San Diego Unified Parent- Life At School

Yes, I’m prolific today.

It’s a topsy-turvy world in which we live, and I’m always surprised when women are treated unfairly because of gender roles.  My turn for a surprise was yesterday.

In our family, I’m the home parent.  Yes, I have a business I keep alive, but mostly between 8 am and 1:30 pm daily. It’s not easy.  But for our son, it’s the best possible- he has a parent pick him up from school, a parent to help with homework, a parent to which he must answer should he misbehave in class.

As the home parent, I’m also tasked with the school volunteer duties.  Tasked sounds like burdened, but it’s our family’s way of pulling our civic weight.  We’re not a family that can easily donate piles of money, but I have flexible hours, and am willing to use that time to benefit our school.  That means, my son and I are on campus a LOT.  The teachers and staff know me very well and, as best I can tell, are not “unfond” of me.

Months ago, our son ran and fell at school resulting in a broken arm.  My mobile phone is the first number in the emergency contact lineup, followed by my office number, and our home number.  But the office scrolls down and finds: The Mom.  That’s who they call.  

Now, my wife is an incredibly capable person, but she’s rarely on campus, and few of the staff and teachers could pick her our of a line-up of similarly beautiful women as my spouse.  Actually, they might consider me undeserving of her- “Her?  With Bowers? Nah-impossible!”.  Nevertheless, they called her first when the arm was broken.  I gently asked that, in future emergencies, please call the number my wife and I specified- that will likely result in the quickest response, with the least confusion.  No problem, I was assured.

Fast forward to yesterday, when our son was involved in a minor skirmish in class with another child.  Both children were dispatched to the school counselor, a bright and hugely talented individual who does great work for our school. The counselor counseled both kids, and as a matter of procedure, contacted a parent of both kids.  And who do you think was called?  Yup.  The Mom.

So, I’m chopped liver?  I had to ask why- were all my phone numbers skipped over?  You know, the numbers specified to call in an emergency, or situations just like this?

“I’ve always just called the Mom.”

In the grand scheme of things, like global warming, financial bailouts, and odd behavior from Superintendents, this is truly a minor issue.  But for me, it’s like that single mosquito on a hot summer night.  It bugs me.

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I like Terry Grier.  I do not know him well, but I’m aware we share similar views on two critical issues:  Unions and barbeque.  Don’t laugh- if you don’t shares these issues, you may not understand.  And while I “don’t want to get all biblical on ya” there is something quoted, usually WAY out of context, about judging.

But he does make his mistakes, and this one’s a doozy.

Prop S (a bond measure to fund repair and upgrades of the set of shacks we call schools) has been hammered by the Union Tribune.  If you missed the editorial, nearly half it’s content was an excellent summarization of why the measure is flawed. [edit:I still support the prop- it has it's flaws, but the flaws in our schools are far greater-thanks, reader VSL] The greater half was about the U/T’s growing dislike for Grier, specifically about the so-called gag order issued by the Board, essentially saying not to speak ill of the Superintendent in public.  Newspapers hate things like this- it makes casual journalism a lot more difficult.  Casual journalism is a style fully embraced by the UT, mainly because their lack of commitment (meaning number of reporters) makes anything but casual journalism impossible. If you want real news about education, go to voiceofsd.org.

Grier, obviously unhappy that he may not get his bond for Christmas, has rallied the troops.  With a single stroke of his keyboard, he summons all the principals for a MANDATORY off-hours meeting down at the Girl Scout HQ, possibly the legendary undisclosed location from which Dick Cheney creates policy.  Ok, not that last part.

At this meeting, Greir (no doubt rubbing his hands together like a global tyrant) launches his plan for the Grier Phone-o-Rama!  The Phone-o-Rama moniker is mine- just play along. The GPOR is a boiler room in some location downtown from which Greir wants each principal to take their turn at a phone tree, making calls to someone, presumably parents, to rally support for Prop S.

If you, dear Reader, are a Human Resources professional, if you have ever hired an employee, ever attended a business 101 class in Community College, or simply just fell of the turnip truck, you will, at this point have a goofy look on your face and an imaginary question mark is appearing over your head, as you utter: Wha?

How can an employer call for a mandatory meeting off-hours?

Why not the comfortable theater of the Eugene Brucker Education Center, the HQ of the school system?

How can an employer require an employee to take a position on a political issue?

How can an employer require employee’s action and support of that political issue?

How can an organization fairly assess an employee’s performance should that employee have a differing view on that political issue?

For a man thwarted daily by the teacher’s union, why would he add fuel to the rising fire of the Administrator’s Association?

I’m just a parent blogger, and am often dwarfed by the complexity of the gargantuan SDUSD.  And frequently, I’m stymied for blogging subjects.  I suppose I should be happy that Grier has lobbed a slow pitch so I can happily blog my snarky prose.  But it ain’t true.

I’m surprised how poorly Grier has treated his employees.  Principals are possibly his most important set of employees.  Clearly the low opinion he has for these boots-on-the-ground workers will cost him their support. 

From a San Diego Unified Parent point of view, it’s just another Here We Go Again.  Here We Go Again with the over-compensated swaggering Chief who looks like he’ll blunder his way to another SDUSD early retirement.  Here We Go Again with the upheaval of choosing another Superintendent.  Hey, Board of Education:  What kind of employee did you hire? Oh, wait- you can’t say anything negative publicly…sorry I asked.  Hey- do you work for me, or the Superintendent?

I like Terry Grier, and I hope he’ll continue to do good work. He’s done some very good things so far. I hope he’ll stick around and help SDUSD- we really need it.  But, for all the sauce, (vinegar or mustard style, depending on which side of the 95 you’re on) in North Carolina, will you please make nice with the principals?