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The Race to the Top initiative won’t solve this country’s education problems by itself, but it is focusing attention on the right issues and moving them up the national agenda. NY Times

“Nations like Finland and Japan seek out the best college graduates for teaching positions, prepare them well, pay them well and treat them with respect,” she said. “They make sure that all their students study the arts, history, literature, geography, civics, foreign languages, the sciences and other subjects. They do this because this is the way to ensure good education. We’re on the wrong track.” Diane Ravitch

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Main Page » Principals' Memos

Previous:	The Principal’s Flyer Volume 1 Week of December 19-23, 2005 Number 16
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Writings from The Past

by leadershiphelp.org on Tue 27 Dec 2005 10:14 AM EST | Permanent Link | Cosmos

Good morning:
I was planning to inaugurate our new broadcast system tomorrow but events in Littleton, Colorado this past week compel me to start it today.
The killimg of 12 students and a teacher by at least two other students (who then killed themselves) at Columbine High School in Littleton Colorado has shocked our country and the entire world. Schools are supposed to be safe places where parents send their chidren to learn and grow, not to have their lives ended at the hands of other students.
Even though we are 3500 miles away, the event touches us because the experience of going to school is common to everyone in this country.
Adults are struggling to figure out why it happened, whether it could have been prevented, and who is to blame. In the immediate aftermath many people offer all kinds of theories about what went wrong, but there is no agreement or real understanding, only unanswered questions.
Some of you may be wondering about all this. You may wonder whether our school is safe. Maybe you just feel bad for the kids and families in Littleton. You may not have a lot of thoughts about this because it feels far away. You may have questions that seem quite different from the ones being asked in the newspapers or on TV. People respond differently to events like this. Some of you may be filled with facts while others know little but feel great pain. As I mentioned, some may not feel terribly affected by it all. All of these responses are ok. Each of us responds differently.
I would like us to take the next 10-15 minutes in homeroom to talk about what you know and feel about the shootings. Hopefully you’ll get some questions answered or some feelings out. If during the day you find yourself thinking a lot about the shootings, you should ask to see your counselor or any adult in the building with whom you feel comfortable talking.
I want to assure you that we will continue to do everything possible to make Oak Hill a safe place for everyone, and urge you to confide in an adult any concerns you may have about your safety here.

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Principals' Memos