I am getting a lot of comments on the BOE, some not very nice, but it seems to me that underneath all those lines, there is a true ignorance of who the BOE members are and what qualifications they have. If you check on the school district website's BOE window, you'll see that of the nine members only one has bothered to post her background and to an extent, a short biography. The other 8 must be relying on some unknown source, to me anyway, to let people know who they are.
It is sad to see that people in general have little, or no knowledge of who sits on the BOE, the entity with the biggest academic and budgetary responsibility on the city.
We could all be doing our research on them, we could all be sharing what facts we know of them, but it really falls on them, the BOE members, to let the community know who they are.
All I have to say is this:
If you don't know who they are, what is it that they do, and how they will truly contribute to the improvement of our school district, please, don't vote them in again. You voting for who your friend or neighbor told you to vote for is what has us all on this mess. And if you didn't vote for them, would you please consider running against them this coming April?
MP
Friday, December 11, 2009
A quick note on the BOE:
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15 comments:
Let the church say...
Amen
The point is well taken that we should be relying on the BOE to provide background info.
However, we actually have a responsibility to ask the questions.
Q1. I know your family in Plainfield and we went to h.s. together, but why are you qualified to make decisions regarding the education of my child?
Q2. I remember that your son and my son played Pop Warner together, but what is your background in education?
Q3. What would your child say if they were standing next to you? Would they say you were a dedicated and commitment parent?
Q4. Do you have any criminal history?
Q5. What organizations are you a member of?
Q6. Those campaign promises to "take Plainfield to the next level," please tell when we are expected to arrive (sorry, that was a pinch sarcastic).
An excellent commentary!
Hi Maria,
The League of Women Voters of Plainfield tries to help out by holding a forum and by publishing information on school board candidates in advance of the April elections.
Perhaps more voters need to pay attention and go to the polls in April.
True words of wisdom Maria.
This goes well beyond the cliche of "if you don't vote you can't complain". It has gotten to the point where if you don't vote AND educate yourself on the people and the policies...not only can you not complain, but you will be stuck with policies and people that might irreversibly harm the community (in the case of schools...the next generation of our communities).
Keep up the great work Maria!
Maria - unfortunately -- CVs and Resumes don't tell us who a person is but rather what they are expose to/experienced in....the only thing that tells us who a person is -- is the actual interaction, results and impact they have on society. I would much rather have a group of people who have the highest level of integrity, grit and passion for education and doing the RIGHT thing...then a person or two with a doctorate, masters or college degree who is selfish, duplicitous and down right disrespectful. You do not have to have a college degree to CARE, to tell the Truth, to be Honorable and to be a GOOD Citizen.
Thanks for all comments. I agree with Renata (11:43) that an outstanding resident doesn't have to have a Doctor's degree in order to get my vote, it is their care and sense of responsibility, and desire to get educated on the things that matter the most for that position, these are things what will make me pull the lever for them.
As for what kind of educational degree our present BOE members have, some have college, some have good jobs, some even teach, but I refuse to do THEIR homework. They ran for office, if they feel that, as Bernice said, the one and only time to expose themselves to the public is April, nothing I can do. If they get upset because people think they are a bunch of uneducated people, let them set the record straight. They can always use this space to do so.
Thanks again for all comments.
Given that we are talking about the 'board of EDUCATION' I think that the level of education achieved by the members is an important issue. When an individual has completed a college education they have proven their ability to work through various problems and properly communicated their answers. Given the complexities of the system that they are charged with overseeing I think having a BS or BA is very important. Additionally they must also display the desire and have the integrity, grit and passion.
To be clear I am not saying that it is one or the other I am saying that all Board members should be both college educated AND display the specific human skills to move the BOE forward.
I went over to the Piscataway school district website & reviewed each Board member's bio. With the exception of maybe 2, every member has AT LEAST a Master's Degree with the majority having a Phd.
A QUOTE FROM THEIR BOARD WEBSITE:
"How much do you know about the individuals that serve on the Board? Learn about their personal lives and professional experience."
Piscataway is not a more successful school district because the children are better. The district is more successful because their school district is run like a business.
To the commenter who seems to be addressing my position on Board Member's Qualifications – I have met and worked with some of the DUMBEST educated people with minimal common sense and marginal intelligence and zero class. And then I have met some of the most intelligent, HONORABLE (you can’t study up on that) and respectful persons one could ever hope to meet. There are qualities and character of a person that transcend book knowledge. To reason that because this is the Board of Education one must higher education is faulty and quite silly. John’s head is round, the sun is round therefore the Sun must be John’s head. Huh?!!!
As Maria stated one only need the passion and wherewithal to research and find the answers. One needs to be committed to the cause of creating a better educational system. What they may lack in book knowledge they can offer in humanitarian experience. Intellect is not a measure of degrees my friend, but rather an ability to transfer your experience to another individual so as to increase or improve that individual. One need only to be willing to the LEARN and ready to serve.
@ 7:19pm
If we are talking about a position that allows for growth and error, I agree. Your logic would be acceptable for an apprentice or aide. This is a multi-million dollar institution.
It's not acceptable in some positions where someone's life or future is at stake to require only passion and commitment. Would you board a train or plane ran by a passionate professional or trained one?
The BOE's decisions are not a practice run for the real thing. This IS the real thing.
The BOE makes crucial decisions EVERY MONTH that determine the future of thousands of children. It's not about whether 1 candidate must have higher education (and the valuable qualities that come from that achievement) or passion or level of intelligence. The ENTIRE board should be diverse with a variety of levels of education, experience and commitment.
Question:
Would you allow a friend who told you he was passionate about liver transplants, but never attempted to attend medical school and his only experience with a surgical unit is a few episodes of E.R. and cousin who worked in a hospital determine the procedure necessary to do your transplant? Doubt it.
Plainfield students do NOT deserve a group of people that have no clue what they are doing either. How do we know this? History.
2:39,
What would you, and all, say if you were to find out that most have college degrees?
What will the excuse be then?
When people are out for themselves, their own glory and not the welfare of a child’s education doesn't matter! BUT I do believe someone who serves in such a capacity needs to be educated and able to deal with complex matters. They need to have both! Look around, ALL other districts were able to find a board with both, WHAT’S WRONG WITH PLAINFIELD?
2:39 AND 8:24 DON'T be reDUNKULOUS! Why can't we have a simply discussion without folks bringing in radical (unrelated)examples. My argument is with your assertion that educated equals degreed. I simply do not agree with that and the facts bear that out.
Do you know what Mary Kay, Richard Branson, Coco Chanel, Simon Cowell, Michael Dell,Walt Disney, Henry Ford Debbi Fields, Bill Gates, Milton Hershey, and Rachel Ray have in common. All are MULTI-Millionaire...running their own business and neither have degrees.
I also would not want a liar, thief, adulterer, or unscrupulous individual teaching my children and structuring the environment inwhich my child is to be taught.
And you won't be finding any "How to books" in higher learning institution on them...Those are GOOD BOOK Character traits and I'd take 9 of those on my school board for any 1 PhD, MBA or other who lacks integrity.
Maria -- sorry for using up you blog comment space on this one. I promise no matter how they respond I won't type up another response to it -- at least not in this zone.
To accept a board with less than college educated members is just another of the many reasons why Plainfield fails in so many areas.
The total package of qualifications is not an either/or its all.
Whats next high school chemistry teachers with a grade school education because they are passionate.
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