An article in the Democrat-Herald last night discusses an administrative presentation at a Chamber of Commerce lunch: A "State-of-the-Union" speech, so-to-speak, titled the "State of Education in Lebanon."
Did the reporter miss something, or was there nothing to miss? As reported, Robinson decries those who voice opposition to his governance, notes our schools are not preparing students for the future but the way to prepare them is through tecnological advancements that "don't exist yet, but will?" Boy, this really points the way for specific, positive changes!
He notes that LHS will never return to the type of high school most of us remember, and states our current dropout rate of 8% (down from 9.6% seven years ago) prevents us from meeting the federal No Child Left Behind standards. In seven years the dropout rate fell 1.6%! I am wondering if this unimpressive change is even statistically significant.
He complains of the struggles among school board members, and among city council members, and how these weaken community support which then negatively impacts student success. The article concludes by quoting Robinson: "Parents have to be front and center when their school feels threatened."
Well, Mr. Robinson, that is exactly what many of us are doing. Our schools feel threatened: Threatened by your leadership style.
Please Mr. Robinson, Mr. Kelley, and others who have circled-the-wagon around you, please retire, please find work elsewhere.
Parents are standing front and center. Our schools are threatened. There is indeed a need for change. Please be a leader: Take the first step. Resign. Your resignation will not resolve the problems, but you must step down before this community can begin to heal and move forward under positive leadership.
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12 comments:
It's worth that Ellen Ast, the reporter who wrote the story, does not usually cover the education beat in Lebanon. That might explain why the story doesn't necessarily include the specifics.
Also, just because the story does not include specifics, don't assume they don't exist. It might be worth asking Robinson for a copy of his presentation so you can check for yourself.
Why is it necessary for Robinson's resignation to take place to begin healing? Wouldn't changing his behavior accomplish the same thing?
Dennis --
It is my belief when someone has years of patterns of behavior that are ineffective, it is unlikely they will change permanently for the better. Having said that, I know behavior change is possible if one truly want to change, makes a significant and consistent effort, and it can help if they are also coached regularly by those trained as change agents.
I have seen nor heard of Robinson seriously making changes. Yes, I have heard he has a talk he now delivers to school staff, where he becomes emotional at the same point in the presentation at each delivery, which leads at least some of those who have heard it to believe it is scripted (emotion included). And, no, I have not heard this speech myself.
But, Dennis, even if it were true that he's changing his behaviors(which you know that I doubt), too much water has passed under the bridge. Just like there comes a point in a troubled marriage when it is too late to salvage the partnership, there comes a point in a community where it is too late to truly regain community respect and confidence. Too many people have memories of being discounted and disrespected, and such memories die hard.
I don't think it's possible for Robinson to regain the trust of the majority of the involved adults in this community: They have had enough! To hold on to his position, working to convince us he is either misunderstood or a changed man, just keeps us stuck in dysfunction.
You know, I don't want to get a copy of his talk and the talks of the other two at the lunch, per the D-H. It seems there would be no point, e.g. a waste of time, since I am convinced we need to look forward to a new group of administrators to lead us forward as a community with an effective school administration.
As the saying goes, "When the horse dies, get off."
The dropout rate at LHS is about 6 percent, down from about 10 percent when Robinson got here.
And Alexander is a bit of a hypocrite talking about the dropout rate because he himself dropped out of Lebanon Union High School in the 10th grade.
Funny that Robinson gets the blame for this. I suppose next people will blame him for the high teen pregnancy rate in Lebanon as well.
Heaven forbid anyone point the finger at parents for their kids behavioral problems.
Abbey -- I don't think your assertion about Rick is true. Do you have proof? It is my understanding Rick attended and graduated from high school in Arizona. One of us clearly has it wrong. There certainly are false and hurtful rumors flying
RE your comments on parents: I agree that parents need to take responsibility for parenting their children. It is a sad that our culture has changed in ways that lead to some parents abdicating that role and expecting the schools to pick it up.
Thank you Dennis. I don't cover education in Lebanon. I was assigned to write a story about the Chamber of Commerce lunch, so what you saw in the article is what took place at that lunch.
You know, Rick could easily solve this rumor by simply mentioning in a public forum - say, at a school board meeting - the extent of his education.
Why doesn't he?
Second, simply writing off Robinson is silly and closed-minded.
Far better is to simply put forth positive proposal after positive proposal and focus one's effort on the ones that show signs of progress.
Complaning - when one is part of an organization - gets you nowhere.
Leave that to us annoying bloggers.
Dennis -- What does Rick need to stand up and proclaim his level of education at a meeting, simply because bloggers have started a rumor? Let's see...he could do state his level of education, then each could in turn stand up at state theirs, and then the arrogant among us could judge who knows best, based only upon years of formal schooling? Please!
My positive proposal is that Robinson resign, a committee of those of us who care deeply about education in Lebanon, possibly including yourself, screen applicants for a new superintendent to help us all move forward. This isn't "silly." This is realistic. This is getting off the dead horse and accepting that it is dead.
1. re: including education as a criteria for qualification to the school board, I fail to see how telling the truth could make matters worse.
2. Calling for someone's resignation is NOT a positive proposal, and to suggest as much is insulting.
Dennis --
1. I don't think telling the truth makes matters worse...I do think basing one's opinion about effectiveness of a school board member on their number of years of higher education is distructive and invalid, as it is but one possible measure of abilities.
I was pondering earlier today whether I would feel differently about Rick if indeed he had been a LHS dropout. It would give me pause, though it would certainly be interesting to hear a bright dropout's views on options for reducing the dropout rate. However, he did not drop out and never attended LHS, to my understanding. Surely his educational history must have been filed with the county clerk when he ran for school board, and would be a matter of public record to anyone who cares to check.
2. I think suggesting Robinson resign so we can all begin to move forward and come together more as a community, is VERY positive. I'm sorry you find it insulting. Obviously, we disagree on that point.
Same talking point from Rick and
Josh.. blah, blah, blah not worth reading..
Why not have Josh, Debi, and Rick resign? Would not that also "solve" the problem? This suggestion makes as much positive progress as yours.
Despite the rhetoric, the academies are doing some good. Student contact by teachers is increasing and options are getting better. It needs some tweaking, as all new projects do once situations arise that were not accounted for in the original plan. Other issues also need to be dealt with, but with the focus on just Mr. Robinson, none of the problems will be left unsolved.
If the dropout rate has moved from 9.5% to 8%, that is a substantial change in a few years, not "statistically insignificant" (methinks IE doesn't really know anything about statistical significance...). If we lose 1.5 points each year, then there won't be any drop out problem 6 more years.
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