Real Stories
Leonard,
We admire you for running for Superintendent. We moved our 5 children to a small town in Idaho due to the horrible experiences we had with the public school system in California.
Our son Matthew was being passed along regardless of how he did and definitely needed a lot of help at home to learn and understand the curriculum.
Every parent thinks their child is gifted and special, and each child is in their own way. Our daughter Nicole at the age of 4 was reading chapter books, doing basic math. She begged her dad and I for a violin, we said maybe when you’re older, she was angry and went to her room. She came back in an hour or so with a paper she had lined herself like sheet music, she had a title on it, “The White Tree”, it was a song she wrote. We went out and bought a used violin and a couple of lessons. She has been playing violin and viola beautifully for years now.
When Nicole entered Kindergarten it was after the passage of the bill (??) which said “all children are to be taught in English”. Legally all kids were also to be divided up equally.
Peachland Elementary was set up on a rotating track system, this was new too. So Nicole started kindergarten in a class that had 3 English speaking students. There were 4 at registration but one English speaking boy and his parents moved days after registration. One girl’s parents asked the principal, Mr. Jackson, if their daughter could be moved to one of the other K classes that were equally mixed. He told her no, that while there were openings in those classes they were holding them for the kids that inevitably move in. That family decided to use their grandparents address in a neighboring community and sent their daughter to that school. Either Mr. Jackson or someone the district hired, investigated that family and turned them in, the girl was kicked out of that school. They home schooled their daughter and eventually moved. The parents of the other little boy were very concerned and spoke with us. We told them we were going to stay as the teacher assured us Nicole would be challenged. They decided to stay too, but eventually moved. We received a phone call one evening in the first week of classes, it was Nicole’s teacher, she was very uncomfortable, she said “I have kind of a weird situation, all of the kids will be receiving school kits which include; new back packs, tooth brushes and tooth paste, new tennis shoes etc…except Nicole. I told her it was fine and not to worry I would send something for her to give to Nicole.
I volunteered in the classroom and realized Nicole was given separate busy work. The teacher had to focus on the Spanish speaking children, she also had no choice except to teach them in Spanish and English, there was no way to obey the new law and she decided to do it her way. I noticed the reading aid that worked in small groups with the kids would say the Spanish word then the English word, I noticed right away that her Spanish was beautiful, yet her English was far from proper, i.e. gopher was being taught as “gauffer” instead of “go fer”, they were not being taught that the “O” says it’s name. I decided to hire a babysitter for my two toddlers and new infant at home and volunteer in the class more. The teacher had me help with the English words and basic math. I grew to love each child. Nicole was ostracized socially and called “La Princessa” and other names in Spanish. She played alone or helped the teacher at recess. I intervened, spoke broken Spanish to some of the mom’s and taught Nicole some Spanish and told her she should make some new friends and play outside. Two little girls did play with her sometimes but she’d go off alone most of the time.
Initially they did have an aid that spoke English as a first language. She was the first of many that worked at Peachland to call and say “I could be fired for calling you but your daughter Nicole should be moved into a class that is equally divided where she’ll have friends and be challenged and in learning groups at her level”. That aid retired shortly after that phone call.
At the end of the kindergarten year the teacher assured us that she would recommend Nicole be placed with an equally mixed class for first grade.
As I took Nicole to the first day of first grade I was greeted with lots of hugs, “Mrs. Lichtenberg”, I heard over and over, Nicole was in the EXACT same class as in kindergarten. I went home, very upset, called Mr. Jackson and requested that our daughter be moved to a class that was equally divided. He said, “no that she should be on the same track as her brother so they’d have the same vacation and schedule. I said “I didn’t care about that and wanted her moved”, he said no and was very condescending and accused me of being racist, that lit my fuse because I loved everyone of the kids I volunteered with”. Peachland had an open door policy so my husband took off work, went to the school and signed in and said he’d be observing first grade classes. He observed Nicole’s class first. The teacher was evaluating students by asking them to come up and touch the letter on the alphabet strip that their first name started with…….no one could do it except Nicole, they had lost so much over the summer. He went to the equally mixed first grade class and observed a much higher level of learning and that teacher told Jeff that she could not believe the Spanish first graders could not spell and write their first and last names.
