Today’s Conversation with Superintendent Ragsdale

I’ve extracted my conversation with Mr. Ragsdale that took place throughout today.  Like most email threads, it makes sense to start reading from the bottom.  I thank everyone for their support and emails. 

TOM MILANESE:

Mr. Ragsdale,

Per Policy IKI-R ”Lesson Plans”, if any teacher plans on using the U.S. Dept. of Education’s suggested lessons for the Obama student address this coming Tuesday, then that teacher would have had to include it in his/her lesson plans that were submitted to their Principal this past Monday, August 31^st.

Therefore, I request that you email all 33 county school principals and have them look through their submitted lesson plans to see if any teachers included the U.S. Dept. of Education lessons.  

I understand that parents have the choice of excluding their children from the Obama speech, however, I personally know of some parents who would like their child to view the speech but do not want to risk having these controversial lesson plans used.  All I’m asking for is visibility for all of Paulding County’s parents due to the inability of the school board to hear my appeal prior to this event occurring.

For your convenience here are the lessons in question:

http://www.ed.gov/teachers/how/lessons/prek-6.pdf
http://www.ed.gov/teachers/how/lessons/7-12.pdf

Also, I’ve copied the above referenced policy:

POLICY IKI-R “LESSON PLANS”
“Lesson plans will be done at least one week in advance. A copy of the lesson plan should be provided to the principal or designated assistant principal for the week by the end of the day on Monday during such week.

Lesson plans should include objectives, activities, materials and resources, and planned evaluation (either graded or non-graded). Teachers may use the lesson plan book provided by the county office or another lesson plan book of choice. Objectives should be referenced to the Quality Core Curriculum (QCC) for Georgia Schools guide.”

Sincerely,

Tom Milanese
www.pauldingpundit.com

LARRY RAGSDALE:

Mr. Milanese,

I am sorry, but your appeal will not be dealt with before the next board meeting. As I have addressed, you should go through your child’s school if you do not want he/she to participate.

While the speech will be available for student viewing, we have not directed any teacher or school to use it in their class, nor have we advocated the use of any lesson plan. We were unaware that a lesson plan existed until you brought it to our attention. As an educator, I do not see the recommended lesson plan as being the appropriate cognitive level for the primary grades.

Many teachers may choose to have their class view the speech as part of their lessons. Some may actually want to use the lesson plan. If a parent does not want their child to participate, they may inform the school and teacher in writing as per the policy.

Any action by the Board of Education would come through the process as described in the policy. If you want to continue your appeal, a committee will be established to review the complaint and the work in question; however, this certainly will not be done before Tuesday morning.

TOM MILANESE:

I’ve attached the “Appeal Form For Re-Evaluation Of Instructional Materials” and also faxed it to 770-443-8089. Will this appeal be dealt with prior to the next School Board meeting? If not, it will be too late since the school board meeting occurs after the event that is being appealed.

LARRY RAGSDALE:

“Any parent has the right, by filing a written request with the principal of a child’s school, to remove any book or other item of instructional material from the own child’s curriculum.”

TOM MILANESE:

Mr. Ragsdale, as a tax-payer I have a vested interest in every student of Paulding County.  I’m appealing the county-wide use of the curriculum in-question.  I do not see in the policy you referenced that the form is to go to each and every teacher in the district.  Please provide some clarity.  Thanks.

Policy KNBA:

“Members of the public wishing to complain about the curriculum or instructional materials must fill out a complaint form.

The complaint will then be referred to a committee, to be appointed by the Superintendent, which will review the complaint and the work in question.  The complainant shall have the right to attend such committee meetings.  If the committee decides that despite the complaints, the facet of the curriculum or the instructional material has merit in our instructional program, it may so decide.  If the committee decides otherwise, it shall refer the matter to the Board.

In any case, a complainant dissatisfied with the committee’s decision may appeal the matter to the Board.

Any parent has the right, by filing a written request with the principal of a child’s school, to remove any book or other item of instructional material from the own child’s curriculum.”

LARRY RAGSDALE:

Any form should go to Your child’s local school (teacher).

TOM MILANESE:

To which fax number does the appeal form go to?

LARRY RAGSDALE:

Thank you for sharing your concerns, Mr. Milanese. I will be glad to give you a “public” response.

As with any other instructional materials, the viewing of President Obama’s speech and the use of the “recommended lesson plans” is a decision that will be made by our teachers at the local schools. We trust our teachers as professionals everyday to make decisions concerning appropriate instructional methods and materials. We also trust our teachers to teach our students to think critically.

Parents who object to the participation of their child in viewing the speech or completing the “recommended lesson plans” may contact their child’s school. The school will ask the parent to put their request in writing. The child will then be given an alternative assignment. This is the standard practice in our school district. Please refer to Board Policy KNBA and KNBA-E, “Complaints About Instructional Materials” by clicking on the following link: [https://eboard.eboardsolutions.com/Index.aspx?S=4125] https://eboard.eboardsolutions.com/Index.aspx?S=4125. Click on “Policies” on the drop-down menu. Click on “K. General Public Relations.” Select the policy you would like to view.

I hope this addresses your concerns. Have a good day.

TOM MILANESE:

DearPaulding County School Board Member,

I’m writing in reference to President Obama’s planned speech to our school children on Tuesday, September 8, 2009. While the idea of a sitting president addressing our young people does not immediately raise any red flags for me, I do have several reservations about the recommended lesson plans put out by [http://www.ed.gov/] www.ed.gov and the White House. Please refer to the following story ([http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/sep/02/wh-withdraws-call-students-help-obama/] http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/sep/02/wh-withdraws-call-students-help-obama/) in the Washington Times this morning which indicates that the White House itself is having second thoughts concerning these proposed lesson plans and the language that is contained in them.

I sincerely hope that you will join me in advocating for these lesson plans not to be presented or used with Paulding County students. While I see nothing wrong with students viewing a speech by our President, I do believe it to be inappropriate for our students to be directly addressed and petitioned for a response without their parents’ consent and/or participation. I would appreciate, for the record, a public response from each of you by this Friday, September 4th, in order for parents to have a clear understanding of what is going to take place next Tuesday.

Sincerely,

Tom Milanese
www.PauldingPundit.com