Byline
Peter Downs
27 stories in the archive
Where are they now
Founder and editor of the St. Louis Schools Watch, the education-watchdog sister site of PubDef. A veteran St. Louis journalist, Downs was elected to the St. Louis Board of Education in April 2006 — during the very months covered in this archive — and went on to serve as board president. He later drew on those years inside the district for his book Schoolhouse Shams: Myths and Misinformation in School Reform (2012).
Creg Williams has clearly demonstrated a passionatecommitment to overhauling the SLPS, but he has alsodemonstrated a lack of appreciation for problems caused bythe misguided policies of the past few years, which,if reversed, might resolve some…
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I understand there is a controversy regarding Cleveland's Naval policy. Is that true? I want to go on record that after living through Larry Myers last year and the horrible condition he left the school,…
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December 13, 2005 -- The St. Louis Board of Education tonight gave the go ahead to Superintendent Creg Williams' plan to revamp high schools and middle schools in St. Louis.Williams plans to create up to…
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[The following article was submitted by a teacher, who wishes to remain anonymous.]Creg Williams played to 25 or so members of the Holly Hills Neighborhood Association on Monday, and read from the same script school…
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by Susan TurkNovember 5, 2005 -- In front of a standing room only crowd at a revival-meeting-cum-pep-rally at Vashon High School last Thursday, St. Louis Public Schools Superintendent Creg Williams introduced his plan to respond…
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St. Louis School Board member Bill Purdy called the program "a national scandal" and "a travesty" and refused to vote for it at the school board meeting on October 11. Fellow school board member Ron…
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October 17, 2005 -- Kudos to the staff at Shaw Visual and Performing Arts Elementary School for moving away from group punishments, and for trying new techniques for maintaining order in the lunchroom, and kudos…
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