The next day he came back to sign in, and observe the other first grade classes, there was a sign on the door stating the policy had been changed (overnight) and parents were not allowed to observe classes. My husband, Jeff, went in and asked to see the principal. After waiting the secretary said he could not see Mr. Jackson with out and appointment. So he asked to see the Asst. Principal, who saw him and told him basically he had to talk to the principal and he couldn’t do that without an appointment. So Jeff made an appointment, the principal couldn’t see him for more than a week. Finally Jeff met with Mr. Jackson and requested that our daughter be moved to an equally mixed class at her level. Mr. Jackson, said “your daughter is where she belongs and you are a “BIGOT” for even requesting she be moved, and that home schooling was probably the best option for us”. Jeff calmly signed our daughter out of school and brought her home. Jeff then called the District Superintendent and asked his secretary for an appointment. We were told he was unavailable and would get back to us. While this was going on we got another “I could get fired for calling you but, for starters Mr. Jackson ( the principal) and Mr. Winger (the District Superintendent) are best friends, and we (at board meetings) have been advised by Mr. Jackson “not to cooperate with you” but I’m calling because you’ve been such a good volunteer to the kids and you’re right”. Then, in the mail we got a letter from Mr. Jackson stating that legal action will be taken if our daughter Nicole misses so many days of school. Meanwhile the Superintendent hasn’t even called back for an appointment, it was clear to us this was no coincidence. In the next day or so the attendance office called and asked why Nicole was not at school, we said “because Mr. Jackson had advised us to keep her at home”. Suddenly, within the hour the Superintendent’s secretary called and said he could meet with us after waiting more than a week. Jeff and I both met with the superintendent, Mr. Winger. He explained to us that he does not tell the principals what to do and that he would stand by Mr. Jackson’s decision, and that quite frankly he has met with lots of parents who think their kid doesn’t belong in a class with Spanish kids, and he’s tired of it and we were just being “racist”. We explained (or Jeff did because I was fuming over being called names) that even her first grade teacher said she should be moved. Mr. Winger said “she is a new teacher and is completely unaware of the politics of teaching, at which point to Mr. Winger’s surprise in walked Nicole’s first grade teacher, putting her job on the line she vouched that what we had just said was true, that she was aware, from board meetings, of the politics of teaching in this district, yet she knew I volunteered and loved all the kids and she could see they loved me, yet she said “as much as I would love to have Nicole in my class and her mom as my class mom, Nicole belongs in a 1-2 split as she evaluated her as doing work above the 2nd grade level and everyone else in her class was still learning to spell their name. We were asked to leave by Mr. Winger and told he’d get back to us. In the next day or two we received a letter from Mr. Jackson, the principal at Peachland Elementary stating that Nicole would be moved to a different track than her brother at our request and that we could expect “ramifications” for doing this etc. we were happy, Nicole excelled in her new class, had friends and challenging homework. I continued to volunteer where needed, with the Spanish first grade class until she got an aid. I did bring them cupcakes etc. regardless. At the end of Nicole’s first grade year Mr. Jackson was promoted (another strange coincidence) to the district office? I am telling you all of this because during all of this I was telling my story to different Church groups. Church leaders were arranging babysitting and Mom’s were more available to read with the kids that needed it. I remember one mom wanted to just be in the same class as her child so the kids that needed help would go to her to read. There is a powerful work force out there of volunteers, mostly Mom’s, but some Grandparents and Dads. Whether Californians want to face it or not, California is an English/Spanish State, the Spanish culture needs to be embraced in the schools, it has much to offer, yet the English culture should not be lost……I am afraid in California it is being lost. The Spanish kids in our situation were being put on one track and being neglected. The Spanish kids that were equally mixed were receiving a better education.
The money being wasted in California is astonishing. We think you are a brave man for taking this on, and we wish you all the best, may God be with you, you are a good man. I will tell everyone I know to vote for you. I wish someone like you was visiting the schools in Newhall when we were there.
Sincerely, Jeff & Martha Lichtenberg
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Hello!
I am responding to your article on Animo Justice! I want to thank you for speaking up on behalf of the people who are suffering the injustice of Justice! I used to teach at Animo Justice for two years. Last year was my last. I loved my students very much, but I saw this coming and I could not allow myself to butt my head against the wall of Green Dot any further.
I am not sure if you are aware of the damage Green Dot caused….
Green Dot set Animo Justice up for failure! The school moved locations three times in the past four years. The school has had new administration three times, the most damaging did not have proper credentials to be in the position (however Charters can get around this). Last year the school was in violation of the Williams Act because administration refused to purchase books and teaching supplies, and would restrict access to the restroom facilities on an inhumane/sanitary level. The violation was reported to the Main Green Dot office on numerous occasions through students, teachers and parents and it was ignored! The union has no power at Green Dot and the Students, Parents and Teachers suffer because of it. The ideal behind Green Dot is honorable, but it is run like a corporation! It needs to be exposed! I thank you for doing that. If you want any more information from me I would be happy to tell you more…the kids don’t deserve this!
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Sean B. Bonilla
Hello my name is David Bonilla father of Sean B. Bonilla a kinder garden student at Mesquite Elementary School in Palmdale, CA. My son was recently on a winter/holiday break for about one week his first day of school was scheduled for January 4, 2010. The night before his first day of school I was preparing him mentally and letting him know it was time to go back to school. Out of nowhere my son began to cry letting me know he hated school and that he did not want to go back. I ask him what was the reason he felt that way and he told me he did not like the food. I was surprised there for I ask him to describe what type of food do they give you and he said “the same food you give me at home but it taste different”.
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School Information
In the San Diego County, Poway Unified School District claims to be the best in San Diego and all over the state of California for that matter. For the last 26 years that I have lived here in Poway there has been busing for the students. Rich and midde income parents paid every year and the low income families were bused for free. I am guessing they received grants from the governmet for them.
