Once again we have had to set up a new SAUSD corruption thread as the last one started to run slow with all the comments on it.
Our schools are in crisis today – not just here in Santa Ana but all over the state. The only thing we know for sure is that we are going to take more budget hits.
I am amazed that the SAUSD hired back all their laid off administrators. How crazy is that? Class sizes are growing, good teachers are laid off, and the union, as usual, is asleep at the wheel.
We will continue to reason through all this here at the Orange Juice blog! We can but hope for the best…
I’m grateful Cole’s grateful to be gratefully gratefully for all the grateful things that he can be grateful for. hmmmm Now, let us pray that he eventually gets it.
Infromation from a lesson plan created by the Anti-Defamation League
http://www.adl.org/education/curriculum_connections/spring…/lesson%202.pdf
Page 4 of document:
A teacher may lead a bible study during lunch. (False)
From Religion in the Public Schools- Student Religious Clubs
http://www.adl.org/religion_ps_2004/clubs.asp
What are the restrictions and obligations placed upon the school, its agents and employees by the EAA? School personnel, including teachers, may not initiate, sponsor, promote, lead or participate in religious club meetings. However, school personnel may be required to monitor club meetings. 20 USCA §4071.
May outsiders attend meetings? Outsiders, such as clergy members, may not initiate club meetings. Outsiders “may not direct, conduct, control or regularly attend activities of student groups.” 67 Outsiders may occasionally attend club meetings if invited by the students and if the school does not generally prohibit such guests. However, school officials may totally forbid non-school persons from attending all student club meetings. 68
What are some concerns that arise when a club meets pursuant to the EAA? The meeting of religious clubs in school facilities pursuant to their rights under the EAA may create an appearance of school endorsement of religion in violation of the Establishment Clause. School officials must protect against such impressions and may do so by issuing disclaimers clearly stating that the school is not sponsoring, endorsing or promoting any non-curriculum related student groups.
Schools must also recognize and guard against the threat of coercive peer pressure, which may be substantial. Student club members may be able to coerce students into joining sectarian groups and adhering to the club’s beliefs, particularly if the student body is composed largely of the same religious faith as that practiced by club members. Such clubs might create “insider” and “outsider” student groups, and, as a result, students may be ridiculed, harassed or ostracized.
If anyone can think of any person or group who would be helpful please post the information.
Teacher led student prayer group at schools
Organinzations notified so far:
SAEA
SAUSD
ACLU
ADL
FFRN
OCDE
L.A. Times
O.C. Register
I’m beginning to think that “someone” does not want this blog to be read. What happened to whatever was published prior to Nov. 23rd????
Maybe this is the way the government should handle Wikileaks. That’s sarcasm.
right beneath your post is a link “View Older” to click on
Thanks for the heads up on the “view older” link. I don’t think I ever noticed it before.
Willard has become a place of prayer….no longer a place of learning or teaching.
Most of the staff is to busy sucking up to the principal, attending his prayer sessions on Tuesday mornings (6:30) to be exact.
Who would have thought that 3 of the principals goons would be leading 6th. grade students in prayer in bungalow 4 and in the exercise…I mean what use to be the spin room during 2nd. lunch with 7th. and 8th. graders.
AMEN.
Does Principal Cole attend these 6:30 a.m. prayer meetings???
If he does it’s the earliest time he is ever on campus.
And, if he does attend these early morning meetings, where does he go after the meeting?
I have never seen him out and about on campus before school greeting students like some SAUSD principals do.
I am not nearly as gutsy as some of the people I work with but I am so glad we do have people on staff who are willing to say what so many of us would like to say.
I got permission to post this from the person who sent these emails:
Email sent 11/2/2010 (worship@fpcsa.org)
Subject: Volunteer work at Willard Intermediate
To: Kevan Hanson
Director of Youth Ministry
First Presbyterian Church
600 N. Main St.
Santa Ana, CA 92701-4189
Does your church do volunteer work at Willard Intermediate School? If so, who is your representative at Willard and in what capacity does your representative participate in activities at Willard?
Thank you so much for the information.
Email sent 11/3/2010 (worship@fpcsa.org)
Subject: Volunteer work at Willard Intermediate School – 2nd request for information
To: Reverend Lance Allen
First Presbyterian Church
600 N. Main St.
Santa Ana, CA 92701-4189
Does your church do volunteer work at Willard Intermediate School?
If so, who is your representative at Willard and in what capacity does your representative participate in activities at Willard?
I sent this email inquiry to Kevan Hanson, Director of Youth Ministry, yesterday, but haven’t gotten a response yet.
Thank you so much for the information.
What is going on at Willard Intermediate School? People, who is responsible in your district for this debacle? Isn’t Willard one of the failing schools in Santa Ana? Is anyone at Santa Ana district office concerned about separation of church and state?
Who outside the district can this be reported to? This can’t be legal.
Apparently, someone who is posting here has notified just about everyone and nothing is happening. The whole situation is terribly disturbing.
An article in the L.A. Times, Civil Rights History In Orange County, says in part:
“Years before Brown vs. Board of Education, Gonzalo Mendez, Lorenzo Ramirez and other working parents led a battle that forced school districts in central Orange County to integrate.”
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-1203-tobar-20101203,0,6832900,full.column
On December 3, 2010, this email was sent to LA times (hector.tobar@latimes.com) in response to their article on pioneers in the civil rights movement:
Santa Ana Unified School District has an intermediate school named Mendez in honor of Gonzalo Mendez but it may just be political window dressing because the district continues to ignore the constitutional rights of others regarding the separation of church and state.
