Muskegon teacher blasts the school board during public comment

Sally Purchase, a Muskegon High School teacher for 31 years, speaks during public comment at the Muskegon Public School board meeting at Muskegon High School on Tuesday, April 17, 2018.

[@grandmagrammar]

As a retired teacher in the UK, it is shocking to see such a number of scenarios in the USA where the school board as an entity is seen as the villain by the parents they are supposed to be working for. They cannot see that if their customers are saying they are wrong then plainly they must be so. The very fact that they cannot see it makes their positions untenable. This self righteous behaviour is delusional or narcissistic depending on who you are looking at. In my experience with groups like this it is a 50/50 split.

[@LadyCoyKoi]

That is why some of these board meeting parents will bring with them a private lawyer that can take the case for the violations that the school board are doing.

[@GrammarSplaining]

This guy was originally elected, and then promoted from within the school board. Voters are getting exactly what they asked for. (P.S., he stepped down as superintendent in 2019 and took a job in Youngstown, Ohio, and has now been elected superintendent there.)

[@gregorbegger9291]

There’s a guy from Denmark who says America must lead. Right now it’s walking in the opposite direction

[@johna3806]

The American Marxist ideology has poisoned our schools and destroyed our educational system. Our educational system is corrupt and broken. It has been for decades and decades. The democrat party controls the system that has failed our children and corrupted a nation. FACT!!!!!!

[@poetmaggie1]

If it makes anyone feel better this is a national problem.

[@jtoms3]

After just completing my 26th year, I can say you are correct. However, it does not make me feel better.

[@euphoria156]

USA is THE Biggest Capitalist County in the World. So, yes, no wonder. 😐OUR GOVT. IS PUPPET OF CORPORATES, WHO WANTS TO DISMANTLE OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM SO THAT WE BECOME POOR AND STUPID. THAT WAY ITS EASIER TO HANDLE US. STUPID AND POOR SLAVES CANT DEFEND THEMSELVES. We ALL NEED TO UNITE AGAINST THE CORPORATES, THE 2% RICH PPL OF THE WORLD.

[@placeholder1237]

It’s international

[@notagain8661]

@@euphoria156 You could start by stop shopping at Walmart, ride a horse, grow your own food, live off grid where you don't need a job by them and shut your cell phone off! 🤭

[@dimensionx9770]

Umm... why would that make anyone feel better? 😆

[@JackJack-ld5eo]

It's amazing that no matter what city or town all across the U.S.A., there doesn't seem to be a school board that actually listens to the parents or teachers.

[@yorkrojas1452]

Exactly. All it took for me to find out how fudged up the country is was to grow up. Now i see and understand all. Whenever anything gets politicized or any money is involved. Its all screwed.

[@kennethmeeker6369]

There indoctrinated to be above the parents it’s a communist tactic .

[@dimenhigh]

nobody makes a video of a reular day

[@maryronan8446]

School boards are funded in part by George s o r o s

[@JMac-27]

God damn what kind of school system is so horrible a used chair is a prize for a teacher

[@AsobiMedio]

Put every school in the United States on a roulette wheel and spin it. Chances are good you'll find one.

[@panzerwolf494]

Welcome to michigan

[@AsobiMedio]

@@HawkeyePierce1981 The education system in the United States is a disgusting example of money laundering, political maneuvering, and corporate greed all mixed into one. Monopolies run the curriculum and all the standardized tests, simultaneously ruining young people's desire to learn and making a mint in the process. Hundreds of billions of dollars in tax money is used to fund nonsense while teachers and other essential staff make a pittance, AND they're expected to buy their own supplies. And to top it all off, the American people get to choose between corrupt, bank-breaking, and borderline brainwashing private schools run by the rich. Or dilapidated, underfunded, and underperforming public schools that are run by politicians. It's a no-win situation where everyone who isn't part of the scheme gets screwed over. And people wonder why this country has the lowest scores among developed nations in every major subject internationally.

[@lb906]

We actually get many of our teacher desks/chairs from a nearby federal military installation when they are throwing them away. I've never had a new desk or chair in 31 years (except for the chairs that I have purchased myself).

[@kenanOW]

@@AsobiMedio there’s different school systems but that school os the worst in that city

[@paulwevers2109]

The chair scandal. And the arrogant bow-tie man. There is a book in there somewhere.

[@bigred3164]

Sounds like a question for...THE CHAIR!

[@jade9907]

Someone give this lady the thug life glasses she deserves

[@milzmusician]

Olesya - cigar and NWA background music too

[@DeadDevilDying]

Not saying that what she said didn't take guts, but after teaching for 31 years she qaulifies for full retirement benefits. If anything though, that's also probably why she's the hero of that school, she stood up for the other teachers who had more to lose.

