tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33431390.post8970740272073662899..comments2024-03-26T11:07:03.496-04:00Comments on Ed Notes Online: John Dewey's Principal Kathleen Elvin Screws Young Kids Out of Baskeball Programed notes onlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15018047869059226777noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33431390.post-17738326098755215462014-12-16T19:30:42.245-05:002014-12-16T19:30:42.245-05:00This Principal has no principles! She is only obse...This Principal has no principles! She is only obsessed with control and domination of every aspect of the lives of teachers, students, community members, but NOT for their betterment- no, only to see them crushed, humiliated, hopeless, defeated, damaged beyond repair. She is a truly sick individual, whose karma is very, very bad. I applaud the parent who wrote the first comment, and the "insider" who wrote the second- both have seen through the Big Lie that this self-serving mean-spirited senior citizen has perpetrated in the name of "fixing" Dewey: she has brought a home-grown form of Terrorism to what had been a Field of Dreams. She should be taken out with the garbage, not allowed to fester incessantly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33431390.post-68952761933811351872014-12-12T20:54:58.213-05:002014-12-12T20:54:58.213-05:00Whereas, it is disappointing to learn about the Fl...Whereas, it is disappointing to learn about the Flames possibly losing their home in JDHS, there are also many other concerns that need immediate attention by those who can make changes. The actions of Principal Elvin toward the Flames is just another example of how staff at JDHS have been treated since her arrival in March 2012. During her principalship, she has not only negatively affected staff morale but has been a detriment to students as well. How so? Students are rarely given consequences or held responsible for violent behavior; marijuana use is prevalent and overt in the boys' bathroom; there was no summons issued to a student when a weapon was discovered in his backpack at scanning, because the incident was written up falsely, as the weapon being "found" rather than it being brought into the building. Ms. Elvin covers up incidences, at the expense of school safety. Lastly, students know that they will earn credits even if they do minimal work and have poor attendance.This is due to the fact that teachers are pressured to have at least an 85% passing rate for each of their classes. EZ-Pass, some teachers call it. It appears to staff in JDHS that Ms. Elvin's primary concern is to create a public image of herself as the one who was able to get Dewey back on track and transform the school with incredible promotion and graduation rates. Only the insiders know that this is a sham and that the students are the ones to pay the price; when they graduate many are ill-prepared for college. Why would a principal manage a school this way? One can only guess. Perhaps it is to earn the personal financial gain ( as she earned in Williamsburg Prep) or perhaps to move up the career ladder. No matter. As for now, the JDHS staff can only hope that the higher powers ( OSI, Superintendent Prayor and Chancellor Farina) take the current situation at JDHS seriously and act accordingly. If not, then they are equally complicit.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33431390.post-19974475577373129212014-12-11T09:34:02.772-05:002014-12-11T09:34:02.772-05:00 I am a John Dewy, HS Alumni and a Flames Parent A... I am a John Dewy, HS Alumni and a Flames Parent Alumni. Your article about the Flames Basketball Neighborhood Recreation Program is very informative. I would like to add my opinion about the dire impact of what is happening to Flames.<br /> I am African American. I raised my (4)four children in the projects as a single parent. I have only one son. I feared for his existence after he reached of age to go outside alone. If it were not for the Flames Basketball Neighborhood Recreation Program; I believe that I would have lost my son to the violence that took place in the parks. My son needed a safe and supervised place to play with other boys his age. Flames provided such an opportunity for my son. I am certain that my story is not uncommon. Flames was a god-send for me and other parents. <br /><br /> Each parent is required to volunteer some of their time with the Flames. This giving back is also required by the young players. Children learn what they live. The young men who participate in Flames learn about goals and the achievement of their goals. They also learn about the discipline and the consistency that it takes to make their dreams come true. If Flames is not allowed to operate as usual in John Dewey, High School many children will not have the opportunity to experience the excellent lessons, Presently, my son is a member of New York Police Department. He has grown to be responsible, accountable, and community minded and Flames has contributed to this development. <br /><br /><br /><br />Flames is an excellent basketball program. It is being dismantled and rendered ineffective at John Dewey, High School which has been its home base for many, many, years. This would be a great loss for John Dewey, H.S. and for the many youths who benefit from this program.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com