Civil rights violations by SAUSD are still alive and well. This one has been given the green light to continue by Jane Russo, Superintendent of the Santa Ana Unified School District and the issue has been deemed “resolved” by the teachers’ union (SAEA).
Even though the courts have said (http://www.adl.org/religion_ps_2004/prayer.asp ):
“It is also critical to ensure that the religious activity is actually student-initiated,
and that no school employee supervises or participates in the activity.
Any school promotion or endorsement of a student’s private religious activity is unconstitutional.”
“Outsiders, such as clergy members, may not initiate club meetings. Outsiders may not direct, conduct, control or regularly attend activities of student groups.”
SAUSD continues to allow teacher led student prayer groups held during the students’ lunch period. Willard Intermediate School in Santa Ana, CA has formed a teacher led student prayer club held during the students’ lunch time. The group is named “Jaguars for Jesus”.
The principal of the school, Dennis Cole, initially approached teachers and counselors to find teachers willing to lead the prayer groups.
The teachers’ union met with Superintendent, Jane Russo. Both Russo and SAEA agreed that Principal Cole is not allowed to request any staff member to lead such a group nor is he allowed to ask other staff members to recruit for him. This, of course, was after the teachers had already been recruited.
Superintendent Jane Russo and SAEA did agree that a teacher’s lunchtime is not considered duty time. This, according to SAEA and Ms. Russo, allows teachers to participate in teacher led prayer groups for students. Therefore, the view of both SAEA and Ms. Russo is that this issue has been “resolved”.
An additional issue has surfaced. The First Presbyterian Church, located on 600 N. Main St. in Santa Ana, regularly sends individuals from that organization to attend these “club” meetings (“Outsiders, such as clergy members, may not initiate club meetings. Outsiders may not direct, conduct, control or regularly attend activities of student groups.”).
These individuals do not sign-in as other visitors are required to do nor is it clear that they have gone through the background checks and finger printing required by SAUSD for all school volunteers.
Emails have been sent to Reverend Lance Allen and Kevan Hanson, Director of Youth Ministry, requesting information concerning their involvement with the teacher led student prayer groups at Willard. As of today no response has been received from the First Presbyterian Church.
tmare,
Do you know if SAEA is still taking the “it’s been resolved” stand? Maybe, hopefully, they are still working on this whole prayer thing but just working low keyed. Hopefully, seriously hopefully, SAEA isn’t going to roll over on this one and play nice. Doesn’t the SAEA still represent the entire, diverse membership and not just the Christian members?
By the way, Happy Chanukah SAUSD and SAEA!
If anyone can think of any person or group who would be helpful please post the information.
Teacher led student prayer group at schools
Organinzations notified so far:
SAEA
SAUSD
ACLU
ADL
FFRN
OCDE
L.A. Times
O.C. Register
MQ says:
You know what you are! A liberal scum bag! YOU are the exact reason why that district is a complete failure! I am not religious myself but there is nothing wrong with a little bit of god in all aspects of life! It is better than bowing down to gangs and unions!
If I ever find out who you are! I am going to do everything in my power to get YOU out of that district! They don’t need liberal pigs like yourself who only bring mistery and failure!
That is a promise!
We need to get the liberal scum out of that district…Fire every single one of you and bring back sanity, common sense, dignity and excellence!
You care more about going after a few people who like to pray encluding most likely their students, than teaching kids to suceed in life!
If you have not noticed you doppy bas$^^ most of the people in your school district are christian!
Any teacher who takes the cause up with this union idiot; you need to take a good look in the mirror and ask yourself! Is the Cow right????
tmare!
Come on! wise up!!!!
Michelle,
What does that mean? Wise up about what? Please explain.
Sorry Tmare!
It means: Catch a grip! (best American translation I could come up with)
Please Tmare, I know I am hard on you guys and I am sure you are a fantastic teacher…It is not enough!
MQ~ It’s not often I can get a chuckle out of such clueless rantings, but in order to get the full effect of your absurdities I need to understand what a “doppy bas$^^” is.
Call it dopy with an accent!
It is not often, I get to rant with the clueless!
Let me be specific about this. Teacher led student prayer groups are not allowed under the Constitution according to the Supreme Court.
Teachers may pray with teachers before school, after school, during their lunch time, at 6:30 a.m., this is not the issue. Students may participate in student initiated and student led prayer groups at school. This is not the issue, either.
Under the current Supreme Court rulings, however, teachers, administrators, or other school employees may not organize and may not lead a student prayer group or club.
“It is also critical to ensure that the religious activity is actually student-initiated,
and that no school employee supervises or participates in the activity.
Any school promotion or endorsement of a student’s private religious activity is unconstitutional.”
These issues are not personality driven issues, Willard issues, union issues, or even school district issues. It is so much bigger than any of these things. It is an issue of freedom protected by the Constitution.
Yes, but you people on this thread don’t realize that Michelle Quinn is a tea-partyin’ “conservative” – which means she reveres the Constitution (although she hasn’t read or understood it) because it is a famous respected historical document that affirms the superiority of white people and Christians.
I’ve been thinking I should do a whole story on this Willard Christianist stuff, since most OJ readers don’t ever notice this SAUSD thread. Could you e-mail me annon c? ChezVern@aol.com – Vern Nelson, OJ editor in chief.