[@derffurwood4820]

There is nothing a tyrant hates more than being called out for his/her blatant lies and hypocrisy. Refund parents for all the time and money they spent cleaning up your mess. Shameful, pathetic and unacceptable.

[@tempiemiller6349]

Why was he on his phone doing a meeting?

[@mmmfun77]

We need to start a Go Fund Me for chairs!!

[@euphoria156]

Oh shut up. WE NEED TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM NOT GO FUND ME FOR EVERYTHING!!🙄🙄🙄

[@juneduffy5220]

Lady you’d better retire because they are going to fire you. Mr. Marks has been humiliated and he’s pissed... AWESOME JOB TEACHER!!

[@bluesky5384]

She doesn’t care. That’s likely why she’s the one who chose to speak.

[@wecanonlywish9194]

I noticed the elderly lady, on the 'board' to the left. She had the deer-eyed look of "what's going on", as she rifled through her paperwork to find something ELSE to think about.

[@christinaadams1235]

I bet she won’t have a job next year... you don’t go against the establishment

[@Unknown26557]

My man too concerned with his bow tie than the students lol

[@OurSocietyMustChange]

I know this was 3 years ago but SAVAGE! We need MANY more ACTUAL teachers like this true patriot in every sense of the word. In this day and age, this would just be another "rassist". Glad it happened when it did

[@lionelstrangelove9057]

The people who have the experience and expertise are never consulted or listened to,self opioniated amateurs always believe they know best and dismiss any criticism.

[@OurSocietyMustChange]

@@lionelstrangelove9057 100%! It's pathetic

[@WatchThatFirstStep]

35 years as a teacher (says 31 years in the video, but I'm writing this from 2022). Do you know how long that is? Her first batch of students now have kids in her classroom.

[@cathycarr1408]

As of 2022 O'Brien is still serving as Treasurer on the board. The man who didn't take the time to listen in 2018.

[@cashstore1]

Then you had the head of the school board of Detroit that was illiterate.

[@laurens.2503]

School Boards are getting away with far too much.

[@andrecureton6862]

Made him look stupid as hell lmao 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁

[@rdkuless]

all someone needs to do is make a motion to dismiss all the board members, if there is a second, they have no choice but to put it to a vote. They can elect new just after they escort the old guard out with the sheriff if necessary. They took an oath as a board member, and they are required to follow Robert's Rules of Order.. Get the booklet and study it. It's free online.

[@dimensionx9770]

Remember common core? We have to keep fighting for our kids.

[@motherofthreeb6337]

Pulled my child and homeschooled!

[@dimensionx9770]

@@motherofthreeb6337 - Me too!

[@virginiaoflaherty2983]

My sister was outraged at my 50 year old straight backed library chair. I think it matched my 60 year old desk that I had to bring tools to school to repair before I could use it. She bought me a very nice chair for my birthday. Every summer I would take it home because people would steal nice things like that because they knew it was not school property. Yeah schools, where the adults act just like the students.

[@flpdragonslayersmith8]

Question, did they fire this lady for speaking up.

[@myvideos9811]

IT WOULD BE SO EASY TO TEACH KIDS TO BE LEADERS OF ANY COUNTRY. ALL WE WOULD HAVE TO DO, IS TEACH THEM HOW TO LIE. CHEAT AND STEAL FROM THEIR FELLOW MAN.

[@fahs]

This school board... They care about nobody or no thing. Shame on them.

[@leavemealone690]

Where's the chair?

[@cattail3]

How do these smug people actually get elected to these school boards?????

[@fila6243]

Crazy. Where the heck is Muskegon anyway? Theres like 30 vids on this....

[@Name-oz4lq]

fil a I know hahah I feel like I’m invested in this school now with all the videos I’ve watched 🤣

[@Name-oz4lq]

fil a it’s in Michigan

[@conndapierce5869]

I think it's Illinois but I'm not sure

[@kevinv9217]

It's in Michigan

[@Royalleague45]

ANOTHER MUSKEGON SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

[@boxtapper8550]

They can't even deliver a chair, lol. what a shower.

[@ABCEasyas--]

0:27 Bill O'Brien was a school board member before he was the owner of the Houston Texans?

[@benjaminsalcedo8635]

this should happened to L.A

[@stevenjunor503]

Good for her!✊

[@5674inCincy]

Frost World Problems

[@rutrose2000]

Well did she get her chair yet?

[@johnawakening9908]

And (Sally) a beautiful woman.

