Hello to all of you,
Here is an update on an activity for Equal Choice for West Side residents. A
letter of explanation is first, then a copy of the survey described with the
number of YES and NO answers, and comments received typed on the survey.
Please take a look at the survey. You may interpret it differently, but the
letter contains my interpretations. Please feel free to share this
information with other school district residents. Any questions or comments?
Contact me by email at hymel1999@aol.com or call at 879-8348.
Donna Hymel
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Since the school board and administration will not answer, discuss, or
even acknowledge most of our questions, Darryl and I, with the help of
several other West Side parents, created a short list of questions concerning
Equal Choice, MI, Math Curriculum and Administrative Responsiveness. These
questions, along with a short letter, were sent on October 17 to each
elementary and middle school classroom teacher who was in the district as of
last spring. Darryl and I signed the letter so the teachers would be well
aware of who this survey was coming from. We included a self-addressed
stamped envelope with the survey to be mailed back to us, hoping that the
teachers would not feel threatened or uncomfortable by answering these
questions since they could do so anonymously.
We had no idea what to expect for a response. We were told that a 3%
response was what is generally expected on a survey of this sort. We are
pleased to say that over 29% of the surveys (43 of 146 to be exact) have been
returned to us. We would like to share the results and comments we received
with you. Attached is a copy of the survey to which I added the number of
YES answers and NO answers. The survey we sent out did not include a "?"
or "No Answer" answer, only "YES" or "NO" to be circled. Some surveys we
received had a question mark hand written in between the YES or NO, so those
are counted as "?" . Some of the questions had neither YES or NO circled
and those are counted as "NO ANSWER". Some of the answers were qualified
with a statement which I included in the comments received listed after each
question. These are included in the total counts, and do not add any more to
the total for the question. The comments and statements are there for your
information.
My interpretation of the information I received is that the teachers
responding to this survey are in support of Equal Choice for the West Side
parents. Thirty six of the teachers do not agree that a neighborhood school
should be dedicated to the McWayne MI teaching philosophy, while only 5 do
agree. In addition, 37 do not agree with assigning the West Side students to
the McWayne MI program while only 4 do agree. While 10 teachers have chosen
or would choose this program for their own children, 25 said they would not.
Unfortunately, we West Side residents don't even have that choice, and the
majority of the responses would NOT choose it.
As far as providing BOTH the McWayne MI program and the Storm/AGS type of
program at the West Side school, according to the respondents, 21 thought
that both programs COULD successfully reside together in the school, while 14
thought that it couldn't. What becomes interesting is whether a teacher
would apply to teach at the West Side School. Only 4 respondents said they
would choose that school if it was strictly MI. Fifteen would choose it if
is was a dual program, and 29 would choose it if it was the same as the other
schools. This indicates to me that by limiting the entire school to the
McWayne MI philosophy, you are drastically reducing the opportunity for a mix
of teachers and styles at that West Side school. In addition, it doesn't
indicate to me that the teachers are lining up to teach at McWayne as the
administration has claimed.
Though the number of YES responses is equal to the number of NO
responses to the question of continuing the McWayne MI program in the
district, the comments with this question indicate that it should be a
separate program ONLY if it is an OPTION and you can CHOOSE it. With YES
answers were comments that all schools already incorporate MI, that it is
used at all schools to some degree, and all good teachers use some of the
philosophy. The respondents have said essentially what Equal Choice is all
about: a child receives the type of instruction provided at the conventional
Batavia schools (which have some degree of MI incorporated into
instructional methods) unless the parent CHOOSES to send the child to the
McWayne MI OPTIONAL program which embraces a philosophy of Gardner's theory
of MI.
We are concerned that the district is planning to enforce a very specific
philosophy or method of instruction in the classroom for all teachers since
the administration is developing a description of what a good classroom in
Batavia should look like to be used to evaluate teachers. Thus we asked a
couple of questions (Number 7 a and b) concerning this. Thirty-one responses
indicated that the teachers should not be required to implement a specific
philosophy or method. Forty-one agreed that the teacher should be allowed to
choose the methods most suitable for the particular class. We agree with
these respondents.
Like many of the parents in the district, we are very concerned with the
Math program changes. A teacher's committee at BMS studied a variety of math
programs and recommended another program for the Middle school math
curriculum,yet Math in Context is the program they were directed to use.
Thus we asked question 8. The responses indicate that Everyday Math has more
support than Math in Context, but needs supplementary materials. Math in
Context is just not supported by our respondents.
Our experience with this board and administration's unresponsiveness to
the concerns of a large number of parents and tax payers led us to question
number 9. The responses speak for themselves.
We appreciate greatly the time and concern the respondents took to answer
the survey. We have many outstanding teachers within this district and we
would like to keep it that way!!!!
SURVEY RESULTS and COMMENTS AS OF OCTOBER 29,2000
Dear Teachers,
We are parents of five children in the Batavia school district. We are
actively involved with their education. We have repeatedly questioned the
Batavia School Administration and Board about their recent decisions and
have not received answers to most of the questions. At the community forum
on October 5, a resident asked the board to poll the teachers concerning the
MI issue in the district. The board did not indicate that they would survey
the teachers. Since many parents in the district are interested in the
teachers' input, we were encouraged to do a survey ourselves. Each
elementary and middle school classroom teacher in the district as of June
2000 will receive a survey in the mail.
In order to maintain anonymity, please use the enclosed envelope to
return your survey and any comments. Feel free to add comments on the
survey or on a separate typed sheet. We would like this information from you
by October 23 so we have your input before the final public forum on October
30.
