"Blackboard Jungle," by Jim Schutze and Robert Wilonsky, October 9
Nobody Knows What They're Doing
My God! I left DISD a year and a half ago to work for a district in the suburbs, and I have never looked back. The waste and outright fraud I witnessed was sickening. When I worked for one department with offices on Carroll Avenue, the basement of the building was packed full of undelivered supplies and textbooks, some items rotting, other boxes full of rat droppings and roaches. Huge allotments of paper, reams and reams of it, much of it water damaged.
The "specialists" of this department hung out in their cramped offices, selling things on eBay, taking two-hour lunches and bitching about how much their supervisors were getting paid. As a teacher, I was subjected to tedious "staff development" sessions held by overpaid consultants. People just don't understand the level of incompetence within the mid- and upper-management of DISD. They simply don't know what they are doing. Keep the teachers and principals. Fire everyone at Ross Avenue. Do it today.
Darryl, via dallasobserver.com
As an ex-DISD teacher, I saw firsthand the nonsense described in this article, and that's just the tip of the iceberg! The administrators are overpaid and uncooperative with teachers, [and] there are too many of them per campus to begin with! There is no real respect or regard for the hard work and dedication that all teachers exhibit on a daily basis against all odds.
Teachers do the job because they love it; we want to educate. But it appears that all other employees of the district feel it's their job to squander money and make life difficult for the teachers. It's a shame no one is held accountable and that there isn't greater outrage from the community. But I guess it's just like the national scene ($700 billion bailout); no one is accountable in America anymore. God help us all, what are we teaching the future generations through our example?
J. Martinez, via dallasobserver.com
It boggles the mind that [Michael] Hinojosa, having joined the pantheon of screw-up DISD superintendents, is going to get a walk on this deal. An honorable man would have submitted his resignation when the news broke, but honor and DISD aren't on the same planet.
Mikey, via dallasobserver.com
As one of the 46 percent who voted "no" on the bonds last year, I told you so. This wouldn't be so painful except for the large check I write each year for property taxes. For all the good that money does, I might as well burn it. However, I'm sure the current board members will all be re-elected, and it will be business as usual at 3700 Ross, Chàvez or whatever.
Alfredo, via dallasobserver.com
"Willfully misinterpreting teachers' comments just to create the perception of a problem..." This about sums up the administrators in general. Is there some kind of "special" management class one can attend to learn how to do these kinds of things, or are they all just really this mean-spirited and hateful? This kind of behavior is rampant at my school. I didn't see so much of this at the other school where I worked, and when I moved, I was shocked to find this to be the norm! It's been very difficult for me to feel safe or comfortable in this kind of harsh work environment, and it's a constant, daily thing.
Louise, via dallasobserver.com
"Bas-Kidd-Ball," by Richie Whitt, October 9
Kidd is done, you betcha
First, Avery needed to go. Second, we should have never traded for Jason Kidd. Third, Kidd is done, washed up, over. Fourth, please keep your lame attempts at injecting politics into sports out of your articles. Fifth, the lame attempt at humor does not even make sense—"a small-town Alaska governor"? There can be small-town mayors and governors of states, but what is a small-town Alaska governor?
JS, via dallasobserver.com
