Reardon wrote on May 19, 2007 9:33 PM:A voice of sanity in a sea of ignorance. Yes, a strongly self-motivated student can get an education in any school, or without going to school at all -- education and schooling are not necessarily the same thing - but it is a teachers' duty to both inspire and communicate knowledge, We are testing the hell out of the students -- but no one is grading the teachers! Dr. Edward W. Deming, who brought the Japanese economy from building cars with tin cans to Lexus, said, “That which is measured, gets done!" California education standards, so poor that only Hawaii and the District of Columbia score worse on Federal tests, measures the students without daring to measure the teachers. You can't tell me that of the hundreds of thousands of public school teachers in California over the past two decades that only a handful have been fired for incompetence -- the Law of Averages will tell me that more than that number have become stark, raving mad! The bottom 10% is the least that should be fired -- yearly!

San Marcos Taxpayer wrote on May 19, 2007 11:29 PM:Wow! An article that really espouses some real intelligence and sense of reality. No business, and education is a business because their product is educated young citizens, can survive if the condone failure from their management. Teachers and administrators are management and they should be truly evaluated and held resposible if their products (students) fail to pass quality control standards. This is sort of like major league sport teams, if the team is not winning you can't fire the whole team but you can shake things up by firing the coaching staff and the manager.

Teacher wrote on May 20, 2007 7:19 AM:This article has said nothing that has not been said before. Yes, some teachers need to go. I saw a few while I was earning my way to become a teacher...but there are MANY more great teachers. Understand this: there is a strong number of kids who REFUSE to learn...this is not a random anomoly. Is it society, parenting or education itself?...too many variables to point a finger at and blame ONE. Teachers teach, but the kids CAN refuse to learn...and as a teacher, I can have a class full of kids, all trying their BEST...the ones that I remember most, are the ones I had to try even harder for because they, for SOME reason, didn't get it, didn't think it was important, or didn't care...some even think that FAILING is their way of getting revenge...as if that hurts ANYone other than themselves. It is HARD work, but out of 8 years of teaching, the students I remember, are the ones that suddenly 'clicked' and found out that they need to BE THEIR BEST and it is up to no one, but them.

Chris wrote on May 20, 2007 12:32 PM:As uaual Jim Gibson throws out some simplistic nonsense in order to appease these right wing conservatives in this community. How many Asian or white children do you see with children of their own. The fact is that race and the associated culture have a lot to do with how certain groups take to things like school. I am no fan of teachers because I witnessed the disgraceful way they treated the best board members we ever had in Vista and their efforts led to their recall. We now have about the same number of students in Vista schools that we had in 1994 and now after over a quarter of a billion dollars spent on new schools we have a lot of vacant seats. We hired a grossly over priced supperintendent who now wants to spend several million dollars for some new programs to teach the kids . You would think that these high priced employees could figure out how to teach kids by now. But do you see Gibson addressing any of these issues. No. He just wants to crack the whip and reward some teachers and fire others. How do you define a good teacher. You have a teacher in a school in a more affluent neighborhood or teaching classes that the better students take versus a teacher in a more empoverished neighborhood teaching the very basics. So who do you think will get the raise? The public school system has been thoroughly corrupted by the self serving higherarchy. As I said I have a problem with Gibson because he never attacks the real issues but just throws out some simplistic solution in order to pander to the vacuous right wing conservatives.

WISDOM wrote on May 20, 2007 2:30 PM:Because of worldviews like those entertained by Chris and the results that they produce job openings for my business will most likely be filled by the graduates of parochial schools and the home schooled.

Paul wrote on May 20, 2007 2:47 PM:If 12 year old Jim Gibson was told "Go away son, you bother me!" when arriving home from school every day, he would probably be a failing student. It would not matter if Dr Einstein was his teacher. But then, if Jimmy G fails, that would be the good Doctor's fault wouldn't it?

Huh? wrote on May 20, 2007 3:00 PM:Wasn't Jack Wech from GE kind of a creep who got HUGE bonuses? I know he was successful - but was he really a good guy? Did he really deserve the HUGE bonuses? Are these the values that Jim Gibson wants to teach our children?

Engineering 101 wrote on May 20, 2007 3:02 PM:Social engineering is a 2 way street. Gibson thinks it is a one way road and he has the right of way. He is mistaken of course.

Trust your heart wrote on May 20, 2007 3:06 PM:How can you trust a guy to run a public school system who doesn't send his own kids to public school? That speaks volumes about his attitude towards public education.