Your opinion is important to us and the members of this community. We
look forward to receiving your responses.
Sincerely,
Signed by Darryl and Donna Hymel
The Batavia School Administration and School Board have designated the new
west side elementary school as the new location for the McWayne MI program
and have stated that MI will be the only teaching philosophy at the school.
1. Do you agree that a neighborhood boundary school should be dedicated to
the McWayne MI teaching philosophy?
YES ? NO NO ANSWER
5 1 36 1
NO - Not in full.
YES - I don't understand what is offensive about it.
YES - It is not really very different.
NO - This is wrong!
2. Parents of students outside the west side boundary may choose the McWayne
MI program. Do you agree with the policy that students within the west side
boundary are assigned to the McWayne MI program?
YES NO NO ANSWER
4 37 2
YES - I Think students should go to school with
neighborhood children. Parents become closer and it is best for kids.
3. Would you choose the McWayne MI program for your children?
YES ? NO NO ANSWER
10 1 25 7
YES - It depends on who is teaching each program.
YES - I did send my son to McWayne. It was a wonderful school. If I had
younger children I would not hesitate to send them as well!
YES - I did for one of my own children.
YES - That would be fine.
NO - (underlined 8 times)
NO - I feel that all schools use some MI in their lessons.
NO - I believe all schools incorporate MI.
NO - !!!!!
No Answer circled but commented "for one child, not all 3"
No Answer circled but commented "it has merits - it depends on the child.
All elementary school classrooms do MI to some extent.
No Answer circled but commented "not sure".
4. Could both programs: a) the McWayne MI philosophy and b) the Alice
Gustafson/ H.C. Storm Batavia conventional teaching method successfully
reside together at the West Side School?
YES ? NO NO ANSWER
21 6 14 2
NO - competition student jealousy
YES - with dedicated staff and administration
? - Maybe
? - Not sure, I could see conflicts
QUESTION NUMBER 4 COMMENTS CONTINUED:
NO - There is the potential for tension among staff.
NO - Too divisive.
YES - I think so.
No Answer - I don't know, it might.
YES - But I truly don't see that much difference.
YES - Aren't they the same?
5. Would you apply to teach at the new West Side school if:
a) It is an isolated MI school? YES NO NO ANSWER
4 35 4
b) It is a dual program school? YES NO NO ANSWER
15 23 5
c) It is the same as the other 5 schools? YES NO NO ANSWER
29 8 6
N/A I don't want to move.
NO to all three. I want to stay where I am.
YES to all three. If I agreed with the philosophy of the principal, I would
teach at any school.
6. Should the McWayne MI program be continued in this district?
YES ? NO NO ANSWER
17 3 17 6
YES - and Expanded.
NO - not as MI - all good teachers use their philosophy.
YES - as an option.
No Answer - We all do MI! Why do they feel they are so special?
YES - For those who want it.
YES - I believe all schools incorporate M/I.
No Answer - MI is used at all schools to some degree, and should be.
7. Do you think that all teachers should:
a) Be required to implement a specific philosophy or method in the classroom?
YES ? NO NO ANSWER
7 1 31 4
No Answer - Depends - standards based -> yes
No Answer - Depends on what it is.
No Answer - We do by agreeing to teach in Batavia Schools and teaching
curriculum.
YES - we all do.
NO - ludicrous.
YES - all teachers at all schools must do this.
No Answer - some what.
YES - for continuity throughout the district this is sometimes needed.
No Answer - Depends: Corporal punishment? No. Phonics and whole language?
Yes.
b) Be able to choose the teaching methods most suitable for the particular
class? YES NO
41 2
YES - within the approved curriculum and state standards.
YES - within the specific philosophy required for all teachers.
YES - This is common sense.
YES - We all do.
YES - This is important. Each year is different depending on class size and
make up.
YES - but have unified curriculum.
8. Are the "Everyday Math" and "Math in Context" curriculums your choice
for our math program?
YES NO NO ANSWER
16 19 8
NO - Math in Context - Supplementary only.
NO - but it's great!
No Answer - It has some merit - it is good because of its strong spiraling of
skills.
NO - !!
YES - with adaptations.
No Answer - Everyday Math - This is the best I've seen in 18 years!
NO - underlined 4 times for emphasis.
NO - needs supplementary materials.
NO - But we are working on it. Like any new program it takes time and work
to learn to use it effectively. I would choose a combination of traditional
math and "Math in Context."
No answer - The jury is still out!
No answer - What does this have to do with the MI issue? Educators have the
training and experience to make curriculum choices. Parents may not trust
us! (unless they're educators.)
YES - and they work very well!
NO - It should be a part of the curriculum, not the whole curriculum.
9. Do you feel your ideas and recommendations are valued by the
Administration?
YES Yes and NO NO NO ANSWER
6 6 29 2
NO - Look at the history of contract negotiations.
NO - They're all talk.
YES - ! In almost every case.
No Answer - I've felt both ways at times.
No Answer - By some, yes, and others, no.
YES - If I voice them.
No Answer - sometimes.
NO - I feel this administration listens to parents more than teachers.
No Answer - At building level - YES
At district level - NO
THANK YOU!!
GENERAL COMMENTS RECEIVED:
MI Classes have been substantially smaller than other schools. Would this
continue? They need to be fair! If many West Side parents choose not to
have their child attend McWayne, won't this increase the class sizes at the
already crowded non-MI schools?
All good teachers use a MI approach every day. It does not matter what
"type" of school it is. It is the logical way to reach all students.