REALLY crabby and a little discouraged this evening....after NOT hearing from International Baccalaureate for MONTHS (even though they ASSURED us that the "acceptance letter" was in the mail WEEKS ago), one of the district principals called IB North America today, and FINALLY got word that we DID NOT get authorization (they are calling it "yes, but...", but it's still NOT offical authorization).
APPARENTLY, our "ability grouping" is an issue with the "powers that be" (as we knew it would be, when the authorization team came to our school), and APPARENTLY, both elementary schools SHOULDN'T have the same central idea as the guiding question for each of our units (as we found out, when the authorization team came to our school).
So...NEITHER school got authorization because of DISTRICT LEVEL DECISIONS... WE knew there would be problems (and, in fact, BOTH schools got high marks from their authorization teams on a "building level"), but, because the "powers that be" can't seem to see things as we do "in the trenches", we're SCREWED...
So...not an official "no way", but now we have to submit a plan to fix these two issues, then resubmit our application (they've given us until December 2009, but we're going to push it through in the next month or two, so that when "the committee" meets again in FEBRUARY, we can get another "look see", and hope for the best).
At this rate, we MAY find out if all is well by NEXT JUNE...
Having expended SO MUCH ENERGY via the WOW Committee, and various other projects that I took on to make the authorization a reality, I'm VERY discouraged right now...
Grrr....
Soft Amish Cookies
3 hours ago
5 comments:
I'm so sorry! I know how hard you've worked. Wish I were there to take you out for a beverage!! Just remember, you had no control over district-level decisions. You did everything you could do. AND... you have a plan to fix what needs fixed (according to them... I think you're PERFECT), so everything will be fine. It will just take a little longer than you'd planned. I love you!!!
Right back at you, honeybun! Let's talk soon! I've been reading about your "interesting church experiences", and SO need details!
LOVE YOU!
Jeff
Consider your school saved, not screwed! Why on earth do you need a bunch of left-wing socialists from Geneva telling you how to run an American public school? IBO had problems with your "ability grouping"???
No wonder, it doesn't fit with the IB Borg plan.
Btw, delay of authorization is common. (cost - training some more teachers) NOT getting IB authorization? Priceless!
(and also something I've never see happen)
kinnick72
"Just remember, you had no control over district-level decisions".
I would like you to seriously consider the implications and dangers of what you just said.
Is this IB nonsense going on in a private or public school? If it is a private school, who cares, do what you want. But if it is a PUBLIC school, where your local taxpayers are being told to foot the bill for frivilous indoctrination by an NGO of the UN, well, be prepared for a mass exodus of your best students from your school.
anonymous
The implications of what I said? Hmm. I was comforting a friend who has put his heart and soul into a project, and that project didn't turn out the way he'd hoped.
I appreciate your views, but public school teachers in the trenches are doing whatever we can to keep scores moving up and to keep our schools off watchlists. I'm way more worried about this year's Presidential election and NCLB than "frivilous indoctrination by an NGO of the UN."
Peace.
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