New Wilson Principal and the Beacon paper

[jsteele]

The latest about the Martin-Beacon negotiations from Erik Wemple:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2015/09/04/prior-review-is-dead-at-wilson-high-school/

Principal Martin has dropped her requirement that she review articles before publication.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:The latest about the Martin-Beacon negotiations from Erik Wemple:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2015/09/04/prior-review-is-dead-at-wilson-high-school/

Principal Martin has dropped her requirement that she review articles before publication.

You aren't in Kansas (or CO) anymore, lady. Welcome to DC. We play in the Major Leagues and Ward 3 parents throw heat.

[Anonymous]

Congratulations Beacon staffers. The timing is interesting...DCPS and Martin trying to bury the story in the holiday weekend.

[Anonymous]

The Beacon editorial was very well-written, but the editors did themselves no favors with their quotes in The Washington Post. "... this woman" !? Really? How about Ms. Martin, Principal Martin, or just plain old Martin or the principal?

Throughout the blog piece, their statements have a tone to them--dismissive, disrespectful--that is offputting. And that's from someone who applauds their stand against prior review.

[Anonymous]

What has she done thus far as principal? At least my younger kids new principal instituted the Pledge of Allegiance.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:The Beacon editorial was very well-written, but the editors did themselves no favors with their quotes in The Washington Post. "... this woman" !? Really? How about Ms. Martin, Principal Martin, or just plain old Martin or the principal?

Throughout the blog piece, their statements have a tone to them--dismissive, disrespectful--that is offputting. And that's from someone who applauds their stand against prior review.

I was also a bit put off by that, but I wonder if it reflects the tone of the negotiations. Based on Wemple's articles, Principal Martin was not available for one expected meeting and the students probably felt like they were jumping through a lot of unnecessary hoops. But, learning to watch your words around the press -- even if you are the press -- is a good lesson.

[Anonymous]

I'm glad to see Martin will no longer insist on review of the Beacon. The bigger concern is she did not seem to do her homework on her many different constituencies at Wilson. If she did, she may have paused before her initial decision about the Beacon. Time will tel but she's off to a rocky start.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Beacon editorial was very well-written, but the editors did themselves no favors with their quotes in The Washington Post. "... this woman" !? Really? How about Ms. Martin, Principal Martin, or just plain old Martin or the principal?

Throughout the blog piece, their statements have a tone to them--dismissive, disrespectful--that is offputting. And that's from someone who applauds their stand against prior review.

In the eyes of these white students and their parents, Ms. Martin is just the hired help. God forbid she should ever think that she was hired to lead the school, and not do exactly what this crowd wants.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Beacon editorial was very well-written, but the editors did themselves no favors with their quotes in The Washington Post. "... this woman" !? Really? How about Ms. Martin, Principal Martin, or just plain old Martin or the principal?

Throughout the blog piece, their statements have a tone to them--dismissive, disrespectful--that is offputting. And that's from someone who applauds their stand against prior review.

I was also a bit put off by that, but I wonder if it reflects the tone of the negotiations. Based on Wemple's articles, Principal Martin was not available for one expected meeting and the students probably felt like they were jumping through a lot of unnecessary hoops. But, learning to watch your words around the press -- even if you are the press -- is a good lesson.

Totally agree. Sounded very disrespectful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Beacon editorial was very well-written, but the editors did themselves no favors with their quotes in The Washington Post. "... this woman" !? Really? How about Ms. Martin, Principal Martin, or just plain old Martin or the principal?

Throughout the blog piece, their statements have a tone to them--dismissive, disrespectful--that is offputting. And that's from someone who applauds their stand against prior review.

In the eyes of these white students and their parents, Ms. Martin is just the hired help. God forbid she should ever think that she was hired to lead the school, and not do exactly what this crowd wants.

good try, it's not about race, it's about focus. If Ms Martin is black, I don't know it...my DC has not yet seen her. Bargeman is black though, he's been seen. He also enacted the unpopular hall sweeps, and it never made NPR. Its a different set of issues, not race

[Anonymous]

She isn't the hired help? She is working for free?

[Anonymous]

I've been supportive of the Beacon and critical of the principal starting the week off with the policy fight. That said, the student editor referring to her as "that woman" really puts me off. They do sound like entitled brats and if that were my child's quote I would insist they make an apology.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've been supportive of the Beacon and critical of the principal starting the week off with the policy fight. That said, the student editor referring to her as "that woman" really puts me off. They do sound like entitled brats and if that were my child's quote I would insist they make an apology.

I wouldn't insist on the apology, but I would advise them not to abuse their 'free speech'

[Anonymous]

All-in-all this was a stupid way for Ms. Martin to begin the year. As she now realizes there are dozens of other problems that take precedence over the Beacon. Having students who can construct an argument is a nice problem to have. She needs to focus on those that can't construct a paragraph.

[jsteele]

We received a robocall and email tonight. So perhaps communications is getting back on track.