At least that is what many of us are hoping as Maria Goodloe-Johnson prepares to go to Seattle.My title, by the way, comes from Robert Graves's biography expressing his disillusionment with the old European values after World War I. Who among us does not feel disillusioned by CCSD's behavior during Goodloe-Johnson's watch? Most of you will not need a list.
Well, apparently the Post and Courier. Sunday's lead editorial was a masterpiece of praise for the superintendent. In fact, the writer really should really look for a job as a political flack or maybe one as an apologist for global warming. Brushing aside the facts on the ground ("failing schools," possible "state takeover" of a school, losing a court battle over a "racially charged teacher complaint," policy differences that "culminated with the establishment of a charter school"), the writer touts the "Plan for Excellence" as G-J's "legacy."
Funny, he or she forgot to mention the furor over Buist Academy admissions and the half-time principal for Fraser Elementary! And how about those District 20 lawsuits?
Now, I have no particular bone to pick with the Plan, but it is just that--a plan. Never mind that Goodloe-Johnson told Seattle that it is her plan, while this week school board members in favor of Nancy McGinley's taking G-J's place gave her equal credit (although some of us may wonder just whose plan it is). However, the Plan's accomplishments so far are mainly in structural changes. They may or may not bear fruit. "Closing the gap" incrementally between failing schools and others doesn't mean much to a parent whose child is still caught in that gap or being bused to an out-of-district school in hopes of getting a better education. Believe it or not, the P&C even trotted out a meager improvement in SAT scores as evidence. (You would think it wouldn't want to remind readers of just how low they are. We can't even count on Mississippi to be below us any more!)
Of course, Goodloe-Johnson did not create the mess that is CCSD; that took thirty years of "desegregated" schools and many more of "separate but equal." However, I refuse to believe that she deserves the credit for putting CCSD's fiscal house in order. I doubt that it IS in order. Perhaps in a few months we will begin to hear about "previous poor budgeting and a variety of fiscal emergencies" that may even concern "the district's massive construction and renovation program," just as CCSD stood when Goodloe-Johnson arrived. Certainly, waiting until the last moment before contacting state legislators about what was OBVIOUSLY going to be a budget shortfall after last year's tax legislation was not the wisest plan.
You may think I'm being disingenuous to state that I wish Goodloe-Johnson well, but I'm sincere. Seattle, while it does not appear to be in as bad shape as CCSD, will not be a picnic. It has its own urban versions of District 20 and a long record of problems that will not be solved overnight. Its students deserve better schools, too.
Perhaps you have some heartfelt advice for the superintendent in her next job. Mine would be for her to try to be more down-to-earth, more receptive to criticism, and more ready to admit mistakes.
What's yours?
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19 comments:
Well said, once again, Babbie.
"We're not worthy. We're not worthy."
Suggestions for Dr. Goodloe-Johnson? Oh, where should we start? Yes, definitely being willing to make mistakes would be on the top of the list. But, Dr. G-J stated in the Post and Courier, she has "no regrets" EVER. Who lives life this way? I make mistakes everyday. The key is to learn from them and hopefully not make them again. Will she listen to the parents of Seattle? Will she take questions from the audience without notecards as State Superintendent Rex did last week at Burke? Will she enroll her daughter in Seattle's public schools? I guess time will tell.
ny"Failing schools,and" possible "state takeover" of a school are both situations that would occur even if G-J were not superintendent of CCSD. You must keep in mind that these issues of failing schools and state takeover became more apparent since the establishment of the school report card. Such establishment of the report card came about around the same time of Dr. G's installation as
CCSD leader of school. So, don't blame her for problems that existed even in the past. In my opinion, Dr. G did more to put CCSD on track in so many different ways-- some mentioned in Sunday's Editorial.
Immorally speaking,I beleive the real and overarching problem is that Dr.G is an African-American and secondly female. Reviewing the history of CCSD, it is no secret that the majority of the leaders were Caucasian males and CCSD is accustomed to moving at the beat of White male leadership. That is so sad. When are we going to get beyond the issue of color and see what an individual has to offer. Dr. G had alot to offer but was not supported at all. Now, we will see how well she performs in Seattle. We will then wish we had done more to keep her. I am very disappointed that the board did not go to its full extent to offer her a better financial plan to match that of Seattle. What a shame!
Are you on crack? She always had the majority of the board voting in her favor. That Engleman woman was in the minority. Dr. Johnson has only herself to blame for her failures.
To 10:28 pm: Amen, Brother (or Sister as the case may be). I was originally a supporter of Dr.G-J, but she left me with that glazed over look too early in the process. She wrote us off long before we wrote her off. That's why D20 parents didn't chant for her to stay like they reportedly did in North Charleston. And for the PC junkie who posted at 9:55pm, race and gender is always the excuse given when people won't take responsibility for their own actions and failures. And that accusation cuts both ways, for both her defenders and her critics. Face it she was a second tier player. Regardless of the super's appearances our city deserves and requires a top of the line leader and she just wasn't it. The County School Board itself set the bar low in the first place, both for the superintendent and for our city schools. If you set your sights low and you expect poor results, my, my, you get it.
Good questions, Babbie, about the financial soundness of CCSD's half billion dollar building program. Think someone at the P&C should be looking into this.
