New Haven Independent

Posted by: The Professor | October 27, 2009 8:03 AM

Shame on the hacks from TOC who put this woman up to this. They knew that this would happen, and yet they put her in a situation where she had no agency over the outcome. It's a shame that this group is so hellbent on making Reggie Mayo look bad--if they redirected half the energy they spend on the Superintendent to finding a constructive solution to translator shortages, we'd probably have a significant number of volunteer translators in schools.

Has TOC even considered reaching out to organizations like Junta or Yale's Dwight Hall or Latino cultural organizations? Or would that distract from their true intention: making the current school administration look bad. The headline may as well read "TOC's harrassment of the Board of Ed continues."

Posted by: Claudia | October 27, 2009 8:20 AM

To make this one clear. At yesterday’s meeting nobody of TOC called anybody any names. We treated the Board with proper respect and tried to stay away from the past.

Board president Torre however brought the not-staying-with-the-truth up and felt the urge to repeat it. Mayo and Torre wanted to rant about TOC actions dating back to 2006. Interestingly all three TOC women were new and not around in 2008 or even earlier. Solution finding was definitely not on the radar of the Superintendent and the BOE president. But it should be. Venting your anger does not solve any problems. Interestingly that is what the school administration always accuses TOC of.

That there was a chance to start a new, and that TOC was trying to build a bridge was seen at least by some. Thumbs up for DeStefano! He tried to stay with the issue of translation but could not bring others to reason. Also new Board members Johnston and Williams tried to deescalate and focus on the translation issue itself.

Posted by: Follow the Money | October 27, 2009 8:21 AM

3 years ago I asked to follow the money to find the agenda here. Now I know why NHI did not follow the money and report on that issue. NHI received $50K and perhaps more from the William Casper Graustein Foundation to write articles on parent issues. Rather than actually go into the schools and write articles about the PTOs at virtually every school and the parent mentors volunteers, substitutes, coaches, after school supporters, etc. The NHI focuses almost exclusively on TOC. A group who is also funded by Mr. Graustein.

This is akin to the media strategy of George Bush under NCLB when "columnists" such as Armstrong Williams were paid to write stories supporting that horrible law and the administration.

Paul Bass following the playbook of George Bush??? No wonder NHI is always at TOC events no matter if only a handful of actual parents show up.

Three other points. First conveniently edited out of Dr. Mayo's quote about the 100 people assembled 3 years ago by TOC was that he asked that crowd for a show of hands of NHPS parents. 8 hands were raised!! Another set up with people bused to the event. No doubt by the funders with an agenda.

Second, Ms. Torres mentioned that she has translation issues with her other child at Amistad Academy as well. I do not recall the protest over there, The Amistad and Elm City programs are totally lacking in ELL students and services thus ignoring the same percentage of the community that TOC claims to serve, yet, silence.

Third, Ms. Torres I am sorry that you were put up as the latest pawn to read a letter that someone else wrote. Please speak to your child's Principal and I am sure you will find what everyone else, except those paid to ignore it have found. The Principal and the School system will work with you to insure that you are involved in your child's education. The other people who spoke at the meeting were all parents and former parents of NHPS students by the way. Last time I checked they had a right to an opinion that was not paid for by Bill Graustein or edited by Paul Bass.

Follow the money folks TOC, NHI are on the take on this one.

[Editor's Note: Graustein Fund is one of many funders of the Online Journalism Project, which publsihes the Independent. This year it has contributed $20,000, which is less than 5 percent of our budget. No funder has any say over what is published or how. Like public radio, we are a not-for-profit that receives grants and charitable donations to cover the news, with no strings attached in terms of taking a side.

[I find it curious that last night and this morning people are focusing on this one funder. Why? I would prefer not to speculate because of where that might go. Nor will I speculate on who pays the salaries or makes the appointments or offers other favors for people who speak on different sides of this debate.

[Instead I would refer you to literally hundreds of articles we have published on students, teachers, parents and others involved in New Haven schools. We have been in every school and will continue to be. It is a major focus of our mission. Articles about TOC have accounted for no more than 1 percent of our coverage. In our editorial judgment their activities belong in the coverage along with the actions of people in power and defenders of the status quo. We do not take sides in the group's confrontations with the school board; we report both sides and allow supporters of both sides to comment at length on the articles as long as they stay within our guidelines. We consider the group's public actions newsworthy and will not be intimidated into ignoring public events and excluding any voices in the coverage -- even when defenders of people in power start getting ugly and bigoted and questioning the motives of those doing their job. We don't fear bullies. We don't fear name-callers or mobs.]

