I am concerned that unless and until BOE members sit down, "informally," for that heart-to-heart meeting of the minds and a true cleansing, many will remain slaves to this cyclical dilemma.

Any perception of a dyfunctional governing body is perilous and potentially obliterates the positive effects and hope felt last week by supporters of the new board makeup, and what it proposed to represent, regarding change.

So I will pray. And so I will work. 

The Grand SLAM landslide must not result in a new era of mismanagement or incompetence nor must we fall victim to any "quake" of controversy borne of internal hostilities, as the opposing parties take to separate, possibly shaky, ground. This shift in the terrain, I must admit, can be quite unnerving.  Sadly, it's "par for the course," though, as Plainfield education goes, unfortunately.

Just as well, there are those, I'm confident, that are prepared to stand and demand "corrective action" from our board members, as well.  It may very well turn out that one of Plainfield's most problemmatic features, its diversity of philosophies, may turn out to also be it's saving grace, as residents come to demand sense, sanity, and maybe even peace, once and for all--via a variety of expressions of intolerance.

So, no matter how you slice it, let's hope pressure from both sides will, after all, make for a great sandwich, when it comes to putting the squeeze on corruption...whether it's Dr. Gallon or any one else! 

Pandora's Box...and Hope, of course!

Questions:

What motivation would any rational being have for such actions as Gallon's in his continual effort to circumvent law and expectations of common decency? How about the Jefferson Principal's true motivation for taking the job, despite and amidst the turmoil here in PPS? Could this be a signal that this man is merely a principal devoid of principles??? Could he possibly be both that naive and that arrogant to think that his "style" of reign in that building over the staff will overshadow any of their uncertainties and persude them to "buy in," get onboard, or even shut up and go along?  If so, for how long?  And at what price?

Sounds like the archaic, outdated, antiquated and tyrannical mentality and pursuits of many-a-failed leadership, throughout history, doesn't it? Is it true that either of these two principals is tossing out numerous reprimands--sometimes direct and official, sometime subtle or via staff memo--that smack of the same type of abuse of power that I believe helped get Plainfield Schools in this mess in the first place? Team building has not even the slightest resemblance to "gotcha!" type actions meant to show "who's boss."  

One must wonder what these individuals could possibly think of the educational professionals charged with the task of teaching Plainfield children, given their often outright condescension, and often in plain view.  Belittling fellow educators, regardless of rank or status can't possibly work for the betterment of any school setting and often leads to distrust, resentment and disillusionment among staff members--even those who normally don't see eye-to-eye that often. 

Educators sometimes teach and help children not to fear the dark or the unknown, yet how hypocritical is it that their supervisors are so often the very monsters and shadows of gloom and doom that destroy dreams and deflect rays of hope for so many?  How contradictory their perception that their actions are justifiable?  How unjust their ignorance of the spirit of collaboration built into the language of the very contract by which they are supposedly guided?

The same goes for Gallon's treatment of the public, while the Jefferson principal may possibly be more focused on politically romancing and building a support base, much as he was said to have (unsuccessfully) tried to do in Trenton, prior to being fired for "unorthodoxed" methods. A euphemism for "underhanded?" "double-dealing" "conniving?"

One can only wonder, at this point, and also wonder if he might be strategically and with often coldly calculating smugness, relegating staff members to silence or defensive postures in the wake of attacks--or impending attacks. Trenton adminstration, itself, may have been the "villainous" party in that prior circumstance of his...or not.

Now, are we opening up a can of worms here?  Possibly.  I've been accused of this more times than I can (or care to) recall.  Yet, I prefer that to being the culprit that helped open this Pandora's Box of a crisis that now plagues our district. 

Make no mistake about it: the persistent actions of a select number of "empowered" and conceivably"entitled" individuals did serve to cultivate this political "landscape" into a corrupt "LEARNOCRACY," at least in the minds of scores of GREAT teachers and administrators that ended up heading for the hills, and on to higher ground. After all, adequate levels of self-esteem and sufficient resources will enable any self-respecting individual to get up and leave the abusive relationship, whether personal or professional.

