Can someone help me out here? I am really frustrated at something I read yesterday about the last d41 meeting. A parent inquired about a PE award given to the PE teachers at Ben Franklin. She asked if that awarded program would be something all the schools would be doing since it is such a great one. Dr. Riebock responded that each school's teachers can teach a unit however they want as long as they are teaching the curriculum. She said that maybe the parent should talk to the Ben Franklin PE teachers and then talk to the ones at her school.

I completely understand that teachers should have the freedom to teach with their individual style. I do not think teachers should be told how to teach. However, if a program is awarded, why would we not encourage the PE teachers at all buildings to incorporate some aspects of the unit at their own buildings?

I am so frustrated with the way that each school is just basically a result of their principal. Basically, if your principal is supportive and fun and lets the parents and staff have a say in things and gets along with them, they can do incredible things. If your school has a principal that is not supportive of anything, does not encourage or work with the parents and teachers then your school just has to roll with it. It seems that Ben Franklin's principal supports everything their teachers want to do. I believe the district should be making sure each school has a supportive principal and that all the schools have the opportunity for excellent programs and teachers.

Why is the district not paying more attention to the principals and the way each building is working together? It seems that Dr. Riebock should want to see all schools doing exceptionally well.

I would also like to know when the surveys will be shared with the public and if they will be discussed with the public in person or just statistics sent by email that do not include what the district does not want to include.

I seem to recall during the SIP day debate last year that some of the "institute time" was designated for interaction between the staff of various schools.

They can talk about ideas but if you are not open to others ideas, it does not matter. The PE teachers at my school do not change anything or listen to any other person's ideas. It is quite sad.