Posted by: streever | October 27, 2009 8:32 AM

Let's move beyond the name-calling, Professor, and applaud Johnston.

“I would hope that we could simply start fresh and assume the best of each other.”

I'm especially glad to see that the Mayor appointed such a level-headed & open individual to the board. We need more of this in City appointments. Good work Alex: as another "junior" board member, I understand exactly how hard it is to speak up & assert a fresh perspective on old issues. Thank you!

Posted by: Finally!! | October 27, 2009 8:52 AM

I could not be happier that the Board has finally stopped listening to TOC. Thier tactics and abusive and non-collaborative behavior is outrageous and we will no longer tolerate their demands. Way to go Dr. Mayo, Dr. Torre and the rest of the Board!!!!!!

Posted by: RichTherrn | October 27, 2009 9:01 AM

Here's some data I provided last year at one of the other articles:
The same two schools have been mentioned in the latest protests as last year. (I speak for myself and not for the district on this issue)
"Here's some data for New Haven Public Schools:
There are 54 buildings that NHPS is responsible for, including 7 separate preK locations, but not including outplacement or the 3 New Haven charters, which are all at 0% of course.

Currently that is 20,836 students, at 12% English Language Learners (higher if we just count tested students, of course).

In each of our buildings, the percentage runs from 0% (mostly at preK) to 48% . There are 17 schools with a population of 10% or above, which includes 3 high schools. 7 schools are over 25%.

The school that was mentioned in the initial article has a population at 4%, and the latest school mentioned has a population of 7%.

I'm not suggesting that there is any sort of official cut off or policy related to these numbers, just giving out information."

As far as I know, however, it is unclear whether parents actually approached the principals or staff at those schools, either at orientation or other events, to ask for assistance in translation.
The fact is that many parent documents are translated and many parent events, especially at the dozen schools with a high ELL population, include translation of some type.

There was a well attended Title I Parent night last Wed Oct 21 in which district supervisors and others talked with parents about student learning. I know the math supervisor gave an impassioned presentation to parents on the importance of STEM (Science, Technology, Math) for their children's future. There were translated materials at that meeting. I wonder why that well publicized meeting was ignored; it is an excellent example of how the district continually strives to engage and involved parents.
I myself have given several parent workshops and we have Family Science Nights at many schools (and again, translation depends on the school needs, but is often provided).
I think that the district, principals, schools and staff continually show their enthusiasm for involving parents, especially at the school level.
-Richard Therrien
NHPS Science Supervisor

Posted by: Lance | October 27, 2009 9:13 AM

If you collect food stamps, section 8, or welfare you shouldn't be allowed to ask for a darn thing. This whole representation without taxation stuff is really starting to get annoying.

Posted by: cba | October 27, 2009 9:19 AM

Mr. Mayo owes Ms. Torres an apology for his unprofessional conduct. As an educator, he must seek to address the concerns of the parent and not respond with emotional outbursts. If he can't conduct himself properly, he should leave. Does he really believe that if he were in the private sector,he could address a stockholder in such a manner.

Posted by: streever | October 27, 2009 9:34 AM

When given a venue to be anonymous in people will attack anything: including the venue.

I love the people demanding NHI do the homework, when they could just as easily looked up the Graustein Fund, seen it's involvement in the Online Journalism Project, and drawn their own conclusions. They also could have pulled the disclosures for the non-profit (identified as The Online Journalism Project--just read the donate page!) OR they could have looke d at the list of sponsors, prominently featured on EVERY page, and including Graustein.

Folks there is no mystery here, nor any conspiracy theory.

Those of you who are addicted to the anonymous bullying and conspiracy theories, I encourage you to buy the X-Files DVD boxed set & spend your time a little more productively.

Alternatively, learn how to use the internet and spend the 15 seconds it took me to identify all of the NHI's sponsors & where they come from.

It's all public information, readily available in google.

Posted by: streever | October 27, 2009 9:37 AM

(although if one good thing came of this, it's that I finally looked at the donate page--that should be called out a little more, I'd gladly give 18/mo to support the NHI. Maybe an occassional splash page like wnyc does?)