[@davetroup6487]

This is why we need to do away with school boards, teachers unions and the cabinet position Secretary of Education. If teachers could negotiate their own pay directly with school ... then two things would happen 1: The schools could hire then retain good teachers and fire the bad teachers ... 2: Quality teachers would not have to settle for a "union wage" (because just like most politicians, unions are only interested in power!!) they can take their services to any needed area and get a decent wage!! FREE TRADE WORKERS, even teachers, can and would benefit from supply/demand without the government, elected school board members or unions!!! STOP being one of the RED/BLUE herd of cattle ... Break Free!!! ...LIVE FREE!!! Vote Libertarian!!! @

[@maxinearmstrong9566]

Does anyone care about a chair!!! Ridiculous video

[@suntzu6122]

Wow that is so trashy. "You win!" "Just kidding".

[@justinwagner1078]

Oh no not the office car

[@Indigo939]

Slime ball!

[@justsomedudeyouknow8372]

All this over a chair? Isn't there more pressing problems than a chair? Like, seriously?!

[@chasebrown5675]

If they can’t even give teachers a chair and they can’t uphold their promises how can they be trusted with the well-being and overall safety of their students

[@justsomedudeyouknow8372]

@@chasebrown5675 Oh i see, so the the chair is a metaphor for their lack of caring. I'd be interested to see what their budget is and how it's spent, since it's common knowledge that most schools are underfunded and poorly managed. Then add in any possible financial corruption that might be happening. lol

[@dpod8636]

👏

[@sonimbetterthanyou]

Judging by the videos from this district, this school board seems highly ineffective and a crippling against teachers.

[@OGMann]

Savage. Lol.

[@DavidTMSN]

Not surprised.

[@rickhenk8363]

Jennings has not earned a Mr title...so stop

[@johnprovince5304]

School Board is the classic first step to higher office. You want to boot these people at this level before they become your City Councilman or State Assembly Rep.

[@philsurtees]

Did you mean "boot", or "shoot"?

[@LadyCoyKoi]

@@philsurtees Shhh.... we aren't telling. 🤔🤫🎵🎶

[@juliedeane4327]

True. Our state Rep claims fame for being on the school board.

[@ABCEasyas--]

Love how she said that she's number one on the seniority list. She will, without a doubt, be "asked to retire".

[@bulshtbnd]

Could see it when the camera panned over to this school board. The members in the view were not showing the least bit of interest in what was being said. No big surprise. I firmly believe this is true of ALL school boards across the nation.

[@ubiquitousdiabolus]

Why do they run for board? Pure narcissism?

[@denisemezynski8014]

You are Absolutely correct about Everything you said . I hear they get paid great money, all have nice expensive cars an homes and do Nothing for it. I saw a show about people on Teachers Boards, was yrs ago, it wasn't good for any of them .

[@daveidhasslehoff7073]

Politicians too

[@paulhagerty2773]

And we as a group allow this?????????? What the fuck people.

[@James-jz1vd]

So what? The sheep will call them out go home and think they done their part.A few will follow threw.But they won’t get any real supportive efforts until it’s so blatant Board are not their for their kids.

[@shannonhester6665]

He seriously picked up his phone during that. He is in a professional setting whether he likes what is being said or not he should not be picking up his phone.

[@quasidiem99]

I think the person next to him was more interested in how long the speaker was talking: She was asking someone to check the time, I think.

[@nathanfordham8376]

​@@quasidiem99 the guy was on his phone for far longer than it takes to just be checking the time. In my opinion it's just blatant disregard for what she is saying if he finds his lock screen more captivating than the criticism he is receiving from a colleague...which seems to be the culture within the administration of this school district. Behavior like this (however microscopic at this point) is why so many people from this area are are dissatisfied with Justin Jennings.

[@quasidiem99]

@@nathanfordham8376 Probably

[@notagain8661]

He was texting HR for the impending Firing! 🤭

[@phylliscojocaru5391]

get rid of school boards... they don't care about students, or teachers...it's a stepping stone into politics!

[@kodak303]

Phyllis Cojocaru glad someone else see that

[@ABCEasyas--]

Get rid of unions too.

[@euphoria156]

USA is THE Biggest Capitalist County in the World. So, yes, no wonder. 😐OUR GOVT. IS PUPPET OF CORPORATES, WHO WANTS TO DISMANTLE OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM SO THAT WE BECOME POOR AND STUPID. THAT WAY ITS EASIER TO HANDLE US. STUPID AND POOR SLAVES CANT DEFEND THEMSELVES. We ALL NEED TO UNITE AGAINST THE CORPORATES, THE 2% RICH PPL OF THE WORLD.

