Hill: Stop the Negatives
Submitted by Allen Gwinn on Thu, 03/12/2009 - 04:57.
by John Lohrengel
I am so sick and tired of hearing nothing but negatives about R.T. Hill Middle School!
My name is John Lohrengel (PTA President, SBDM Chair and supporter of the school and public schools in general). I wish everyone would quit hiding behind "Anonymous" in this blog and step up with real concerns and complaints in person.
I know that Hill is not a perfect place but I feel it is on the right track.
What you people, who are hiding behind this blog, do not realize is that you are becoming part of the problem and not the solution.
All the negative is like a cancer that spreads without a cure. If all of you would spend just half as much effort trying to help as you do hurting this school would do nothing but get better. Everyone who post a negative comment here is just like the bullies picking on the kids at school.
I encourage everyone to come to our SBDM meeting Thursday evening at 5:30 in the school library and become a part of the solution instead of the problem.
I challenge every one who reads this to quit asking what DISD and our schools can do for them and start asking themselves what can I do in a positive way to help my school.
I encourage you to get involved in you child's life and everything they do, Love them regardless of what they do and hold them when they think they fail.
So many of our problems in our schools today are not the fault of the schools, or the teachers, or even the principals, but rather parents who do not involve themselves in their kids enough.
Lastly I am also involved in the Boy Scouts of America where the Scout Law reads:
"A scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent."
Just think for a moment, if everyone, everywhere, including everyone on this blog, would live their lives as according to the scout law, what a great world we would live in.
I also encourage you if you are involved in scouts and are a part of this negative blog that you would step back and take a good look at what you are doing.
[Ed Note: John, I hope you don't mind, but I promoted this to the front page. When this started, I began looking into this and there's nothing to substantiate 99% of the claims being made about Hill. There does not appear to be any sort of crime wave--though I'm waiting on the "official" reports to confirm this.
Most of the comments has been innuendo and opinion--which is OK as long as folks recognize it for what it is. I have been deliberating publishing a Snopes-like "Hill: Fact or Fiction" to put an end to it.
The problems that do exist, at Hill or anywhere else, can be fixed through parental involvement. There appear to be a bunch of good folks involved with the PTA and SBDM. I would like to echo John's sentiment that folks get involved.]
So many of our problems in
So many of our problems in our schools today are not the fault of the schools, or the teachers, or even the principals, but rather parents who do not involve themselves in their kids enough.
To "Staffmember"... I sure
To "Staffmember"...
I sure hope you are -staff- and not faculty. You make good points (although they sound a little "tattle-tale")...but your spelling, grammar are horrible.
If its really the problem you say it is, go higher. Talk to Austin, talk to the TEA...get some real attention on this. DISD wont do anything except cover their own tracks unless the finger starts pointing from above. Then all heck will break loose and the personal cover-ups can begin. Imagine how many years the credit card and other financial fraud was happening there. Remember Yvonne Gonzales and her spending. I'm sure it happened years before her too. And I'm sure at some levels its still happening.
Reply to Hill: stop the negatives
I guess Alan is not living by Scout Law too. His comments have not been all those things you listed. If Alan is waiting on the offical reports then how can he determine that 99% of the claims are false? Thinking about it neither are you. Why would you be angry about people voicing concerns or feedback about Hill. This is America.Besides that my house taxes go to that school. Take a look at the postings they sound like they are from staff not parents. Be realistic. Can employees really speak up with out fear in most work places? Typically work surveys are anonymous to encourage feedback from employees. Then the areas of opportunities are worked on. So there is nothing wrong with remaining anonymous. The principal is not leading the school in the right direction because the staff would not have so many ill feelings towards him. Have you talked to me? I have. A true leader does not gossip or repeat conversations he has had with parents or his staff. Also the majority of you posting is opinion not fact like the other postings.
I truly do not think you get it. The concern is about the violence and gang activity progressing. So I do not understand when you say "I encourage you to get involved in you child's life and everything they do, Love them regardless of what they do and hold them when they think they fail." Why are you giving parenting advice on the blog? For one, the bad parents probably do not read this blog. Second, if my children would have acted and look like these kids I would have disciplined them not hold them. It's call consquences for actions and teaching right from wrong. It's common sense when students are out of control the teachers and other students can not focus on teaching and learning. So the principal should clean that up.
I live in the neighborhood, Hill students have been picked up by the police and dropped off back school without no punishment for roaming my neighborhood and loating. So if issues are handled that way, then there would not probably be any records. Many of the times officers are to lazy to write tickets.
I will play along. What if I did attend SDM or School Board meetings? The School Board members extended their time on the board so the much needed changes can not happen when the mess the district is in happened on their watch. Also, changes need to happen from the top first. I have called Leslie Williams and he has not returned my calls. DISD has changed so much. I am getting old and losing steam. I personally would like the school close since most of the students are bussed in and do not live in the neighborhood. Build a school in their neighborhood they can attend and guess what no more issues. But until that will happen, the principal needs to get his students in line.
Bottom line is this school has not had a good leader in years and DISD needs change.
You sound like a good man.
[Ed Note: Sorry. Just can't resist :) ]
Other Bad Principals
Hill is not the only DISD struggling with an incompetent Principal. My school, Tom Field, has a "NEW" Principal and she is horrible, even to parents. At least 5 employees have already left this school year. It seems the complaints to her boss at the NWLC have fallen on deaf ears. What is a parent to do?
Hill: Stop the Negatives
It's not hiding behind a blog or are the comments negative or untrue. We are not liars and neither are the students and parenst. Hill is does have problems. You will not find records of the fights because Sosa is hiding them and sends students back to class without punishment. If there are records look into ISS records and talk to students. Visit the school. The majority of students are out dress codes. The fights do exist ask the students.
I am wondering if you defended the previous principal?? I think not. There is much bullying going on. That's why posters are now posted saying "Don't Bully" and their is a box where you can name a peer that has bullied you. There is an active gang. Sosa meet with ganger leader's parents. Mr. Evans was attacked by a student. He went to court this week. So you are telling me these things did not occur...hahahaha. Then the district's budget short fall did happen either.
The majority of his staff does not care for him and do not see him as good leader. Furthermore get a clue, Sosa does hold grudges against his staff & will make you pay for speaking up and does hide from parents because he is NOT qualified to run the school...like Ms. Beach. He is always dodging her.
Also complaints have been made and nothing is being done except blaming his staff and then getting anger at them. The good teachers and involved parents can only do so much. The rest is up to Sosa….remove the trouble makers, hold parents accountable for the children, punishment student for breaking the rules, and do not blame your staff.
How do you know I do not attend the SDM or not involved in my community? Also give that Scout speech to Sosa, Evans & Davis they need it and you and Alan need to take off the blinders and truly see how bad it is at Hill. I suggest you focus on getting Sosa removed.
The SDM meeting time is not conducive for everyone’s schedule. Most of us are fighting traffic at that time. Also, not everyone has the luxury of being a stay at home mom. and in most homes both parents do work. Perhaps, you should take that into consideration…reach out to all parents and ask what would a better time or day for them to be in attendance. The world is round and very diverse and so are the families of the students that attend DISD. Just perhaps there would be better attendance. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and getting the same results…no results.
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