Spence Middle School: an 11-Year-Old's Perspective
Submitted by Allen Gwinn on Tue, 04/29/2008 - 09:02.
by Kelsey Gwinn, 5th grade, Hexter Elementary
[Background: Alex W. Spence Middle School is one of two Talented-And-Gifted (TAG) academies in the Dallas Independent School District. It has historically been very competitive, and consistently ranks high in TAKS scoring. This posting is from an 11-year-old who visited the school this Spring.]
In the mail I got a flyer for an Open House at Alex W. Spence TAG Academy at Spence Middle School. My dad really wanted to go there and see what it was like. He thought the magnet schools would be higher quality than private schools. We went to the Open House and first went to an orientation in the auditorium. They were telling how great their school was and showing off all their high test scores. They also bragged about the free breakfast that everyone got to have every day. They said they had very nice meals and it was a chance for the students to be with their friends.
Then they had all the teachers for 6th grade come up and talk about what they taught. I thought it was great. Then in the cafeteria they had tables set up where we could find out about all the electives. I really liked it a lot.
I decided to apply to Spence because they looked so good at the Open House. Everybody who applies can do a shadow program which is where you spend a day at their school with a buddy. So my mom and I arrived at the school at 7:40 because they told me to be there at 7:45. When we got there and went through the metal detector, we checked in at the office. Then they told us to wait in the hall because someone would be there immediately to help us.
There was a table outside the office with a lady who made my mom and I sign a visitor sheet and get Visitor passes. It turned out that we didn’t really need them. Then we were told to sit down in the hallway and we sat there for 10 to 15 minutes before anyone came to help us. A woman came to greet us and said we did not need the Visitor passes. She said that class had already started and that Kelsey’s buddy was in her first period class. The lady brought me to my buddy’s class. The buddy was a 6th grade girl. The teacher said hello to me. I did not see any other Anglo kids in that class, or all day for that matter.
The 6th graders are allowed to have lockers but no one uses them because too much stuff gets stolen, according to my buddy and her friend. All the lockers are in the main building. I was told that some kids pick the locks just to steal stuff from lockers. I did not use the restrooms all day because everyone said that they are really gross.
My buddy was really nice but a lot of people thought of her as a bully. A lot of people were telling me rude comments about how mean and obnoxious she was. The first class was Social Studies. It was in a portable, which is where all the TAG students have their classes, but all their electives are in the main building and are also for kids who are not in the TAG program.
This one boy turned to me when my buddy was away and asked me to have sex with him. My response was no. One girl told me to be very scared of him because he was girl crazy. Then the boy told me that the girl always had sex with boys behind the school. She denied it. Also, the boy was talking about girls and their private parts and the teacher joined in the conversation, saying she thought he was just interested in girls’ boobies. In this class, they were writing a Mexican song called a “corido.”
The next class was in the building. It was Creative Drama. There were two teachers – one for the 6th grade and one for the 7th grade. The teachers took attendance and then a bell rang signifying breakfast. Our whole class had to walk to the cafeteria where we got a small container of yogurt, 2 graham crackers, and some gross fruit juice in a juice box. Not very appealing. Announcements were made during breakfast and they were very long. Nobody really listened to them. They just chatted with their friends. One thing they talked about was all the past shadows that got beat up there by one girl. In the cafeteria, some people were threatening other people if they did not go get them more breakfast. Breakfast was about 30 minutes I think, but I didn’t have a watch on.
Then we went back to Creative Drama. In drama, they split into groups and finished up creating their skits from the day before. All the skits I saw had foul language and were about drugs. The teachers did not care if they had cussing in them. All they cared about was making sure the students were in the right places as they acted out the skits. When my buddy was on the stage acting, a guy sitting behind me started asking me a lot of personal questions. I felt very uncomfortable.
The next class was writing. They were studying Mardi Gras. The students had to bring beads that day and turn them in. There was a prize to the person who brought the most beads and the class that brought the most beads. The teacher gave me a necklace then rolled her eyes and walked away. I don’t know why she rolled her eyes. She tried to get control of the class but didn’t really get their attention. This class was in a portable.
The next class was in the main building. It was an elective called Introduction to Computers and Technology. The teacher wasn’t there, so all the students were just out in the hallway talking. After 5-10 minutes, my buddy asked me if we should go get a teacher and I said that that would be a good idea. So we went to the library and asked a librarian where the teacher was. We were told that we were supposed to have a substitute but that she was just late. When we got back to the hallway outside the classroom, everyone was mad at my buddy for having gone to get a teacher at the library.
Then a substitute finally showed up about 5 minutes later and everyone went in the classroom. They all finished up an assignment (making a brochure on the computer) and then sat around playing anything they wanted on the computer over the Internet. The substitute asked me why I wasn’t working. I guess she didn’t know I was just visiting. She told the class that she couldn’t believe they were TAG students because they were always talking and not wanting to work.
When the bell rang, my buddy said “Come on” and we went to the cafeteria for lunch. As we squeezed through the very crowded hallway, I accidentally bumped into somebody and he said “Move it, white girl!” A lot of people called me “white girl” for the rest of the day. The cafeteria was really dirty and gross. I had to buy my lunch, unlike at the private schools I visited where I got a free lunch. It was $1.25 and I was disappointed because they were having nachos, which I don’t like much. The nachos were really soggy and had way too much cheese sauce and meat on them. I got to pick two sides but the nachos also came with curly fries. The fries were so greasy I could see the grease dripping off. They got cold really quickly too. All they had to drink that day was the icky juice like they had at breakfast. We were not allowed to sit anywhere we wanted. Each row of tables had to fill up in order before the next row could start filling in.
