Comments on: Interpreting Barry’s question marks

By: scottschmidt

scottschmidt — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 20:20:35 +0000

Nothing new unfortunately;

“Prior to the Murray incident, Schimmel drew fire from the Rose Garden community for his plan to sell the historic Old Hoover School property. A state court struck down the plan last fall for the district’s failure to solicit community input.”

Karen Vierra, a member of CARES, led a group of more than 200 neighbors who fought Schimmel’s decision.

“Barry was ejected from San Jose Unified because he conducted business dishonorably,” she said.

Original link
http://www.svcn.com/archives/wgresident/06.05.96/resignation.html

By: Monica

Monica — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 16:07:15 +0000

If you think it’s bad for Hayward teachers, it’s even worse for the support staff that we neever hear or read about.

By: Paulette Albert

Paulette Albert — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 05:06:53 +0000

You may also like to know that on January 31 an article was published entitled “District is Driving Out Top Teachers”. I was the author. The article discussed such topics as class size, administrator raises, school closures and teacher salaries.

By: Paul Burchfield

Paul Burchfield — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 23:32:47 +0000

Thanks for clarifying that.

By: Paulette Albert

Paulette Albert — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 16:08:56 +0000

Dr. Schimmel has never seen me teach. I teach in a half-size portable with another adult in the room. Dr. Schimmel said he “popped his head in for a few seconds” and that I “actually said hi”. My paraeducator and I racked our brains trying to figure out when this was. This is the only possibility we came up with. I was working with kids at the back table. My paraeducator was working at her desk (next to the door). She said that the door opened and a man popped his head in. She said, “Hi”. Before she could even ask if he needed help, he was gone. It was less than three seconds. She said to me, “That must have been a dad looking in the wrong room for his kid”. I thought nothing of it. I didn’t even see the door open. While she can’t even be sure that was Dr. Schimmel, that’s the only time that it could have been. If that was him, seems that Dr. Schimmel thought that my paraeducator was me. And for the record, she’s not an angry person either. So, if he was there, it was only for a few seconds and he didn’t even know who I was. In Dr. Schimmel’s personal apology to me, he stated that he had absolutely no basis for making the comments. I only wish his public apology mirrored his personal one.

By: Paul Burchfield

Paul Burchfield — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 06:41:57 +0000

Had Dr. Schimmel seen Ms. Albert teach or not?

I’m confused by seemingly contradictory comments that Dr. Schimmel makes.

In the March 30 article in explaining why he put six question marks when writing “I’ve seen her teach??????”, Dr. Schimmel is quoted as saying (on March 29) “I just didn’t know who this person was.”

However, in the email thread posted, Dr. Schimmel wrote in an email on March 20 he had been to her classroom “About three weeks ago.”

So which was it?

And let’s not start on the non-apology apology Dr. Schimmel offered. In offering an apology “…if I offended Ms. Albert…” as well as for any professional embarrassment it “…may have caused her,” Dr. Schimmel seems to be apologizing not for his own actions but for Ms. Albert’s reaction to them.

By: Julie Greenfield, RN

Julie Greenfield, RN — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 17:58:00 +0000

I want to second the remarks of Ms. Rivera, above, the parent of a Special Education student. As a HUSD nurse, for many years working in the Special Education department, I have to say that Special Ed. is often the stepchild of the district. The use of the term “???Special Ed” to me is just another way of dismissing what Ms. Albert (who is NOT a Special Ed teacher) is trying to say. It is also a slander on the entire Special ed staff, and students.

By: CTillson

CTillson — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 18:35:07 +0000

My reading of Mr. Schimmel’s comment came shortly after a conversation I had with my daughter and grandsons, aged 9 and 11. We were discussing the meaning of discreet/discretion. We resumed the “lesson” using the website as an example of
indiscretion. Were we “teaching”??? Of course! It doesn’t happen only in classrooms,
focused on grade level standards. It happens every minute a student (child or adult)
is observant of the world around them. Like it or not, everyone is a role model.

I would caution everyone to take a few deep breaths, allow time to pass, perhaps even
rethink sending any response message, expecially after a long, exasperating period of
contract negotiations. We’re all in this for the kids (I hope), so lets be good examples
for them.

I would also like to suggest my philosophy regarding apologies. I’m sorry means
nothing to me, unless it is followed by, “I won’t do it again.” I taught little children
this for many years, because they, like many adults ,view “I’m sorry” as the way out
of a jam. It isn’t.

By: PH

PH — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 16:49:12 +0000

The very act of making such a comment, in email, print, or verbally, is irresponsible; a student making such a comment would be reprimanded at my school. When adults do this to each other, it perpetuates the incivility our society seems eager to promote as “self-expression”. If Mr. Schimmel had something constructive to say, it could have been communicated in a more professional fashion. Is this what we’re paying for — insults and sneers?

By: D Sarver

D Sarver — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 14:11:30 +0000

Anyone has the right to get in on the dialogue, but readers should know that Mr. and Mrs. Moudy live next door to Mr. Cook, board member, and were public supporters of his school board election campaign. This may put a different light on their outspoken support of the board and superintendent’s positions.