No, I am not a tea partying conservative! Thought I think they are great, they are too nice for my taste! I am more like a Shock and Awe realist! An Ayn Rand fan!
“Because it is a famous respected historical document that affirms the superiority of white people and Christians.”
MQ says:
You are a good example of the above being just a titch untrue!
And believe it or not I have read the constitution! It is a mixture of people’s ideas:
“Mostly male, all white, this collection of public figures was hardly typical of the population as a whole, nor was it, on the other hand, a political elite like anything that existed in England or Europe. All of its members, not just those like Benjamin Franklin and Alexander Hamilton with famously impoverished origins, would have languished in obscurity in England or France!”
They were men who wanted a better life!
Not only have I read the constitution, but I also can relate to the men who wrote it!
Isn’t doppy that little guy in Harry Potter? Oh, right. That’s dobby.
When did you last read the Constitution, Vern? Please point out to the readers of this blog how it affirms the superiority of Christians. Tell us where the word Christian is even mentioned in the Constitution. Michelle may not be the most literate person in the world, but what she said is the smartest thing that’s been written on here about the Willard issues.
Are you people honestly foolish enough to believe that a voluntary student group, which no student is forced to attend but where any student is welcome, is somehow equivalent to a segregated school? Why not take all of your collective anger and direct it at the gang leaders, the poverty, the illiteracy, the violence . . . ?
When did you last read the Constitution, Vern? Please point out to the readers of this blog how it affirms the superiority of Christians. Tell us where the word Christian is even mentioned in the Constitution.
Irony deficit alert.
Of course it doesn’t. But today’s “conservatives” and tea partiers seem to think that it does. I just hung out with a bunch of them a couple months ago, and they were flabbergasted to find out that their hero Ron Paul supports the right of Muslims to build a “mosque” near Ground Zero. “You’ve got to be wrong,” they all said, “he’s very strong on the Constitution.” To which I said “Exactly,” leaving them even more confused.
Vern,
This whole thing definitely deserves a post somewhere besides here. I would appreciate it if you could do that since it appears as though no one else is listening.
Folks the perfect example for why SAUSD Is a disaster!
Most of the teachers are pathetic liberals who spend their time going after a few individuals praying instead of actually teaching!
We need to fire every single one of you and start from scratch!
Post the story! It will be great for people to see what I see: Liberal disasters who can’t teach but who can stick their noses in to other peoples business!
Michelle,
I wonder how you would respond if the concern was “Jaguars for Allah”.
The same! As long it was Allah and not Jaguars for Bin Laden!
The point is, it is a positive at your school district for kids to seek God instead of gangs!
But of course the world christians make’s you liberal idiots shake in your boots..Too normal!
The department of education should be renamed as the department of idiots and loser’s!
I appreciate Michelle’s interest in education and I support her right to speak her mind. However, I do not believe that Willard is a church, it is a school. Some teachers at that site do not want Willard to become a church and this does not mean that they cannot be good teachers because of a belief which is supported by the law. It also doesn’t mean that they are liberals, one can be a conservative and still want separation of church and state, it is after all, a founding premise of our country. If the principal at Willard has even given the slightest impression that the school has an official religion, he needs to be called on it.
I told you before tmare the more I see what is happening in the schools the more intense the feeling I get to become involved! I think the public schools as well as the colleges have become a haven for socialists to destroy the very fabric of this country! The teachers, many of them are left wing, environmental nut cases who have NO business teaching!
It is the Separation of CHURCH and state, not GOD and state!
The reason why they did this is to stop churches having a influence politically like the Church of England does or did in Europe!
It was NEVER intended to be used as a tool to dismantle morality! Santa Ana is a classic example of Morality erased in many aspects of life!
The principle probably see’s the teaching of morality using the teaching’s of christ important! Either way it can only do good and not harm!
But of course you lot (being the idiots that you are) are more concerned about the teaching of christ in your schools, than the actual quality of teaching in the SAUSD! Not one word about that is there????
I love this country, but I really do think that Americans like yourselves are nothing but a waste of space in this land!
I am sorry, but you are the reason why SO many kids come out of that district without even a grasp on the basics!
Once again, Michelle, I respect your right to have an opinion but I can’t understand how you could possibly presume to know anything about my skills as a teacher. I work very hard and get great results with many of my students. I focus on teaching my subject area and do not really get involved in much beyond that. I actually am not in the business of teaching morality unless a student’s behavior issues interfere with the learning going on in my classroom. I definitely have strong beliefs that no public school should be advocating a specific religion but this has nothing to do with my teaching skills. I have invited you to observe in my classroom before and the offer still stands.
From the results of your district; it reflects on your performance!
“I actually am not in the business of teaching morality unless a student’s behavior issues interfere with the learning going on in my classroom. I definitely have strong beliefs that no public school should be advocating a specific religion but this has nothing to do with my teaching skills. I have invited you to observe in my classroom before and the offer still stands.”
MQ says:
That is what is lost in your school district and as most people can attest to within this culture!
I am not a religious person, but there is nothing wrong with a few people praying in school. No one is making any one do anything against there will! I think that you need too as a profession of educators focus on the problem at hand: the complete failure of your district.
You might be a good teacher but you are obviously in the minority because the scores as far as the basics are disgraceful! I know that you have a problem with parent involvement and student dedication, but you are the first line of defense of bringing that issue to light!
You would rather take on a harmless issue than deal with the most important issue: District failure!