Posted by: Exiled Italian Shill | October 27, 2009 9:38 AM

Follow the Money you are onto something here. Same holds true for another NHI contributor "Universal Healthcare Foundation." Ever see a fair and balanced story on health care or do you see a propaganda, fluff piece on everything and anything they do.

The NHI, as much as they want and do to berate mainstream media, is no different than the mainstream media. Become a contributor and they print favorable slants to their stories. Become an "Angel" and they will let you write columns like Andy Ross.

Its all BS. Glad you jumped on it and called it for it is - hypocrisy.

Posted by: Claudia | October 27, 2009 9:45 AM

Please stop treating us active TOC parents as puppets. We are not being played. Lorena was not set up by TOC. She was rather taken by surprise of the barrage of anger she was confronted with.

Public appointees in high powerful positions should not treat a parent that way. The tears were caused by statements made by Dr. Mayo - as reported by the Independent.

Thank you Richard for staying with the topic. It is obvious that a talk is needed during which the school administration presents all available services (and subsequently announces these on the web-site) and TOC explains where and why there are still shortcomings and how can they be overcome.

Please work on the issue.

Posted by: Sleazy | October 27, 2009 9:46 AM

This article's headline and first paragraph are sleazy and appalling and completely misrepresent what seems to have taken place at this meeting. The contrast between that and the rest of the article (which switches to factual reporting) is huge. I would have thought that since the Board of Ed. is now fully behind education reform, the NHI would stop being so reactionary and immature. Why does TOC get carte blanche on this website? This organization is NOT about children, it is not about parents, it is about a bunch of wannabe wealthy activists with no ties in the community manipulating low income parents of color for their own benefit. And the NHI plays right along with them. If anyone humiliated this parent it is them -- she clearly had no idea that she was being played.

This is dangerous, irresponsible reporting and warped coverage of a group that needs to be exposed. Nothing good will come from adding fuel to the fire. Shame on the NHI and TOC.

Posted by: NH parent | October 27, 2009 9:51 AM

We need to stop closing our eyes and ears to these issues. A community that is divided will not stand and we all have a responsibility to work on behalf of our children and families. Stop focusing on how Dr. Mayo feels and his ego...these are real issues. Let us deal with the real problems that are causing our children to fail...We are all in this together!!!

Posted by: Bruce | October 27, 2009 9:53 AM

EVERY public official gets yelled at, accused of injustice and conspiracies, etc. Sorry, but after so many years on the job, Mr. Mayo should have a thicker skin. Getting angry, feeling "disrespected" and scolding a parent to the point of bringing her to tears is inexcusable. It's downright childish. Get over it and just do your job. If you don't feel that TOC has valid complaints, tell them so and put it to rest. If you like their ideas, adopt them. Rise above it and get past it.

Follow the money: Do you really think someone paid $20k just to get a few stories in the NHI? Really?

Posted by: Concerned Citizen | October 27, 2009 9:56 AM

It is remarkable and sad that people who are so capable of being thoughtful and analytical can also be so blinded and antagonistic by their biases, and by their ignorance or lack of clarity about the facts.

"Has TOC even considered reaching out to organizations like Junta or Yale's Dwight Hall or Latino cultural organizations?" This is a constructive suggestion. This following statement- "Or would that distract from their true intention: making the current school administration look bad. The headline may as well read "TOC's harrassment of the Board of Ed continues." -- is simply throwing fuel to the fire. Exactly what is accomplished professor? What is your purpose in writing this?

"Shame on the hacks from TOC who put this woman up to this. They knew that this would happen, and yet they put her in a situation where she had no agency over the outcome. It's a shame that this group is so hellbent on making Reggie Mayo look bad--if they redirected half the energy they spend on the Superintendent to finding a constructive solution to translator shortages, we'd probably have a significant number of volunteer translators in schools."

Sadly, the foregoing statement speaks for itself for all those who care to see it for what it is. NOTHING is being achieved here. It is a sad commentary on Dr. Mayo and the members of the BOE when the professor said that TOC members should have known what was going to happen when they put this woman up to speaking out. What did in fact happen was the equivalent of a public stoning. The professor seems to be saying -- TOC members should have known that Dr. Mayo and his group do fight dirty; if you take them on, expect a pounding! Yes, that is what TOC got! Let's hear it for the winners of the fight in the gutter!