That goes for the Jefferson staff, as well. But could the damaging effects of complacency, apathy, incompetence or confusion have taken their toll and rendered this group unworthy of a resilient comeback, recovery, or any self-help solutions?

The "GROUPTHINK" (Hoffstadter) phenomenon may have operated in this building for years as staff members suffered the turnover of many administrators, leaving them ripe for the picking, by any newcomer with a twisted sense of leadership, as manifested in basic control freak tendencies.  But this, of course is all mere speculation, right?

And so I ask: what motivates individuals like not only Gallon and the Woodland or Jefferson principals to step in appearing to desire to take on the challenges of such a district as Plainfield? 

The lid of the jar of Pandora was gradually twisted, opened and compromised, and behind a menagerie of very annoying demons, out poured a "gallon" of what, to some, APPEARED TO BE "hope."  And so our world was rocked, shaken, stirred and turned upside down, folks screaming bloody murder. And now, amidst the agony, only our cooperative, steady, sober-minded and patient work will help us hear the voices of reason and only that collective eye for detail will enable us to find TRUE hope in the back of that box of challenges.

Plainfield, it's our world...let us embrace hope, respect competence and integrity and together fight for truth, justice, and...a new educational way.  

Yes, PASA is comprised of human beings with hearts, souls, minds, and families (to feed), but so is PEA, as well.    Circumstances dictate the necessity to work to maintain positions of security within the establishment, and thus continue to meet their personal obligations to provide for their families.  For this I can relate and sympathize--more so the former than the latter.  But a coward dies a million deaths, as they say.  A child's education...sometimes just one! 

I thank you.


-Weapon of 1

Swift Action? Not necessarily.

Question:

Do you think it is at all possible that LLL's apparent rush to possibly take action against DSGIII Friday was a move in anticipation of the announcement of the court's criticism of Christie's handling of matters?

Read about it here: http://www.njea.org/pdfs/2010EO7Ruling.pdf 


http://www.njea.org/page.aspx?a=4145

The reason I pose this question is that if in fact Chris is considered our "heavy" (no pun intended, I assure you), and folks are relying upon his brand of justice to strike and deal that critical blow to our "villainous" CSA, then perhaps the logic was to move prior to widespread knowledge about Christie's potentially disempowering slap on the wrist that might render his perceived omnipotent wrath just a flash in the pan-ish, idle threat.

 

And The DOE, with all it's imposed and proposed remedial prescriptions and proscriptions like CAPA and QSAC, has already helped set the stage for our smoke and mirrors and window-dressing routines of not only Gallon, but various prior (and current-and NEW) administrators, as well.

 

Sadly, until all this lying, posturing, politicking, and malfeasance are seen for what they are and immediately eradicated, PPS continues to be faced with this great moral dilemma that precludes any substantial reform efforts in the form of applied competence, consistency, administrative validity, logistic fortitude, establishment and adherence to best practices, or any other critical elements needed for movement toward constructing (or REconstructing?) a viable, sustainable, comprehensive school system.

 

Waiting for or relying upon Christie or DOE/NJ should not be our plan of "action." The road to improvement and long lasting legitimacy as a district absolutely must be paved with bold, courageous and selfless intiative, collaboration and volunteerism on the part of brilliant individuals from all segments of our school and local communities.

 

We must support our BOE's efforts to establish a cohesiveness and the appearance of a unified governing body that represents US, as residents, and that has no conversation that ommits student service and achievement as the main purpose for those discussions. I suggest that the board begin with reviewing the Student Conduct Code, and begin to devise policy meant to ensure adherence and compliance, and then immediately further develop and pledge to follow one of their own!

 

Swift action? Decisive action with lasting and resounding effects are what we all need...and yes, right away.