New Wilson Principal and the Beacon paper

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Could the students set up an independent paper not affiliated with the school, and publish online? Not a Wilson parent, but I am appalled by the principal's actions. Very disappointing. If they needed some start up money to help secure a website, I'd contribute.

I'm not a Wilson parent, but when I was in high school, we ended up doing exactly this. It was expensive. Our parents helped. Our advisor helped (and was willing to get fired over it). We lasted for two issues, got a bunch of local press and the administration backed down. Ny kid is years away from high school and not in the Wilson feeder, but I'd contribute to this. High school journalism is either serious journalism or it's not. Our paper was reporting about serious things the administration did not want a lot of attention on, and their solution was to say, you are children, your opinions don't matter, do what you're told or else. Not a great message if you're trying to teach kids about professional ethics and responsible journalism.

[Anonymous]

If there are some professional journalists that could mentor the students, it would be great! I would donate to a kickstarter type fund for this, as I'm sure many would.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The schedules did come on Monday 24th. The chaos that has resulted from not having them in advance, however, has been so disruptive to the first week. One of the issues is that there is a new DCPS scheduling software being used for the first time coupled with the retirement of the assistant principal was served as the master scheduler. This means that the counselors making schedule adjustments don't have that person as a resource as they are trying to make fixes for students. Most students have also been assigned to new counselors due to switching from alpha to grade level groupings. If the schedules had come out in advance, at least some of the needed adjustments could have been done in advance of the first day by students and families going in early. We did that to meet the new counselor and she was able to sort out my DC's schedule then. Am hoping things will improve, but the Beacon issue is very concerning.

Wilson not only high school with schedule problems last week. Ellington's were also a mess - same DCPS mandated software and contractor mailing as Wilson.

But was Ellington's principal focusing his/her time on pre-review of a student newspaper, that, to this point, has had no issues with inappropriate content or on the administrative matters challenging the student body on Day 1?

[Anonymous]

I really hope parents turn out to that meeting with the principal and force her to defend her ridiculous, shortsighted "policy." I bet she'll relent prior to the meeting in hopes of avoiding a confrontation with the parents. And if she does I hope a parent will still ask her questions about why she would do such a thing to start with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another Wilson parent here, annoyed by this decision. The kids have a great point, if she gets to review, then she is in a way responsible for the content. Bad decision imo, why not leave it as it is and not have to answer for what the students are writing? Duh.

In other Wilson news, anyone know if there will be a Chinese teacher next week? Maybe she should be working on getting someone to teach all the Chinese classes asap. My kid basically had an extra free period in Chinese all week. Maybe they should put a help wanted add in the Beacon.

Hate to say it, but she just may be out of her league here.

See everyone at the meet-the-principal-coffee on Sept. 8 at 8 am.

why is the 'meet the principal' event always set up for a time when most parents are working?

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a poor way to start the year and first impressions are everything. The beacon should be left alone and I'm sure the principal has more important things to focus on than the student newspaper.

Right! I was trying to figure out when she would have time to do all of this reading? That school is massive and anyone who has worked for DCPS knows that free time to do anything other than DCPS mandates is few and far in-between. Especially coming in fresh. Good luck with this one!

I guess while she is taking breaks from drafting her doctoral thesis and pursuing her PHD, which she is also planning to do during her tenure as Wilson principal

+1 at my child's WOTP elementary our second year principal is pursuing another degree largely on he District's dime (not sure if it's a PHD or some other advanced degree, but I know it's Gtown). Turns out our principal was oftenoff school property last school year during school hours because of these classes. That is just wrong. Hope Martin doesn't think she can do the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If there are some professional journalists that could mentor the students, it would be great! I would donate to a kickstarter type fund for this, as I'm sure many would.

Me too!

[Anonymous]

My prediction is she will cancel the meeting on Sept. 8 I think she is one of those administrators that prefers to hide in her office and micromanage rather than deal with people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My prediction is she will cancel the meeting on Sept. 8 I think she is one of those administrators that prefers to hide in her office and micromanage rather than deal with people.

I dare her to try a stunt like that. She'll be gone by homecoming if she does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a poor way to start the year and first impressions are everything. The beacon should be left alone and I'm sure the principal has more important things to focus on than the student newspaper.

Right! I was trying to figure out when she would have time to do all of this reading? That school is massive and anyone who has worked for DCPS knows that free time to do anything other than DCPS mandates is few and far in-between. Especially coming in fresh. Good luck with this one!

I guess while she is taking breaks from drafting her doctoral thesis and pursuing her PHD, which she is also planning to do during her tenure as Wilson principal

+1 at my child's WOTP elementary our second year principal is pursuing another degree largely on he District's dime (not sure if it's a PHD or some other advanced degree, but I know it's Gtown). Turns out our principal was oftenoff school property last school year during school hours because of these classes. That is just wrong. Hope Martin doesn't think she can do the same.