From simple minds, simple solutions... wrote on May 20, 2007 5:28 PM:Clearly Gibson is one of "those who speak with the valor of ignorance." If he were really interested ---- and knowledgable ---- about improving education he would hold all parties in education responsible: the politicians who pass right-sounding laws that ignore vetted research, board members who use their elected position to spout partisan ideaology, administrators who struggle to build and rebuild this Rube Goldberg machine called public education, teachers who run the gamut from dedicated genius to closet kid-haters, parents who are required only to send their kids to school, and the kids themselves, some of whom, as the teacher said above, spend their days refusing to learn and working hard to recruit others in their folly. If Gibson wanted to change education, he could work to pass three laws that would increase learning exponentially in one year: first, require every parent to read to their children every night through 12th grade; second, require all parents to feed their kids before school every day; third, require all parents and their kids to attend teacher conferences four times a year. But the conservative public education-baiting Gibson would rather throw stones at those in the trenches than be a part of such social enginnering because he knows parent-voters would vote him out of office faster than he could say "family values."

to trust wrote on May 20, 2007 6:22 PM:I know Gibson and guess what his son is in 12th grade, in public school. I also remember the union teachers protesting his house and yelling at his wife and kids in public. Would you send your kids to a school where the union teachers have come to your house and called your kids names? How can you trust teachers who harrass kids? It sounds like a lot of teachers and administrator are nervous about Gibson holding them accountable.

Disgusted with schools wrote on May 20, 2007 8:12 PM:Fact is, the schools and education is actually about the teachers union. Get rid of the union which is like the mafia, and we will be able to control our schools. It is all about what the union wants, not what we parents want. I taught during the strike in San Diego. What I witnessed the teachers doing and saying, will forever bitter me toward their cause and supposed needs.

Reardon wrote on May 20, 2007 8:41 PM:We test for the same reason that we keep score in athletic events -- to measure success. While it might be interesting to value effort, in real life -- we keep score. It is always the losers who question the score -- and the scoring. we measure so as to determine how we need improvement -- and the National Assessment of Educational performance tests children in every state on the same test. California finishes at the bottom -- Massachusetts finishes at the top. There are many reasons -- ESL students, experimentation, mainstreaming, teacher competence, parental involvement, but the results speak for themselves. The fact that, after Katrina we could have hired Louisiana teachers and IMPROVED California Reading scores, tells a bitter tale. If the parents in this state do not wake up to the current low rating in education of this state, it will not improve.

bob wrote on May 20, 2007 9:43 PM:1) California has the highest standards in the nation. 2) It is schoolboards and administrators who fail to get rid of ineffective teachers. 3) Unions are necessary to protect the rights of students and teachers, not to mention firemen, policemen, and every service worker also. 4) No teachers ever yelled at Gibson's wife and kids. His wife and kids, did, however, yell at teachers. 5) Stop blaming teachers (and their union) for every problem in public education. 6) Stop dumping hoards of money into programs like Lindamood-Bell. Let teachers teach. 7) The schools in Vista are failing because of an ineffective second language program that has been allowed to hold back kids for 20 years and the community refuses to elect a school board that actually believes in public education. 8) How long has Gibson been on the schoolboard? 9) How long will Gibson pretend to care about public education while bashing it at every turn?

Veteran wrote on May 20, 2007 11:36 PM:I totally agree with 'Disgusted' and for 'Huh', the point is that Jack Welch got results. Who cares if he was "a nice guy". That's irrelevant to the issue. Like one of my GM's told me once, "we're not here to feel good, we're here to make money". That's a lesson that school districts should learn. They aren't paid to be liked, they are paid to teach these kids how to think, solve problems and survive in the real world after they finish whatever level of school they complete.

To Disqusted with schools wrote on May 21, 2007 1:13 AM:You are so right on about the unions. Read their Mission Statement. It is about protecting their "way of life" first.

Vista Parent wrote on May 21, 2007 6:17 AM:Another view, please! As the parent of an "average" student in VUSD my distress comes at the money that is spent every year on two groups of students to the detriment of the "average" student. Those two groups are the well above average students who get the benefits of the IP / AP programs which are very expensive and only benefit the top 1 or 2% of the school population. And then there are the failing students, the ones who can't or won't try to pass the exit exams. The ones who always score well under grade levels. They, like the IP / AP students, are focused on and money is constantly being thrown at them to try and get an extra percentage of improvement so the administration looks good. All the time this is happening the population that could benefit the most from the extra dollars are ignored becasue they are the middle class of our school system and nobody stands up for them, the same as nobody stands up for the middle class families in our country. As a parent of one of those "average' students who never give the administration problems I would love to see a change in perspective and see this class of student receive some extras to help them. In the era of limited extra dollars, the priorities should be to help the failing students first, then help the middle class students second and last should be the 1 or 2 percent of the upper acheivers, that truly don't need the expensive programs. We must use the money wisely to help all students not just the top and bottom of the barrel.

