Mailbox

You raise as a point the fact that the union is in direct opposition to Dr. Brooks approach, and herein lies one of our (and I use our as a parent – and by the way I am an attorney and a Plainview High School alum) biggest problem. There is the now well known confrontational relationship that exists, and has been created and nurtured by the board, between the teachers and the administration. The board policy of not hiring for administration positions from within and hiring administrators with minimal teaching experience has resulted in an administration that does not know our teachers (a problem in and of itself because there is no earned respect between the people teaching our children and administering the buildings, teachers and students) and has so little practical classroom experience that they regularly ignore pragmatic solutions in favor of the hypothetical. The fact is that the union’s position makes it harder for the board and administration to go back because it is an acknowledgment that the board and the administration was wrong and that their decision to abandon conventional, and proven methods of education, have resulted in huge damage to our children (I have a son in 8th and a daughter in 3rd; both are doing well in math but my wife and I teach them traditional math methods at home and incorporate the schools curriculum into our tutorial program – and yes, I will often suggest to my older son that he ignore what is being taught when it becomes circuitous and cumbersome), harm to our school districts reputation, and, if not corrected soon, harm to our property values because POB will be seen as a second tier or third tier district. The fact is that first, it is time for Martin Brooks to leave (he has been trying to get another job for at least 2 years; how come we can’t figure out if we are not his first choice we shouldn’t want him here), and the second is if the board will not do what is right for our kids then it is time to throw them out and replace them with people will.
See you on the 23rd.

Gary

I question why we allow a superintendent who clearly is not meeting the needs and desires of our community to remain. I have a daughter in 7th grade that is a straight A, if not A+ student and is in “high” math and yet scored only in the mid range of 3 last year on the state assessment. Something seems wrong to me about that.
I agree that we should settle for nothing less than exceeding the standards. Average is no longer good enough.

Thank you.
Denyse

Your letter to POB Board was an honest assessment of the state of POB. Thank you on behalf of my family for representing us. It’s not just math, but there is decline in all areas of learning.
The time is now for a complete overhaul and New Leadership.

sincerely
Norman

To whom it may concern:

I have been following the current dispute concerning the math curriculum in the POB schools. I, too, have experienced my own dismay with the math curriculum after trying to help my 4th grade daughter and 3rd grade son with their homework assignments. It is simply astonishing to me that the administration continues steadfast in its support for the investigations math program.

I am particularly concerned at this very moment, however, when, after reading the latest email circulated, I learned that not all of the elementary schools in the district are being prepared for the state exams in the same manner. The PCT letter reflects that the Parkway school has been receiving test prep booklets for each student and I am appalled that the proper test preparation is not uniform throughout the district. My children attend Old Bethpage School, the same school I attended more than 30 years ago. The talk about town, now and even way back when, was always that Parkway school was the elite school in the district, but that was always just rumor with no substantiation. Now, proof exists that Parkway is the favored school, to the detriment of three-quarters of the students in the district! Are you aware of any reasoning behind providing test prep booklets to only one elementary school? Are you aware of any other instances where Parkway (or any other school) has been given different or favored treatment?

The POB schools have maintained a stellar reputation in years past as one of the best school districts in Nassau County, on Long Island, and in New York State. Maybe we have just been drinking the Kool-Aid. Our students are obviously less prepared and, through no fault of the teaching staff, poorly taught. Today it’s math, but who knows where the other deficiencies lie?

To put it simply, I am disgusted.

Brian

I agree that something has to be done. *Every parent I know is very upset with the current curriculum in that we’ve all have hired outside tutors ($70-$80/hr ) to work with our kids on weekly basis. * The gaps in the program are outrageous. These kids have never been taught the foundation. Without that foundation what exactly are you building on?

Outraged in Plainview