After 3 years, meetings and presentations for the Superintendent and the Asst Superintendent…after a letter in my file after the first time I spoke out a School Board meeting, I did it. I called it what it was, what it is, and likely what it will continue to be until serious culture change is undertaken (which means a change from the top down and authentic, sustained community participation). These folks don’t want light — they’d much prefer to keep operating in the dark.
Below is the transcript of my Public Comment to the Binghamton City School District’s Board of Education. To call attendance ‘light’ is an understatement…far too often, I am the only one there who is not on the Agenda to present, speak or answer questions.
I am Misty M. Kirby. I am proud Southside Homeowner, so I pay taxes into BCSD, unlike those who work here and live elsewhere. I also volunteer in our community and talk to many, many underserved people.
I completed my PhD in Education Policy, Planning and Leadership at the country’s oldest public university, the College of William & Mary in Virginia. My dissertation research was conducted across all 34 elementary schools in Norfolk,VA, where I found elements essential to student success, no matter the student’s socio economic status.
I have been an educator on three continents and have researched urban schools and positive ways to engage the community to support raising student achievement.
I’m returning again this evening to bring up dignity, which I have brought up in 5 School Board meetings since December.
I have called the school board to action: you all must revisit this district’s social promotion policy.
It is not based in rigorous research and is a policy rooted in systemic racism. Your policy upholds institutionalized racism.
I still have yet to hear back from any of you…
Is that because it is not an explicit policy and simply the status quo?
One of the phrases I have heard the most since I moved here nearly 3 years ago is “that’s not the way we do things here” — this is usually accompanied by an all knowing smile or sneer, and or a shake of the head in dismissal. Several of you sitting at these tables have said just this to me.
I made a personal connection to this very scenario with a post today from Seth Godin and I wanted to share it because it resonated: It’s called BULLIES.
Bullies use intimidation and power to force others to act against their best interests.
Bullies blame the victim, assuring everyone that they wouldn’t have to use force if people would simply go along with what they want. Effective bullies organize a small mob to enforce their wishes.
Living and working with bullies is no fun. And it’s not productive or resilient.
The blame that bullies spread is divisive. As a result, the bully separates the community instead of connecting it, using the power of the mob to harm the outliers.
And a bullied community often cowers in fear instead of leaning into possibility.
Most of all, bullies are weak. They can’t tolerate change and refuse to listen or improve.
Resilient, generative and productive approaches to problems are always a better path forward. [END Godin’s POST]
Let’s move forward and improve. Let’s be productive rather than refusing to listen. Let’s lean into possibility!
Thank you.