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Submitted by ”I wish to remain anonymous” 3/27/22, 9:48 PM
Framingham just announced they will not be keeping a beloved administrator on staff beyond the end of the year because she does not speak Portuguese.
Staff were informed on Friday that Harmony Grove will have two vice principals next year and that our current vice principal will not be invited back.
The verbal and written communication read “The district vision for these positions is to be fully bilingual, which means Amy will not be returning as vice principal next year.”
Amy began at HG at a time when our school was looking for someone who would support teachers and students after the former administration created divide and distrust. Amy quickly earned the respect of all HG staff and worked tirelessly to support with student behavioral challenges. She is quite capable of communicating with students and families. She is an amazing administrator and made the school a better place for students and teachers alike.
This decision is the latest in a string of decisions to further segregate our school and ignore our staff and students.
The director of multilingual education (who has visited the building once) recently told staff that our dual language program is now a one-way program (meaning the students in that program are all to be native Portuguese Speakers).
In terms of English language development, without any English model speakers in the classroom and any peers to learn English with socially, it only affects the students negatively.
We love and value our Portuguese speaking students, but the many students from other language backgrounds at our school who don’t seem to fit with the “vision” and have been completely forgotten by the district.
Diversity is a strength of our community, and we do not support segregation. Diversity is also part of the mission statement at HG, yet the district has decided that all three administrators must speak Portuguese. What is the precedent that this sets for other staff at our schools?
Teachers who speak English communicate with students and families capably through various modes of communication on a daily basis. All staff and students from all language backgrounds should be welcome at our schools. And no one should be terminated for their ethnic and language background. Recent decisions made by the district have consistently lacked input from the staff and families who actually compose our school’s community.
Harmony Grove did not even get to have a committee to decide on its new principal.
Parents and staff were never given the respect to have a voice in the decision. Administration has also consistently punished staff who are supportive of teachers and students. Especially those who are strong with behaviors.
The staff at Harmony grove are extremely hard-working, knowledgeable, and committed, and are willing to stand up for our students and school community who deserve more. Please stand with us.
Are all the Portuguese speaking administrators being let go in the schools where they speak English?
The dirty little secret in education is that all the studies show the best end result is to put non-English speaking kids in an immersion program to learn English, not try and play the bilingual game. But that goes against what some people ‘feel’ is right. What’s really best for the kids in the long run?