hiring a principal in the atlanta public schools

[rainstorm]

OK ; I spend most of my time in Atlanta. Been here for 35 years. It only took me about 35 minutes when I arrived here in 1967 to discover that the government schools operated by the City of Atlanta are little more than training programs for future government clerical employees. Georgia has some of the worst government schools in the nation, ( No. 49!) and Atlanta has the most inept and lowest performing government schools in Georgia.

I read a column yesterday morning written by the S. Richard Gard, Jr., the editor and publisher of our local legal newspaper (The Fulton County Daily Report).

Gard recently found himself sitting on a school panel interviewing candidates for the principals job at one of Atlantas lowest-ranked government elementary schools. You just wont believe some of the limitations that this panel faced while interviewing these candidates:

Gard wanted to see the resumes of the candidates before he interviewed. He was told he could not see those resumes because it would violate the rights of the applicants. So, lets see here ; someone submits a resume in order to be considered for the job of school principal, and the people interviewing this person for that job arent allowed to see the resume because it would violate the rights of the person who sent that resume in to be reviewed? Only in the world of government bureaucracies could such an absurdity possibly thrive, let alone exist at all.
The Atlanta government school bureaucracy asked Gard if he had any questions for the candidates he wanted to submit in advance. He replied that since he wasnt permitted to see the resumes beforehand he would just wait until he met the candidates to see what he wanted to ask them. No good. Against school policy. Gard was informed that the questions had to be approved beforehand and had to be exactly the same for every candidate interviewed.
Finally the bureaucracy came up with the form questions in advance of the interviews. The questions, according to Gard, read like speeches. They consisted of two or three unrelated ideas and ended with a question like what would the candidate do to develop school pride.
Gard and the other members of the interview panel were each given one question to ask to every candidate. They were told that the question had to be asked verbatim ; exactly the same to each candidate.
The interviewers were also told that they would not be allowed to ask any follow-up questions.
Before the questioning the interviewers were given a list of 44 buzzwords to listen for in candidate responses to their questions. Some of the buzzwords, or buzz-phrases, were Blooms Taxonomy, and Higher Order Thinking Skills. The interviewers were told that the use of these buzzwords would be an indication of the candidates depth of knowledge.
These are the people who are educating your children. Is it any wonder that Atlantas government schools are among the worst of the worst? Just how long are Americans going to put up with the these disasters that are our government schools?

http://www.boortz.com

[JCT777]

Wow, how ridiculous is this? They can't see the reume of the person they are interviewing, all questions must be approved beforehand, and they can't ask the person they are interviewing any follow-up questions. What kind of brain(less) trust thought this up???

[rainstorm]

Wow, how ridiculous is this? They can't see the reume of the person they are interviewing, all questions must be approved beforehand, and they can't ask the person they are interviewing any follow-up questions. What kind of brain(less) trust thought this up???

they dont want to violate anyone's "rights" you have to wonder if they even check these peoples references?

[JetMaxx]

I just wish to note that this occurred in the city of Atlanta school system...which are an embarrassment to us in the suburbs.

I can assure you the school board and superintendant don't behave in that manner in Douglas county...where I live; or in any other suburban metro county.

"We the people" wouldn't tolerate it...and would show our outrage and displeasure with our votes and recall petitions (as is being done presently in Clayton county, Georgia).

Perry

[Lindaloo]

I agree Jetmaxx. My daughter attended school in Cobb County (Roswell) at Mabry. But her being away from home got the better of me and she will be attending school here this year, even though the school system here is no better than the Atlanta school system.

If they would screen who they hire then maybe they would not have so many teachers quitting. the school's are out of control and will remain that way until this problem is resolved.

[rainstorm]

I just wish to note that this occurred in the city of Atlanta school system...which are an embarrassment to us in the suburbs.

I can assure you the school board and superintendant don't behave in that manner in Douglas county...where I live; or in any other suburban metro county.

"We the people" wouldn't tolerate it...and would show our outrage and displeasure with our votes and recall petitions (as is being done presently in Clayton county, Georgia).

Perry

atlanta schools sound awful

[JetMaxx]

atlanta schools sound awful

They are awful...and have been for over a quarter of a century

From age 4 to 6 (1966-1968) my family lived in southwest Atlanta....just off Cascade Road. The major reason why we moved back to Douglasville in September 1968? The public schools in that area were so pathetic -- and so dangerous (little white kids being robbed and beaten by gangs of older black kids for their lunch money).

Also, our home was broken into three times within a year AND dad's car stolen and stripped; also an elderly lady was mugged and severely beaten right in front of our home (this all occurred in 1967-68...within a year's time

Moving to Douglasville was a very wise decision by my parents. In 35 years our home hasn't been burglarized, only one vehicle in our neighborhood has ever been stolen, and it's safe for kids to attend elementary school...and for old ladies to walk around the block near dusk without fear of being mugged.

[azskyman]

Our education system needs a lot of attention. These types of controls in the name of better education are a fallacy.

A teacher for ten years, I sometimes think our kids might be better off if, toward retirement age, the government might handsomely recruit those of us with a boatload full of life's experiences to finish out our work years in service to the kids.

I'm not so old I couldn't keep up with most, but I wish I knew then (1970's) what I know now. I could have been a much better teacher.

Sad about the inner city schools, too.

[Lindaloo]

Perry, Dekalb County schools are the perfect examples of good gone down the tubes. My sister lived in that county for 10 years. She had to leave from there and move to Cobb County to escape the schools there.

[rainstorm]

the shame is that jesse jackson and the dems, who supposedly care about inner city issues, are the ones who wont allow inner city schools to improve. vouchers would be one idea

[Constructionwx]

Perry, Dekalb County schools are the perfect examples of good gone down the tubes. My sister lived in that county for 10 years. She had to leave from there and move to Cobb County to escape the schools there.

What a coincidence! I grew up in DeKalb County. The schools there were the best in the State at the time.

I graduated from Stone Mountain High in 79', and went to Clarkston High for the first three years of High School.

[Lindaloo]

Yes, what a coincidence!! My sister lived on Toby Rd. She loved the schools there until she went to pick up her son early and they were in the cafeteria when a huge fight erupted. The teachers did nothing to stop it right away. She said their reaction was not normal considering what was happening. She went to the school board etc. etc. etc. Nothing was accomplished. So she moved.

[JetMaxx]

You are exactly right about Dekalb county schools Lindaloo....and Clayton county is sadly following suit

Perry

[Constructionwx]

Memorial Drive in DeKalb County used to be a bustling economic area. Now, the only businesses open are pawn shops and liquor stores