Jack Smith vs Josh Starr

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My memory has faded. How do the track records of these two superintendents compare? BOE refused to renew Starr's contract. But they unanimously support Smith. Could it be because they didn't want to look like a group of impossibles? "Come be the superintendent of the best school district in the country! But only be it for 1 term because we'll boot you out..."

Honestly, I don't recall disliking Starr. However, I don't trust Smith at all.

Everything was Joshua Starr's fault, including every worksheet with a misspelled word and every single flake of snow that fell. How soon you forget!

Those “damn you, Joshua Starr” posts were the best. For all the complaining about Smith, there haven’t been as many “damn you, Jack Smith!” posts.

You're right, there haven't, and I wonder why.

I know them both and have worked for them both and would pick Josh Starr a thousand times over Smith. He has balls and he had a much broader vision. He didn't play well in the sandbox with the BOE and they ended up at total odds. I literally can't think of one colleague who likes Smith. Morale is at an all-time low. The people closest to Smith in the org chart are the most miserable, but principals aren't happy either. And teachers are a total afterthought. He is infamous for being a screamer too.

I've worked for both as well and while I love that Smith finally got rid of 2.0 the lack of discipline in our schools is terrifying. My administration should have been able to suspend a boy last week that slapped a girl in the face for calling her a snitch. Were they allowed? Nope. His punishment? Play on his Chromebook in the office. Came back the next day and referred to the girl as a snitch again. Guess he didn't hit her the next day so that's a plus???? What the actual F*ck is going on??

[Anonymous]

I’m a teacher and horrified by what is happening in the schools. For parents who like Smith, I encourage you to talk to your children about the behaviors that are now common and acceptable in schools. We literally have children running the halls, physically assaulting teachers, fist fights in the cafeterias and playgrounds on a DAILY basis. Nothing is allowed to be done with these children even though they are ruining the education for the others in the class/school. I don’t know of any teachers who are not embarrassed by the behaviors that are now being seen in the schools.

For Smith to now get a raise while all the schools are falling apart is insane. I would much rather have Starr back.

[Anonymous]

They’re both corrupted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a teacher and horrified by what is happening in the schools. For parents who like Smith, I encourage you to talk to your children about the behaviors that are now common and acceptable in schools. We literally have children running the halls, physically assaulting teachers, fist fights in the cafeterias and playgrounds on a DAILY basis. Nothing is allowed to be done with these children even though they are ruining the education for the others in the class/school. I don’t know of any teachers who are not embarrassed by the behaviors that are now being seen in the schools.

For Smith to now get a raise while all the schools are falling apart is insane. I would much rather have Starr back.

I am utterly disgusted with this man. He should be embarrassed that he's getting a raise while the schools are falling apart. I've never seen such misery in mcps in a long time. Is there anything we can do to stop his contract? I cannot believe our taxes are going to this guy. What a joke!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a teacher and horrified by what is happening in the schools. For parents who like Smith, I encourage you to talk to your children about the behaviors that are now common and acceptable in schools. We literally have children running the halls, physically assaulting teachers, fist fights in the cafeterias and playgrounds on a DAILY basis. Nothing is allowed to be done with these children even though they are ruining the education for the others in the class/school. I don’t know of any teachers who are not embarrassed by the behaviors that are now being seen in the schools.

For Smith to now get a raise while all the schools are falling apart is insane. I would much rather have Starr back.

100%. I used to LOVE teaching but now I sit in my car in the morning with knots in my stomach anticipating what kind of verbal abuse I'm going to be expected to take from some of my 5th graders. I taught ED at one point so I know that kids can have factors that influence their behavior but I've never seen so many general education students start this copy cat behavior of talking back, eloping, hitting teachers, etc. I feel terribly for my students who follow the rules and want to learn. The fact that they aren't even phased by what goes on in our classrooms and hallways is even scarier. They are de-sensitized to what should be startling behaviors. I honestly don't know how I don't get parent phone calls/emails about things that happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They’re both corrupted.

Starr wasn’t the least bit corrupt. That was his problem, he didn’t play the game. But he’s been gone more than six years, so what difference does it make now? That’s water under the bridge, The focus should be on the current board and current superintendent.

[Anonymous]

Could not stand Starr. The whole Magnet Debacle happened under Starr. Smith inherited that shitshow orchestreated by Pat O'Neil.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Could not stand Starr. The whole Magnet Debacle happened under Starr. Smith inherited that shitshow orchestreated by Pat O'Neil.

Which "Magnet Debacle" are you referring to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They’re both corrupted.

Starr wasn’t the least bit corrupt. That was his problem, he didn’t play the game. But he’s been gone more than six years, so what difference does it make now? That’s water under the bridge, The focus should be on the current board and current superintendent.