How sad that our supt. of education, Dr. Mayo, and the members of the BOE (those we most expect to be an example of enlightened conduct) cannot rise above the perceived shenanigans of some members of TOC and set an example of decorum. Then the "professor" joined the fray to justify the deplorable conduct described and of course, blames it on TOC. Remember professor-- in your piece-- TOC members are the villains; therefore, we cannot expect anything better from them. They are the ignorant bunch with a hidden agenda to harass our esteemed supt. and members of the BOE. I now ask - what assignation should be given the supt., board members and the stone-throwing crowd?

Alex Johnson should remember that it was not long ago that he and ConnCAN were a central part of the antagonists against the same group of which he is now apart. Thread lightly Mr. Johnson; you are in fact an enlightened person. I hope you accepted the position on the NH BOE because you know that it is better to control your former enemies from the inside.

TOC came about because the NHPS and its operating policies made it necessary. Look at the NHPS planned reform and you will see why. Listen to Dr. Mayo's response yesterday about parental involvement in the school reform program/plan and you will understand why a committed parent advocacy group sprouted up in the district. They seem to be far from the ideal, but when a school district is run in the manner of the NHPS gaps get filled and sometimes with the wrong ingredients. Dr. Mayo and his administrators created TOC.

Posted by: Ridiculous | October 27, 2009 10:21 AM

Again why are we making it easier for people not have to learn English and accommodate them. That is absolutely ridiculous. I do not want to have to press one to continue in English. I don't think my daughter should have to learn another language to pass onto another grade level. I think that this country has left its doors open for way to long. If you come here you should be expected to learn our language. If you want to speak something else go back to that country. If I fully believe it is just another media stunt. It's just as bad a the race card.

Posted by: RichTherrn | October 27, 2009 10:36 AM

I think my point was that, in my opinion, the individual parents in this group FIRST can engage with their local school principals/assistant principals/teachers/parent coordinators/PTOs, and I'm sure that, without other agitation, they will find each school welcome and willing to collaborate with them.
That has been clear on many of the NHI articles linked to, that each school works well with its parents, given the chance.
Parents Give Schools Thumbs Up , Parents Pick Up Grades , Parents Are The Main Factor , Parents Hit The Books , Boosting PTOs , Parents Join In Math , Parents Graduate , Family Science Night

Posted by: TOC staff | October 27, 2009 11:43 AM

26.3% percent of NHPS students come from Spanish-speaking households.

In 7 schools, more than 50% of students come from Spanish-speaking households.

In 10 schools, more than 30% of students come from Spanish-speaking households.

In 19 schools, more than 20% of students come from Spanish-speaking households.

In 26 schools, more than 15% of students come from Spanish-speaking households.

(Source: CT State Dept of Education Public School Information System October 2008 Collection.)

These are the questions that TOC has asked the Superintendent to consider and discuss:

a. Translation of documents: What system has been developed to provide for translated documents in all schools in an equitable way? If a teacher or principal needs to send a communication to parents in Spanish, what type of support does the school system offer? How are teachers and principals being informed about their obligation to provide equal access and about the translation services that are available to them?

b. Translation at mandatory parent meetings: What plan is the school system developing to increase the participation of Spanish speaking parents in these very important mandatory meetings, and what is the plan to provide access equally in all schools?

c. The "google" translator of the web page: Will the Spanish translation be edited by a human translator so that it is an accurate and effective way of communicating with Spanish-speaking parents, who make up 26% of the district? If there is a significant population in the school district that speaks another language, will that language be edited by a human translator as well?

d. Availability of interpreters in schools so that parents can communicate with teachers and principals: What is the plan that the school system is developing to hire interpreters and/or coordinate volunteers for this necessity? How will parents, teachers and principals be able to access this service when they need it? How will the school system proactively inform parents, teachers and principals about the availability of this service?

e. Translation in Board of Education meetings. What is the vision and plan to realize equal access to these public meetings, so that all of the public, regardless of race or language, can be informed and express our opinions in a democratic and transparent system?

