Dallas (Kind of) Apologizes to Teachers
Dallas schools Superintendent Michael Hinojosa apologized to 375 teachers for recent layoffs to help offset an $84 million budget deficit, reports The Dallas Morning News. Critics say that the announcement came too late, and to the wrong audience—a group of business, community, and education leaders at an event sponsored by the Dallas Bar Association.
Hinojosa told the group that he wanted “to apologize to all the teachers that left and the teachers that stayed. Everyone was affected." Dale Kaiser, president of the NEA-Dallas employees association, said the apology should’ve been delivered directly to the teachers, parents, and students affected by the layoffs. Teachers have criticized Hinojosa for not making a public apology in recent weeks.
"Unfortunately, it's little solace to us because it's an afterthought," said Simone Rodgers, who was laid off last week from Weiss Elementary School after teaching for 13 years in the district. "It's like stepping on someone's foot and waiting a week later to say you're sorry."
Hinojosa also announced that almost none of the teachers who were laid off were bilingual educators, in an effort to continue serve students with limited English proficiency—now almost 34 percent of the district’s total enrollment. Not having resources for those students would be “academic malpractice,” Hinojosa said.
Get RSS Feed
Comments
Mr. Hinojosa, needed to apologize to ALL THE AFFECTED TEACHERS AND ALL THE STUDENTS OF THOSE TEACHERS THAT HE LET GO. I am a former substitute teacher with the district.
Posted by: Linda Campaigne | November 1, 2008 4:22 PM
This news is the reality of why our State and Our Government needs REFORM! The lack of funding for our teachers and the support for education of our beautiful deserving children, who as AMERICANS have a right for QUALITY education. TRUE, Mr. Hinojosa should have apologize to the teachers,parents, and students soon after the announcement. What is pitiful is that the school district could not cut other expenses that have been wasteful. For example, transportation(busing),cutting adminstratives salaries and bonuses. Just a few examples. I just can't believe that Dallas, a Texas city, can't be supported as in a good neighbor policy to be helped by ALL THE GREAT CITIZENS OF TEXAS. Oh, I forgot it doesn't involve the ELITE 2%. I guess we all know who to vote for come election day. My heart goes out to every teacher and student in Dallas. My prayers go out to all American teachers and our American children, for this event is the beginning of the "large" of the mismanage of what is priority.
Posted by: m. ingrid b. flores | November 3, 2008 7:40 AM
This news is the reality of why our State and Our Government needs REFORM! The lack of funding for our teachers and the support for education of our beautiful deserving children, who as AMERICANS have a right for QUALITY education. TRUE, Mr. Hinojosa should have apologize to the teachers,parents, and students soon after the announcement. What is pitiful is that the school district could not cut other expenses that have been wasteful. For example, transportation(busing),cutting adminstratives salaries and bonuses. Just a few examples. I just can't believe that Dallas, a Texas city, can't be supported as in a good neighbor policy to be helped by ALL THE GREAT CITIZENS OF TEXAS. Oh, I forgot it doesn't involve the ELITE 2%. I guess we all know who to vote for come election day. My heart goes out to every teacher and student in Dallas. My prayers go out to all American teachers and our American children, for this event is the beginning of the "large" of the mismanage of what is priority.
Posted by: m. ingrid b. flores | November 3, 2008 7:42 AM