First, a Self Appointed King: Now Greenwich Has a Self Appointed Queen
No kingdom
would be complete without both a king AND a queen.
Not too long
ago, we published a blog where First Selectman Fred Camillo went ahead with his
controversial bump out projects without Representative Town Meeting (RTM)
approval. By simply doing his own will, rather than those of his constituents
and of the RTM, who are elected to represent those same constituents, he has
been dubbed the “King of Greenwich.” There are many reasons for this title and
they suit him fine. This is but one of the many examples.
Now, it
appears we also have a “Queen” in Dr. Toni Jones, Superintendent of Greenwich
Public Schools (GPS) and an APPOINTED employee of the Greenwich Board of
Education and taxpayers.
GPS recently
issued a new policy on cell phone usage or electronic resources during the
school day. Regulation 6141.326R strictly limits when an electronic resource
may be used. The policy prohibits high schools students from using their
devices from “bell to bell” and goes
on to restrict K-8 students from using “smart” wearable devices such as
FitBits, Apple watches, etc. Special permission must be given by a teacher or administrator
for course work or other needs.
Students, Parents Complain About Greenwich Public Schools New Cell Phone Policy Banning Phones From "Bell To Bell" Read
How did the regulation
come about and why was this not approved by the BOE?
Perhaps we
should start with who pushed for this agenda, namely Ariella Feldman and
Jessica Hirsch, both moms and both whom will have their children entering
kindergarten and third grade at Greenwich Country Day Schools, a private school
in Greenwich. They are part of a local chapter of the “OK to Delay”
organization, which is a movement that seeks to unite parents who are concerned
over their children’s social media and cell phone usage. OK to Delay has eleven
chapters in five states, including Connecticut, which include Fairfield, Darien
and now Greenwich. Hirsch and Feldman decided to bring the program to
Greenwich. In fact, one of their “ambassadors” Adam Potter has started a petition
urging GPS school facilities be “phone free” throughout the school day.
Two Greenwich moms want to ban cellphones "bell to bell;" 700 people signed the petition Read
Clearly this
is just one more example of outside forces influencing Greenwich. Perhaps you recall
the “Zuckbucks” grants approved by the RTM for the registrar’s office for “election
integrity.”
As noted
earlier, Hirsch and Feldman have children in private schools, yet want to
dictate policy for the public schools. Such hypocrisy should be examined by all
parents who have children in the public schools. These moms should lead by example
and place their children in GPS instead of pushing for agendas that affect all
children and parents from a distance. Monarchs rule their subjects this.
Fortunately, we have a representative local government that is elected to
benefit the entire town, not certain segments contained within. We find what
these “moms” are doing as disingenuous and should really look at the impacts
their agenda has on a lot of residents.
We’re
wondering where the BOE is. They are the ultimate decision makers, elected by
the residents of Greenwich. However, we have an appointed official who has
taken it upon herself to change policies on a whim without thinking things
through. Apparently Dr. Jones doesn’t believe in answering to the BOE and the
BOE appears to have no problem allowing Dr. Jones to do as she pleases without
their informed and formal consent. What are we missing here? Don’t the
taxpayers, the residents who fund all things GPS, including salaries, have a
say. Is the BOE in charge of anything or are they just occupying seats waiting
to be told by a subordinate what happens and which agendas to follow. The only
thing the BOE has managed to do is extend Dr. Jones’ contract and give her a
salary bump.
While we do
agree that using electronic devices during a classroom session is
inappropriate, there are few things that Dr. Jones, Hirsch, Feldman and the BOE
haven’t considered which makes this regulation utterly compromising.
First, we
all would like to think schools are a safe place for our children to learn and
prosper. History has taught us that, unfortunately, this is not always the
case. Children must have the capability of communicating with parents or
emergency services in the event of an emergency situation, especially if a
teacher, staff member, or anyone nearby is unable to do so. To deny children
this communication line is to deny them the opportunity of getting emergency
personnel to their school and the ability to possibly describe what the situation
is. This is, perhaps, the strongest argument. Our children’s safety come first.
Period.
Secondly,
parent and child should always have an open communication line for information
such as change of plans after school, attending or not attending activities or
other unknown variables that may be outside the routine for both.
Furthermore,
not being able to use an electronic device during lunch or free periods is
ludicrous. Children are outside their classroom session and may wish to catch up
with parent communications or simply use their device on their “own” time. It
is not disruptive to the operation of the school.
This is
really about control, of both children and parents. The same type of control
the left is employing across the country on schools. What are these “moms” and
this movement really afraid of? That children might record unauthorized
teaching material? Perhaps teachers berating/bullying students? Or maybe it’s
the woke agenda being pushed on our children? We are not advocating for
children to whip out their devices every second but since school administrators
are sneaky and the BOE runs a laissez-faire hierarchy, can you really blame
children for showing all of us what is really going on?
Unfortunately,
the Town of Greenwich has a BOE with no real control of their Superintendent.
The BOE, like it or not, is answerable to all taxpayers in Greenwich. If some
members of the Board are incapable of fulfilling their elected
responsibilities, they should resign and allow new members to actually do the
job they were elected to do.
Greenwich is in no need of a “queen” answerable to no one. This is exactly what we have. Do your jobs. The next municipal elections are not too far off.
Do parents support Gov. Lamont's push for banning cell phones in schools? Read
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