Ask the downtown black community what they think of her tenure here in Charleston. I'm talking about people that really live downtown and have children in downtown schools. I doubt the parents of Fraser are sad to see her go. Something tells me you work for Dr Goodloe (this is directed to the poster from 9:55).
I think any of the downtown people on the District 20 Board would do a better job than Goodloe Johnson or that horrible school board. Some of them are black and female. I would nominate Tuane Fielding or Ivey Ascue to replace Dr Goodloe. I'm sure they wouldn't continue the apartheid school system that Dr Goodloe did nothing to change.
Speaking of Ivy Ascue and Thuane Fielding...its too bad we don't have one of them sitting in Toya Green's spot on the County Board. They would speak up for Dist. 20, instead of playing the "I represent the county bs game" that Toya plays.
If we're really dreaming (which it appears we are), let's pretend Hillery Douglas goes to save N. Chas. as mayor (sorry N. Chas. but let's admit it, he hasn't done crap for your schools - so get him OFF the school board) AND Marvin Stewart replaces Toya Green on the County Board. Maybe we could get Elizabeth Kandrac to take Mr. Douglas' seat.
Now that would make for some real entertainment! If the 12:41 pm poster's scenario happened, you can bet we would see some positive action (and maybe some responsibility, too) taken up by the county board instead of just ‘wah, wah, wah’. Along with giving a superintendent a blank check (some would say 'enough room to make decisions'), the county board must also be willing to give her constructive criticism. Tough questions that require honest AND intelligent answers presented on a regular basis should also be expected. A good classroom requires nothing less from its occupants if it is to be successful.
Given how Hillery Douglas has so grossly failed North Charleston schools, how could they seriously consider electing him mayor? If he's counting on a split white vote, he's a looser before the election even starts. He’s running alone against incumbent Mayor Summey, who with some successes and some mistakes, has moved North Charleston forward as downtown Charleston’s economic refugees continue to evacuate northward.
I think Hillery is sweating it now that the other guy (the wished for third candidate) just withdrew. So it’ll just be the two of them in this race for NC mayor. Maybe Hillery will get a taste of what happens to his school board seat if single member districts ever come to CCSD. Racial identity might get him re-elected in county-wide at large voting, even if he’s totally incompetent. But ethnic flag waving won’t help him when his neighbors start to hold him accountable for what he’s failed to do to help North Charleston schools.
Hillery Douglas is the guy who gives political advice and cover to the City of Charleston’s novice member of the county school board. He reasoned that the only way Toya Green could win was to use the same strategy. Hillery had hope to use it in his race for mayor, too. She defeated 3 other candidates (all white) with only slightly more than 35% of the total vote in her favor. The mayor’s race would be the same, winner with the highest votes and no runoff. The truth is Charleston County has more registered Black voters than what she carried and the B-Team of which she was a part was strongly supported by white power brokers. She wasn’t elected by a solid black voter block to begin with. With single member districts she’d be toast now that she’s shown herself and her true loyalties. She couldn't win in a second election if she ran against 6 white candidates. I’d bet she’d loose to another black candidate even if there was only one white candidate on the same ballot. As it would be, elections to school boards should be about intelligent and honest leadership, not race. She's shown herself to the Black community (and to all of District 20) that she’s a total SELL OUT who couldn’t care less about improving public education in her own downtown district. Hillery Douglas has been no different for North Charleston ever since he first took a seat on the county board in the 1980’s.
The Seattle writers are saying they hope G-J will attract those that have left the Seattle public school system to return. Sure, right! What did she tell a group of MUSC doctors and health care professionals when they asked G-J about educational alternatives among the downtown schools in Charleston? Her response was, "You already have alternatives... private schools! Next question?" (Seattle readers should already recognize her abrupt Q/A style.) It was almost as if she saw herself as Marie Antoinette, "Bread? They ask for bread? Let them eat cake!"
Yes, I realize I'm taking some liberties with the translation of what the queen said as taken from the original French but it serves the point well enough.
Are we counting our chickens too soon? The meeting to discuss Goodloe-Johnson's replacement today was canceled. It seems contract negotiations with her future employers in Seattle have stalled over details. Nancy Cook as CCSD board chairman reported in today's P&C that Goodloe-Johnson hasn't even submitted a formal resignation letter yet! Oh, crap!
That's a scary thought, but you're correct in reminding us. Everyone needs to cross their fingers and pray we haven't celebrated too soon.
Just catching up on the amazing number of posts on this blog. I have to say about Dr. G-J, as a person who lived in Corpus Christi, Texas AND Charleston, SC during her tenures in BOTH cities...
Seattle: My heart weeps for thee.
Darn. I'm a Seattle parent. What advice would you give us in Seattle for the best way to try and communicate with Dr. G-J? We want to start things out on the right foot, but make sure parents are listened to.
As an employee of CCSD, I found Dr. G-J to be very easy to talk to and work with. I do believe she could have accomplished more if the School Board members were not trying to make a name for themselves and were truly trying to help the students.
It's May 2010. I'm a Seattle parent. HOW DO WE GET RID OF HER??
If you want to see how Seattle likes MGJ, take a look at the saveseattleschools blog. Read it and weep (for Seattle).
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