Fisher School

The only way this school will go up would be to get rid of their leaders. Does things at the 10 percent mark. Very Qualified teachers yet we need a new principal and administration.

Both of my children attended and excelled here. I now have a foster child enrolled who was below average and has now been brought up to her classmates and is ahead in her reading and math. Excellent staff and Principal who all seem to care about the needs of all students.

I recently listened to parents bitterly complaining that the chorus teacher allowed a disabled child to participate in the school play. These parents honestly believed that this child's participation took away from their own children's experience. And that it detracted from their own children learning something. If it were up to parents in this town, special needs students would be removed from the classrooms, from the community soccer teams, from the local scouting groups--because feelings of acceptance and belonging are only for "normal" kids. Unfortunately, there are many elementary teachers here who believe this, too, and ineffective leadership to change the school culture. The teachers didn't like the behavior plans that the autism specialist wrote, so they bullied to get her position reduced. Instead of bullying the music teacher for being inclusive, the parents need to bully the school administration to restore special education services for students who need quality behavior plans and quality behavior instruction.

Poor leadership trickles down through the school and shows in how students treat each other. Arlington is an "old boys and girls club" with teachers, cops and coaches intermarried and forming an impenetrable clique. Bullying is ignored. Children who report bullying are met with rolling eyes and called "rats" and hystrionics. Certain teachers are known to dislike special ed students. There is a long history of inefficient leadership and turnover in administration, from superintendents to special education directors. This district is a mess. Don't make your child go to school here. You will regret it.

We are very fortunate to have this tremendous resource in our community for elementary education. Small class sizes, dedicated teachers and administrators, engaged community support. With the introduction of a new math curriculum in all grades this year, teachers have extended themselves to parents to help everyone understand the expectations and goals of the math program. Our three kids have been able to thrive in their education at Fisher.