Yes...it's been a while but I'm responding to the nice folks (TW) over at Stories from School

Here are the Five Things Policymakers Ought to Know:

1 - Building a "community" should involve more than "ice breakers", advisory, and muffins on a Friday. What's wrong with good old-fashioned pep assemblies? Don't moan about lost class "time". If planned well and with more than adequate support from staff and faculty school wide assemblies can help build that "community".

2 - Please know the difference between a "faculty meeting" and an "informational meeting". I can count on one hand in an eleven year career when the faculty meeting actually was that and NOT one dispensing testing dates, tardy updates, and/or signing a card for a hernia surgery. Let's use e-mail for the info and our precious time to discuss ideas and issues of importance.

3 - Teachers should have a voice in the hiring (or firing) of colleagues. This would mean peer evaluation and would actually be more meaningful than the system (at least my employer) uses now.

4 - Please have follow through with your "grand" visions, mission statements, etc. Policymakers at all levels have problems with this. I hate dead ends or change for change sake.

5 - Please policymaker read this article for a wealth of knowledge.

Ciao,

TL