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HISD students speak out against superintendent
Houston ISD had their $4.4 billion bond proposal denied by voters last month and there has been an overwhelming opposition aimed at state appointed superintendent Mike Miles and his controversial leadership style. FOX 26's Political Reporter Greg Groogan has evidence the battle is hardly over and might intensify.
HOUSTON - More than a month after the defeat of Houston ISD's $4.4 Billion bond proposal, vocal opposition aimed at the District's State appointed superintendent Mike Miles appears to be intensifying.
At the latest Board meeting dozens of students, parents and educators demanded the resignation of Mike Miles and the return of the state's largest school district to local control.
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Among the most powerful voices were those of children, who say the unorthodox instructional methods and unprecedented turnover in HISD teachers and principals has made learning difficult and the environment on their campuses "chaotic".
"How can I possibly be excited going to school every day when my teachers are so visibly stressed about termination that they can't teach in a way that works for them," said HISD student Lily Clayton.
"Not having a library in every school, even if they have enough funding for it, is wrong. That's just wrong. Taking books out of a school is like taking flowers out of a garden. It doesn't make sense," said HISD student Katie Moore.
In addition, parents and educators are now openly challenging the validity of improved test scores touted by Superintendent Miles as justification for "New Education System" model for learning.
"So which is it, is your data wrong or are you intentionally misleading us?" said Maria Benzon, a vocal Miles critic.
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"Helping students is what our schools are for, not placing them in some barbaric, rote memorization, military prison where they can't ask questions, can't go to the bathroom, and come out miserable and exhausted at the end of the day," said Lauren Zintz, HISD parent.
"This isn't improvement. It's adaptation, and adaptation is not the same as achievement," said Claude Bitner, HISD parent.
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Parents and students are also protesting what they view as a major toward censorship with a new policy reducing the amount of time speakers are allowed to address the board from three minutes to one minute and eliminating comment via Zoom altogether.
"You show every month, every week, every day that you all want to silence speech. That is not how this city, this county works," said Pamela Baldwin, a vocal critic of the current board and administration.