Like myself when I was growing up in an area that would make Santa Ana look like Beverly Hills; school was my only escape! For kids in Santa Ana they escape drugs, gangs and absentee parants: School is their only saving grace. If praying helps alittle too within the walls of school; so be it!
It HARMS no one!
Deal with the real problems and stop hurting people who are only trying too help as best they can!
Willard is not my school and I am thankful for that. I can’t really say if anyone is being harmed. I am concerned with the legal issues and the possibility that some of the Catholic, Buddhist or non religious kids could be feeling pressure or could be feeling left out because they don’t belong to the group that labels themselves “born again Christians”.
Also, please don’t lump together every school in the district. There are good schools in this district, good schools with great scores. Every school is not the same. The offer still stands, maybe you could observe for a while and then tell me how to do my job, Michelle :).
Come on tmare. Get real! Let them start their own group if they want or just not be into it!!!
Do you remember this parents post? Yes, the good school’s are the fundamental school’s, that seem to be such a threat! But really it is not because they have some sort of magic dust, but good educators! Parents flock to these schools because they educate their children and teach them the study habits they need to succeed. The regular schools as quoted by you are being left with the crappy parents and unfocused kids, but that is up to YOU to change! The ball is in your court, because it is YOUR job!
Not an easy job, but the job you all walked into! You can no longer pick up that pay check for nothing. It’s a bitch, but you have the responsibility to make sure those loser parents are getting involved, if not; well you are on your own!!!
thinking out loud
Posted March 14, 2010 at 8:50 PM
My children went to Santa Ana Fundamental Schools through Junior high. At the time there were no fundamental high schools and we were fortunate enough to get them into excellent out of district schools where they continued to excel. My children were joined by friends and classmates who they themselves made the decision to seek what they believed was a better education. I firmly believe that the study habits they learned at John Muir and later Ray Villa fundamental prepared them for the challenges of college.
I do not blame the teachers because they do not choose who they teach. I do fault the unions that protect the few bad teachers that give you all a bad name. I don’t blame the parents who do not have the time or education to help their children. But I do blame the parents who won’t miss a Novela, but can’t seem to make a parent night.
And after all those years of late night homework, after school activities, PTA and fundraisers. I was not going to roll the dice and take a chance on my neighborhood high school (Century) just to help bring up that schools average. I wouldn’t ask that of any parent or child.
If you want to keep the best and the brightest. Challenge them and bring the parents along for the ride.
The fundamental schools definitely get more parents who are willing to be involved. They also have the luxury of demanding that parents are involved or else the kids can go to another school. The fundamental school teachers start off with a much better situation and I do think that they have to work equally hard but just in a different way. I don’t know any magic answers to how to get parents involved. When you call them multiple times and set up conferences and they don’t show up, I’m not sure what is supposed to be done about that. The regular schools do not have the opportunity to ask parents to send their kids to another school if they don’t do their homework. I think you are right that this community needs some strong leaders that come from within. Someone needs to get out into the community and do some parent education. High school is too late for this to happen. Even if we had some strong leaders who are prepared to say the hard things to parents, how would you propose getting them to show up and listen?
Well, first I would eliminate the liaisons in the schools; the go between with the parents and the school. They need to learn the language we should not be paying someone to make it easier on them to avoid learning English!
The problem is when the kids go home the spoken language in the house is Spanish they are not getting enough exposure, encouragement! The illegal immigrants who have come here and had children, should not be treated like royalty, but like the rest of us!
Most of these parents are on Welfare.. And most of the Welfare is going to the children i.e….Cal works (of course we know that is not true) there should be stipulation to getting welfare!
Curfews need to be implemented on school nights in Santa Ana and if children are found wandering the streets at night the parents should be called to pick up the kids!
There is so many things that can be done! Except the only thing that is being done is pointing the way to the welfare office and freebies!
Uniform’s
Full day pre-school
So many things can be done, but without a functional, supportive home: It is all a waste!
And of course, why can you not do what the fundamental schools are doing? Let me take a guess; THE TEACHER:S UNION!
Michelle,
I would definitely encourage you to spend some time at the schools. I don’t have a clue what a “liaison” is in the schools, I have never met one. The idea of a liaison between the schools and the parents actually sounds like a good idea but I don’t know what that is. Maybe you could explain it because in 23 years in Santa Ana, I have never met one.
I do not have any idea personally regarding who is illegal and who isn’t. The schools aren’t even allowed to ask that information and therefore teachers don’t have it. My students are all just students to me, there is no difference between illegal or not simply because I don’t have that information and it is out of my jurisdiction to find out. I also have no idea who receives free services, be it free meals or welfare, it just isn’t a part of the information available to me.
Curfews are also completely out of my control, I am not in law enforcement and I have no power to create laws regarding this.
I’m not sure what the point was about uniforms or full day preschool, maybe you could explain.
I have never known the union to discourage fundamental schools or their policies. Maybe you could also explain how you think the union is stopping schools from including the fundamental school policies at other schools. It is my understanding that the fundamental schools are able to require parent involvement and they can kick students out if they don’t follow those policies. Where are the students from the “regular” schools supposed to go if they don’t follow the policies of the neighborhood school. The last time I checked, every student was required to go to school. I’m not sure how to solve that one. It seems that the fundamental schools are able to have stricter policies only due to the fact that the student will have to return to the neighborhood school if they do not comply. Consequences are really important and without them the regular schools don’t really have many options.
I agree with you that many things can be done but the type of plan you are discussing here involves so much more than just a school or even a school district. You are talking about systemic problems that would need to be addressed by the entire society. These are not issues that a teacher in a classroom has control over. We do the best we can with what we are given.
