The Spartan Banner (the Brookfield East school newspaper for those who don’t know) has published yet another article criticizing administration’s discipline techniques. This time, it mentions things like last year’s senior prank. It seems like the article would interest parents too, mainly with the mentioning of the “suburban culture” Brookfieldians live in.
Click Here To Read The Article
What are your thoughts on this issue? Parents? Students? People who have no affiliation with the District whatsoever?
17 responses so far ↓
1 Joe // Nov 4, 2009 at 10:26 pm
Here’s how this is going to play out, the same way every Great Banner Editorial plays out.
For about a week, it’s going to gain attention among the student body. People will complain, yet the administration will take no official stance, no make ANY kind of response whatsoever.
The week after that, everyone will have forgotten about it, and the administration will get off the hook.
You need to get real parent involvement in order for anything to happen at this school. The administration just doesn’t give a damn about the student body anymore, as long as the PTO is happy, they’re happy.
2 Dan H // Nov 4, 2009 at 11:46 pm
No one cares.
3 The Lorax // Nov 5, 2009 at 1:17 am
Dan and I agree, for once.
4 Ryan W // Nov 5, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Joe, now that you’re Junior class president, I do believe the responsibility to contact the PTO and fix these issues falls on you.
This is just an editorial; they’re whiny in nature, and anyone who takes time to post their opinions on a blog, or comments on a blog, is on the same level as I.
5 Sri of the Ram // Nov 5, 2009 at 1:31 pm
While I agree with my friend Ryan, I still have to say that no one cares about our highschool; we’re only here to get our degree, then we’re off to the only educational institution to matter, College.
6 Joe // Nov 5, 2009 at 11:11 pm
Kind of the point i’m getting at Sri. Nobody stays in this place long enough to give a damn about it. While these editorials are insightful and thoughtful, they upperclassman that can do actual change think that they don’t have to deal with it because in a couple years they are out of here.
Ryan – In no way did i want to disrespect your article. It was awesome. All of the editorials are good, we just need to start doing something about them. I mean i love ‘em, but we need to get Bowers to hate em so he actually responds instead of never responding and letting the matter fade away.
Right now, i’m also in a huge blow out homecoming scandal case. I meet with All members of the administration, and student council, next week to talk about the matters. BrookfieldNOW has requested to do a story on it. Trust me, i’m trying the best i can to get shit done, just one battle at a time.
7 Anthony // Nov 6, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Hey – maybe the administration doing nothing about the editorials could be the topic for next month’s editorial. Heck, I might come to the next Banner meeting, and suggest it, if I can get a ride.
Also, I think Joe needs some support from parents and more students for change to occur.
8 Kathryn // Nov 6, 2009 at 3:06 pm
This is an interesting conversation. I’ll add a parental perspective.
The fact that students print editorials is great. However, it doesn’t follow that the principal or anyone else is obliged to reply. An editorial is an opinion stated in a public venue. Once it’s out there, others are free to respond or not. If you want a conversation, make an appointment. If you want an action taken, appeal to your student council; that is how you won the exam exemption discussed a few days ago. That is not to say you will always get what you want, nor will administrators entertain a discussion endlessly. That is their prerogative.
You may be correct about rigid authoritarianism; that tends to arise in institutions. If you would like the administration to relax a little and take things on a case-by-case basis, you might also ask if students (and their parents) are willing to accept the inconsistencies that are bound to occur without crying “Unfair!” at every disappointment. There is a trade-off.
The idea that nobody cares about your school or the students is wrong. I don’t know your principal personally, but I’ve seen him in action and I can tell you that he does care—a lot. School issues can be contentious precisely because so many people care.
Schools exist because communities want to educate young people, want to offer them something to enrich their lives. You can reduce that to an economic exchange or a utilitarian bargain, but you will be missing the point. First and foremost schools are about giving students the benefits of an education. We adults will debate and sometimes fight about the specifics—what to teach, how to pay for it, etc.–but basically we are all on the same side: yours.
9 Ryan W. // Nov 7, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Joe-
That’s fair enough. I don’t doubt that you are getting to work, and I falsely assumed that you were accusing me of being whiny. I apologize.
I have… “been informed” of the homecoming issue.
Ryan
10 Cindy Kilkenny // Nov 7, 2009 at 9:28 pm
When are the rest of us to be “informed?”
11 Ryan W. // Nov 8, 2009 at 10:18 am
Well, according to Joe…
This week?
Or you could wait for next issue of the Banner! lol
12 Cindy Kilkenny // Nov 8, 2009 at 10:49 am
Well, from what I understand it’s big news. I’m not tickled with Joe’s statement RE: Spartanettes, but if his research pans out, he’ll still earn my respect.
13 Ryan W. // Nov 8, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Yeah, I’m not trying to keep secrets or anything, but I wanna wait until I personally see some reports until I talk about it.
Our managing editor is writing the story anyway, so I don’t even know the full story either…
14 Anthony // Nov 8, 2009 at 1:01 pm
I can’t wait for the Brookfield Now and the Banner stories about this issue. I’m curious to see what happened.
I also have a feeling that this is going to be next week’s “Hot Topic of the Week”.
15 Cindy Kilkenny // Nov 8, 2009 at 3:03 pm
The facts still need to line up. That’s the most important part.
16 BrkfldDad // Nov 8, 2009 at 5:30 pm
Cmon, just a hint? Did the homecoming court build a swingset on the roof????
17 Cindy Kilkenny // Nov 8, 2009 at 5:41 pm
Nah. It’s better than that.