Reardon wrote on May 21, 2007 4:02 PM:1. In reading, of the 52 states and entities tested, including the District of Columbia, California ranks number 50 out of 52! 2. In writing, of the 43 states and entities tested, including the District of Columbia, California ranks number 33 out of 43! 3. In math, of the 52 states and entities tested, including the District of Columbia, California ranks number 46 out of 52. 4. In science, of the 45 states and entities tested, including the District of Columbia, California ranks number 44 out of 45!

Vista Parent to Bob wrote on May 22, 2007 5:24 AM:Are you living in a fantasy world? Have you ever tried to speak to a teacher that just does not care? Have you ever tried to speak to an administrator about a problem teacher? You are either a teacher yourself, a union steward or someone who has never had to deal with any of the above questions. The bottome line is, the union protects teachers that are burnt out over the young ready to teach new teachers to a MAJOR fault. This is wrong and our students are suffering because of that. Too many of the older teachers have lost their desire to teach and the union, the adminsitrators and the state officers need to find a solution. They should not be fired BUT they also should not be taking up valuable space in a classroom if they aren't going to dedicate themselves to doing the best job possible. The union has a strangle hold on our kids and unless that is changed they unions should be broken!

In Observation wrote on May 22, 2007 10:18 AM:Disgusted has it right - the unions are the stumbling block here. Bob is on the wrong track with his criticisms. If Bales isn't allowed to use her previously successful techniques, Vista may not have to worry. The state will take over and the union will get its way.

to Reardon wrote on May 22, 2007 1:34 PM:where did you get your facts?

Reardon wrote on May 22, 2007 2:12 PM:The numbers are from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, a federal website. The results are for 2005, the last year available. The tests are conducted annually. The easy way to find those results are to Google "National Report Card.' The numbers have been similar for many years, but Californians prefer to compare their school's API numbers to other poor California school's API numbers without realizing that California has fallen to just about last in the nation! There have been two commentaries on the editorial page of this newspaper the past two Sunday's with this information. They are available on the NCTimes website.

Amanda wrote on May 22, 2007 4:49 PM: Vista Parent-- you mention VUSD spends a whole lot of money on their AP classes. Ok would it surprise you to know that VUSD does not have TRUE AP classes? Well the facts are more like VUSD's AP classes do not have all the requirements to be considered AP classes, so therefore they are not TRUE AP classes. So I wonder where the money is going? And why only 1% of the student populations are taking these AP remedial classes. I just cannot imagine 99% of VUSD’s populations being functioning illiterate.

To Amanda wrote on May 23, 2007 5:15 AM:You missed the point. Congratulations! Your comments did not address the issue that no one is sponsoring programs to help the "average" student. Average could be defined as students who carry between a "B" average and a low "C", who never cause problems for their teachers, never make waves but also never see any effort being made to help them obtain a little higher GPA. Things that usually happen to these types of students is that their favorite classes are cut because of funding while the AP/IP program and the classes designed to help the problem students survive, even though their target populations are extremely small! Those are my points!

Amanda wrote on May 23, 2007 1:34 PM:I got the point all right why would not every child have an EQUAL OPPORTUNITY for educational entitlements? I know VUSD programs all too well; the PTA premadonas and their VTA buddies enroll their children in GATE even though these children are as average as they come. They get pampered, treated special and segregated from the rest of the bunch from K-forward if I may add. Try Lincoln Middle School GATE as a perfect example of something twisted. Until every student is treated equally with dignity and respect VUSD will continue to flounder. Children do not succeed in environments where they are knocked down and told that they cannot succeed as well as their little GATE counterparts. This is not just a funding problem it is a system that is designed to fail some children and reward 1% of student population. It does not take extra funding to start treating students with respect. Teachers and administrators have to understand that respect is earned and not demanded. Students know too well when educationally they are being shortchanged and screwed. They are not as dumb as their scores portrayed them to be. Parents too have some blame in this condition. If the AVERAGE is the majority why do they not stand up for their children and demand EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES? Why do they not stand up against the VTA and PTA premadonas and put them in their place. I love the bumper sticker that says, “If your child is so gifted why are you so stupid.”