Last year all this stopped. No more busing anyone except for the Special Ed students. Parents were furious. Now they have to drive them to school or they walk and everyone knows how unsafe it is to walk nowadays.
Carol Long, Retired Rep., for Poway School Voters
School Lights
For approximately 25 years now the Poway Unified School District has been serving food to their students that are being shipped in and most of it is bad, therefore, wasting tons of tax payers’ dollars. I would like to see real cafeterias brought back to all schools with nutritious and hot meals served such as turkey and gravy, mashed potatoes, beets, corn or beans, wheat bread, real butter and a small dessert on each tray such as cake, cookies as in oatmeal and raisin cookies, and milk or juice only.
Carol Long, Retired Rep. for Voters, Poway, California
Breakfast a must for poor learners!!!
I used to work in a Resource Room and we had many children who were very poor and were not getting any breakfast in the mornings. These children were falling behind and not able to concentrate and learn. I was an aide and the teacher in our room put out a request to the cafeteria to get permission to receive a muffin, or donut and one carton of milk for each child every morning when they came to our room.
I tell you, there was such a difference in their learning processes. We were very lucky to have a wonderful Principal who understood that these kids needed nutritional help so they could learn.
There was a huge difference after the food started arriving, and the students became successful!!!!!!!!!
Carol Long, Retired Rep for Concerned Parent Voters, Poway, California
Security Neglect and Foundations for every school!!!
There seems to be a huge security problem at one of our schools in the Poway School District. This school was just remodeled and completely changed with new walls, rooms, etc. Just after completion the district ordered all the lights to the school shut off from approximately 10:00 p.m. to morning time. After this was done, they had a huge break in and many computers were stolen. They still to this date continue to leave the lights off trying to save on electricity. I have asked the district to at least leave two parking lights on but they still are refusing. To my knowledge there may be no security alarms either.
There is some good news here, parents are joining together to form Foundations for their schools, where monies can be earned and placed into this account and cannot be spent by the school district itself. One thing they are doing is having walk/run races to earn monies, silent auctions and etc. They have made a huge amount of money this way, as our district has taken away art and music. In this way, the Foundation can step in and return the art and music programs, obtain busses for trips, etc.
I think that the bad teachers need to be weeded out and there should not be any more SENIORITY. If the teacher gets lots of complaints from kids and parents alike, they should be watched and possibly even tested to see if they even like kids or not. I have seen many teachers who are only there for the paycheck and really do damage to students emotionally.
Carol Long, Retired Rep. for concerned voters, Poway, California
Privatization of our schools
I am a teacher. I read your introduction and like what you say about rebuilding our educational system, particularly your views on the privatization of our schools. I taught for six years at a large charter high school and watched it turn into a business rather than an educational institution. I am also dismayed by the Obama Administration’s approach to charters and standardized testing. I voted for Obama and hope that he will eventually see the light.
Good Luck with your campaign. My like-minded colleagues will be keeping an eye out.
For the sake of the kids
Here is a candidate for state superintendent that ought to draw your attention. He has not yet filed with the secretary of state so his name doesn’t appear on that dismal list of candidates now headed by Gloria Romero. “For the sake of the kids,” as all the politicians love to say, interview this guy! Voters have not had a choice such as this in memory, and my memory go0es back to the early 1940s. Read his platform and contrast it with the mush you’ll find posted on the websites of candidates on the official list. Or we can all wait for the voters to be snowed by the likes of Romero or others who have agendas that, despite their claims, are not “for the kids.”
Teachers fired, labor outraged
http://www.projo.com/education/content/central_falls_trustees_vote_02-24-10_EOHI83C_v56.3b42117.html
Sacramento area teachers brace for thousands of pink slips
http://www.sacbee.com/2010/02/28/2570694/sacramento-area-teachers-brace.html
I Was a Charter School Teacher
http://www.counterpunch.org/stein03102010.html
Do you live or work next to 12214 Lakewood Blvd (Downey Studios) (Downey CA )
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/com/1618465136.html
Hello Friends / Craigslist Reader:
Do you live next to Downey Studios? or.
Do you work next to Downey Studios on Lakewood Blvd?
Have you been getting ill?
Like…………..Headaches and Sore throat with dry cough and Tightness in chest and Rashes on skin and low Engery and Dizziness and aching in joints and Diarrhea and Lack of Concentration. …
…If so – I want to talk with you.
My name is Dano. I worked at this Studio (Downey) back in June 2009. June 8 to June 24th 2009 (13days) I worked on a movie Iron Man 2. I got ILL / SICK during filming. Then weeks later……found out this Studio (94acres) property was once a NASA/AEROSPACE FACILITY which government documents show was used to develop neutron bombs,rocket fuel,missiles,and delta rockets from 1929 to the mid 1990’s. Documents show of contamination in both the soil and groundwater was found at this 94acre site…..TCE, PCE, mold,abestos and other 250 chemicals is lingering around this property.
…If you are ill. Please contact me . Let’s talk. You might be getting ill because of this property and you just don’t know about it.
More infomation can be at this site….
www.workersmemorialday.org
Dano
danonewstar@gmail.com