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Saturday, August 27, 2011

A "Dr. John Covington Lesson"

An old friend of mine works for the KCMO School District and has for several years. He works hard and has a good reputation in the District for doing what needs to be done, frankly, and being a good teacher. So much so that they made him a Teacher instructor (I can't remember the exact title) but basically, a teacher who helps teachers be better teachers. At the beginning of this school year, he was offered a great job at one of the Charter Schools, which he would have loved, first, and secondly, which are offered rarely and only to good teachers. So did he take it? No, no he didn't. And do you know why? He didn't take the better job at the better school because he had made commitments already, to the work he was supposed to be doing and because it was the beginning of the school year, for pity's sake and you just don't leave people "in the lurch" like that, scrambling for a replacement like that. At least you don't unless you're one Superintendeny Dr. John Covington. Then all bets are off. "Screw 'em", right, Dr. Covington?

2 comments:

Mark Smith said...

That seems to be the popular train of thought, Covington the bad guy. But consider this, Benson files a sunshine info request on West.
West calls Benson says the two of them should resign.
Benson tells West to F--k off.
Benson resigns.
Covington resigns.
West is accused of shady shenanigans.
Benson and West show up at a press conference, all is good again.
Do you really blame Covington for getting the hell out before this bunch of inept clowns destroys his career and credibility?
Name a supt. who has left that job under amicable conditions.

Mo Rage said...

Whoa, slow down.

I am absolutely not saying "Covington, bad guy" here at all. All I'm saying is that, if you're going to get out, do it WAY before the start of the school year. I wouldn't and don't blame ANY superintendent who bails on this group. I do blame a superintendent who begins a school year and then jumps ship, ignoring his responsibilities and commitments. That's all I'm saying. If he was going to bail, let him do it in the Summer or at the end of a school year, not now, and especially not under some pretense that someone else is meddling or that they did something wrong so "I gotta' go."

As for Airick Leonard West (what's with the middle name addition, anyway?), if he--or anyone--has done ANYTHING inappropriate or, worse, blatantly illegal, let's found that out in an inquest of some kind.

I don't do the "one all bad, the other all good" thing, to be clear.