Seems like the phd should be completed prior to being a principal, am I missing something here? Someone should ask her how she plans to spend her time during working hours at Wilson.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could the students set up an independent paper not affiliated with the school, and publish online? Not a Wilson parent, but I am appalled by the principal's actions. Very disappointing. If they needed some start up money to help secure a website, I'd contribute.

I'm not a Wilson parent, but when I was in high school, we ended up doing exactly this. It was expensive. Our parents helped. Our advisor helped (and was willing to get fired over it). We lasted for two issues, got a bunch of local press and the administration backed down. Ny kid is years away from high school and not in the Wilson feeder, but I'd contribute to this. High school journalism is either serious journalism or it's not. Our paper was reporting about serious things the administration did not want a lot of attention on, and their solution was to say, you are children, your opinions don't matter, do what you're told or else. Not a great message if you're trying to teach kids about professional ethics and responsible journalism.

Another person here who started an unofficial newspaper - it makes a great story for a college application. They could do it online, but maybe parents would contribute. Better to get the group to resign and go on with the business of reporting than negotiate with this principal who clearly has other she should have been doing. Since there are going to clearly be many problems at the school this year, someone might want to report on them. Anonymously if need be. Sounds like this woman is going to be too stupid to back down.

Same thing happened at St Alban's when there was censorship of Dan Quayle's son having a cockroach in his soup. Most of the kids resigned and created another newspaper. It can also be anonymous (the one I created was - but we were not comprehensive - we focused exclusively on problems at the school and the drunken parties and vandalism on the weekends.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a poor way to start the year and first impressions are everything. The beacon should be left alone and I'm sure the principal has more important things to focus on than the student newspaper.

Right! I was trying to figure out when she would have time to do all of this reading? That school is massive and anyone who has worked for DCPS knows that free time to do anything other than DCPS mandates is few and far in-between. Especially coming in fresh. Good luck with this one!

I guess while she is taking breaks from drafting her doctoral thesis and pursuing her PHD, which she is also planning to do during her tenure as Wilson principal

+1 at my child's WOTP elementary our second year principal is pursuing another degree largely on he District's dime (not sure if it's a PHD or some other advanced degree, but I know it's Gtown). Turns out our principal was oftenoff school property last school year during school hours because of these classes. That is just wrong. Hope Martin doesn't think she can do the same.

1. That's what Assistant Principals are for. Not necessarily to cover for principals while they pursue degrees but to hold down the forte while the principal is out of the building for any reason.
2. Chances are he's part of the leadership program the Chancellor instituted. That would explain his excused absences to attend classes. It's no different than him leaving to attend conferences or other professional development workshops.

The truth is that in a well run, organized structured building, the principal does not need to be there all day everyday. I taught in a private school where the Head of School and founder was hardly ever around. And when he was, it didn't matter. He was usually in his office. The guy right below him was the face of the school and involved with the day to day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My prediction is she will cancel the meeting on Sept. 8 I think she is one of those administrators that prefers to hide in her office and micromanage rather than deal with people.

I dare her to try a stunt like that. She'll be gone by homecoming if she does.

And how will you ensure this? What are you going to do? Attempt to gather a lynch mob and run her out? Get them to complain en masse to Henderson about the principal who cancelled a meeting????

You do know Henderson's not moved by whiny parents, don't you? Frankly no school head would get rid of a leader because of a cancelled meeting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could the students set up an independent paper not affiliated with the school, and publish online? Not a Wilson parent, but I am appalled by the principal's actions. Very disappointing. If they needed some start up money to help secure a website, I'd contribute.

I'm not a Wilson parent, but when I was in high school, we ended up doing exactly this. It was expensive. Our parents helped. Our advisor helped (and was willing to get fired over it). We lasted for two issues, got a bunch of local press and the administration backed down. Ny kid is years away from high school and not in the Wilson feeder, but I'd contribute to this. High school journalism is either serious journalism or it's not. Our paper was reporting about serious things the administration did not want a lot of attention on, and their solution was to say, you are children, your opinions don't matter, do what you're told or else. Not a great message if you're trying to teach kids about professional ethics and responsible journalism.

I too am not a Wilson parent (my kids are young) but I would contribute to this, absolutely! Is there a way to convey community support to the Beacon staff?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My prediction is she will cancel the meeting on Sept. 8 I think she is one of those administrators that prefers to hide in her office and micromanage rather than deal with people.

I dare her to try a stunt like that. She'll be gone by homecoming if she does.

And how will you ensure this? What are you going to do? Attempt to gather a lynch mob and run her out? Get them to complain en masse to Henderson about the principal who cancelled a meeting????

You do know Henderson's not moved by whiny parents, don't you? Frankly no school head would get rid of a leader because of a cancelled meeting.

She is often moved by media coverage and this story has the right elements to be national. If I were Kaya, I'd be calling Martin this weekend and get her to figure out a plan in order to be ready on Monday. Damage control.