Letters to the Editors: Proposed Schedule Change at Greeley; Retired Teacher Keeps in Touch
February 1. 2008
What’s the rush? Open up the discussion to include the community and together we can achieve a great result
Nancy King
Community of thinkers and problem-solvers should have input
Nora Mackenzie
Former Theatre Arts Teacher, Keeping Up with News of New Castle
Phil Stewart
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What’s the rush? Open up the discussion to include the community and together we can achieve a great result January 30, 2008
Dear Mr. Selesnick,
Although I have two children currently attending Greeley, and another who graduated three years ago, this is the first time I have felt compelled to write a letter to school administrators.
I wish to express my concern with the block schedule/curriculum change that you are planning to implement for the 2008/2009 school year.
During the past few years, I have read the school generated newsletters mentioning the evaluation of the current teaching/scheduling practices. As I recall, the “blurbs” simply stated that the Greeley curriculum and schedule were undergoing evaluation by a team comprised of teachers, parents and administrators. I do not recall any details being provided nor any indication of the scope of the changes that are now slated for next year. Apparently, many other parents are surprised as well. We would like more information and explanation as to:
· Why do you believe these changes are necessary?
· Has a study been done that compares current practices with the proposed block schedule/curriculum?
· How is curriculum to be delivered during the newly configured schedule? For example, what does an 80-minute math class look like? Will the extra time allow students to do their homework in class? Will there be a break?
· In addition, since the total amount of class time over the year will not increase, how does the block schedule actually provide more time for more meaningful engagement?
Numbers are deceiving
You are mistaken if you think that the number of people who turned out for the January 14th PTA meeting is statistically insignificant. I believe that for every parent who attended, there are probably at least ten or more who, like me, did not attend but are equally worried and trying to understand the impact this change will have on our children.
What’s the rush? Please put the brakes on this plan and open up this process to include the community. Allow parents, teachers and students a voice. Together, I’m sure we can achieve a result that will work for our high school.
Sincerely yours,
Nancy King
cc: Chappaqua Board of Education
NewCastleNow.org
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Letter to the Editor: Proposed Schedule Change at Greeley
Community of thinkers and problem-solvers should have input
Dear Editor,
It saddens me to read the articles and letters concerning the change in
scheduling at Horace Greeley High School. It saddens me because after years
and years of talking and reading about open government and the Sunshine Law,
school administrators still think that they know all the answers and that
the community should accept whatever they say without question. The
arrogance is just mind-boggling. The school administrators knew for years that
changes were going to be made, but they discussed it behind closed doors.
What were they afraid of?
The New Castle community is made up highly educated people. Our
demographics show an inordinately large number of people with
not only college degrees but with masters and PhDs. Granted, not all of
them are in education, but it tells me that they are thinkers and problem
solvers. I would welcome their input. But obviously the school
administrators see a threat to their power by opening up the discussion to
the community.
If I’m wrong, I challenge the administrators to welcome the community’s
input and postpone the change until it has been reexamined.
I speak as a 43 year resident of New Castle.
Nora Mackenzie
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Letter to the Editor: Former Theatre Arts Teacher, Keeping Up with News of New Castle
As a retired Horace Greeley H.S. theater arts teacher, I have enjoyed your
coverage of school events, including clips of some of the performing arts
events at the high school. I especially enjoyed seeing a clip of Greeley’s
Theater Company production of “Urinetown,” as well as seeing Dance Emotions
lovely production of “The Nutcracker Suite.”
Additionally I have been following the concerns over Greeley’s new
scheduling plan, and I have alerted some of my retired colleagues who live
outside of Chappaqua to also take advantage of your news service.
I appreciate being able to stay abreast of what is happening within the
community where I taught for 22 years and occasionally coming across
stories and faces of old friends like Bruce Gilchrist who served Chappaqua
and the school board so well.
Sincerely,
Phil Stewart
Merritt Island, FL
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