Starr left in Feb. 2015. Then Bowers was acting superintendent. Smith started in July 2016.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They’re both corrupted.

Starr wasn’t the least bit corrupt. That was his problem, he didn’t play the game. But he’s been gone more than six years, so what difference does it make now? That’s water under the bridge, The focus should be on the current board and current superintendent.

Starr left in Feb. 2015. Then Bowers was acting superintendent. Smith started in July 2016.

And I don't think there's any question that morale was a whole lot better in 2015 before he left than it is now. I have a lot of friends in central office, and they very much miss Starr, who they liked a lot. No one is perfect, but pushing him out was an enormous mistake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a teacher and horrified by what is happening in the schools. For parents who like Smith, I encourage you to talk to your children about the behaviors that are now common and acceptable in schools. We literally have children running the halls, physically assaulting teachers, fist fights in the cafeterias and playgrounds on a DAILY basis. Nothing is allowed to be done with these children even though they are ruining the education for the others in the class/school. I don’t know of any teachers who are not embarrassed by the behaviors that are now being seen in the schools.

For Smith to now get a raise while all the schools are falling apart is insane. I would much rather have Starr back.

100%. I used to LOVE teaching but now I sit in my car in the morning with knots in my stomach anticipating what kind of verbal abuse I'm going to be expected to take from some of my 5th graders. I taught ED at one point so I know that kids can have factors that influence their behavior but I've never seen so many general education students start this copy cat behavior of talking back, eloping, hitting teachers, etc. I feel terribly for my students who follow the rules and want to learn. The fact that they aren't even phased by what goes on in our classrooms and hallways is even scarier. They are de-sensitized to what should be startling behaviors. I honestly don't know how I don't get parent phone calls/emails about things that happen.

Restorative justice is a national trend in education that got its legs under the Obama administration. I think we'd be at the same place regardless of who superintendent is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Can’t stand either one of them.

This exactly

Both are disasters.

Starr has his Harvard pals infiltrate central office, and he thought social media would pump up his reputation. Totally superficial

Smith is carving out a consulting path for himself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a teacher and horrified by what is happening in the schools. For parents who like Smith, I encourage you to talk to your children about the behaviors that are now common and acceptable in schools. We literally have children running the halls, physically assaulting teachers, fist fights in the cafeterias and playgrounds on a DAILY basis. Nothing is allowed to be done with these children even though they are ruining the education for the others in the class/school. I don’t know of any teachers who are not embarrassed by the behaviors that are now being seen in the schools.

For Smith to now get a raise while all the schools are falling apart is insane. I would much rather have Starr back.

100%. I used to LOVE teaching but now I sit in my car in the morning with knots in my stomach anticipating what kind of verbal abuse I'm going to be expected to take from some of my 5th graders. I taught ED at one point so I know that kids can have factors that influence their behavior but I've never seen so many general education students start this copy cat behavior of talking back, eloping, hitting teachers, etc. I feel terribly for my students who follow the rules and want to learn. The fact that they aren't even phased by what goes on in our classrooms and hallways is even scarier. They are de-sensitized to what should be startling behaviors. I honestly don't know how I don't get parent phone calls/emails about things that happen.

Restorative justice is a national trend in education that got its legs under the Obama administration. I think we'd be at the same place regardless of who superintendent is.

As a response to the school-to-prison pipeline, which is a real problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Can’t stand either one of them.

This exactly

Both are disasters.

Starr has his Harvard pals infiltrate central office, and he thought social media would pump up his reputation. Totally superficial

Smith is carving out a consulting path for himself.

I don't really get the knock on social media. I thought that made Starr more accessible. The problem with restorative justice is that MCPS didn't properly train or implement it. (My opinion as a teacher.) Restorative justice should still involve consequences and not trying to make the number look good. We need consistency and rule enforcement AND restorative practices can do that when done well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Can’t stand either one of them.

This exactly

Both are disasters.

Starr has his Harvard pals infiltrate central office, and he thought social media would pump up his reputation. Totally superficial

Smith is carving out a consulting path for himself.

I don't really get the knock on social media. I thought that made Starr more accessible. The problem with restorative justice is that MCPS didn't properly train or implement it. (My opinion as a teacher.) Restorative justice should still involve consequences and not trying to make the number look good. We need consistency and rule enforcement AND restorative practices can do that when done well.

You're addressing my post.

RJ (or practices) work best with "low level" infractions. When it's gang-related, it takes time and a whole village to address it. (I was trained through tier 2, btw.) We don't have time for that. Get the real criminals out.

sorry - I have NO tolerance for this BS. Schools are not baby prisons, and it's become a slippery slope when you pull teachers into MH roles. We are not TRAINED as psychotherapists.