I am a career retiree from Guilford County Schools writing in response to Allen Daniel's letter calling for more accountability for falling test scores in our district. How dare he specifically target the district spokesperson, Dr. Barbara Zwadyk, asking for her removal from her duties because of the drop in SAT scores.
She is one of the most sensible, intelligent, caring and efficient administrators in the school system and works tirelessly to serve our students. Daniel's finger-pointing was hurtful to a brilliant educator who did not deserve those unkind words. His thinking is a prime example of "shooting the messenger."
Today's classroom is not the same as that from which he graduated in 1973. More students presently take the SAT. More doors are open to all students as we push them to achieve their highest potential. Teachers face many more challenges, restrictions, mandates, testing, paperwork, diversity, discipline problems and larger classes than teachers did in 1973.
Presently our system has many wonderful, dedicated teachers working to educate our children because they truly care.
Let's rally behind those caring teachers/administrators and offer our respect and support rather than our criticism. Most people would find it very difficult to walk a day in their shoes.
Cynthia Hanner Davis
Greensboro
Comments (7)
"Daniel's finger-pointing was hurtful to a brilliant educator who did not deserve those unkind words"
Heat/Kitchen.
Posted by hugh | September 20, 2005 6:28 AM
And let's support our President as well. Because we must always support everything even when it is a complete miserable failure. Is that it?
Posted by truth | September 20, 2005 12:21 PM
My apologies. That's what happens when you read too many conservative/liberal attack letters in one day.
Posted by truth | September 20, 2005 12:22 PM
hugh & truth: Come on, guys. Give a sister a chance, will you? Dr. Z is awesome, as an educator, a person, a mom, etc. She is one shining example of what's RIGHT in our school system.
Allow me to share one of my favorite pieces of wisdom (with respect and love):
"Know who your enemy is, or you're going to end up shooting at someone on your own team."
Posted by Missy | September 20, 2005 2:26 PM
Missy,
I don't have anything against the woman. Don't know anything about her, period.
My response was basically to rallying behind administrators that I don't even know. I don't see anything wrong with criticism as long as it is fair.
Posted by truth | September 20, 2005 4:01 PM
Missy,
Do you know who your enemy is? We don't want you shooting anyone on your own team.
I'd agree with Ms. Davis' sentiment about teachers having a tough, but important job. Unfortunately, most of them aren't compensated according to their contributions.
Administrators, on the other hand, just like business managers, make the big bucks, and they aren't in the trenches every day, life teachers, fighting the battle for young minds. With the big bucks go many trials and tribulations, so I can't get to worked up over the travails of the administrators. They get compensated well for what they do.
School districts are like businesses, you need to have fewer managers and more teachers, because they are the ones known as "mission workers". They are called that because they achieve the mission of the organization, not the managers and executives. The managers and executives exist to enable and assist the teachers. A manager told me once that his job was being a bulldozer. That meant that his primary responsibility was to knock down barriers for his employees so that they could do their job.
Let's appreciate all of the teachers and compensate the most effective ones better, and let the administrators knock down the barriers.
Posted by Stormy | September 20, 2005 4:52 PM
This "drop in SAT scores" isnt even valid. Among other things, it's a new test!
Posted by Rachel | September 21, 2005 7:34 PM