Posted by: Disappointed | October 27, 2009 12:00 PM

If Follow the Money is right that the NHI and TOC both have the same funding source that really explains a lot. No wonder the NHI seems so biased against the New Haven Board of Ed. I think Dr. Mayo did the right thing in deciding not to engage with this group. By the way, most of the documents that I have received from my daughter's school have been translated into Spanish.

Posted by: Tom | October 27, 2009 12:09 PM

Lance,

I didn't know there were user fees for citizenship. Thanks for clearing that one up for me. I'm surprised you didn't recommend bringing back the property ownership requirement for voting. That would certainly show those welfare queens, wouldn't it?

Posted by: JB | October 27, 2009 12:24 PM

Bottom line: Dr. Mayo should control his emotions and be professional regardless of how annoying he finds a particular group of people to be.

Dr. Mayo has demonstrated that same lack of professionalism at public forums with other non-TOC parents.

Posted by: Tom | October 27, 2009 12:35 PM

JB,

I couldn't agree with you more. TOC's actions are irrelevant with respect to Dr. Mayo's poor behavior. Dr. Mayo is a public official and needs to conduct himself with the appropriate degree of decorum.

When you're a public official some people are going to get upset with you. They may even become unreasonable. That doesn't give you an excuse to throw a hissy fit.

Dr. Mayo could take a page from our president who always conducts himself with class and self-control no matter how out of line his opponents may be.

Posted by: Truth and Maturity | October 27, 2009 12:47 PM

The chaos and name calling will stop. We will work together to make our schools better. Our children will get the skills they need to be successful.

Posted by: tonni | October 27, 2009 12:51 PM

Torres said about adult ed to learn english some have to work...adult ed is open days and has night classes ...

Posted by: What is this really about? | October 27, 2009 1:03 PM

TOC essentially shouts "you lie" to Mayo and gets called out by the Superintendent and others for doing it. These TOC antics, like the tea parties and the town-meetings this past summer seem like bogus publicity stunts.

New Haven is a welcoming town,that's what we love about this city. The bilingual services and English-second-anguage services in this city are second to none as they should be.

Schools with sub-groups of non-english speaking students all appear to have solid translation services. Where is the grassroots community partnership to address the individual parent who need additional translation services? Maybe we need a translation-on-wheels-program.

Put a real proposal for translation services on the table that counters what exist and lets move forward from there.

But If I were Mayo I would not put my staff through another so-called private meeting that then amounts to a publicity beat-down by this group.

Posted by: Steve | October 27, 2009 1:27 PM

from the editor's note above: "We consider the group's public actions newsworthy and will not be intimidated into ignoring public events and excluding any voices in the coverage -- even when defenders of people in power start getting ugly and bigoted and questioning the motives of those doing their job. We don't fear bullies. We don't fear name-callers or mobs."

Certainly no bias from the NHI staff apparent in that comment. Sheesh.

Posted by: Andrew Garrow | October 27, 2009 2:05 PM

mayo is a bully, destefano is a bully ... kick them all out and start fresh, it can't get any worse

Posted by: RichTherrn | October 27, 2009 3:08 PM

According to the Strategic School Profiles, the two schools mentioned have student ELL populations of 4% and 4.7% (In the bottom quarter of all the K-8 schools in NHPS) . The parent at last night's meeting came from a school with students that come from 9% homes where 4 different non English languages are spoken (which doesn't mean that English isn't spoken at home as well, many people are bilingual), in the bottom twenty percent out of all the K-8 schools.
No one is denying that translation services are appropriate and needed, and again, I am not suggesting any official policy or cut off.
I don't understand publicly laying blame on the Board by picking a parent from such a school, (especially one that has been at the school 5 years), without even conferring with the school staff or principal, to then read someone else's letter about the issue.
I would think that especially for a school with a lower percentage language population that it is important to engage the school directly first and make them aware. Collaborate with the school. Many of the questions asked are issues schools work out with their parents all the time. The point is: Collaborate with the school. There are great principals here in New Haven, and my opinion is that they work well with all interested parents.

Posted by: Wake up Latino's | October 27, 2009 3:29 PM

Wake up Latino's....Your sector are the ones that keep winning the Mayoral race for Destefano every year...Vote against him and things will change....Not overnight but it will change...

I didn't hear any TOC members crying when Destefano gave I.D. cards to the citys ilegal aliens.

Posted by: Follow the Money | October 27, 2009 3:31 PM

Steve:

I had the same reaction. Sheesh.

