January 17, 2019
Dear editor;
So often the Aurora City Council, the Aurora Public Library Board, the school district boards are accused of not being transparent. I attend these meetings and the agendas are published prior to the meetings. I find that attendance by the public is very low. Those who have special interests are present for their items and then leave the meetings.
With Aurora elections coming before us, I have noticed that very few of those running are present at the meetings. I know some are conducted with Facebook live, but being there is a lot different than watching on a device. Do our brains know these days what is a show and what is actual?
I attended the most recent West Side School Board meeting and the attendance was the same. A presentation was made for a new math program for the District. I immediately thought … do the parents know and have the teachers looked into it? It was my first introduction to the program and it caused me concern, especially because
I am very able in math and have raised three children gifted in math. Instead of addressing the concern that children do not memorize well anymore they want to pass that over and stress conceptualizing and group work emphasizing math fun.
Math fun is great, conceptualizing is important, but why can’t half of our children memorize? It is great to have fun in school, but a lot of it is just work. I remember as a kindergarten teacher being criticized for working so hard on lining up the children in a good, respectful, way. My answer was that life is a lot of boring lines at the grocery story store, athletic events, in traffic, and the post office. Being prepared at age five may help in the future. My concern is that we see a lot of math trends. A child entering school may experience three or four trends and end up with what I call math confusion. I do need to look into the program more deeply.
I asked if parents will be notified before it is voted on and was told that a copy would be in the district offices only. Not very transparent there. I would suggest parents take time to see what this is all about before your child comes home with the new program. No one running for Board was present as far as I could see. A Board member was very willing to talk with me.
• The January 16 Aurora City Council Committee of the Whole, items 18-1122 and 18-1155, caused me concern. The first is in regard to Special Events. I see it as another attempt to take power and in-put from the aldermen and give it to the mayor and special departments undermining the aldermanic process. My perception was that the concepts under the Special Events presentation were good except for the fact the Special Event Committee would have control and the mayor could possibly put whom he wants on the committee without aldermen. They, under this system, would be aware, but not have direct voting. Even though we are home rule we are a representative government and should stay that way, and not give power away. We can influence by being at City Council meetings and sending E-mail to our aldermen.
As I read about governing I realize how easy it is to take power away from citizens and some of the elected. I realize we as Aurorans are all so busy, but more citizen awareness and in-put is needed to continue. Even if a representative from neighborhood groups were sent to these meetings to bring it back to the group, there would be more awareness and a way to make things known before hand rather than being dictated to. A lot of times we don’t realize what has been done until it hits our doorstep and our lives. We can make a difference in our government.
Marjorie Logman
Aurora