Friday, June 30, 2006 | I wholeheartedly applaud Mr. Cohn for his quick and practical insight of the San Diego City Schools. I have been teaching in the district for the past six years and have felt extreme frustration with the adult conflict and poor morale I have experienced at all four of the different school sites I have worked at. I am looking forward to seeing a difference with the addition of the five newly appointed area superintendents.
Many of the sites I have been at are lacking in the support or connections with higher education and also the business community.
Also as a middle school teacher I have often witnessed 8th graders who are very capable, but do not try. They even go so far as saying, “7th and 8th grades don’t matter!”
Thank you Mr. Cohn for noticing this and addressing putting an end to this social promotion!
Yes! Our superintendent has said it, “We have to take an honest look at student behavior, discipline and attendance if we want our schools to improve.” I can’t tell you how many times I’ve called home to report truancies and wrote referrals to the counseling office for the same student, and when I speak to the student, they say, “Nothing big happens.”
It seems truancy has been last on the list of behavior problems as the constant fights and other more aggressive behaviors take the limelight.
After having worked at four different school sights in six years, I wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Cohen, our schools can be significantly better, especially with a superintendent that sees things as they are!