Submitted by Marc, Mar 4, 2007 12:32

In moving into the third reorganization in his tenure, chancellor Klein makes many public statements as to his mission to improve instruction and reduce the dropout rate. It is striking that Mr. Wolf and the rest of the press never ask just how the change in governance is going to accomplish either of these unassailable goals. Instruction happens in classrooms not in offices. Students learn when there is apostive relationship with the teacher in the classroom. The teacher needs to be able to use whatever research based methods (and some experimental methods) that will enable him/her to reach the students in that classroom. The ability to do this well comes from experience and practice in a nurturing environment. The Chancellor needs to be asked, how this new restructuring plan will make any of that more likely, and how come the last two restructuring plans didn't achieve hsi goals?

The real truth is that this Chancellor, who is not an educator or a successful manager of large organizations, is getting paid a quarter of a million dollars a year for on-the-job training. His mistakes are predictable consequences of his lack of experience and his bias against inclusive, collaborative problem solving. A management system that hires more administrators (also with limited experience) everytime a problem is pointed out is doomed to fail. So as Mr. Meer points out we now have two Parent Enagagement officers neither of whose role is clear and neither of whom can effectively reach out to all the parents in the system. That is an activity that must take place at the community and school level. How will Ms. Guerrier be able to bring more parent voices (other than hers) to the table? How will she make sure they are heard at the school level?

When will the press begin to push for answers to the real questions about this administration?

Note: Comments are screened, and in some cases edited, before posting. We reserve the right to reject anything we find objectionable.