business inserting himself into PPS and the "task farce" is just another thing that looks good on paper and gets him a little more press time.
Hey here is you all answers in reference to Tim Stevens
He visit U Prep, A+ Schools had meetings in talks with
Linda Lane among other things pertains to education
He been there I hope that answer ? where are the black leaders he been there !!!!!!!!!!!!!
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