God forbid Paul Bass be called out for his biases. His response (I assume it is his response but perhaps it is he and Melissa) is pathetic. Talk about glass houses. His response simply confirms the reality of this site. Start with Paul's opinions and build the story from there. How is it bullying to state a fact about a funding source that just so happens to be the same funding source that funds TOC? It tool Mayo 3 years to lose his patience, Paul could not last 3 comments.

Streever assumes we should perform our own investigative reporting to understand where the money comes from but good journalism would disclose the bias on its own. Well seeing as Paul chose to only mention the $20K let me enlighten everyone as to the other $35K.

2007 $20K grant as follows "The Parent Involvement Project aims to incorporate regular news coverage about parental involvement in schools into the Online Journalism Project. The goal is to publish at least 35 stories on this subject in the online New Haven Independent over the course of the year."

2008 $35K "Online Journalism Project proposes to initiate a second year of its news reporting and civic dialogue project on parental involvement in the schools, with greater emphasis on articles detailing breaking-news efforts by organized parent groups or individual parents motivated by unexpected events."

That is $55K over two years. I can only assume another $20K this year.

This is not, as Paul suggests, akin to a donation to NPR which is simply a donation with no strings. This is specific funding for a specific outcome including a specific goal of the number of stories. The NHI took this specific money and thereby agreed to the terms. This is hardly unbiased.

Perhaps the grant was not specific enough in 2007 as in 2008 the grant was focused on "breaking news by organized parents." Thus the NHI defense that it writes other stories about NHPS is irrelevant as those stories do not fall within the grant requirements of an organized parent group motiviated by unexpected events. Bill G. may as well have just put the grant out there to write stories on TOC. At least is would be more honest.

Here is an idea. The $55K should be used to fund 55 part-time interpretors to attend orientation sessions and other on-call services, at $12 per hour that is 4,583 hours or interpretation services available. Problem solved! Granted that is one story, not 35 but it does put the money into the right place to solve an perceived issue, assuming that it Mr. G. wants to solve that issue.

[Paul Bass responds: What you wrote is accurate. We agreed to write stories about parent involvement. We've written over 100 of them. We've covered all groups, from the Board of Ed's efforts to independent efforts like TOC's, to intensive coverage of parent organizing efforts at Jackie Robinson, St Martin de Porres and Amistad Academy, among other schools. We agreed to cover all sides of an issue. It was very clearly spelled out that we would not be taking one side or another. We would cover what officials do, and we would cover what independent groups do; and we offer all sides an opportunity to debate the news. That is exactly how it works with grants to NPR (minus the public forum). The money often is targeted to a certain kind of coverage: education, the environment, criminal justice, etc. The donors understand that they have no say over how the articles are covered. NPR also gets government money -- and reports on the government independently. That is different from, say, the way daily newspapers get car ads and then agree to write only positive stories about cars, for instance. I also agree with "Follow the Money" that it took only three comments to make me too defensive in responding to what he was saying. I'm sorry about that. I realize you guys see a conspiracy. I should respect that opinion and offer you the information you're looking for and the explanation for how we see it. You're certainly welcome to continue using the space made available in part by our charitable sponsors to advance the theories. Also, I respect and appreciate your desire to call us out on our biases. And my comment about bullying had to do with our reporter being singled out and attacked for taking notes and photographs at a public meeting when people in charge preferred that the events not be covered. I should have made that clearer.]

Posted by: New and Improved | October 27, 2009 3:41 PM

The next election is when?

If you want more responsive government and an elected school board vote DeStephano out and vote someone in who will fire Mayo.

Posted by: The Bottom Line | October 27, 2009 6:54 PM

Regardless of how you feel about this article, you've got to give NHI lots of credit for the scores of positive articles written about New Haven students and schools, and the families and adults who support them.

Posted by: Tim Holahan | October 27, 2009 8:36 PM

If someone created a public space where I could go, sit down, and drink the beverage of my choice while listening to them give me their take on the events of the day in my city, I would be grateful.

If, after working hard to physically get to those events and photograph them, those folks then gave me a podium and microphone at which I could sound off to anyone dumb enough to listen to me, I would be a little more grateful. If they told me that I could pay what I wished or not at all, still more so.

