Submitted by Chuck E. Arla, Nov 19, 2007 11:41

I am amazed at how even a paper as astute as The Sun can miss how out wrong and improper the comments made by folks running our schools continue to be. Regent Tisch is quoted as saying "we will hold Districts accountable/" New York City has 32 Districts that are not being allowed to conduct business nor perform their statutory responsibilities. The Community Education Councils that have been created do not have the legal powers needed to effect change that the School Boards they replaced once had. These councils of well meaning parents meet monthly (to very small audiences) and are spoon fed prepackaged information that the honchos at the DOE want them to hear . The "Community Superintendents" that the Mayor has appointed are not allowed to exercise any control as they do not serve their District or local school Board but "at the pleasure of the Chancellor"... The folks in charge through intimidation have effectively removed parental voice from the equation. There is no community role in selecting these superintendents who will be responsible according to Ms. Tisch for ensuring the academic success of their "Districts/" How has it come to pass that the total, wholesale and effective removal of the parents from an active role in the future of their children's education can go so unnoticed or unreported by the media?

Sooner or later someone is going to wake up and realize that this entire setup flies in the face of not only the letter but spirit of the law. Such disregard for the voice of the parents would not be allowed in any other District in the State.

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