Dear Editor,
By selecting our local school trustees, we gave them the authority to watch over our schools (the ones built with our money) and make sure the administrators and teachers they hired (all of which are paid with our money), all deliver a quality education of our collective youth. Since we gave them that authority a few years ago (loaned it, actually), it has been our jobs as citizens to make sure they are doing their job.
They have an administrator at Britton Middle School that has a tremendously effective talent for public speaking – one of the best “ambassadors” of the Morgan Hill Unified School District. Public relations is his strong suit. But nobody is expert in all fields, and like anyone, this administrator has his weak suits.
It is quite clear that all the staff of Britton have come face-to-face with his weak suits, and that has led directly to a significant loss of quality educational energy. Read that: teachers don’t teach well when they are stressed and fearful.
The letter delivered to the trustees on March 7, 2006, signed by ALL the teachers at the school, was clear indication that they haven’t been watching over our educational investments closely enough. A subsequent letter from Anna Friebel, retired Britton teacher and Educator of the Year in 2003, indicated they hadn’t learned from the first letter.
This adverse condition also puts the district at risk for being out of compliance with educational code, for instance, and specifically in the areas of special education and english language learners. What that means is the district is exposed to penalties and lawsuits.
The trustees know that things are not well at Britton. Teachers are leaving and/or transferring. There continue to be complaints from parents and students as well. Okay, no school runs without complaints, but if you are keeping track, you would know there is a disproportionate amount of unrest at Britton. Isn’t this enough reason for them to investigate?
Listen to the teachers, staff and students: those who have been complaining. Don’t schedule your visit, and don’t walk in the front door. Remember if you are ushered around by the school administrator, you will very likely hear a glowing report from the best PR man in the district and you will not have learned a thing.
Peter Anderson, Morgan Hill
