Dear Editor:
Where Do We Go From Here?
Dear Editor:
Where Do We Go From Here?
The editorial published on Thursday, Nov. 20, “Time for wholesale changes in arrogant, failing RLAG process,” has to be one of the most damaging pieces of work ever published by The Dispatch.
What has the editorial done? It has undermined years of work by the Academic Alliance. Even though it is totally wrong, you have placed “a guilt by association” in the minds of the teachers at Gilroy High School.
Your editorial is written in such a style that makes it difficult not to place some blame on the Academic Alliance. That’s unfortunate.
The timing of the editorial is puzzling. The English Department agreed to introduce anthologies in their curriculum. This is a major change. Parents concerned with the socially oriented books can easily supplement their children’s literature with all the “Great Books,” outside reading, while working towards the modification of the reading list.
There is also a negative tone to the editorial that basically hints of the removal of individuals that do not make change their top priority.
The goals of the Alliance are noble. They want a challenging curriculum for all students. But it’s easy to push for change when you have a single item on your plate.
Educators, on the other hand, have plates that are overflowing. The goal of the Academic Alliance may not be a top priority at the present time because of the overwhelming nature of their job.
I suspect (and hope) that many members of the Academic Alliance were appalled at the tone and nature of your editorial. Your editorial is a diatribe that divides people and makes change difficult.
Where do we go from here? Is it possible to “pick up the pieces” and move forward?
Obviously, the answer is yes. There is a wide range of thought within the department concerning literature, grammar, spelling, and reading and writing skills. Why? Each teacher has a different background; likes, dislikes, colleges they attended, and educational philosophy. Because of their diversity in thought, coming to agreement on any reading list will take time.
“Patience is a virtue.” Changing public institutions, when you come right down to it, has always been a very slow process. Why? Individuals rarely make major decisions. Collaboration is the norm. The district-wide “strategic planning” committees that completed their task in the mid-90’s called for site-based decision making. It is a daunting task to make major changes.
Cynicism often slows the process. It has nothing to do with the Academic Alliance’s agenda; but rather with what teachers refer to as the “pendulum.”
What we do today is so often changed tomorrow. Or, “Haven’t we seen this before?” Standard-based instruction will hopefully keep the pendulum swinging in one direction – forward.
Teachers at Gilroy High School were given a “meeting calendar” that’s already jam-packed for the school year. I suggest that you interview teachers about their overflowing plates. You may acquire a compassionate heart in the process.
Ron Kinoshita, Gilroy
retired teacher
Submitted Monday, Dec 1 to ed****@ga****.com
