PD Gives Ringing Endorsement to Sanders and Transformation Plan

Submitted by ralphnadir on Sun, 06/06/2010 - 11:14.

Not unexpectedly, the PD has given a ringing endorsement to Dr. Eugene Sanders and his Transformation Plan in today's editorial section.

http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/06/cleveland_schools_nee...

Some of my comments on this from cleveland.com:

 

<Not every thing wrong with Cleveland schools is the fault of Dr. Sanders. There are some positive, constructive aspects of the Transformation Plan, too.

What I don't get is the confrontational, uncooperative attitude he has displayed lately. He has been quoted as saying that singing "Kumbaya"
with the teachers is fruitless; yet, he presided over mammoth pep rallies at the Q the last few years, where he did just that.

Unfortunately, his tenure has been characterized by a climate of fear and the alienation of his most important employees. It has been proven by State Auditor Mary Taylor that Dr. Sanders' right-hand man, Chief Operations Manager Dan Burns, had been illegally investigating Board members, teachers, and private citizens in Toledo. Others have suggested that Sanders is either incompetent to have allowed such things to happen; or, that he is lying when he says he knew nothing about it. You can draw your own conclusions. In any event, the PD's strong endorsement of Dr. Sanders seems somewhat difficult to fathom.>

<I agree, bloesinger. The nuts and bolts of simply running schools in an effective and logical fashion are ignored, while the sexy new programs are pushed.
Considering that many of these programs are supported by many local corporations and foundations, I'd say it's easy to figure out why if one follows the money. For example: many Cleveland Foundation members used to work for Bill Gates.>

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/01/former_cleveland_schools_offic.html

 

CMSD needs investigation

CMSD administration needs investigation along with everything else in NEO that involves contract awards. 

RN, I follow your posts at Cleveland.com and I suggest that others follow this poster, too:

http://connect.cleveland.com/user/farnesworth/index.html

Thanks for posting here again.  Keep it up!

I really don't know how the Plain Dealer can continue to ignore the facts in reporting the situation in Cleveland schools. We need more teachers to speak out against the ministry of fear at CMSD.

Giving the Undertaker a Tip

"I really don't know how the Plain Dealer can continue to ignore the facts in reporting the situation in Cleveland schools. We need more teachers to speak out against the ministry of fear at CMSD."

Thanks, Laura. I try, but it is mind-boggling how the systematic marginalization of teachers and communities is being promoted by some heavy hitters; including President Obama. Eventually, Sanders will declare "Mission Accomplished," and take off (with his Platinum Parachute) not unlike Barbara Byrd-Bennett; who, as you pointed out, is now the Chief Academic Advisor for Detroit Public Schools. Wow! Nothing succeeds like failure. As someone here pointed out, we pay them to rob us!

Sanders

 According to one source, Sanders has NO teaching experience at all - he wanted to teach at the university level, but got sidetracked while working on a search committee for the Toledo superintendent position.  If you check his bio and curriculum vitae (available online), there is no mention of ANY teaching experience, just a few dubious awards.  Shouldn't the leader of a school system have SOME experience in the classroom?