Berkeley High School Discussions
A lack of civility
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It was interesting to read the item on truancy at Berkeley High, not
because of the truancy issue but because of the lack of civility the parent
encountered as she talked to the people who run the school. Every time I
go onto the campus (and that is thankfully not very often) I am appalled at
the way the staff talks to the students. They are belittled and talked down
to at every opportunity. Generally, there's no respect shown towards the
students. When I've said something to my kids they've replied, it's ok,
you get used to it. That, in itself, is very sad.
On the truancy issue itself, my son tells me that students are told to get
off campus if they do not have a class. They are told they are a liability
to the school if they have no class and stay on campus. Someone out there
might be able to shed some light on this.
Anonymous
I certainly agree that the staff at BHS treats the kids very rudely. They
don't set a good example. It's kind of like being at the DMV or some other
agency with rude, cursory service. When I took my son to the Junior Prom
last year, the Principal was meeting every student at the door with a metal
detector. What a hostess! I understand concerns for safety but my feeling
was that, for every kid who may have caused trouble, there were probably
500 who didn't and they should have been treated like the wounded veterans
that they were. They went through a lot last year. There were oodles of
security guards there that night. If a metal detector was necessary, it
should have been anyone but the Principal who wielded it. I feel that she
should have been greeting them with a big smile and kind words instead.
Barbara
I wholeheartedly agree with the comments about the lack of civility in the
way staff at Berkeley High interact with students - with some notable
exceptions, since there are some wonderful people on staff who are respectful
and helpful, but those who are not poison the atmosphere and and fuel the
lack of civility on the students' part. It is part of the very unpleasant
atmosphere at Berkeley High. With some staff members, both students' and
parents' statements are met with suspicion, as if there is the assumption
that the student is probably lying or guilty of something. I realize they
are overworked and, especially since the fire last year, working in adverse,
chaotic circumstances, but that doesn't make it any easier on the students or
the parents.
Anonymous
After reading about the uncivility of BHS teachers for
several issues, I am moved to add some comments based
on two years of personal experience. My son has never
complained about rude behavior--in fact he has enjoyed
civil abnd helpful relationships with many of his
teachers. A few are not very responsive or helpful,
but not disrespectful. I have had many contacts with
teachers (because my son can be forgetful about
assignments and turning in homework so my husband and
I have to monitor his progress) and I have never been
treated with disrepect or rudeness. Just the opposite.
My personal experience is that most teachers are
delighted with the parental involvement. They want
their students to learn and participate. I hope other
parents will speak out and correct the skewed
perception that BHS is full of rude, nasty, uncaring
teachers and staff. It is a great disservice (and
disrespectful) to lump all teachers and staff into the
"rude" category.
I am starting a Writing Center pilot project to
support all students (as the program grows it will
reach all students through their English classes.) My
contacts with the English faculty have been not only
civil but appreciative and helpful. Any parents
interested in finding out more about the Writing
Center can contact me (mlcole@yahoo.com) or Wendy
Breuer (wbreuer@aol.com).
RE: Rudeness at BHS:
My issues about rudeness at BHS were not about teachers. With a
couple of notable exceptions, the teachers we have had have been
excellent and I have been impressed by their willingness to be
respectful and encouraging to the students. My kids have really
appreciated and respected almost all of the teachers they have had at
BHS. It is the STAFF that treats the students like they are a big
pain - they shuffle them around like cattle and show very little
energy for helping them out in a courteous manner. It's not a pretty
picture.
Barbara
I didn't think the discussion about rudeness at BHS was about the
teachers. My contacts with teachers at BHS have always been
courteous and helpful, and some teachers have gone out of their way to
be help my kids and others' kids. Ginger
I am one of the people who posted about incivility of staff at Berkeley High.
After reading the last newsletter, I want to clarify that I have never
experienced this from teachers. I was talking about other staff members,
mainly office staff in the administrative areas. Anonymous
I must also say that generally I've been most impressed with the
teachers and staff at BHS. I've especially been impressed with the
enthusiasm and availability of my son's teachers after attending Back
To School Night. Almost all of his teachers said that they are
available to their students daily during lunch or after school. In
addition, many of them distributed their home phone numbers in
addition to their email addresses!!! I just hope no one takes
advantage of this openness! We need to support these dedicated
teachers and model for our children appropriate respective behavior.
Shelley
I, too, have experienced rudeness and disarray in the administrative offices
of BHS and have listened to my student be appalled by it. Besides being a
parent, my job takes me into many schools in other districts. In many places
staff is overworked, security is a routine part of the campus environment,
there are language and cultural complexities, yet I have never experienced
anything approaching the chaos that is routine in BHS front offices. Other
schools often seem conventional and much less creative and vital than BHS
but, even in schools that struggle with the same problems BHS has, staff is
helpful and, most importantly, can find what you ask for.
I've been aware of this for many more years than my child has been going to
BHS and I've thought there are entrenched attitudes that don't change even
though school principals come and go with the seasons. I've wished for some
housecleaning.
A. Non
I would like to ask whether the office staff 'incivility' people refer
to in this discussion took place this fall, or in the past? I have
found the staff in the administration trailers this year to be
friendly and helpful, though also, naturally, very busy. I try to
respect these constraints, and find I am treated respectfully in
return. I also try to give the staff a hand when possible: e.g.,
making a few extra copies of the master schedule so that they have
some to give to other parents, feeding back information about SAT test
schedules when they don't have it at their fingertips. These people
are riding a tiger -- let's help them out.
I also want to single out for praise the gentleman who serve as the
administrative assistant for the counselors (wish I could remember his
name.) Although the BHS counseling situation has a long history of
chaos which is not yet cured, he did a lot in the first two weeks of
school to bring some order and method to the system. The counselors
themselves deserve credit for supporting this, as well.
Finally, I also think that if a staffer is truly rude or uncivil, you
should take it to VP Lee, who is in charge of administration, or to
Frank Lynch. Putting up with it just creates a downward spiral.
Tim
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