Comments on: Our Morning Roundup: Food Fights & Snapdragons

By: The Madness Shop

The Madness Shop — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 00:49:08 +0000

I keep hearing cliche statements like “Fenty and Rhee are the best things to happen to DCPS” and/or “Fenty and Rhee are what DCPS needs” etc.

However, these recycled lines are never backed with any examples of DCPS success or improvements under the Fenty/Rhee administration. (other than school renovations)

Sure, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and no one expects Rhee to have created a utopian public school system after just a year and half. Still, Rhee has no positive incremental change in DCPS to take credit for. Rhee’s biggest success thus far is firing people and creating havoc in the name of reform.

Also, test scores have not improved, Assistant Police Chief Diane Groomes reports that truancy is at an all time high, obviously with this story and others that go unreported student discipline has NOT improved, students have unqualified rotating substitutes covering classes for months at a time, many schools like Stuart-Hobson are just getting their special education coordinator in the middle of the school year despite direct email request to Ms. Rhee since August 2008…and worst of all morale amongst DCPS personnel is the lowest its ever been due to Rhee’s “disagree with me and I’ll fire you” campaign.

Don’t mistake Rhee’s generic toughness and we are the world-like statements, “every child can learn,” for change or improvements. Change must be tangible. And its a shame that this Mayor and the DC City Council mistaked botched data, a resume absent of managing a major school district and the testimony of a former NBA player as Rhee's qualifications to be Chancellor's of DCPS.

By: Sam

Sam — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:51:05 +0000

"townie" bars? wtf. #1 what's up with that stupid slag, but also #2, that's ridiculous. near logan i can think of at least two 'neighborhood' bars, playbill and townhouse. they aren't looking hard enough.

By: Ron The Don

Ron The Don — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:55:12 +0000

With all due respect Al G, can the parents share the blame for this mess? If the parents aren't demanding the kids to get good grades, behave in a respectable manner and settle their difference without having someone else's blood spilling on the floor, nothing is gonna happen. Before you paint the school a haven for bad behavior, you need to remember that many viewed this school as one of the better schools in DC. Last time I checked 16 people don't make a majority of students. You should know that 16 students were arrested. Those 16 should be kicked out of school for the safety of those want to go to school and learn something useful. If you're so concern about the state of District school, turn your outrage into action and contact your elected officials and demand more accountability from the bottom to the top.

By: al gonzales Reality Check

al gonzales Reality Check — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:20:05 +0000

Al let's not forget to imprison the Chancellor of the "Cardozo thugs-in-training" who has allowed the school's custodians and Hawk One security guards to cover classes as substitute teachers. When Michelle Rhee's administration moves her focus from battling with unions, teacher-bashing and her and Fenty public relations tour...only then can they focus on actively engaging students in even wanting an education. There's an ole saying, "an idle mind is the devil's workshop." If students are left in classes where they are babysat by unqualified substitutes and allowed to play spades and surf the net on Facebook and myspace...well quite frankly...causing a random school fight is gonna be the highlight of their day.

By: al gonzales

al gonzales — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 13:44:45 +0000

The Cardozo thugs-in-training should be sent to prison ASAP, so they can learn from the professionals. After all, that's their future. If not prison, then send them to a special school where they can learn what it's like to sit behind bars all day for years & years.