And therein lies the problem tmare. He has not been called on it. As of now, the district is letting him continue with the teachings. We don’t understand why he has chosen a public school forum to impose his religious beliefs.
This has created a stressful working environment for the staff. Many of the staff are experiencing a level of discomfort but many have opted to join with him for the sake of remaining on his good side.
BS… The reason why they are uncomfortable is because they know scumbags like you will be breathing down their necks!
teachers on break or lunch time are still district employees according to district policy.
The district considers you a district employee 24/7, 7 days a week, 52 weeks per. year.
Sausd, may reprimand its employees for embarrassing or bringing negative attention to the district when you are off duty. On a Saturday night at midnight, sitting in front of your home…..
There have been cases where SAUSD has gone after employees and used this exact policy for justifying their reprimands.
So, my point!
SAUSD, like always, willl bend their own policy to accommodate their puppets aka “The Reverend, Mr. Cole”
Jane Russo Needs to be removed along with all her puppets
“.I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ thus building a wall of separation between Church & State.”[”
Thomas Jefferson!
I bet you idiots though would be all for Sarai law! Of course you would!
I bet you idiots though would be all for Sarai law! Of course you would!
Is there really no lower limit to your idiocies, Michelle?
“…that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion…”
Our courts have held that a public school teacher leading public school students in a prayer meeting is tantamount to establishing religion under the guise of government. Don’t like that? Get a law degree and try to get appointed a judge. LOL.
No Law!
It does not say anything about praying together as a people! The courts have become a left wing disaster in this country! A lot of so called judges in this country are perverting the laws and manipulating the system!
I don’t need to become a judge, I will just vote them out!
This month a court has stopped the ban of shari law (I think it is Oklahoma). This religious nut case ideology is EXACTLY why the separation of church and state was designed for. This NUT case Muslim law allows the honor killing of women as a right of the husband! The beating of daughters and the killing of neighbors etc……..
This law not praying in a school is the threat to the separation of church and state!
By the way Vern: I bought a Baby Grand Chickering!!! No sticky keys!:)
Good. Spend a lot of time playing Bach. It’ll help you grasp the complexities of life.
I would bet that I Mr. Vern have more of a grasp on the complexities of life than you have!
Just a guess!
You write your little piece on the Willard school and since I have such a grasp on life.. I bet you will not have the reaction you hope for!
I won’t be playing Bach just yet! It will be jingle bells and the such for me for a while!
Annon. C.
I wonder is it against SAUSD polices that you discuss internal going’s on relating to the district’s business! I am sure what you are doing just might get you into a little bit of trouble! I have took the time to print all the comments and send them to Ms. Russo!
I will call the Principle of Willard and alert him to what is going down behind his back and I am sure he knows who YOU are since you have tried to do something but failed!!!!
what did you say “We can’t play nice??”
Quinn, you’re disgusting.
1. Annon is perfectly within their rights AND being a patriotic American to pursue this matter and demand that their school follow the law. You want to and expect to get them PUNISHED for that? If you weren’t so pathetic you’d be evil. McCarthy evil.
2. This Annon person is not pursuing this matter anonymously, of course they know who this person is at Willard, not that it’s any of YOUR business.
3. On the other hand, Annon chooses to post on this blog anonymously for whatever reason, and that is a privilege we allow here. If you even attempt to blow an anonymous poster’s anonymity you’ll be banned from this blog for good.
What is disgusting is this idiot is in our schools probably teaching!
I am also in my rights as a tax payer to question her conduct! And her conduct is below the belt!
She did say that she did not what to play nice! Well, meet NOT NICE!
She post’s anonymously because she is the thief in the night! I post with my name, because I believe it is important to be upfront with integrity and conviction!
I don’t need to blow her anonymity! I am just saying that if she attacks these kids and this principle for doing something that they feel does not harm anyone but benefits them! Then be prepared to get what comes around goes around!!!!
What I think is disgusting is: The anonymous one probably sends her kids to a private school!!!!
Vern,
I emailed you a little after 2 this afternoon. Hopefully, you can do more to change the situation at Willard and within SAUSD than I have been able to do. I look forward to hearing from you.
First thing next week, friend!
Praying at Willard is THIS districts biggest problem?
Um… probably not. It is a problem. And we should be able to take care of it.
Michelle, The Principal of Willard and Jane Russo have already been contacted. Remember, there is freedom of speech in this country. Additionally, in public education everything is public knowledge except students’ and employees’ personal information. Anything else is available to the public.
There is a difference in freedom of speech and slander!
It is not a fact that this principle is advocating one religion and it is not a fact that this principle is doing anything wrong!
I am sure Ms. Russo knows her job (well, it seems not well) and will take the appropriate action! With all the problems with that district God is the least of your worries! I would say the teaching is a bit shabby and the teachers spend too much time slandering people!
Tmare, I am going to be as dipolmatic as I can!
Do you just walk in the doors of the school and walk out????
At this point, Michelle, I am beginning to think that you haven’t walked in a door of a school. Maybe you could explain a bit more and I’ll try to understand. Honestly, I attempted to answer your “points” as clearly as I can from the perspective of a person who has lived and worked as a teacher in this community for many years. If you think that something I said is inaccurate, please be specific because a one line question really means nothing.