During lunch, a boy was trying to open a little packet of mustard for his curly fries. Then, since he couldn’t open it, he set it on the table and started banging on it with his fist. Then it splattered open all over me and my buddy, and on to the next table. Some people just laughed but no adult did anything about it. Not even the monitors. When we were done eating, we were told to put our (Styrofoam) trays in a pile. I saw the people in the kitchen rinsing them so they could be used again. Lunch was 30 minutes and then there was a 15-minute break outside. Since we all carried everything with us, it all had to be carried to the cafeteria and then outside too. It was cold that day.
After lunch and break was 5th period, Science in the portables. We all did worksheets, even me. All the students were in groups. Those who weren’t working and called on by the teacher had no idea what to say. It was OK and the teacher just explained to them what they missed. They didn’t get in trouble for not listening. As we did our worksheets, I noticed that my buddy couldn’t even print the letter “e.” She wrote it as a “3.” Then when we took turns reading out loud out of textbooks, the students were having trouble with pronunciation and were reading very slowly. I couldn’t even believe they were TAG students! This teacher, like most teachers at Spence, did not pay much attention to me.
Sixth period was Beginner’s Orchestra, an elective so it was in the building. The students drop off their backpacks in a separate room attached to the class and pick up their instruments. They are not allowed to take them home. After all the instruments had been tuned by the teacher, almost everyone had to go to the bathroom. The teacher let them go, one at a time, to a bathroom way down the hall. The teacher yelled at them about how badly they were acting. He was kind of mean. He also had a deep, sing-song voice. They basically practiced a song and then went over their music notes out loud, saying what was on their music.
Seventh period. FINALLY!! I was so happy it was the end of the day. We went to math class in a portable. The sixth graders (TAG) were learning stuff I had already learned in 5th grade at Hexter Elementary. The teacher was nice to me but kind of mean to the class. Everyone kept coming up to him for help with their work. He looked annoyed. He let my buddy and me leave early so she could take me to the office. As we left, a lot of kids wished they could be a buddy so they could leave early too. In the office, I just sat and waited for my mom. On our way to the car, my mom said that a bunch of janitors were standing around talking instead of cleaning that nasty school.
Okay now it’s time for my opinion of Spence. As I went to the car I burst into tears and told my mom how terrible my day was. I hated it! Nobody made me feel welcome, it wasn’t a clean school, and how the heck were those kids TAG students (couldn’t read, write, do arithmetic)? That one question haunts me every night as I wonder about it.
Oh yeah, I have a friend who used to go to my school who goes to Spence now and when I found out that she went there I told her I didn’t like it when I visited. She then warned me to never ever go to that school. She told me it would be the biggest mistake of my life to go there. I agree. That is the truth.
I have 3 friends who visited Spence also and guess what: one loved it, one thought it was “so-so,” and one hated it. I absolutely despised it. My counselor wanted to know why I took my application out of Spence. I just told her the cold, hard truth. Hey, sometimes the truth may hurt but it is so much better to know the facts than to get hurt later.
Editorial
Keep in mind, this is coming from an 11-year old who has excelled at everything she's ever done. On the flip side, 11-year olds don't see things with 40-something-year-old eyes. But how can an 11-year-old exaggerate sexual advances in a classroom, or a teacher joining in on an extremely inappropriate conversation with children?
After listening to her story (and reading what she wrote), if there isn't "fire" here, there certainly is quite a bit of "smoke" at Spence TAG Academy.
It has been my experience that the condition of an organization reflects the leadership of that organization. There is quite a bit of controversy surrounding Spence Principal Mary Davies.
I'll freely admit that I've never met Davies, but I'd love to have her opinion on this posting.
Interim Principal at Spence
If you go to http://www.dallasisd.org/schools/realtor_new.cfm?id_con=98 you will see that there is a new name under the picture of Ms. Davies. What's up with that?
[Ed Note: There is an interim principal in place at Spence. We've been asked to keep the rest off the record for the time being.]
Not limited to Spence
I am sorry to say that the girl's comments on Spence describe what is going on at MANY schools in the district. I am a teacher at an elementary school in Oak Cliff and we have experienced the same actions that one teacher described in this blog. ELEMENTARY students are bullying other children. We send them to the principal or Assistant Principal and nothing is done. We call parents, nothing is done. CHAMPS does not work with this group of children. Assaults on children and staff are up since we have initiated CHAMPS. I have a step-son in a Dallas middle school and he has been repeatedly bullied. Children and parents at this particular middle school do not fear the tickets that are written by the district.
If this issue is not addressed soon, we are sending the wrong message and have failed our children!
The "5th Grader's Comments"
I have a very hard time believing a 5th grader wrote this entire piece of literature by herself. It doesn't sound like a 5th grader wrote it, it reeks of an adult slagging a school for some reason, and just doesn't jive with my knowledge of how a 5th grader (or any elementary school student for that matter) writes and reasons.
First, the work is just too polished, too perfect and too smooth to be written by a 5th grader. It takes years of practice for most writers to develop these skills with transitions, examples, and keeping the reader engaged.
Second, there are glimmers of typical 5th grade writing all over the place. The last minute "Oh yeah, I have a friend..." and very short, choppy sentences like "It was cold that day. She told me it would be the biggest mistake of my life to go there. I agree. That is the truth."
But the biggest thing that struck me as "odd" was in this passage:
"She said that class had already started and that Kelsey’s buddy was in her first period class. The lady brought me to my buddy’s class."
Wait. Isn't Kelsey the author of this? If so, why would she talk about herself in the 3rd person in this story? Even if another person was telling me something I (and about 99.9% of students) would have written something like "She said that class had already started and that my buddy was in her first period class. The lady then took me to my buddy's class."
There is just something about this whole essay that reeks of someone with a grudge, an upset parent, or a student who wrote a 5th grade quality (or higher maybe even 8th grade) paper, and had some major editing done with elaboration by a parent/guardian.
