Principal's Remarks Generate Concern Over District Writing Instruction

Hauppauge High School Principal Christine O'Connor's public remarks about the quality of student writing has put the district's writing instruction under the microscope. 

O'Connor made critical remarks of student's writing skills during the She was concerned about student's ability to meet expectations set by the International Baccalaureate program, when looking at essays submitted under the district's advanced SOAR program.

"I shouldn't say this in front of you as the high school principal, but if there is anything we have to work on as a district, it is the writing of the students that is not up to the standards we wanted," O'Connor said before more than 300 parents.

As a result, Board Trustee Ginger Todoro questioned whether students are being taught the research and writing skills necessary to be successful in college and the workplace. 

"My concern is that the high school has identified to parents and the community that writing is a problem in Hauppauge. I think something needs to be rearranged in this current budget to take care of this problem," Todoro said at Tuesday's board meeting. 

Since O'Connor's statements, parents at board meetings have pushed the issue, asking district officials if there are enough book reports and research essays being assigned.

Superintendent Patricia Sullivan-Kriss said concerns, while well intentioned, are based on a misunderstanding of O'Connor's comment.

"No one is saying our students can’t write, but what we are saying is that we want more. We want it to be of a better quality," Sullivan-Kriss said. 

As the district is in the midst of a two-year application to the International Baccalaureate program, Sullivan-Kriss said the district wants to know all of its high school students could successfully complete the program's rigorous writing requirements.

The superintendent said the struggle to teach conventional writing standards to upcoming students is not a challenge Hauppauge faces alone. 

"I don’t think Hauppauge in any way, shape or form is different from other school districts. It's something school districts are grappling with as a result of social media and the way kids are taught to communicate," Sullivan-Kriss said. 

Dr. Kyrie Segal, assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction and technology, said Tuesday that the district is working on professional development of its teachers and new writing curriculums for all grades to ensure writing skills are taught across all subject areas. 

"Our charge is writing should be taught in all disciplines, not just English but in sciences and social studies," Segal said. 

Todoro suggested a more radical approach: eliminating English electives for mandatory writing courses.