Someone finally is paying attention to what is going at at Willard: http://newsantaana.com/2010/12/05/teachers-led-student-prayer-groups-at-willard-cause-an-uproar/
DAMN. Art beat me to it – and this story was just getting to the top of my list.
I’ll still do mine in a day or two, we have a bigger readership here at the OJ, and I write differently from Art.
Thanks Vern. We need all the help we can get.
Kevan Hanson, Director of Youth Ministry for the First Presbyterian Church, reports that he serves as a “lunch supervisor” at Willard Intermediate and has gone through the background check and has been finger printed through the Santa Ana School District Police.
The California School Employees Association (CSEA) reports that lunch supervisors are paid employees of the Santa Ana Unified School District. CSEA further reports that lunch supervisors have a Board approved job description and that if Mr. Hanson is a lunch supervisor he should be working in the lunch area and should not be in a classroom.
The new SAUSD dropout and graduation rates have been released by the California Education Department. http://newsantaana.com/2010/12/08/new-sausd-graduation-and-dropout-rates-released/
annon c.,
You might also try Legal Aid.
Hello from Sharon McNary in the KPCC newsroom.
I’d like to hear from all sides in this dispute. I’ve got a set of school questions at this link: http://www.scpr.org/network/questions/schools09
The questions ask what the economy is doing to your school, but you can use them to convey any concerns that you have. I’ll read them and respond to you individually. You can respond confidentially, tell me who we should be looking at and talking to. I’ll share the information with our editor. Nothing you share is aired or published without your permission, and it helps shape our coverage of important issues.
Thanks very much,
Sharon McNary
Public Insight Journalism at KPCC
smcnary@kcpc.org
Amen
Posted December 7, 2010 at 7:27 PM
Michelle Quinn
Posted December 6, 2010 at 9:42 PM
Michelle Quinn
Posted December 6, 2010 at 5:50 PM
Michelle Quinn
Posted December 6, 2010 at 5:46 PM
What can I say about Dennis Cole.
Bigot
A bigot is a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices, especially one exhibiting intolerance, and animosity toward those of differing beliefs.
This describes Cole perfectly, every word is exactly who he is.
If you do not respond with a Yes, Sir. He will make sure you pay dearly for you defiance. He is no man of god. He is and always will be a BIGOT.
Why shouldn’t he, he has the district approval. after all he was their best choice to “reform” Willard Intermediate after all. Little did Jane Russo know, he was going to turn Willard into a church. Now, Jane Russo has no choice but to support this godly man or else she will look bring upon herself a negative ray of sunshine and end up in the depths of hell.
If you are of Dennis Cole’s religion and beliefs you are welcome at Willard (home of the holy) if you are not Cole will make your life a living hell. Most, not all teachers are to afraid to say or contradict him on anything so they have all become the “Yes” group.
Michelle,
you obviously don’t have or don’t believe in something called the “Constitution”
and you probably don’t have a loved one in any of the Armed Forces, because if you did. You would defend your constitutional rights.
Bottom line:
Cole is violating this. his and the districts excuse is what?
As long as you only preach during your break it’s okay. Well its not!
Teachers are doing this everyday, and getting paid for it.
Their Bible club or any other religious club is organized by teachers, let by
teachers, and hosted by teachers. If this wasn’t bad enough they are using these hours towards $1000.00 stipend. Now, who is the bad person here.
There is a reason why there are laws in this country. No one is above. We all have to follow them. Unless you are Cole of course.
Michelle you have no common sense.
“If you have a picture of the yellow cow annon, bring a few darts, I have the board!
God won’t mind I am sure, he know’s he screw up with a few human beings!”
BIGOT!
Dennis Cole’s
words to us during the weekly staff meeting.
When challenged as to why he canceled all the clubs at Willard and not just his bible class during lunch time. He responded by saying that it would be unfair to cancel his bible club and let the other clubs alone, so if he could not have his bible study sessions, no one could either.
Jane Russo directed him to terminate his religion club, he turns around and cancels all clubs. NICE..
He calls himself an educator.
I can’t have mine, so you can’t have yours either!
Vindictive!
the signs of a true leader and a man of god.
Dennis Cole’s reason and justification for teacher/student prayer sessions.
“These are young kids, they don’t know what they want, so we need an adult to guide them and show them the way.”
His goal to convert the Willard student population to his religion, by force and illegal use of his authority.
Sounds to me, like he wants to push his religion on kids and take the parenting role away from the parents. He said it himself, they are too young to know what they want or understand, so he uses his position to abuse and violate these kids civil rights by pushing religion on them.
Dennis Cole has no loyal followers. We are learning from the master.
We walk around with a fake smile on our faces, just like he does all day long and trying to turn one against the other.
Don’t blame the teachers, blame the religious based Administration for causing a hostile work environment among us all. We pretend to agree with him and follow his religion so he won’t reprimand or write us up like he has done so many.
we stand together as one against the tyranny of Dennis Cole!
RE: “These are young kids, they don’t know what they want, so we need an adult to guide them and show them the way.”
His goal to convert the Willard student population to his religion, by force and illegal use of his authority.
Sounds to me, like he wants to push his religion on kids and take the parenting role away from the parents. He said it himself, they are too young to know what they want or understand, so he uses his position to abuse and violate these kids civil rights by pushing religion on them.
1. Didn’t the Spanish try this several hundred years ago, right here in Sunny Southern California, with a similar population?
2. Today, you (the worker bees) do have redress, i.e., “hostile work environment” and “discrimination in the work place”. A class action suit might get his (Cole) and/or their (the District) attention. Look at the current Wal-Mart case currently before the Supreme Court.
and now a word from Michelle??