Thanks Amanda wrote on May 23, 2007 3:37 PM:You obviously share some or maybe most of my frustrations with our district! I have had numerous conversations with teachers and administrators who can't or won't help! I am all for the reading and math programs to bring the below grade level students up BUT I am seriousily against the pampering of the few AP/IP over 4.0 GPA students who get all of the attention. There are many many average students deserving of rewards and recognition for their community service but they can't be rewarded because they are not politically correct enough to have a high GPA.

Merilee wrote on May 25, 2007 12:36 AM:Wait a minute...hold on, everyone. Take a step back. In the last several weeks my child has had a heck of a time learning anything, and has been focused on death and dying. Let's remember the number of times that Vista schools have been locked down in the last 6 months. Someone please explain how our children are supposed to concentrate on learning in an environment that is more akin to a battlefield than a classroom? And here are the adults, jumping up and down on their keyboards, so delighted to start swinging at each other! What a perfectly respectable example you are setting. Won't your children be proud! Mr. Gibson, I have a request. Is it too much to ask to dispatch counselors to our schools so that the students have an opportunity to express their feelings about this wave of violence? As far as all the ruckus about teachers...our teachers do a... fine job of educating our children under increasingly difficult circumstances, woefully lacking in recognition, support and resources. Instead of target-shooting from behind your monitors, why not show up at your child's school and actually BE the change that you are demanding from others? Grow up - as ye sow, so shall ye reap...

Vista Parent Half Right wrote on May 25, 2007 8:50 AM:At our public elementary school, federal and state catagorical funding for GATE (above average) for last year was about $3000. Funding for below avg (poor/under achieving/English learners) was almost $200,000! So while Vista Parent is right that the average student is "left out", they can't blame this on money being spend for above average students, because that just isn't happening. Money is being spent to meet NCLB, and it isn't the average and above average students that are the problem. Anyone can get these figures for their school by checking with a parent representative on their School Site Council. After two years on my daughter's, I'm heading for a charter school.

Great Preaching Merilee wrote on May 25, 2007 10:53 AM:But it doesn't change the fact the most of the available dollars are going for either the highest GPA's or the lowest GPA's with very little for the middle. And, unfortunately, the problem teachers that you do not want to acknowledge are the ones teaching the middle of the road, average, students who don't cause any problems. Oh and by the way, I have been a very active voice in this district for many years, especially concerning the quality of teachers who my son must depend on. My son is as I said above one of the average but great students just like 95% of the rest that go to school each and everyday, pass their classes and the mandatory testing for the government and do not create any problems for his teachers. His reward, like 95% of the rest, is to be ignored by the administration who say they are over worked trying to get 1+% of bad actors through the system. The result is many, many very promising students leave school without getting all of the value they should from the system! Oh, finally, I am very proud of my involvement in my sons life and I am very proud of my son and I am not ashamed of anything I have said on this blog!

Yes wrote on May 25, 2007 12:35 PM:Get rid of the unions, they are bad for our country!!! Also, I think if you are a great teacher you should be rewarded, what's wrong with that? Some are just buying time until they can retire, send them on their way.

Zev wrote on Jun 6, 2007 1:03 PM:A major contributing factor in today's public school climate is the overemphasis - particularly by administrators and experienced teachers-on incoming teachers' proving that they are "people persons", good at "interactions with the kids", and mastery in teenagers' "cognitive domains." These are indeed important, but unfortunately the consequence is that teachers with talent, expertise and enthusiasm in their subject area and personalities reflecting their talent are not desired. The inevitable consequence is mediocre education, particularly in such areas as math, science, and computers.

Charter School Mom wrote on Jun 9, 2007 10:10 AM:Public School/Teacher's Unions are synonymous with chronically low expectations/mediocre performance. I agree 100% with Mr. Gibson, that's why my kids go to a Charter School.

Gotta do it... wrote on Jun 9, 2007 1:20 PM:I have a special needs child that the school has deemed hard to teach. I don't tell him that he's disabled. We've set a goal for him to go to college and achieve his master's or above. He's a future Scientist or Engineer and I will allow no obstacles to come between that goal. He knows it's going to be a struggle to achieve this goal and quitting is not an option. I hire tutors, put him in academic camps, and do whatever it takes so that he will become a self sufficient adult. He scores high on statewide testing so the school administrators bend over backwards to see that he is in school on those days. I look forward to the day when he's being awarded a major achievement and past teachers (as they always do, seeking recognition) will declare that he was "my student" and the school district puts a banner up that he "attended this school..." I am going to take out an ad that reads "Yes, and they treated him like CRAP!!" Parents, whatever you do, please don't give up on your children. It's tough, but it will definitely be worthwile in the end when you DON'T have to hear, "Mom, I need money for rent..) I can't wait!!!