I have many very high achieving middle schoolers and after a quick poll of some of my classes (including a future valedictorian--yes, the kid is that smart and I guarantee he/she'll be either #1 or #2 with some competition), none of them used the terms this author used or would write about themselves in the third person. They did explain that some people do use those words, do talk about themselves like that, etc., but it's not something that is at all common, especially at their age.
While I won't refute any of the author's allegations (I have no ties to Spence, know nothing about any of these instances, etc.) since I was not there, some of this stuff just seems made up...especially the cafeteria with rinsed off styrofoam trays and mustard on curly fries...or the guy just flat out asking for sex in the hallway.
[Ed Note: Well, I'm sorry you don't believe Kelsey to be the author, or the statements she made. We did edit paragraphs for readability, and added punctuation (like we do for most posters--just as a newspaper does), but these are her words, her allegations, and she stands by the story.
Why is it I find myself holding myself back from making some caddy remark like: "heh, my 5th grader is smarter than your 5th grader!" :) ]
Shouldn't That Be...
Shouldn't that be "My 5th grader is smarter than you!" After reading some of the replies and accusations, you would be pretty accurate.
[Ed Note: Chuckle!]
It's True
Thats a kid in my class and that sounds exactly like how she speaks.
[Ed Note: Hi Shay! She's picking up a lot of support for speaking her mind. She appreciates all of her classmates, and it has been her pleasure getting to know all you guys. She hopes to see all of you again in high school!]
Castro Cheating Scandal & Re-washing Trays
Yeah, I think Castro is a mess too. I’ve seen this guy cheat himself through all his school. At Sunset he was in a TEA cheating scandal and there were lots of rumors about him at this other schools. The man has no self-control. None! He’s an ego-maniac and it’s all about his career and nothing else.
So let’s put him to the test. Let’s all report the re-washing of trays at Spence. (I seriously doubt that!) I bet he never checks into it. Maybe if we tell him it’s a photo opp he will check this.
[Ed Note: First off, I understand there are frustrations with Mr. Castro. However, I don't believe you are correct about a cheating scandal. I also don't believe him to be an "ego-maniac." From the times I've met him, he's seemed rather down to earth. But you are certainly entitled to your opinion.]
Re-Washed Trays
I collect trays myself and the only reason we do this is to save trash bags. You see they take up more room when you do not separate them from the slop.
The price of trash bags has gone from 13.00 to 19.00(per 100) in one year just as the other supplies. Without our dollar amount, per student, being increased in 20 years you can see why we run out of supplies. This is budgeted by downtown not the school principal's.
Tray re-washing
I am in the cafeteria at Spence every day. The trays are stacked on a table by the kids, after the leftover food has been scraped into the garbage cans (with liners). The trays are then put into plastic trash can liners, sealed up, and wheeled out and thrown into the dumpster outside the cafeteria. I have never seen anyone take these used styrofoam trays out of the dumpster to wash them, even though I know many families who re-use and recycle used plastic and styrofoam ware after re-washing them! It really is a smart thing to do, knuckleheads. But it is illegal to do in school cafeterias, as well as it is illegal to take uneaten oranges, apples, and other unopened fruit that is being thrown away to recycle it or give it to the homeless or even other hungry children at the same school. You can bet that the cafeteria manager is watching every little thing that happens in her cafeteria...believe me, nothing gets past her. She has zero tolerance for any breaches of the law. When plumbing on one side of the two food lines broke down, she refused to let that line be used until DISD officials came in and gave her the alternative for keeping food heated until the plumbing could be repaired, sterno containers. I applaud her for making sure everything is above board.
Believe me, we all see that it's not necessary for Mr. Castro to waste his time on this issue, as Mrs. Wong is on the job and on top of every little thing. So, this is one issue that can be laid to rest.
[Ed Note: Thanks for the clarification]
Styrofoam trays vs: teaching
Typical DISD! Throwing away thousands and thousands of Styrofoam trays each day is teaching our children well.
[Ed Note: D*mned if you do and d*mned if you don't!]
Castro--Dirty Tricks
I heard my principal making a comment once that went like this, “The only way you can get him to visit your school is to tell him the superintendent is coming”. We all laughed because we actually did that and he showed-up! Yes, the man is a joke. He mishandled everything.
Let me tell you my story. Last year he was after my principal at North Dallas. He would call my cell-phone (don’t know how he got the number) to ask me questions about her. He would even ask me if I thought she was taking prescription drugs. Sure, I couldn’t stand the lady, but I though it was low that he was sneaking around behind her back. Then he would show-up with his entourage. This man has hit his ceiling and can’t handle the job.
[Ed Note: This post has been edited to remove a rather serious and completely unsubstantiated allegation. Please, folks, when you are posting, stick to opinions and facts.]
Lunch trays reused?
I did find one glaring inaccuracy in this report. The lunch trays are NOT washed and reused. I do lunch duty every day, and the trays are stacked and disposed of in the trash at the end of each lunch period. They are stacked to keep the trash bin from filling up before it is emptied.
[Ed Note: Maybe they're washed before they're trashed.]
Lunch trays reused.
They are carried outside from the table. They are not washed!
[Ed Note: OK. Sorry, I wasn't there when it happened.]
Forget The Anonymous Posters
I'm alarmed at the poor grammar and spelling coming from the posters, especially the teachers. I mean, we all have busy lives and all, but we also have spell check (and some of us have the good sense to use browsers that are better at spell checking than what's available in the teachers lounge or in the library). No wonder you people want to remain anonymous. Who's too busy to not sound stupid on a blog? I feel for the kids you teach, if you really are teachers. You'd think that if you're (not your) a teacher then you'd want to make sure that your (not you're) posts don't come off reading as if some 11-year old wrote them. Just sayn'.....