If I had a criticism of their work, you can bet that it would be framed in the context of my gratitude for it, and my respect for their efforts. I doubt that those making personal criticisms of Independent reporters and editors have any idea how hard it is to gather facts, write stories, and deliver them online.

Like the rest of us, media outlets and their creators are imperfect. I think the NHI does a better-than-average job of getting its facts straight, and when I detect a slant, it's generally toward "selling the story" rather than taking sides, sensationalism rather than partisanship. That bias is, as I see it, forgivable in journalism.

Show a little respect when you're in someone else's house.

Posted by: streever | October 27, 2009 9:14 PM

TRUTH:
Posted by: JB | October 27, 2009 12:24 PM

Bottom line: Dr. Mayo should control his emotions and be professional regardless of how annoying he finds a particular group of people to be.

Dr. Mayo has demonstrated that same lack of professionalism at public forums with other non-TOC parents.

---

And when it comes to people with names like "FOLLOW THE MONEY" seriously, the x-files boxed set is not that much. You too can proclaim "THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE" in the comfort of your own home.

It's hardly investigative journalism TO LOOK AT THE LIST OF SPONSORS ON THE SIDEBAR OF EVERY PAGE. Graustein is listed there & always has been. Come on!

Posted by: Observer | October 27, 2009 9:36 PM

This is a glimpse of what "school reform" will look like when parents really start questioning what has been going on, and continues to go on, in the school system.

Posted by: Tom Burns | October 27, 2009 11:01 PM

Hey TOC,
I haven't met you yet, but am looking forward to it. I'm sure we are on the same page as to trying to help our young people and we must pursue this in a civilized, professional manner. I am the VP of the local teachers union and we have just made a monumental decision to work with the BOE as a partner in improving our students success. I am sure this is what you are all about also, but the collaboration piece has hit a little snag it seems. With the new reform we are looking for parents to serve on our reform committee and this is an open offer to you---If you would like to be a part of this wonderful opportunity please call me at 860-227-6668-----Tom

Posted by: 2334588881113 | October 27, 2009 11:17 PM

Is there any indication that ConnCan donates money to Paul's journalism project as well? The NHI has been championing Alex Johnston for years.

In this article, Johnston heroically steps in, if only to say he's troubled.

[Editor's Note: No, ConnCan has not donated money to NHI. All our funders are listed on every page of the site.]

Posted by: Anon | October 28, 2009 1:24 AM

Even if everything Mayo says about TOC is true, and even if everything posters are saying about NHI's slant re funding is true, this also remains true:

Mayo and Torre and the audience behaved like animals to this woman. Parents have to fight through their humiliation to deal with NH schools.

1. TOC needs to work on getting volunteers, even grants for volunteers to perform translation. There is NO shortage of bilungual college kids and even certified translators available in New Haven.
2. Mayo needs to get some class.

And finally, Mayo is never going to go down in the history as one of the great urban educators in America. He's had years to do great things, instead, he gets hooked on a slight that he already confronted and can't get over. A waste of charisma that could be applied to transforming kids lives.

Posted by: Observer | October 28, 2009 3:33 AM

Disrespect is not a verb, sir.

Posted by: 12999675736 | October 28, 2009 8:32 AM

Streever, until recently you couldn't even find the donation page, and it seems you spend hours on the site.

Thankfully someone spotted the Graustein sponsorship (most people tune out sidebar ads), recognized that the organization's behind TOC, and then reasonably asked if the thousands of dollars Graustein donates to the NHI's parent organization would taint coverage in the NHI.

Posted by: Umm.Thanks TOC | October 28, 2009 9:37 AM

Thanks to TOC's extremely aggressive and unsophisticated tactics, anti-immigrant sentiment is raising its ugly head. As an example, the NH Register's comments that follow the article about this incident today are filled with xenophobic comments. Congratulations, TOC!

Posted by: Response to Umm.Thanks TOC | October 28, 2009 11:49 AM

You said:

Thanks to TOC's extremely aggressive and unsophisticated tactics, anti-immigrant sentiment is raising its ugly head. As an example, the NH Register's comments that follow the article about this incident today are filled with xenophobic comments. Congratulations, TOC!

