tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2158157279489866895.post4897590415038207054..comments2024-03-13T06:04:34.407-04:00Comments on The 21st Century Principal: When Policies, Procedures, and Rules Matter More Than Our StudentsJohn Robinson Ed.Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14155145743617621924noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2158157279489866895.post-1235385404482255742012-10-30T13:52:59.222-04:002012-10-30T13:52:59.222-04:00I think some of the skills necessary for being an ...I think some of the skills necessary for being an administrator is knowing how to satisfy the "rule and policy-pushers" and at the same time do what's right for kids. That can be tricky too. Thanks for commenting.John Robinson Ed.Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14155145743617621924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2158157279489866895.post-90529788224417207782012-10-30T09:48:04.312-04:002012-10-30T09:48:04.312-04:00What we need are more superintendents, principals,...What we need are more superintendents, principals, and teachers who are willing to break the rules when they aren't in the best interests of students. I know I did when I was a principal. As it's hard for principals to know everything teachers do, it's difficult for central office to know what every principal does, and it's difficult for state education departments and the feds to know what superintendents do. If you don't have leaders at all levels willing to break the rules, you have crappy leaders. Rules are likely to have stupid unintended consequences. Great post. Keep up the good work.Douglas W. Green, EdDhttp://drdouggreen.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2158157279489866895.post-59252786814555551542012-10-28T11:50:55.594-04:002012-10-28T11:50:55.594-04:00When commercial interests are more important than ...When commercial interests are more important than kids, our kids lose, like the calendar laws. All the talk about giving schools the flexibility to their jobs is often just that, talk, and it sounds like you have the same issues. The lunch issue is definitely a problem. I did the same thing as you describe above in a middle school where students already had an excessive charge amount. Unfortunately, that does not address the real problem either, the parents failing to pay the bill. Thanks for commenting.John Robinson Ed.Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14155145743617621924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2158157279489866895.post-64109172779842424272012-10-28T07:43:08.345-04:002012-10-28T07:43:08.345-04:00We too face many of the red-tape barriers you ment...We too face many of the red-tape barriers you mentioned (misery loves company). In reference to the school calendar, Virginia's Kings Dominion law (named after the theme park) also limits the ability of schools to start before Labor Day. Schools can get an exemption (as ours does) for excessive snow days. Our county was looking at an earlier start date for the same reasons you mentioned, but it's been tabled.<br /><br />In regards to #2, we have many kids coming to high school with $50+ in unpaid lunch fees (our feeder middle schools allow "charging"). Our school doesn't allow charging, but we've created a principal's account to help students who don't have money. We start the year off w/ some money in the account and add to it with money that is found, repaid money, etc. Reed Gillespiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15706133962933251976noreply@blogger.com