Teachers and Grammar
Ditto!!! Are you and I the last of a fading breed -- teachers who know and respect correct English grammar enough to use it? You're and your and it's and its are my pet peeves! I'm like the author of teen novels Sharon Draper -- people who misplace apostrophes (or are clueless about their uses) are bothersome to me.
I, too, feel sorry for the students of such teachers. I regret those students end up in my classes, resisting my standard of excellence, demanding their increased command of the English language, and the routine of using a dictionary.
And, yes, it's best these "educators" remain anonymous. They're too oblivious to their stupidity to take time to correct their grammar. We know they're not too busy; they think everyone is equally as dumb. (Note, how I used that semi-colon correctly, separating two independent clauses). At least the editor of this blog uses proper grammar, which is quite impressive!
This is my second year in Texas and working for Dallas ISD. No wonder the metroplex ranked so low on the recent "Most Literate Cities in America" list. It's because of teachers who lack respect for the correct use of the written English language. And that's so unprofessional.
[Ed Note: So go make a difference! Stir the pot! Fix it! You'd be amazed what a difference one person can make.]
Teachers and Grammar
You certainly have the right to express yourself. Why did you remain Anonymous?
Hmm
Asking someone why they chose to remain anonymous, while you yourself have made the same decision. My mother always told me that you shouldn't throw rocks if you live in a glass house...
Pretentious Windbag
Try diagramming your own sentence:
I regret those students end up in my classes, resisting my standard of excellence, demanding their increased command of the English language, and the routine of using a dictionary.
[Ed Note: I'm rolling on the floor right now! For the record I did not come up with the title of this comment! But it's priceless! Also, for the record, I'm not taking sides :) ]
Anonymous Posters
I also read that posting. The subject line read "Forget about the Annon Posters" ... Casie who has so proudly identified herself apparently does not know how to use spell check or correct grammar but is quick to point out that other bloggers lack intelligence... “Who’s too busy to not sound stupid on a blog?” I am not an English teacher but Who’s? and “to not” Whose or “Who is” would be the correct use. “to not” ? The use of “to not” in the complete sentence does not make sense…oh, those who throw stones!
I love the use of "Virtual Stones". Good one, anonymous! Casie, are you old enough to “get” the concept of “Virtual Stones”?
[Ed Note: ...except that Casie obviously knew how to spell "anonymous." This tells me she "fat fingered" a comment. Also, correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think Casie is holding herself out to be a teacher in DISD.]
grammar
Your post makes no sense. (or, your post does not make sense) Sorry, it just doesn't, ah, "flow", shall we say?
If you wanna (want to) flame me, then do it over the really, really obvious mis-s-s-s-s-take in my original post, "teachers lounge".
I suppose I'm happy to know that you are not an English teacher (if you are a teacher at all, I hope you're better at teaching math or science, where apparently spelling and grammar are irrelevant and useless.)
And FTR (that's "for the record" abbreviated) I am not a teacher and not a product of DISD, but rather Garland ISD.
Spelling/Grammar? Forget about...
Take a look at your own BLOG! "Annon" is not even abbreviated correctly. ANONYMOUS is the correct spelling!
Just sayn' ... SAYING would be the correct spelling... so before you start throwing "virtual stones" ... Have a great day!
[Ed Note: Oops... that's our job as editors to catch it when people miss keystrokes. Sometimes we miss, though, eh?]
r u kidn me?
thank you for correcting my urban txt use of an abrv. i know i need to get down to Brdrs and chck out the latest dix of prpr abrvs..... i cant txt str8t wo it.
Really, is this how you grade papers???
Besides, it's not MY blog, it's Allen Gwinn's and he makes that pretty obvious.
Sayin' is correct. Sayin is not. That's slang fer ya.
Skills within DISD
Thank you for the incisive observation. You're (not your) spot-on re. the unfortunate reality of the degree of literacy incompetence within DISD faculties and staffs.
Some Idiot Ranting
Bad little white girl, how dare you go into a school like Spence and attempt to apply your vanilla-flavored biased, privileged European cultural template on such a rich, vibrant display of Sun-People culture? Complaining that you had to sit around for "10 to 15 minutes before anyone came to help us" (as if the employees of that school have nothing better to do than help some little slave-owner's descendant!)...and that "janitors were standing around talking". And God forbid a brutha/vato try to get a little behind-the-portables booty at school.
Welcome to the rabbit-hole, "Alice"...you've just spent a day in the Dallas/Texas/United States of tomorrow where people brag about Da Gubmint providing them free breakfast at school and "TAG" students can't write the Roman alphabet. I'm a close associate of a Spence teacher, and I thought my friend was always exaggerating: 1. The unprofessional, incompetent, and histrionic behavior of Principal Davies 2. The depravity, dullness and viciousness of the student body 3.The unprofessional attitude of the Spence staff and 4. The depressing, unsanitary, and dangerous environment of the school itself. After reading this entry..and all the others about Spence...well, I owe some apologies.
But hey, at least you got to have a "real" experience rather than wasting a day in some white-bread school where they don't even know what a corrido is or how to work drugs and "bad" language into a drama skit. Silly white girl, why you don't want to learn nothin'???
[Ed Note: It's interesting how some people want to turn innocent observations into a racial issue. I usually don't say this to people on this blog but: sir, get a life--followed closely thereafter by a clue.]
Amused White Male
Please tell me you aren't a teacher. Some bloggers may think you're funny, but I too, don't have a clue where most of your postings are leading to. There aren't that many Anglo kids at Spence. My son attended Travis and it is pretty much, equally divided between Hispanics, African-American and Anglos. Which is how Spence should be. I have heard several stories how the kids at Spence, taunt others. That is not only sad, be shouldn't be happening. I know Kelsey and she was telling her point of veiw. She is a very sweet child and would never say anything, like the comments made to her. And for a teacher to add to it, I'm glad my children don't go there. No child should be treated differently because of the color of their skin.