Funny,
Willard staff actually took bets 18 months ago, on how long it would take Dennis Cole to bring religion to school.
Most of us said, 6 months.
Will find out who the winners was soon.
I reject.
Dennis Cole!
He should take a serious look at his religion and motives for bringing his prayer sessions onto school grounds. He should really get to know his staff and their religious beliefs, just bcause 3 or 4 of his hand picked teachers support and agree with his bible clubs. It does not mean, we all do.
I too, will have a get together this weekend, so bring plenty of darts. I downloaded his picture of the Willard site. We can all play pin the tail on the
DUNCE!
aka
Dennis Cole!
Was Mr. Cole directed to cancel all clubs at Willard? I don’t think so. Mr. Cole is a poor sport and does not care about kids. If he did, he would not take clubs away from them.
Jane, are you there? Jane, wake up and look at Willard. You’ve got big problems and they won’t go away because you are looking the other way.
The biggest problems at Willard are the disgruntled teachers who want to impose their liberal view of what they think the Constitution stands for on everybody else. These teachers would rather see the kids in gangs than in a Bible study. Shame, shame, shame on them!
From what I saw yesterday and today the lunch prayer meeting, I misspoke —- the lunch bible club —- that is how Cole labeled the club in a staff meeting —-, with teacher, met on Thursday and on Friday after PC himself —- Preacher Cole —- said ALL of the clubs were canceled. I seriously doubt if PC’s followers would have continued meeting without Cole’s blessing.
His staff already knows PC doesn’t understand anything as complicated as the Constitution and now we all know he doesn’t understand what the word “all” means.
That was an incredible staff meeting on Wednesday —- at least the last 25 minutes of it —- where someone finally and literally stood up to Cole.
Cole saw what standing up for something you believe in really looks like. Everyone I spoke to thought it was great and we appreciate what was done for us.
Let’s be serious, Willard staff does NOT walk around with fake smiles all day long. I for one, know we have a great staff! On the other hand, I suppose there are a few who do have a fake smile ( Cole being one of them) For whatever reason, there are a few new teachers who are “yes” teachers, not the majority! Thanks you anon c. for standing up for what’s really is best for the kids at Willard and not for what YOU deem right for them.
Anonymous~ The Constitution stands on its own. Willard employees are not disgruntled, we are the best group of dedicated teachers around. Why else would we be at Willard if we didn’t enjoy it there? We could have ran from there a long time ago.
Willard Staff,
I have always known that it has been the talented, strong staff members at Willard who have been the tireless core and heartbeat of the true Willard community.
Over the years I have witnessed many, many wonderful things happening in and out of the classroom to serve and support the students and their families.
Willard has survived because of these people.
Through budget cuts, a constant turn over of educational theories, the bombardment of “this is THE only way to do it” directives which were systematically abandoned by the district when they failed, the waste of money spent on excellent programs put together by the staff only to be disregarded and thrown out with each new principal, the elimination of real electives, the staff at Willard worked hard to serve the students and their families.
To say test scores are low therefore the teachers are not serving their students because they are bad teachers is simply not true.
Each and every success at Willard has happened because of the staff.
Anonymous, I, for one, am not a disgruntled staff member.
It is not MY liberal view of what I think the Constitution stands for that caused Mr. Cole to eliminate all clubs at Willard.
At this point I do not know what Mr. Cole was told to do by the school district or what he was told his choices were. I do know he did not have to close down all of the clubs to make sure he was complying with federal law.
I do know that it is important for any publicly funded institution to comply with Constitutional law.
If you look back over the history of what public education in America has done to minorities you will begin to understand why the Supreme Court has made the rulings they have made and why it is important for each of us to be a guardian of those rights.
What would I rather see than students in gangs? I would rather see students and their families not having to live in poverty. I would rather see students who didn’t have to sleep on the floor and have no place to do their homework. I would rather see parents who didn’t have to worry over not having a job or not having a job that paid enough to actually feed and shelter their family. I would rather see students who knew their future would be brighter than their parents’ realities.
What have I accomplished this year? Anonymous, you might be amazed to know that I am proud of what I feel is my greatest accomplishment so far this school year. My accomplishment doesn’t count towards any compact hours and it doesn’t show up as extra pay on my paycheck.
On the first day of school a student, who had no idea of who I was other than the fact I was a teacher, came up to me and said out of the blue, “I want to learn to read this year.”
So, twice a week I work with this student. When we started he was only able to read 93 sight words. Now he knows 623 sight words and has read 6 books with me. The books are not at his grade level but when we first started he had only read 2 primmer level books on his own. This student’s accomplishment is, I feel, my greatest accomplishment so far this year. For the first 5 years of his education he learned to read 93 words. In three months I have been able to increase his ability to read over 6 fold.
Will he score high on the tests he will be taking in the spring? No. Will the tests he takes in the spring even detect his growth in reading? No. The tests are not made to measure individual growth no matter how significant.
Now, multiply my success by each and every teacher at Willard who, through hard work and true dedication, have been able to increase their students’ level of knowledge and understanding of the world and you have a great deal of success.
Will the test scores of these students reflect their accomplishments and the accomplishments of their teachers? Probably not. The tests are not designed to measure how much a student has grown in one year.
The teachers at Willard know we cannot do it alone. All staff members contribute to the success of students. Each and every day I see so many positive interactions and people working hard to go above and beyond what is required of them. And, believe me, all of the things these people do to help students are not reflected in their paychecks and are not recognized by Mr. Cole.
