Well, we all knew this was coming, right? It’s time to blog about the latest in a LONG series of Jim Mangan rants, and the first since his smackdown at the last 303 school board meeting. First we heard from his journalistic proxy and official brown-noser, Mike Noyes. Now the big man himself speaks of the alleged evils perpetrated against himself and the citizens of Pekin.
First, Mangan claims that allegations that he insulted District 108 teachers are “absolutely false.” Well, is saying that the teachers fail to adequately prepare their students for high school considered insulting? I would be insulted if I were a 108 teacher. Supposedly low test scores and inadequate preparation in 108 are the root of all evil for Mr. Mangan. So if he’s not blaming the teachers, then who do we blame?
I only maligned their “system”?
Ohhh yes … the “system.” The mean, evil “system.” I think this refers to District 108 administrators like Superintendent Don White, for whom Mangan has nothing but venom and slander.
News flash, Mr. Mangan – most of the “system” is dictated to the district from on high at the federal and state level. This is the real reason Mark Sattazahn resigned according to Tom Frazier, and unfortunately it doesn’t seem like further clarification is forthcoming from Mr. Sattazahn. Thus we’re left with the battling Mike Noyes vs. Tom Frazier versions of the infamous leaked resignation letter. However, it’s pretty clear from what I’ve seen as a parent with children in District 108 that most teachers are doing the best that they can with the resources they have available to them.
Most of the rest of Mangan’s commentary involves ranting about the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP), the “Nation’s Report Card” according to their website. Illinois students don’t do very well on that test. Neither do students from EVERY OTHER STATE IN THE COUNTRY. Look at the state profiles and compare states. Nobody does well on this test. Check out California’s results – they’re particularly abysmal. It’s an indictment of the ENTIRE U.S. primary education system, not Illinois in particular.
As an interesting aside, private school students do only slightly better on the NAEP than public school kids. Think those thousands of dollars in tuition are really helping your kid? Think again!
Apparently, Mr. Mangan has solved all the education problems in our country with his magic wand, consolidation. Aren’t we lucky to have such a supra-genius in our midst?
Heh. That’s sarcasm … oh, you caught that? OK, good.
Mr. Mangan conveniently ignores the fact that most of the districts in the state are unified, and according to state testing, they’re pretty much doing the same or worse than Pekin. The NAEP numbers aren’t broken down by district, so you can’t make a direct comparison. However, all you have to do is look across the river at District 150 and compare their state test scores to 108 / 303. Who comes out the winner in that comparison, Mr. Mangan? It doesn’t matter that state tests are less stringent than the NAEP, as long as they can provide useful data for comparison.
Again Mr. Mangan breathes his dragonfire at straw men and expects us to be impressed with the conflagration. He YET AGAIN fails to provide evidence that consolidation will do anything to improve the academic achievement of Pekin students, and his attempt to deny insulting 108 teachers is pathetic.
What is there of substance in Mangan’s latest post to the Times? A whole lot of nothing.
4 responses so far ↓
1
Angie
// Dec 10, 2006 at 9:03 pm
I was told about your site from a co-worker and have read many of your statements, and most of Mr. Mangan’s letters. As a parent, it seems to me you focus on the messenger, who you seem to despise, and not the message. I don’t recall anything Mr. Mangan has written that didn’t come from outside sources, not made up. Why shouldn’t we parents and others know this information?
Thank you Angie
2
knightindragonland
// Dec 10, 2006 at 10:44 pm
Mr. Mangan is not providing ANY information that is not freely available to the public without his biased interpretation. I suggest you look up the information yourself, as I have, and see how Mangan spins things toward his point of view. He uses the worst of state education testing numbers, dismisses more recent numbers that show improvement and fails to compare the results to other districts similar to 108. He fails to acknowledge the fact that several 108 schools have been awarded for their academic excellence. He questions the integrity of their financing, but fails to impart that District 108 has won awards for its budgetary excellence AND INTEGRITY for 3 years in a row. He makes grandiose claims of consolidation’s benefits without any evidence or explanation. His ideas offer Pekin students nothing new.
