MEATAXE MIKE MILES SEEMS TO BE SAYING MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY BITCHES , SURPRISINGLY THERE HAS BEEN PROTESTS
In a move that has left teachers and parents alike scratching their heads, the Houston Independent School District (HISD) has implemented a new education system (NES) that seems to be more about control than education. And Superintendent Meataxe Mike Miles is leading the charge.
Under the NES, teachers are required to follow tightly scripted lessons, engage students every four minutes, and administer timed quizzes at the end of each class. Failure to comply with the model can result in reassignment or termination. It's as if Superintendent Miles is saying, "My way or the highway, bitches!"
But the NES has come under fire for its lack of flexibility, particularly when it comes to special education students who require accommodations such as extra time on quizzes or read-aloud assessments. And when two teachers dared to question the system at a meeting, they were threatened with termination for alleged insubordination.
Parents and students have had enough and are rallying outside HISD campuses in protest. One teacher, who has been with HISD for over two decades, claims she was fired for speaking out against the district's use of the NWEA Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment model. The computer-based test is supposed to measure student progress and teacher effectiveness, but the teacher alleges that it's flawed and unreliable, putting undue pressure on everyone involved.
Meanwhile, teachers at Chrysalis Middle School have been warned to implement the NES without question or face termination. Two teachers have already been fired for insubordination, leading to protests from parents and students who are struggling to adapt to the new regime.
It's not just Chrysalis Middle School that's feeling the heat. Teachers at Cage Elementary and Project Chrysalis Middle School have been given an ultimatum: embrace the NES or find a new job. But the NES has been criticized for its lack of transparency and rigid style, leaving many wondering if it's really about education or just control.
Superintendent Meataxe Mike Miles seems determined to push his agenda, but parents and students are pushing back. As one parent put it, "We want our kids to learn, but we also want them to be happy and healthy. The NES seems to be doing more harm than good."
So what's next for HISD? Will Superintendent Miles continue to bulldoze his way through, or will he listen to the concerns of parents and teachers? Only time will tell, but one thing's for sure: there's never a dull moment in the world of education.
After Houston ISD administrator tells ‘nonbelievers’ to accept reforms or ‘You will not be here,’ students and parents protest – Houston Public Media https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/education-news/hisd/2023/09/18/462681/after-houston-isd-administrator-tells-nonbelievers-to-accept-reforms-or-you-will-not-be-here-students-and-parents-protest/
Parents protest HISD and NES after teacher said she was fired | khou.com https://www.khou.com/article/news/education/hisd-rally-nes/285-0f023700-ff9a-4eeb-a169-26d550506d1c
Protesting Teacher Dismissals and Changes at HISD Schools | Houston Press https://www.houstonpress.com/news/protesting-teacher-dismissals-and-changes-at-hisd-schools-16501273
HISD teachers must commit to Miles' system or leave their campuses https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/education/article/hisd-teachers-ultimatum-18371072.php