CUT AND PASTE TIME WITH TEAM UNRULY

Right before we went to press with this month’s edition, the Metro ran an article on Board President Herrera’s second visit with the Andrew Hill staff. At that meeting, Herrera played the diplomatic politician, reading letters of support for Zendejas to the disgruntled staff. Our Andrew Hill correspondent informs us that Herrera claimed he was just trying to get the staff to view the situation from his perspective. While his presentation only managed to anger the crowd, from Team Unruly’s perspective his comments were professionally guarded. And realistically, they had to be. He couldn’t just show up to a school and say, “you’re right! Let’s buy out her contract!” At the same time, Zendejas’ support base is so small teachers at any given site could identify who those people are. Team Unruly knows a teacher from Yerba Buena wrote the letter Herrera read to the Andrew Hill staff. We know she has a couple of supporters at Independence, one at Piedmont Hills, and even one at Foothill.

We also know our website receives over 25 hits per day. And they can’t all be from Craig Mann. They come in the form of letters like this one:

I got home today, thinking about the respect education gets in government. Wondering how Hippocrates can get away with being "for" education while they chip away at funding for education. Governor Swartzanegger won't raise taxes but he will spend as few dollars per pupil and dull the edge of California universities as much as it will take to win the race to the bottom. I started thinking about how I can save precious resources and decided to turn all the lights off in the house. As I walked into the hall I realized that rulers can't look much beyond their ass. Swartzaneegr was supposed to cut waste and he didn't find much. All he's left with is a frank admission that he's willing to give his sympathy but can't empathize with those who will be hurt by his budget cuts. Oh, and did I mention his broken promise to refund education this year? Failed to see his own ass in that case. Some people think schools don't need libraries. I went up stairs to turn a bedroom light off. They think that in today's society the act of educating the young can be done with a pencil and a piece of paper. Not just any paper, blank paper. Teachers are not to look beyond filling the blank paper with student's correct answers to inane questions. This is because filling out forms and taking notes teaches you how to keep accounts. Keeping accounts is very important for getting a job. As I turned out the light in the den, I realized that politicians don't understand that teachers teach skills that they have. Teachers learn how to keep accounts in order to teach the keeping of accounts and you just can't tell them not to watch how you are keeping your accounts. When you fill your own accounts out of other peoples' pockets you better expect that people will be watching. I turned the light off in the kitchen. I remembered the drive home. All those shiny new cars going by those solid, landscaped houses made me wonder how anyone could question if there was any money in the state. I guess we all know that it's a choice. As a civilized society we have to put our priorities in order. I know someday if I save my money I can buy a used Humvee. I know that I will be able to sell my house for a king's ransom and retire to someplace quiet with bags of money. And did you see those new electronic zombie machines? I've got to have one! In order to save money and buy it I'm just going to turn this last light in the living room out. The one here by my chair. Click... sheeze it's dark.

Or how about this one?

Hey Guys and Gals:

I just wanted to tell you what a great job you have done with this new site. I just cant believe all the stuff on it about how this women treats half the people she works with. What a cow. I never ever knew that Kuglar had to be escorted from the office. When will one of these people get the balls to sue this women for harassment or maybe the creation of an unhealthy work environment ? We lost Carol Blackerby here at PHHS and it has been one of the saddest days of my career. Perhaps the only sadder day for our staff was when Paul Fernandez died. We all love and respect Dan Moser and we are sad for the team at YB that lost him. Yet at the same time we are all breathing easier since we are not going to be saddled with someone else who could do a worse job. Dan is a nice safe choice that this staff wont whine too much about. One thing that the "Ha Ha Super" does not remember is that there is a wasc team coming here in a few months and I and many others here on campus are going to make sure that the visiting team knows the truth about what has been happening in this district. I for one am going to make a special visit to every one of the team members and tell them whats up, and stress that PHHS does not deserve a 6 year or even a threeyear accredidation since our major problem last time was a "lack of defined leadership" at both the district and site level.

The staff of Team Unruly has decided to put an unruly plan into action. Scroll down to the next paragraph and read our “unruly” letter. It’s short and to the point. Cut out the letter and paste it in an e-mail. Edit the letter to match your profile (teacher/parent/student) To really drive the point home, everybody send that e-mail on Wednesday, March 23 to Herrera, Martinez-Roach, Shirakawa, and Nguyen—Mann is optional. (if you miss the date, send the letter anyway). Let’s send the Board the vote of no confidence we’ve all been itching to express. Be active. Stay Informed. Get Unruly!

Oh, and another nod to the unruly bunch at Oak Grove for the suggestion!

Dear Board of Trustees,

I am a teacher/parent/student/ in the East Side. I have no confidence in the district’s current leadership. Employee and student morale has never been lower.

I am also a loyal reader of The Unruly Advocate, and I am outraged that the school board hired such a polarizing figure to govern our district. I have no confidence in Dr. Zendejas’ leadership, and I demand that you address the problem immediately.

Regards,