Mass. school superintendent fails must-pass English test

Associated Press ^ | 08-03-03

[Brian S]

This city's superintendent of schools, who recently put two dozen teachers on unpaid leave for failing a basic English proficiency test, has himself flunked a required literacy test three times.

Wilfredo T. Laboy called his failing scores "frustrating" and "emotional." He blamed his performance on a lack of preparation and concentration, as well as the fact that that Spanish is his first language.

[w1andsodidwe]

Amazing what passes for educators these days.

[conservativeammom]

It appears to me that what's good for the goose is also good for the gander. Put this guy on unpaid administrative leave and make him sit in a classroom until he properly learns how to structure a sentence.

[Jhoffa_]

Laboy, who receives a 3 percent pay hike this month that will raise his salary to $156,560, recently put 24 teachers on unpaid administrative leave because they failed a basic English test.

A hundred and fifty six grand, for a guy who isn't fit to judge the proficiency of the teachers he manages?

Off with his head!

[yooper]

"It bothers me because I'm trying to understand the congruence of what I do here every day and this stupid test,..."

Well, this statement would have been enough for me. "You're fired."

Do you all realize what this guy is saying?! The word 'congruence' is the key. He doesn't understand how literacy and running a school can be related to each other. That's what he's saying. And I ain't buying this "English as a second language" BS either. He knows enough to use the word 'congruence.'

"You're fired."

Thanks NEA.

[Little Bill]

Fire him, Lawrence has the highest dropout rate outside of Boston but drugs and hookers are easier to obtain.

[GOPologist]

What amazes me is how did this knucklehead ever get a college degree? mmmmmmmm!!!!!

[DoughtyOne]

This city's superintendent of schools, who recently put two dozen teachers on unpaid leave for failing a basic English proficiency test, has himself flunked a required literacy test three times. He has flunked the test three times yet still holds his $156,560 a year position.

Wilfredo T. Laboy called his failing scores "frustrating" and "emotional." He blamed his performance on a lack of preparation and concentration, as well as the fact that that Spanish is his first language. Poor fellow.  I guess it goes without saying that he's a first generation immigrant here.  Everyone knows second and third generation childen of Immigrants would never have this problem.

"It bothers me because I'm trying to understand the congruence of what I do here every day and this stupid test," Laboy told The Eagle-Tribune of Lawrence in a story published Sunday. "What brought me down was the rules of grammar and punctuation," Laboy said. "English being a second language for me, I didn't do well in writing. If you're not an English teacher, you don't look at the rules on a regular basis." Well that's true. But then most people don't have a major in education.

State Education Commissioner David P. Driscoll said he is aware of Laboy's troubles with the test, but would not say how many chances Laboy would be given to pass or what the consequences of another failure could be.  I can't imagine why he woud know the penalties, after all the city's superintendent of schools has only failed the test three times.  Sheesh!

He said Laboy was doing an excellent job leading the district, and is getting more time to prepare for the test. But he added, "He's going to have to pass. ...The situation will only get serious if he goes much longer without passing."  Do ya think?

Since 1998, all Massachusetts educators -- from teachers to superintendents -- have had to pass the Communications and Literacy Skills Test, which measures basic reading and writing skills, including vocabulary, punctuation, grammar, spelling and capitalization.  I think it's highly objectionable that he has to take this test in English.  We should test him in his first language.  How dare we subject him to this unfair humiliation?

Laboy, who receives a 3 percent pay hike this month that will raise his salary to $156,560, recently put 24 teachers on unpaid administrative leave because they failed a basic English test.  Are they reinstating those people immediately?  Oh the liberal mind.  Rules are for them...

[Kuksool]

{This city's superintendent of schools, who recently put two dozen teachers on unpaid leave for failing a basic English proficiency test, has himself flunked a required literacy test three times}

And the NEA has the nerve to accuse homeschoolers of education neglect.

[RaceBannon]

Izzy can teach 'em!

[CatoRenasci]

It has been thirty years or more since high school students were taught grammer in the traditional way. It has been twenty-five years or more since colleges dropped english competence testing upon entrance. In those days, students who did not have a reasonable command of English grammer and composition had to take a basic non-credit course known as "bonehead" English or, at the California community colleges, state colleges, and the University of California, "Subject A".

If the man cannot pass this basic test of competence in English, he is, by definition, incompetent. He's had three chances to pass. Fire him.

[neutrino]

"It bothers me because I'm trying to understand the congruence of what I do here every day and this stupid test,"

Now is it the test that is stupid - or the test taker?

[Little Bill]

Not in Lawrence, aside from her language skills. The best Mexican resturant is next to the Superior and Distric courts, I wouldn't green card the help.

[NewHampshireDuo]

Lawrence HS lost its accreditation a while back. How can this guy be making $156k????

[Experiment 6-2-6]

Didn't I read somewheres on FR two months ago about unfortunate STUDENTS who weren't entitled to graduate from High School because they failed their proficiency exams?

If I recall, it was from the South Side, where 12% of High School Seniors couldn't graduate because they didn't score the minimums...

Somehow, now, this explains it all.

[esopman]

I concur completely. Basic competence in English...grammar...should be a prerequisite for $150K+ in his position. Fire him.

[Bob Mc]

"I think it's highly objectionable that he has to take this test in English. We should test him in his first language."

What do you want to bet he would flunk it even worse? Like many Hispanics, has probably lost much of his Spanish language as well.

[freeangel]

Isn't affirmative action great?

[OldEagle]

If he can't do it for $156K, it means that we need to pay him more. You do get what you pay for.
Oh my my, did I end a sentence with a preposition?

[Rome2000]

It bothers me because I'm trying to understand the congruence of what I do here every day and this stupid test,"

LOL!!

"Not to perambulate the corridors in the hours of repose in the boots of ascension."