Parents, union speak out against paid intern

Union leaders and administrators in the Burlingame School District on Tuesday night spoke out against a plan to have parents pay for an intern to assist in the district’s Spanish immersion program.

[Anonymous]

One comment made by the Board should give every parent in the Burlingame School District pause.

The board has a policy of not allowing parents to fund aides in the classroom, apparently. They noted that some PTAs may have money available, and some might otherwise want to spend this on classroom talent. Indeed, it was noted, while some 4th and 5th grade parents would like to see classroom size reductions, budget cuts make it more likely they'll actually see more kids in each classroom.

And what, they wondered, were they supposed to do in this situation - allow the parents to pay for another teacher?!?

Hang on a moment. You have too few teachers to provide the level of attention kids need; you have no money to increase the number of teachers; but the parent community offers to pony up for another teacher...can someone tell me where the moral hazard comes up?

It is very clear to me that the next election for School Board needs to be invigorated with some individuals who are willing to get outside the box. With the state apparently cutting $20B from next year's education funding, the time is NOT right for sticking to outmoded precedents that simply limit parents' ability to improve the service provided to their own kids, and those of their classmates.

[Jake]

Right on for the parents. Since the school board and the union didn't do anything for the kids, the parents had to step up to do what's right for the children.

[Jenny from Burlingame]

If you were actually at the meeting you would know that your argument is inaccurate. It was made VERY clear at the Board meeting--a very important fact left out by the author of the article--that the Aminty Intern is NOT an aide or a teacher. This person is a cultural ambassador at the school site to deepen and expand the children's global awareness. I agree that parents should not be allowed to "buy" teachers or aides. This is NOT the case in this matter.

[Jenny from Burlingame]

By the way, my comment was directed at "Anonymous from San Mateo"

[Anonymous]

I should have started the comment "This is not regarding the Amity program". I was speaking more broadly about the district policy. If kids need a teacher, the district can't afford it and parents step up to find the funds, I fail to understand why this would be a bad thing.

As to the article itself I think you are right to say it was deficient. Even the headline was misleading.

Jenny from Burlingame wrote:

If you were actually at the meeting you would know that your argument is inaccurate. It was made VERY clear at the Board meeting--a very important fact left out by the author of the article--that the Aminty Intern is NOT an aide or a teacher. This person is a cultural ambassador at the school site to deepen and expand the children's global awareness. I agree that parents should not be allowed to "buy" teachers or aides. This is NOT the case in this matter.

[Ananymous 2]

If every classroom could pay for its own Aide/Intern in a classroom it would undercut the hard work of the Burlingame Education Foundation (BCE). Some classes would have help and others would not have help. Why give to BCE if you knew you could buy your own Aide? This would undercut the years of hard work by BCE to centralize and equalize donations. If BCE steps up to fund Aides in ALL classrooms that is one thing, but if individual classes try to fund Aides, that is undermining the unity of the district. If this policy changes, say goodbye to Librarians, PE teachers and Music teachers in the district. Every school and every class will fend for themselves.

[School Volunteer]

I am sure that the BCE will NEVER be short of ways they can help in the schools - because the list gets longer and longer! Maybe the way things are going, BCE will have to help out with aides?

Schools - public and private - will always have to rely on service hours, volunteers, donations, fundraisers to pay for "extras" in the schools - all ways to help our children get the best education we can give them.

[Doug]

Parents have to fend for their kids and come up with creative ways to keep the education going. When the school district cut teacher(s), nobody but parents said anything. Now that the parents took matters into their own hands, administrators object. Well, tough cookies. If you don't do your work, others will do it for you. Parents know what's best for their kids.