I dealt with a Principal in East Dallas, who is now gone, who could be Davies....Evil Twin. This school also was under the same learning community. I went thru 3 Area Superintendents..Isequedos, Vicki Mitchell and Castro. They all had plently of documentation, but choose to look the other way. Maybe that has something to do with 70 low performing schools last year. Our Principals are given way to much power. Our teacher have no voice. Doesn't the office staff leaving, speak volumes. Parents are not educated enough of their rights to persue issuses past the school. Then we have their boss (Area Superintendents, aware of the issues, and choose to look the other way. I stand up for the students and the school and the parents need to pull together and make their presence known. They have the power, for change. Don't allow Castro to do his usual of putting you off, hoping you'll give up, why he works his way up the ladder. No offense Castro, but while you're leaving the district early, taking classes, your day job is suffering. We need someone in the East Learning Community, that will make a stand for justice and stop allowing the principals to slack off. Maybe it sound familiar from your own past, not expecting much from your teachers, while you move up the latter.
Davies took Castro position when he left Arcadia Park. From what I hear, Davies did this same type thing there and was Demoted? Then promoted to Spence!! DISD Area Superintendents....Wake Up. Why are principals, demoted then promoted ? Are you that hard up on principal selections, or you just keeping your friends employed ?
Castro won't answer my questions, why would you think he would do something about this. Friends stick together. They want to wear you down, so you'll give up. Don't let them. Get someone to speak out at the board meeting this month or contact Allen. Teachers will leave so that they don't have to deal with it next year. At our school Castro could of prevented more teachers from leaving, but did nothing, untill the summer. No one should have to go thru this. It too, affects the kids when good teachers are pressured to leave. Just cause the principal wants power at any price. Many time they aren't even legit reasons. They just come up with what ever they want and find a reason to make it look bad on the teacher. Remember... the principal will never look bad. Hill had 40 staff members leave from May 05 - May 07. That in itself should send up a red flag.
DISD....invest my tax dollars in Area Superintendents that care about the students, teachers, schools and communities as a whole and not what's in it for themselves.
Mess-Up Move-Up
I work for Dallas ISD and the word around the campus is: The more you "screw-up" the higher the promotion you get!
[Ed Note: The military had an acronym: "FU-MU." This is a family-friendly website so we won't go any further! "Foul-up" ... that was it!]
Race an issue? In DISD? How DARE you, sir!
Whoa,Mr."MyKidsLikeYoursAreColorBlind"...as your daughter pointed out: "I did not see any other Anglo kids in that class, or all day for that matter"...so, on some level, benign as it may be, your daughter IS seeing race and ain't as color-blind as you'd like her to be. To claim, as you did, that my "idiotic" post somehow introduced the topic of race into this discussion is incredibly disingenuous. I seem to recall a posting or two about African-Americans being unfairly treated at Spence...does that count as "idiocy" and "ranting" also?
The issues at Spence are a microcosm of urban race-relations all over Texas: Blacks are being muscled out of their sweet, lucrative low-accountability gigs in the DISD by Hispan-Cano activists that are using the same sort of "we need a DISD that looks like Dallas" ethno-spoils politics that made the DISD a defacto black fiefdom for the better part of 40 years...and made the DISD LESS diverse than it has ever been. Well, at least until our courts decided that setting foot on the north bank of the Rio Grande entitles you to a free Educacion Americano. Principal Davies is just a red herring for a much bigger issue.
But hey, I'm just a hyperbole-spoutin', satire-spewin' white idiot ranter. I'm gonna git off this hyar computor intersnet now and go linch me a nigra or Messican now. Pleez forgive me fer brangin' up tha 800-pound gowrilla in tha room. Which is the issue of race.
[Ed Note: Oops. No clue yet!]
Dude is an...
[jtf note:] Wow this dude is an a**.
[Ed Note: No, just no clue yet :) ]
It might be just me but I
It might be just me but I believe that this author was being sarcastic. In fact I believe that his numbered statements show that he is capable of formulating a proper sentence.
Also just to point out, while it was not a major issue there were some references to race in your daughters post as well. For example no anglo students in first period.
Lighten up Allen...I really think that "Amused White Male" was just being funny.
[Ed Note: Yeah, I thought that until I put the whole thing in context... at which point I determined he was badly in need of a clue :) ]
Some Idiot Ranting
Just what are you ?
Since you are ranting and calling a child an idiot. This young girl wrote about her experience with Spence. How do you know what her ethnicity is ??? I do believe you are the idiot.
[Ed Note: I think the guy was originally trying to be sarcastic, but he took it a bit too far when all things got put together.]
I knew she was white because....
...she said she was. (remember the part where our heroine wrote about people bumping into her in the hallway and calling her "white girl"?). So...based on that text and some other prior inferences, I'm sticking by my earlier deduction that the author was a Caucasoid female.
Hey...it seems that I actually CAN "get a clue"!
I wish I had some juicy little anonymous anecdotes about how one day I was walking down the hall at Spence minding my own business, on my way to enlighten young minds, only to have Ms. Davies body-slam me head-first against a locker because my shoes weren't shined properly. I don't. And don't worry, Bbeach...I'm not a teacher. I've never even really wanted to be...not even in a white school district. I have no more desire to be insulted by over-indulged and misparented Highland Park/Southlake kids than I do to be berated by the over-indulged and misparented kids of Da Hood.
And by the way Bbeach, here is where my posts were going (and went): someone like me, who is only tangentially acquainted with the issues at Spence, but who HAS seen Dallas evolve(?) through about four decades can only see this through the prism of racial relations. Nothing else has been permitted. As I noted...I did not bring the issue up. There were many Spence-related posts before mine alleging that black teachers/staff/students have been targeted for unfair treatment by this principal.