His plans for dealing with failing students sound like a return to the “good” old days when students were branded with the scarlet letter of failure, retained, and then shown the quickest exit out the door when they continued to fail – abandoned by the system. That’s not what I want to see in my district.
As I’ve said many times, this isn’t so much about consolidation for me anymore. Consolidation may or may not save taxpayers a few bucks on their property tax bill – and I think that’s what this is all about, anyway. Mangan et al. want to lower property taxes so they can be tax-cutting heroes – without any regard for the students of Pekin schools. This is about doing public education on the cheap so some cranky conservatives can save $50 on their tax bills.
This is about Jim Mangan and his tactics of personal slander and deception. He could have approached this whole issue without all the negativity about 108 and personal attacks on its administrators. He could have made 108 teachers his allies by pointing out that consolidation would bring them salary parity with the higher paid teachers of 303. He could have made a real effort to focus on the positive. Instead all we see is attack, attack, attack … and lets not forget the underhanded tactics and outright deception. This rabid bulldog approach is not what I want to see in someone who is supposed to be looking out for the best interests of my children.
3
Angie
// Dec 11, 2006 at 1:35 pm
Dear Mr. Dragon:
I suppose one can find all sorts of information with time and skill. As a busy parent, I don’t have a lot of either. One reason my husband and I find Mr. Mangan’s letters interesting is he seems to understand the issues and I don’t believe his information has ever been proven inaccurate. Just unpopular with a few that hate being found out. I beleive he is a long time member of the community which brings certain knowledgle. I believe you have mentioned being new to town, from the big city. Perhaps you feel we small town hicks need straightening out on how to think (my husbands input). As far as spin, there are nuts who think the Bible is spin. If information makes sence and is from a reliable source I am inclind to pay attention.
Sorry if this sounds brash, but it’s early and in a rush no time for PC.
Angie
4
knightindragonland
// Dec 12, 2006 at 12:53 pm
Feel free to sound brash, harsh and un-PC. That’s what blogging is all about.
I work and I’m a busy parent, but education is one of the primary focal points of raising a child. If you want to abrogate your rights and responsibilities to Mr. Mangan because he’s lived in Pekin for a long time and you think he’s trustworthy … that’s your choice.
My opinion is that Mr. Mangan has shown himself, with his own words printed in the Daily Times, to be anything BUT trustworthy. He doesn’t have to lie to be deceptive. All he has to do is LOUDLY proclaim only the negative information regarding District 108. Half of the truth is much more effective propaganda than lying outright, but it’s just as deceptive.
Is there room for improvement on District 108 state test scores? Of course! What Mr. Mangan ignores is that test scores are improving, and the District continues to make adequate yearly progress despite worsening demographic challenges (more kids in poverty, more kids with special education needs). District 108 has won numerous awards for educational excellence and budgetary integrity from the state and from educational organizations. You hear NOTHING about that from Mr. Mangan – it’s all doom & gloom in 108.
And his solution? Smoke & mirrors! Mr. Mangan wields a magic wand that makes a lot of fizzles & sparks, but in the end DOES NOTHING. District 150 is a district with unified primary & secondary education … does that help their state test scores?
As far as being from the “big city” … ummm, Peoria is NOT a big city, and that’s where I grew up. My mom is from the Chicago area (THAT is a big city), and my dad grew up in a town 1/20th the size of Pekin. I spent the last 14 years of my life in St. Louis being teased for being a hick because I’m from Peoria, and then being teased for moving back to a place even smaller. People I know from New York and California think St. Louis is a redneck town. Finally – I like Pekin, and I enjoy living here.
My point is this … because of my experiences and background, I’ve learned not to judge people by the population of the place where they were born. Maybe your husband shouldn’t either.
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