Brackmeyer Interview

On Tuesday, January 11th, The WORD had an interview with Mr. Brackmeyer to talk about the schedule changes this semester. We decide to have the interview to answer the questions the student body had about the changes. We hoped to gain insight on the situation from Mr. Brackmeyer’s point of view so that we could then spread the information throughout the student body. In doing this, we hope that the students will understand that the changes are going to stay and that the people who made the changes are making the changes with good intentions and a common purpose.
Journalism: What was the purpose of the schedule change exactly?
Brackmeyer: One reason why the schedule changed was because the bus schedule was tied directly to the elementary and middle school schedule and because they changed our high school had to change as well .Also, I had a clear response saying that the students wanted more time to study and work on assignment that they had missed or weren’t there for do to whatever reason.
Journalism: Why don’t we start at 9:00?
Brackmeyer: 8:42 is later than most high schools. If it was my perfect world, I wished to start at 8:15 or 8:20 so that we could get out early and do more things later in the day. Since we are so dependent on the bus we have to end school later on in the day. Another reason is that there would be a lot of traffic if we ended later.
Journalism: Why are Monday lunches are different from the rest of the week? Why are they by halls instead of if you have A lunch you just go to A lunch?
Brackmeyer: One lunch would be over balanced because the number of students that are in interventions and freshman capture.
Journalism: Describe the decision making process at MHS?
Brackmeyer: The Manor high school leadership team meets every Tuesday and discusses all the issues and topics that pertain to our campus. Most decisions that are made are within the manor leadership team.
Journalism: Were you looking forward to this semester’s change?
Brackmeyer: Yup. I sure was.
Journalism: What are your expectations for the students this semester?
Brackmeyer: I have high expectations to reach Exemplary status. I expect most students to be successful in their classes. I want students to reach Commended on TASK. “We have a lot of potential in Manor High School…..there is no reason we can’t be an Exemplary campus.”
Journalism: How are the expectations for this semester going to happen with the new schedule?
Brackmeyer: The schedule change better accommodates the expectations for the student.
Journalism: Do you think that the new schedule could somehow hurt us or hit us in a negative way?
Brackmeyer: I feel like this schedule is only going to better accommodate my expectations. The academic study hall allows the students to work on their grades and things that they need to get done with teacher and missing work.
Journalism: Why were so many students told that if they would try harder to pass the benchmarks they would get out of interventions?
Brackmeyer: The thought process behind that is that students that are in interventions would try hard to get out and then they could be pulled out of the interventions. If you did pass your benchmark that will allow you to be released from them.
Journalism: How come so many students were not released?
Brackmeyer: The reason kids are still in there is because we are still in the process of evaluating were they are and at that point Mrs. Robertson is in charge of the decision with Mrs. Mann and I.
Journalism: Why did you change the name of advisory to M.A.S.H.?
Brackmeyer: The reason we changed is because you are no longer doing a 15 minute advisory and they were not really all that effective. Like I said earlier in the video, we talked about making an academic study hall. Therefore, we called is Manor’s Academic Study Hall or M.A.S.H. (for short) and also the expectations are different than those in advisory.
Journalism: Most students think that intervention and advisory is a waste of time or it is to long. What do you think about this?
Brackmeyer: If you don’t like being in interventions, take the time to study and work hard and pass the TASK, because, in the end, when it is all said and done if, you do not pass the TASK test, you do not graduate high school. There is no way we can change that rule or work around it. The interventions are created to help provide the tools the students will need to pass the TASK. It is not a punishment.
Journalism: Why would you put M.A.S.H. after 3rd period?
Brackmeyer: Research has shown that they (interventions) are more effective in the morning because, by the end of the day, the students are tired. Some students need the time in the morning because, if they are athletes, they normally have to get out of 7th period to leave for a game. Now, if they were at the end of the day, they would not be able to get out of interventions to play the game.
Journalism: Last semester you said in one of our interviews that you make changes and like to hear responses from the student body. How can you listen to the student body if no one is asking us how we feel about the schedule change?
Brackmeyer: Well, I think that I have asked. I am listening and I understand that with change there is always going to be criticism. I do try to listen but at the end of the day we have to make the ultimate decision to do what is in the best interest to the student. I will always be here to listen.
When our cameras turned off, we sat and had a conversation with him. The things he said were honest and just so moving. When we were sitting all together without the video he said everything with a passion. The one thing I remembered the most was when he said, “When you get that (college degree) no one can take it away from you...It is yours and it will always be yours.” What he said is true. Once we get out of here and into college and graduate, that college degree is yours. Now, he also talked a lot about being fair. “In high school, I am teaching you to be fair, because out in the real world, it is not going to be fair.” When he said this, I realized that he is trying to be fair so that when we leave here we will understand that, yes, things may not be fair, but just because things are not fair does not mean that we cannot be fair. I feel we as humans should never judge someone on their decision or situations they get themselves into. We should take the lesson that Mr. Brackmeyer is trying to teach and apply that to our everyday lives. Before you judge someone, be fair, and don’t be afraid to ask questions, because that is the most important thing you can do to, find out what truly is really going on.
In the end, we gained true insight on how everything works at MHS and why our staff members do what they do. I know that, as kids, when we come to school and a change is made or a teacher gets mad or upset with us, we tend to act like the victims of everything. When I came back from the break just to find out that the schedule changed, I was really upset. I heard from a lot of the kids, “Man it’s not fair,” or “It’s all Mr. Brackmeyer’s fault.” This interview showed us that Mr. Brackmeyer is not a bad man. In fact, he is a very good, fair man. He bases most of his decisions on what we, the students, need. I know it’s hard to understand, but all of us students need to get past the fact that there is a change and start asking why there is a change. Mr. Brackmeyer clearly shows us that he truly does care and, whether you chose to believe it or not, he does have good intentions.
One of the most important skills needed in one’s life is communication skills, and in high school is where it all starts. Think about how much better schools would be if there was more communication between the students and the staff. Complaining is not communication. Yes, complaining is a way to express yourself, but what in the world do you gain out of complaining. Nothing. Complaining actually re-enforces problems. Communication is having a talk, face-to-face, listening to and understanding what the person is saying or what they mean. If we had face-to-face communication in our schools, between the staff and the students, we would gain respect and understanding for each other and for why things are the way they are.