For someone who has seen decades of episodes of "DISD Gone Wild!!!", this is all very mundane -- but mildly amusing -- melodrama. Sorry I applied a bigger template to the tempest in a teapot that is Spence Middle School, but heck, I'm the sort of guy who will probably go see "Iron Man" this weekend and then spend the rest of the day wondering if the message is that the hero is empowered by his armor or trapped within it.
Love...The Clueless Ranting Idiot
[Ed Note: So you see children, this is why one must never mix drugs and an Internet browser...]
Spence, Education, Business
In any other place of business, a manager or supervisor with so many complaints and issues against her would not still be in the same position. She would have at least been removed so that the work environment would still prosper and produce. But, here in DISD, everyone except teachers and hourly employees are protected. The area 3 management is dancing around and afraid to deal with the issues because of what they may have to deal with in return. People are not willing to lose in order to gain for the greater good. Castro is putting off meeting with people about Spence. His office has gone back and forth about dealing with this because they are afraid to make a stand. Teachers out Spence are complaining, but only behind closed doors. Everybody is scared. Nobody will walk into Mary Davies office and tell her she is wrong, that she has made poor decisions, that she has acted improperly, and that she is unethical. These are judging statements. Nobody gets removed for that. This is why Castro is scared to make a stand. This is why she is not worried. There is little in black and white that can be used against her. In my upbringing, we called people out for the wrongs they committed. In my upbringing, we didn't have to sit there and continuously have to swallow your pride and just accept when people hurt you, your job and your family. Why will Area 3 NOT make a stand against someone who is affecting so many people in such a horrible way? She has affected people way beyond the Spence school building. Why doesn't she feel guilty? How can she not feel totally unwanted? Mrs. Mary Davies, please go away. Start over. Try to learn from what has transpired. You have spread your filth all over and everyone and their families have been affected. I'm sure that your family has been affected as well. Go be with them. Let them love you. It's a lose lose situation for you. Let Spence rebuild itself.
[Ed Note: We'll see if we can get something a little more quantifiable in the near term.]
Why does Mary Davies still have a job?
Those of you who have been spared the wrath of Mary Davies at Spence have been lucky! You are her favorites. I love Spence too! I think Mary Davies is a good person but a terrible principal and should not work with children. For example, a student went to her office to tell her how a teacher had molested her and Mary Davies response was don't take it to the press! She sent the little girl on her way and never helped her and never called the parents. It wasn't until another teacher stood up and called CPS that the teacher was removed.
Then Mary Davies went around and started to cover up the fact she did not report the incident to CPS. No telling who she got to do her dirty work. You see, Mary Davies doesn't have the skills or ethics to lead a school. Now I ask what parent would want Mary Davies as a principal of a school their child attended? Better yet....what would Mary Davies have done if that was her own son? I can tell you she would have made sure that teacher and prinicpal would have lost their jobs.
I strongly feel that Castro will NOT remove her because of the test scores at Spence. Castro only cares about the scores and not about the students. Let me put it to you in black and white. If you take away the TAGS test scores....Spence would sink!
[Ed Note: Test scores do swing some weight. However, we really need to wait and see what they're going to be this year.]
Castro Trying To Get Rid Of...
The part about the Principal and the girl is total bunk. The teacher has been cleared by at least 3 investigations.
But Castro is working as hard as he can to get rid of the Principal. He's been secretly meeting with the complaining teachers for weeks. He must talk to Alliance more than he does to the Principal. No ridiculous, groundless accusation is too nonsensical for him.
A bunch of us have tried to get to see Castro, but if we say we support the school and the Principal... *crickets*
But is you whine "She was mean to me..." you get all the time you want.
Still have not seen a single specific example of this mythical "retaliation" that keeps being mentioned.
[Ed Note: The teacher (if we're talking about the same guy) was cleared by CPS of wrongdoing. I believe he is still on administrative leave. What I have a problem with is the length of time it took for the report to be made, and the teacher who actually made the report seems to be in hot water for doing it. I wasn't aware that contacting CPS, when one becomes aware of a potential issue, is optional.]
CPS and CYA
If the story about the student that made the outcry is false then why did we see Davies running around the school asking all of the 7th grade TAG teachers who called CPS.....I can tell you why because Davies knew about the incident which by the way was witnessed by other students in the class. I was questioned if I had called CPS by Davies and I told her no. The student never came to me but if she had I would have called CPS.
You see in the state of Texas you have 48 hours to call CPS once a student makes an outcry....Davies waited about three weeks....wait she didn't even call. I have a strong feeling that Davies called CPS but only after the initial call was made by the teacher to cover up and lie she had just found out about the incident.
Forget about all of the teachers who she has tormented since she has been at Spence and the teachers she harassed and forced to leave, the woman doesn't need to work with children.
The teachers will not be silenced until DAVIES is removed from SPENCE.
We will continue to speak out and we are not an "underground railroad"
attacking her. We will not give up for the sake our students!
[Ed Note: Ms. Davies didn't call CPS. A teacher did. We have documentation to that effect.]
Stop Hating Davies
Stop hating the principal. It sounds to me like you guys, Spence teachers do not even have something concrete or proof that she has done something bad to you or to the students. Mary Davies attends to every body's needs the best way she can. She is professional despite all the rumors. You have to get to know her like she really is to love her. Yes she is pushy...she has to. The teachers need to be pushed to produce results. I have seen oversensitive teachers who complained that she yelled at them and she did not help them. I know those teachers personally. They are negative people who do not even attempt to open up the channels of communication with the principal. If they have so many issues they should speak up and talk about them. Why post on a blog and talk to Mary Davies' supervisor? Why not try to resolve the problem first internally. Some teachers in Spence want to show the principal they got power...these teachers are not constructive they do not solve the problem the right way. Running around to destroy the principal will not solve their problems. The union can do so much. I think Mary Davies could do more for them than any teacher union.
I am an adept of communication and solving the problems through communication.
