post article about abuse incidents in DCPS

[Anonymous]

thoughts about this article that discusses 200 or so allegations of abusive behavior toward students in the last year?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/08/AR2010020803671.html?sub=AR

[Anonymous]

Bill Turque has an axe to grind. Has he written even one positive article about DCPS? He's annoying. Critique is good but Bill goes overboard. I'd like to know if
Bill ever bothers to volunteer at a DCPS school?

[Anonymous]

PP here. I'm such an idiot. Bill Turque must have posted this himself.

[Anonymous]

I'm confused--are the PPs saying these incidents didn't actually happen?

[Anonymous]

I'm a journalist and I do think this article is a natural followup to the recent brouhaha over Rhee's comment about firing teachers who hit children, who slept with children. I wondered how many there were system-wide myself. Journalism is all about asking questions. It seems like a legitimate one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bill Turque has an axe to grind. Has he written even one positive article about DCPS? He's annoying. Critique is good but Bill goes overboard. I'd like to know if
Bill ever bothers to volunteer at a DCPS school?

So you are saying that he should not report things like this? What should he do, sweep them under the rug?

[Anonymous]

i am the op and not bill turque. i just thought it was interesting that the post article inspired a firestorm of comments on the post site but none here.

[Anonymous]

All DCPS teachers are at risk of being falsely accused of corporal punishment. These were reports of allegations.

[Anonymous]

for the rest of the story

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcschools/2010/02/abuse_charge_a_wake_up_call_fo.html#comments

[Anonymous]

I often wonder, with all the unsubstantiated accusations; lack of administrative support; and disrespect from both students and parents would anyone continue to teach in the schools. It's a suicide mission.

[Anonymous]

When I worked in DCPS we were told that if we tapped a pencil on a child's desk it could be considered a hostile act and bring on a lawsuit; that's the sole reason I joined the Union. You could get basic, crappy legal counsel from them and we live in a society where public service opens the door to interacting with every kind of person--including those whose sole raison detre is litigation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I often wonder, with all the unsubstantiated accusations; lack of administrative support; and disrespect from both students and parents would anyone continue to teach in the schools. It's a suicide mission.

It's a good question. We teachers often ask ourselves this question, especially under the current leadership.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I often wonder, with all the unsubstantiated accusations; lack of administrative support; and disrespect from both students and parents would anyone continue to teach in the schools. It's a suicide mission.

It's a good question. We teachers often ask ourselves this question, especially under the current leadership.

Well I am the person who posted that rhetorical question. I was not limiting my observations to DCPS, but to all public schools. I know we need teachers and I tip my hand to all you teachers. However, if this board or the Washington Post is any indication of how people really feel about teachers, why continue to put up with the bs. As a parent with a child who definitely would not benefit from my attempting to homeschool him, I need the teachers, but darn.

[Anonymous]

Let Rhee/Fenty/Duncan/Obama know how you feel. We could use the support.

[Anonymous]

not all allegations are without merit and some parents do not report concerns for fear of retaliation from the school. these teachers do an important job but teachers who teach in the district are not all saints. they have a tough job and sometimes make bad decisions in the heat of the moment. don't we all. trouble is that there is a machine that comes in to defend them because of the damage one mistake can do to a career, etc. it does not help families get to the truth. i am glad this article was written by bill turque. glad hawk one keeps records. i wish we could see more statistics by school (especially ES). Also, would love to see more success stories of families and schools working together to solve problems. Lots of finger pointing and CY@ at our ES.