[@bluebo1212]

@@ABCEasyas-- I agree if they reform teacher insubordination laws

[@puppetsock]

@@euphoria156 HA HA HA HA! You are stupid. I bet you are also poor. In the USA, the government sets the rules that the corporations, and all of us, function under. Governemnts at all levels combine to collect about half the economy as taxes of one sort or another. With defecit spending, governments spend well over half the GDP. Schools are run by governments. The rules they operate under are set by governments. It is very hard to get your child into any other scheme than government run schools. There is essentially no competition. Schools are paid for by taxes, predominantly on individuals and home owners. Teachers are mostly in unions. Often state-wide unions covering multiple school boards. The unions are festeringly politically active and hugely powerful in setting policy. The portion of students in K-to-12 in private schools is very small. Governments and unions have made sure that such are grotesquely over priced. Even charter schools and Montessori schools are quite rare. Home-schooled is rare enough to be noteworthy when somebody has the energy and drive and stuborness to jump through all the hoops that government and unions put in the way. The input of corporations into education is miniscule. Unionistas get upset when there is a vending machine selling pop in the cafeteria. Not because sugary drinks are bad for children. (Probably are, but I am not a diet scientist nor a doctor, so it's nothing but my prejudicial notions.) But because they don't want the chilluns seeing a corporate logo. Cronyism is what you have hold of there. It's a disgustingly different thing.

[@stephenhavenner6954]

THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING OUT!!!!

[@louisianamidwest4106]

I like this lady!!

[@timbuktug3321]

Me too

[@louisianamidwest4106]

@Speaking the Truth obviously you know absolutely nothing about teaching and the education field

[@pollypocket2282]

Imagine the goods will he would have spread if he opened his own wallet and bought that teacher a decent chair.... Any good manager would have done that. Man this school district is messed up!

[@LadyCoyKoi]

Let me tell you something... in one high school I substituted for... it took them over 5 to 10 years to get the appropriate blinders needed for the students at the special ed self contain classroom to have appropriated privacy during the times of changing clothes and diapers when needed, since all of the classrooms were just rooms without any personal restrooms or places to give the students their privacy and dignity that they deserve as human beings. These school board people have no sense of morale and decency for teachers, much less full compassion and understanding for students who need them the most... and far less respect for the privacy and dignity for students that go to any school. This is a battle we must fight back at. It is criminal how these people function as.

[@streetcarp475]

2 school board members disliked this video

[@heidiwills4259]

@@iquitnow, teachers DON'T get paid for their time off. Their contracts don't cover two months of the year.

[@michellemarley5835]

First of all teachers do not get 3 months off a year. Teachers stay after hours and come in before their hours. Sometimes tutoring students after school. They spend their own money on supplies because the school budget doesn't give them enough to cover their own classrooms. When they go home at night they have to grade papers and create new plans. They are required to attend a lot of events such as school dances etc. at the school in the evenings including parent-teacher conferences and staff meetings. All of this in the midst of kids being rude and disrespectful these days with absolutely no sense of authority. The stress is great and not many could hold up to it.

[@jumaunplummer9341]

N Bailes I’m Sorry Where Are The 3 Months Off That You Are Speaking About? We Teach Because We Care About The Kids & Educating Them! If We All Said Oh This Field Makes No Money Lets Quit, Where Would You Get The Knowledge To Type Your Ignorant Comment! We Don’t Complain We Just Speak Up About How We Should Be Appreciated & Respected! So Before You Speak Up, Gather All Facts!

[@patricianicholson1956]

N Bailes you don’t get it!

[@tapdance6767]

N Bailes That’s a great question! So, schools are non profits and because of this they qualify for government money in the form of grants. (I write these for a living.) These programs come in the form of things like the food program which means the school purchases the food for breakfast, lunch and snacks, and then takes a count of the students in attendance, and the school is reimbursed for what they spent. Some grants are for things like IT, safety equipment, playground equipment, and so forth. One thing grants cannot be used for is salary. Additionally, teachers use a portion of their salary for supplies when the grant money has expired and there are still needy students. Does that help explain?

[@jori7432]

Only another teacher could survive 5 minutes in a classroom! You can read, write, solve math problems, and apply science and social studies skills to your life. You are welcome. PS I would loved to have worked all year. I actually worked many more hours than an 8 hour day. By the way, I was never paid for school breaks and I was never paid for the summer. I didn't have summers off, I was unemployed. A portion of each paycheck was held by the school system, "saved" for me and returned to me in the summer.

[@LadyCoyKoi]

Try being a part-time employee, we get none of that, but are still expected to deal with the same stuff and responsible for the same as a teacher, yet we get nothing.