Mary Davies Faculty Meeting
Obiviously, Principal Davies is down to her last bag of tricks, as she held a faculty meeting Monday, which reflected nothing of her e-mailed agenda, which included items such as testing, grades, PDAS, a calendar of events, and 6th grade transition. Mrs. Davies did, however, at the last minute, send out an e-mail stating that the agenda had been slightly changed to include guest speakers instead and that no one should leave before the meeting ended. Mrs. Davies invited a motivational speaker to come talk with the faculty regarding all of the uproar that Spence is going through because of her. First of all, this person has no right to come in and act as the mediator between the staff and the principal.
She is not a district employee, and Principal Davies also allowed the speaker to speak with students for a lengthy period of time, causing them to miss instructional classes. No parental permission was given for this lecture. This was done only to benefit Mrs. Davies because she is in the hot seat and wants others to fix what she has created. If the speaker really knew what has taken place at Spence, she would not have allowed herself to get in the middle of such a turmoil. Please, Mrs. Davies, stop making things worse for Spence. The damage has already been done, and you need only leave the rest of us here to go through an adjustment period and regain pride for our school.
[Ed Note: Keep in mind that an "outside" consultant is frequently brought in to mediate when situations get out of control. Ms. Davies is the principal and likely has the right to invite who she wants to speak to the staff.
I do want to point out that, even though she obviously has detractors, I have spoken to supporters of Ms. Davies as well. So while there are those who would applaud a change in that position, there are some who would be disappointed to see her go. That being said, I couldn't wager a guess as to what the percentages are!]
Hey Anonymous
Hey anonymous! It's time you are wife stop posting all this trash. Yes, the Spence teachers know who the culprits are we're sick of it. The "bag of tricks" was great because the teacher spoke-out against what is happening to our school. Meanwhile, you and your partners were complaining AGAIN to the same old person. Don't you get it? Our school is great.
Did Mary write this?
If someone has been identified as being anonymous why would you assume that they are female and married? Next time check your sentences before standing up for Mrs. Davies. Why is it TRASH when the truth is unraveling? I'm sure no one hates her, she has just created a catastrophe at Spence!!!!
Mary Davies is Good
I know that few teachers in here express themselves as representatives of the whole school. Spence is made up of approximately 130 teachers and professional support and staff. I know for a fact that many teachers do not care about this blog...all they care about is doing their jobs. The teachers who post here have done crooked things in the past (like I said earlier they got caught with the hands in the cookie jar). They have done underhanded things like leaving early without Mary's permission, asking for their team's support and help to hold their students. It is completely unprofessional to sneak out of the school building (supposedly because you have doctor appointments... !!!! until he/she could not prove that they were sick anymore... sic!!!!). It is only a drop in an ocean!!!!
Is it legal or ethical for teachers to sell candy and chips or drinks to students on campus without a DBA? Is it legal or within district policy to use profane language with students???? Come on now...we all know what the COMPLAINERS in Spence are doing!!!! And all the stuff mentioned above is only a drop in an ocean the complainers above been doing in Spence!! Like I said before nobody has been retaliating against them...They got caught leaving early and were told that the Learning center policy is teachers have to clock out at 4: 40 pm...
Teachers STOP complaining!!! You guys are not perfect...you guys are not 100% ethical and professional...Let's BUILD Spence!!!
Mary Davies is Good
No one has expressed themselves as representatives of the whole school. Teachers have expressed their personal problems with Mrs. Davies. You must care about this blog because you are responding to different post. How do you know about supposedly underhanded, crooked things done by teachers? What proof do you have against the complainers??? Put your money where your mouth is. Show me the proof.
[Ed Note: Well put.]
Yelling Not Professional
Yelling at a person at the timeclock is not professional. Sitting down and discussing issues is professional. Yelling at a teacher in front of a classroom full of students is not professional. Observing classes on a regular basis and documenting needed changes is professional. Calling the Dallas County Schools bus barn to ask why buses are running late is professional. Lining up kids who are late because of a tardy bus and ranting up and down that hallway at them is not professional. One more time: creating lines of communication is professional. Yelling is not communicating. Quit yelling-start communicating.
Yelling? NOT
Who are these people? Yelling? I've never seen any yelling to teachers--never.
Yelling...haven't seen it? Open your ears!!!!!!!!!!!!
Have you EVER been inside a Dallas ISD school? Having been in MANY, I can assure you that yelling does occur and it is more the rule than the exception. Teachers as well as students are yelled at in the halls, in the office, in the cafeteria, in their classrooms most of the time this occurs in the presence of students. The district FINALLY got rid of a huge problem at Hill Middle School...Thank You!!! We can only hope that they will soon take care of the problems at Gaston Middle School, Spence Middle School, Tasby Middle School, Ciggarroa Elementary and Peeler Elementary. I love working for the Dallas ISD but when I hear the stories of harrassment and degradation that the teachers and students are subjected to, I find myself embarrassed. These are the times that my friends who have "freed themselves" say, "Welcome to DISD" and everyone knows what they mean....it isn't a good thing!!!! I can only hope that someone, somewhere will look into this huge problem and talk to the teachers and students about what is really happening in these schools. Start with Gaston and work your way through. Gaston M.S is one of the worst I have seen in MANY, MANY years!!!!
Gaston Problems?
Please, pray tell, enlighten us by letting the poor teachers know the specifics in this dangerous school that is Gaston. I've taught there for many years now, and cannot imagine myself anywhere else.
Stop Hating Davies
You do not know me. I am not negative. I do not have to lie about Mrs. Davies. I have been humiliated, retaliated against, and falsely accused. Since you know me personally, come talk to me.
I bet you won't.
If you knew me, you would know I have proof to show just how detrimental she is. So if proof is "hating" then so be it. If yelling was the complaint, no one would have to go to the union or to her boss.
