"I worked for my diploma, as everyone else did. To be just a statistic is hurtful."

[Bluebear]

- Central Falls HS graduate.

====

O JORNAL - Central Falls - For the past couple of months Central Falls High School has been on everyone's radar, from the national media to the White House.
With Superintendent Frances Gallo firing more than 90 teachers, her actions enraged the state's teachers union, earned criticism from students, and brought praise from state officials and even President Barack Obama, who called it an example of holding failing schools accountable...
"I worked for my diploma, as everyone else did. To be just a statistic is hurtful," stated Theresa Agonia, 18, a former Central Falls H.S. student who is protesting the move. "I feel like they are saying my education, my certificate, was worth nothing."
In hopes to give the student body a voice, Agonia created the facebook page "Central Falls High School: We Stand Together."
"No one has really asked them how they feel about this.These teachers taught me everything I know. My parents were born in Portugal and never went to school... They couldn't teach me," she said.
Agonia explained to O Jornal how some of the teachers would take time after school to talk to her about problems affecting her life.
"They were mentors and friends, not only teachers," she explained. "They were beyond a family, we had a special bond."

http://www.ojornal.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20415853&BRD=2677&PAG=461&dept_id=543384&rfi=6

[Swamp Rat]

1. k&r

[Starry Messenger]

2. k & r

[Hannah Bell]

3. k

[girl gone mad]

4. Amd in Obama's warped world view they deserved to be fired..

while all of the failures at Goldman deserved bonuses and Tim Geithner deserved a big fat promotion.

[walldude]

5. K&R my friend.. I'd do my whole "accountability" thing again but

I'm at the airport and don't have much time...

[leftstreet]

6. K&R

[ashling]

7. I demand the right

to give this more than one recommendation ... oh well, there's one one more at least.

:hi:

[Therellas]

8. does not everyone realize that you have to have a masters to teach?

that ain't not nothin...

[lildreamer316]

10. It's not the teacher who is complaining, it is the H.S. students they taught

The high school student that was taught by the teachers that were fired now feels as if her high school diploma is worthless.

Is that clearer?

[Bluebear]

12. thanks :)

[wroberts189]

13. No ...that is not what she is saying at all...

She is saying they are painting it worthless despite it's value.



"They were mentors and friends, not only teachers," she explained. "They were beyond a family, we had a special bond."

[wroberts189]

14. No it is not ..and with them being the favorite punching bag..bad career move. nt

[kirby]

9. As the son of a mother who cannot read..

Yet graduated from High School, I support holding school systems accountable to insure that people who graduate meet the standards.

[w4rma]

17. No you don't. The privatized schools that Obama is replacing them with are much less accountable. nt

[Bluebear]

18. Hm. You are complaining about your MOTHER'S high school?

[fishwax]

11. k/r

:kick:

[lonestarnot]

15. K & R!

[3324SS]

16. The Us Military is always hiriing

They need plenty of cannon fodder for the corporate wars.

If you can breathe and read at an 8th grade level you are in!

No education necessary!

Join the fun see the world kill people of a different race all in the name of freedom!

[ncteechur]

19. everybody is a statistic for something and those teachers deserved to be fired.

[Bluebear]

20. 'those teachers deserved to be fired' - based on what, exactly?

[ncteechur]

22. based on the performance of the school and their refusal to take minimal action to fix

things as requested by the board who was willing to pay them for their extra work.

[Bluebear]

21. :crickets: