I’m not sure how I missed this!

Karass writes in a comment that an article in today’s AJC metro section notes that current Glennwood Principal Gloria Lee is retiring and that former Renfroe Middle School Principal and current CSD Communications Director Bruce Roaden would be taking over the post.

The AJC article is not currently online, but the news was also mentioned in this Patch summary of the last School Board meeting.

Decatur resident and South DeKalb teacher, Dr. William Blackwood, recently spoke out – in a very well-written AJC op-ed – about the widespread problems he has seen within the schools throughout South DeKalb where he teaches.  From the vast number of highly paid administrators – what he calls “the bloated assistant-principal caste” at Southwest DeKalb High – to the “jury-rigged, “research-based” pedagogical approaches” to teaching, Dr. Blackwood doesn’t pull any punches.

A taste…

The bloated assistant-principal caste characterizes a system that employs more non-teaching personnel than it does teachers. This dysfunctional jobs-creation program is complicit in the invidious perpetuation of the hugely disenfranchising notion that black students are to be taught in a special way.

…The nostrum that it is necessary to focus on “doing social studies” as opposed to explicating the subject reduces teaching to a form of crowd control that is hopelessly over tasked when confronted with the need to explain such concepts as the social contract, selective incorporation, equal protection, federalism, and limited government.

Many commenters to the AJC post are expressing gratitude for Blackwood’s words, but worry that his job may be in jeopardy for speaking out so publicly.  It should be interesting to see how both of these stories progress in the coming weeks and months.

Thanks to JB to pointing out this post!

From Patch…

Chances are “slim to none” that Century Retail will develop a mixed-use shopping development in Avondale Estates, said city commissioner Michael Payne during the Jan. 19 work session at Avondale city hall.

Florida-based Century Retail was slated to develop the four-block area between Avondale Road and Franklin Street, from the Peach State Federal Credit Union to the old Ray’s TV Shop near Center Street. Those plans have been at a standstill while Century reorganizes under Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization.

The city is considering cancelling the development agreement with Century and may look to do so at its upcoming regular commission meeting on Jan. 24.

If Publix is still interested in a location in this general area, it seems like it could be a potentially great anchor store for the unbuilt Avondale MARTA Station development or perhaps even a bit further north at the vacant DeVry property.  And before you scoff at my mixed-use daydreams, remember that Publix has already shown an open-mind to higher density development with its GA Tech and Atlantic Station locations – not to mentioned this lower-density, unbuilt Century Retail development.

Gabe from Decatur Docs summarizes tomorrow night’s event for us…

This Saturday, January 22 at Decatur High School’s Performing Center, DecaturDocs presents its second program, HEY, BOO: HARPER LEE AND TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, with support from the Decatur Book Festival. As with all DecaturDocs events, this screening will include context setting “apéritifs,” At 7:00 PM, director Mary Murphy, will be signing copies of her book Scout, Atticus and Boo: A Celebration of 50 Years of To Kill a Mockingbird. At 7:45 PM, DHS Students read from their favorite Mockingbird passages.

The 8:00 PM screening, which features interviews with and readings by Tom Brokaw, Ambassador Andrew Young, authors James Patterson and media mogul and book club founder Oprah Winfrey, as well as Mary Badham—the Scout in the original feature film will be followed by an engaging and dynamic topical discussion. On his Verb Blog, Decatur Book Festival’s Daren Wang already delivered the first salvo with his take on the classics of Southern American Literature: “In the popular mind, there are two giants of Southern Writing. Mockingbird, and that trashy thing whats-her-name wrote over on Peachtree Street.” Mary Murphy, one of the most knowledgeable folks on the subject of Mockingbird–with the notable exception of Harper Lee herself–can’t wait to discuss it all with you.

EXTRA:  Mary Murphy was featured on a C-SPAN BookTV event recently, which can be viewed in full HERE.

DM EXCLUSIVE:  Follow Decatur Docs on Twitter at @decaturdocs and put yourself in the running for a set of 2 free tickets to tomorrow night’s event!

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