The problem with her is more than her yelling. Ms. Davies has polarized this school so to the point that people liek you will continuously back her until she attacks you.
That's great if you want to back her, but do not tell me the experiences I am having with her is because I am oversensitive. You will wish you belonged to a teacher's union when she attacks you.
I am tired of teachers like you. Mrs. Davies is only professional when it is convenient for her. I will say again: do not call me a liar. You have your experiences with her and I have mine. I'm not running around destroying the principal. I don't have to. Mrs. Davies does that very well on her own.
Since you are so adept at communication and solving problems through communication, then communicate this: it's too late for Mary Davies.
[Ed Note: Again, she has her supporters and detractors. We've heard stories of conversations, but that's as far as it goes. The correspondence we've seen from her has always been professional. One of the posters here suggested carrying a digital recorder to meetings. We can't endorse that, but we certainly can't stop it.]
Spence Teacher Accused
I know you have been accused. I do not think you have been falsely accused . I think you have been caught with your hand in the cookie jar and that is why you felt humiliated. I know you are not very professional either. Your anger transpires through your writing. You seem to be very aggressive too as far as I can read between your lines. Why are you wasting your time on the blog? Teach the kids that is why you have gotten a diploma...to teach...as far as attacking different teachers LIKE ME in Spence ...I am telling you there are many of us that you did not manipulate into filing complaints and grievances. There are many people in the school who love Ms Davies because she has empowered them and she helped them become who they are today. She has touched lives in a positive way....Stop being negative...open up...REMEMBER Communicate openly!!! not on a blog...this blog can not do much for you...
[Ed Note: Oh, you'd be surprised. You can get us interested in looking in to things--which we're doing. Lets see what we find.]
Spence Teacher Accused
IT IS OBVIOUS YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT. ARE YOU A PSYCHIATRIST?????????? JUST WHAT COOKIE JAR ARE YOU REFERRING TO. YOU MUST THINK THIS BLOG CAN DO SOMETHING FOR YOU. YOU ARE RESPONDING TO MY POST. IT'S VERY STRANGE YOU ARE AGAINST THIS BLOG AND NOT THE ONE CREATED BY MARY DAVIES AT SPENCE. IS THIS BECAUSE THE TRUTH HURTS??? I GUEST THAT MAKES YOU JUST AS UNFPROFESSIONAL AND ANGRY AS I AM. WHAT COMPLAINT AND GRIEVANCE ARE YOU MAKING A REFERENCE TO. SINCE YOU ARE ASSUMING THAT YOU KNOW WHO I AM, THEN ENLIGHTEN ME ABOUT THE COMPLAINTS AND GRIEVANCES THAT YOU SEEM TO KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT. I DO NOT NEED TO MANIPULATE OTHERS INTO FILING COMPLAINTS AND GRIEVANCES, IF I NEEDED TO FILE A COMPLAINT OR GRIEVANCES, I AM VERY CAPABLE OF FILING ON MY OWN. WELL, CONGRATULATIONS TO THOSE TEACHERS WHO HAVE SPENT THEIR CAREERS WAITING FOR MRS. DAVIES TO COME ALONG AND EMPOWER THEM. IF SHE HAS HELP THEM BECOME WHO THEY ARE TODAY, THEN WHAT WERE THEY BEFORE HER?? BECAUSE YOU ARE CONFUSED AND DAZED RIGHT NOW. SO YOU WANT TO OPEN COMMUNICATION, NAME A TIME AND PLACE. FOR SURE, I'M NOT DAZED AND CONFUSED.
[Ed Note: A blog created by Mary Davies at Spence?? Can you send us a link? We'd love to link to it. Also, in the future, if you'll use upper and lower case, it will make your posts more readable. I edited the first one, but it would be nice if you could do it in the future :) ]
Re: "Hating" Mary Davies
First of all, I don't hate this woman. I don't KNOW this woman, so why would I hate her?
Secondly, I posted a few weeks back about an experience I had in her presence. Specifically, it was at last year's OHI (Organizational Health Inventory) training (two days of it). I was SHOCKED when I found out she was the principal because she was SO unprofessional, constantly talking to her teachers, not quietly, while the speaker was presenting. I remember feeling embarrassed that our table was somewhat near hers.
Well, guess what? OHI training is coming up in a little over two weeks. Maybe Ms. Davies will treat us to her completely unprofessional behavior yet again! She reminded me of a teenager (with the cell phone and everything).
But no, I don't hate her. Just calling it as I see it. I do know I'd never work for her.
[Ed Note: Could somebody take a tape recorder :) ]
Davies and CPS
Mary Davies broke the law if she never called CPS! Castro wake up before another child is hurt by her! I guess she is more worried about how the teachers are dressed and not the fact a child is being molested.
I would never want my child to attend SPENCE as long as Mary Davies is the principal. Mary Davies needs to go NOW! Someone, anyone HELP SPENCE before another student is hurt!
[Ed Note: For the record, we don't have the details on this incident. We know that there was an issue where CPS was involved, and a teacher reported she's being retaliated against for calling CPS. But we have nothing more than that. No confirmation. So I think it's premature to hammer on Ms. Davies.]
Want Spence Back
Most of Spence teachers want their school back. So do the students. Enough of this hate already. We have a great school. I personally work so hard and expect my students to be commended! The tide is turning, we're tired of a few unhappy teachers going around whispering instead of working. I have enough to do, don't they? Davies does follow procedures. Yes, she can be sharp, but I'll tell you this when my mother died, she was there for me. I remember she comforted me in her office. I also know from first hand experience that she has been there in times of need for many. I have seen her do some very kind things. Just lately she adopted a boy that lost his family. How mean is that? So know the whole story. I personally think that Spence is a cake-walk. These malcontents need to work for some of the principals I have worked for.
[Ed Note: As I say, we know there are two sides to this story.]