Glitch in the Matrix

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but I have to inform you that there is a glitch in the JHS Matrix. Humbly submitting myself to the authority of the contract in order to discover the why’s of its prerogatives, I have arrived at the conclusion that they’re there for good/sound educational reasons (well, for the most part).

Having a matrix in a timely manner is the first step towards setting the right tone for the new academic year, and in doing go, for each mester.

A complete Matrix four weeks prior to the end of the school year allows teachers in their departments/SLC’s to meet and determine, in a fair and equitable manner, who will teach what next academic year. In determining, seniority and educational program needs should be taken into consideration. This is consistent with SLC models that hold critical relinquishing decision making affecting education, as much as possible, to teachers in their respective SLC’s.

The advanced posting of the Matrix allows teachers to plan ahead for courses they’ll be teaching next year. This provides time to address errors, recommend changes and tie loose ends before the start of the new mester. These are not small matters for they impact teachers and students alike and give the school the image of being less then efficient when not adhered to.

Further, not posting the Matrix as prescribed is tantamount to promoting mediocre teaching. Consider, if teachers are not given ample notice of the master schedule and not allowed to determine among themselves course distribution, preparation/planning is, simply, undermined. The consequence of this is the start of a new mester lacking the king of preparation that produces good teaching. This, colleagues, is indeed tantamount to mediocre teaching. Now, one might assume a veteran teacher not be affected much by this

(I disagree), but how about the way it impacts a new teacher? No teacher, much less new teachers, should be placed in this predicament.

I can almost anticipate the response from our administrators on the matter. “Señor Nava, but we do post the Matrix in advance!” It may be so, but it’s the changes later made that are problematic. What happens when you let a good teacher know August 28 that instead of teaching US History he/she will now teach Government? You risk that this good US History teacher will now be a mediocre Government teacher. I’ll select not to inform on what happens to a less-than-qualified teacher when this occurs.

Changes to a timely posted Matrix should rarely occur! It should be difficult for changes to happen. I know, all sort of reasons/rationales will be provided making the need for changes necessary. Some of them, admittedly, are understandable. One can say that there are challenges here at JHS that are not shared by most high schools. These challenges (high class failure rate, etc.) require a certain flexibility with the matrix. This is true about JHS. It is also true about the 22 program improvement schools. These schools have much in common and precisely what they have in common is what needs to change with them. If, as we see, a timely and well planned matrix is so impacting, and if our present way of preparing it is not working, then our approach needs to be reevaluated. No matter what is the rationale, a badly planned matrix, unfortunately, regretfully, sends the message that ‘mediocre teaching and on-the-fly-as-you-go preparation is acceptable.’

No, it’s not.