[@aikhis]

but if we give money for the students and the teachers, what's left for us the board member to give ourselves raises?

[@tberd906]

The dilemma regarding the chair is simple enough even the school board can understand. They don’t care, but understand.

[@sheilayoung2018]

Great job, Sally!

[@jimhanold9026]

Exactly, Sheila!

[@amypeterson4615]

Sounds like Jennings pulled a Michael Scott.

[@Skor1img]

You go girl

[@FrostyMetals]

Its time to be self reliant again folks

[@fionaphillips3458]

You match contempt with the same level of an contempt.

[@dontbeled]

Notice that they aren't even listening.

[@GutsandHeartGuy]

Ms. Purchase, you and a lot of teachers are speaking out about the way that y'all are being disrespected, underpaid, and how y'all are given an aultimatum to teach critical race theory and common core in public schools or be forced to resign. It takes a lot of courage to speak out to a school board, who don't care what you have to say. Ms. Purchase you have a lot to be proud of because your resume is impressive, remember regardless what happens, a lot of teachers feel your pain and understand what it's like to have a trash school board. Ms. Purchase, there are better jobs out there and I would encourage you "with you head held high" you put in 31 years and the school board didn't care, but it's their loss because you're "one of a kind" teacher that Muskegon high school could never ever replace.

[@stevenpursley4511]

America is 8th in the world in education, and falling...Get rid of the liberal union education system, that's more interested in teaching political garbage than basic study's

[@pearldrummer7217]

That’s some guilty and embarrassed body language

[@donricerice1645]

Read Jesuit Vatican Tyranny, also read Deliberate Dumbing Down of America by Charlotte iserbyt. Learn your US Constitution!

[@brenda324]

I hate the smug smirk's, they think they are above the law and constitution. Go get 'em. Get them out!

[@russs7574]

It has been my experiences as a parent, taxpayer and voter that school administrators, and that includes school boards to be among the most useless human beings in society.

[@coltonturner450]

How come this hasn't gotten like 20 million hits man people need to get mad about this this is who's teaching our kids

[@ericnisula8095]

These board members sadly are so full of themselves they forget who they should be serving. It is disgraceful.

[@millicentjohnson7276]

And, I'll bet that the voters. Went back to the poll, elected the same incumbent, translation ( incompetent,) board members...

[@aireboat7988]

It might not always be a chair. But...there's always "a chair".

[@maryronan8446]

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@nektekket852]

The dumbing down of America continues apace...

[@dawngonzalez860]

Because they simply do not care about teachers.

[@dongodwin2144]

What does the woman on the committee find so funny

[@johndelucia8856]

LEAVE THE TEACHERS UNION, TEACHERS

[@johnshirvington7750]

They were not hearing you

[@MariahB1111]

Interesting how in all the videos regarding Muskegon, these school representatives look very humored… except for the young guy

[@chuckmiller2951]

Jennings looking at his phone says it all.

[@purple-yk9ms]

why is watching random peoples school board arguments so much fun

[@ln9296]

its extremely satisfying tbh

[@kevintunaley5079]

so what was the end result of all of this ?

[@stevehorn2634]

As I've stated before... I'd like to say it and so would that teacher like to say it... Button today's world, you just can't. It's still the truth but in today's world you can't say the truth.

[@disf5178]

Ha! You can tell by his 'wannabe polished politician' attire that CLOWN had political aspirations..

[@MRitterH]

What is a school board and why is it needed ???? Im danish and we dont have that here, and we dont have these problems as you do.. maybe you could learn from the outside world how things are suppose to be. Your corrupt police force as well!!

[@NukeSaturn_]

Bro its this same board from another video i saw lol

[@tomy5868]

i am um...a teacher um....for um...31 years um...and um....

[@anjadubarrage9175]

Unfit for the job! Arrogant, no empathy, no shame. Too long in the same position, time to go...

[@rossiikukla]

Go Sally! We value and respect you!

[@mariamorales81]

😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮

[@MrCptSilva]

The parents and teachers need to go on stage and teach these adult who the boss of those kids.

[@jamesmusk508]

He doesn't even listen as he plays with his phone the creepy lookin *hi*

[@Phantasm1978]

He was so uninterested in what she had to say, that he started looking at his cell phone.

[@guccilady1017]

This series of videos is the best roast I’ve ever watched

[@barbarayoung7326]

Replace the entire school board.

[@cmvamerica9011]

Is this what our educators are focused on; no wonder the kids aren’t learning.

[@bluesky5384]

She’s using it to make a point to highlight the stupidity of a specific board member.