My response:

From what I see, TOC has built a multilingual, multicultural organization. TOC is building unity among African American, white and Latino, Spanish and English-speaking people. And race is insufficient to describe their diversity -- they hail from places as different as Peru, Germany, South Africa, Mexico and Israel, and from the rural, the urban, the suburban, the first world and the third world.

They have a vision for truly multilingual, multicultural schools, where everyone is included equally. Multilingual outreach to school parents, by the way, is mandated by the Civil Rights Act, the No Child Left Behind Act, and the US Courts.

Will the big egos on the Board of Ed swallow their pride and stand with the real Americans? Or will the feed into the hands of the racists who wrongly believe that America should be "white" and monolingual?

Posted by: nfjanette | October 28, 2009 1:31 PM

Will the big egos on the Board of Ed swallow their pride and stand with the real Americans? Or will the feed into the hands of the racists who wrongly believe that America should be "white" and monolingual?

Finally, someone has the courage to admit the truth about the aim of these groups: to force acceptance of Spanish as a formal language of the country. It's also good that they have revealed their tactics: lead with the race card and play it hard. We can work with that and give this approach the lack of credit it deserves. Now, people can judge groups like TOC with this knowledge in mind and understand that the translation battle - which didn't have to be a battle, as it was pointed out TOC itself could have organized and provided translators from within it's supporters - is merely one battle plan that is much larger for some people. They have a right to set their own agenda and to organize and lobby for it - such is the freedom of this magnificent country.

However, Americans of Latino background are being sold short by this disastrous position. Rather, they need to take as a base the classic model of American immigration and learn the (one) official, "native" language, and learn it well. I'm aware there are many efforts to provide such education, and those are the efforts that deserve maximum community and government support. Then Latinos can build upon that classic immigration model and preserve their language and culture within their communities, just as many Jewish (some of whom still speak an old Spanish/Hebrew dialect called Ladino), Asian, and other groups have done successfully. It doesn't have to be a choice between those two ideals - but expecting the government to increasingly support full bilingualism is mistaken, short sighted goal that will not serve Latinos well in the long term.

Posted by: hmmmmm | October 28, 2009 3:26 PM

Other items in government are translated in spanish. What's the big deal? Help the children and their parents. If the parents didn't take an interest in the children's education you all would be criticizing them for that. They are asking for a little help. Maybe some people forgot where they came from now that they got big time jobs.

Posted by: not just toc | October 28, 2009 3:48 PM

I don't really know the whole back story on TOC and to me it is beside the point. I have been to one of the Mayo tour events as a parent of a child getting ready for preschool. I can tell you that Mayo's reaction to TOC is part of a pattern. He is dismissive of any and all comments and criticism from the general public and he spends the majority of the time at these meetings patting himself on the back and blaming others for the problems in the schools. He doesn't appear interested in the schools, except as a road to self-preservation.

He's been on the job for many years and the schools have gotten worse. When is it time to say this man has failed at his job?

Posted by: Bruce | October 28, 2009 9:28 PM

Even if a parent is enrolled full-time in an English class and practicing every day, it still takes time to learn a language well enough to comprehend a native-speaker, especially at a public forum or conference. There will always be a need for translators and we owe it to the CHILDREN (as they are the ones most affected by this) to keep the parents as well-informed as possible so that they can make the best decisions for the children. I don't think it is at all unreasonable to have translators available where there are large populations of parents who do not speak English well.

This has nothing to do with forcing Americans to accept Spanish. It is an effort to educate children.

Posted by: streever | October 29, 2009 11:10 AM

12999675736,

nice ad hominem.

No, it's not that I "couldn't find" it--it's that I never looked at it carefully, assuming it was a one-time donation. This may be flying over your head, but one-time donations are easy to put-off, whereas recurring ones are harder to put off--it's an easier sell.

The point I made--which you are either unable to comprehend or deliberately ignoring--is that NHI has never hidden it's connection to Graustein, and the people who are claiming they did are mental.

Posted by: 123399988888 | October 30, 2009 1:01 AM

Streever, good point and I concede defeat, though I would say the old adage rings true, "When they resort to Latin, they are either Catholics, Jews (Joe Lieberman/Paul Bass), ignorant Campagnolo-enthusiasts or other boring New Englanders."

Posted by: juan dominguez | October 31, 2009 6:21 PM

I am appoled at what that man had to say to that women she has the right to speak any language she wants and that man should not critisise people for how they speak!!!!