Who at Willard is ideologically driven? Who at Willard has an agenda of his own that has nothing to do with the academic growth of students? Who at Willard spends the least amount of their time with students? Mr. Cole.
Now, Anonymous, you might be surprised even further to know I don’t think the problem with Willard is Mr. Cole. Mr. Cole is only a symptom of the problems Willard has faced over a very long time. The school district has allowed this to happen.
Where is Mr. Cole when he is not at Willard? Jane Russo probably knows and approves.
The school district has also allowed Mr. Cole to impose his personal, religious views at Willard and it is SAUSD who is ignoring federal law. Remember, federal law applies to all public schools. This includes all of the schools in SAUSD not just Willard.
In conclusion, I have always known that it has been the talented, strong staff members at Willard who have been the tireless core and heartbeat of the true Willard community and nothing has changed that.
Jane
and
Dawn Miller
Do not care about anyone or anything besides taking home their monthly pay checks of 225k They also forgot who they really work for!
The Students, parents and residents of Santa Ana.
They need to stop protecting their hand picked Administrators that not only violate Federal Law, but bully, intimidate, harass and threaten the careers of dedicated professionals if they don’t go along with their illegal activities.
aka Dennis Cole
I fully agree, with the prior post, Dennis Cole is sanctioned by the District, aka Jane Russo and Dawn Miller. He feels protected and shielded by them so, he continues to sanction the teacher initiated bible club prayer session in Bungalow 4 by Marina Alfaro, the Blue room by Randy Clark and Mike Miller. There were over 20 students in bungalow 4 yesterday having prayer session while they ate cake, cookies, chips, ice cream and pie. Now, who bought and paid for all this?
One Guess??
Talk about a blatant disregard, illegal use of public funds, buts its okay, because Dennis Cole has the blessing of Jane and Dawn Miller.
Anything short of a lawsuit filed will not force Jane to act and remove this
VICIOUS
IMMORAL
SINFUL
MALEVOLENT
MALIGNANT
MALICIOUS
MALEFIC
WICKED
BANEFUL, PERSON WHO CALLS HIMSELF
MR. COLE,
PRINCIPAL
WILLARD INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL
714-480-4812
Dennis Cole
Is a vindictive evil individual!
Had no reason to cancel all clubs.
He was directed to terminate his bible club,
that was it.
He took it upon himself to cancel and get rid of the other clubs on his own.
Cole is a person who can not and will not accept positive or constructive criticism. If it did not come from him, it is not a good idea and its not happening.
He keeps on asking and taking more and more civil and contractual rights away from the staff without giving anything in return. Perfect example!
His new term:
Compact..
His new way of breaking at the labor code and teachers contract.
Work, work, and more work (all for free, of course), because if you don’t, your not part of the team.
Talk about confusion!
Compact hours.
If you ask me, all I know is,
I am now required to put in extra hours, besides my regular hours that I get paid for.
Excluding my 1 1/2 each day before school,
my lunch hour that I spend tutoring my kids that needs extra help,
an hour that I spend after school with more of my kids that I can’t see during lunch because I am tutoring other students.
All this is
because I want to
for my kids, not because I am told too.
Now, I am told to do
compact hours
why?
But,
I have no choice,
I am one of the newer busy bees,
if I don’t,
he,
Mr. Cole will find an excuse to reprimand me for not being part of his Transformational team.
We are suppose to do our jobs, to our fullest potential while an IMMORAL, tyrant like Mr. Cole standing behind us ready to reprimand and suspend us without out pay.
And, HE calls us
IMMORAL
HE needs to look at himself in the mirror, first!
AMEN!
annon. c
You sound as if you are justifiably proud of your accomplishments this year, and I’m sure you are a great teacher. I just don’t understand what objection there is to having a Bible club coexist with great teachers like yourself and the many others you describe at Willard. You know, just because the Supreme Court says something doesn’t make it right, and no matter what, there is neither Supreme Court law nor other law banning Bible clubs at public schools. That is a misunderstanding of the law.
Anonymous
Posted December 11, 2010 at 4:50 PM
You are partially right.
The supreme court does not ban religious clubs at any publicly funded school.
It sets very strict guidelines that must be followed in order to keep federal funding.
The courts ruling can’t be any more clear!
Student prayer clubs, bible clubs or any other religious clubs must be student initiated
and student lead. This is not the case at Willard. Dennis Cole is forcing his own religious
beliefs on others through his bible clubs.
This is illegal and immoral, as he likes to call some of us.
Mr. Cole recruited teachers to lead his prayer sessions with the kids, once he got called on it,
he then recruited a staff member to do the recruiting for him. This is wrong and illegal, under the Supreme Court ruling.
I have not read or heard of anyone at Willard say, that the kids can’t pray or have their religious
clubs as long as Dennis Cole and his apostles stay out of trying to convert students to their own religion and
religious beliefs.
Dennis Cole is a government employee, aka district employee, as well as the entire staff at Willard.
No government employee can, initiate, recruit or be involved. Neither, can any government employee
bring in or request for an outsider to come in, in place of the employee to host any type of religious
meetings with the students.
It is so simple and clear, my 2 year old would understand this.
Like the previous post said!
BIGOTRY IS ALIVE AND WELL HERE AT WILLARD AND SAUSD
DENNIS COLE
JANE RUSSO
DAWN MILLER