How to Bury the Lede
The headline of the Birmingham News story reads: "Layoff of beloved teacher a sign of Birmingham schools' problems, parents say."
It begins: "Teacher layoffs last spring dismayed two Birmingham parents. On the layoff list was Shasta Wyatt, second-grade teacher at Epic for the children of Monica Hill and Majella Chube Hamilton."
It continues: "How in the world could Birmingham schools let a teacher - a remarkable teacher in Hill's and Hamilton's eyes - go?"
OK. Why was she let go?
The story tells us 398 Birmingham teachers were laid off when the district discovered a $19 million budget shortfall.
Got it. Why was Shasta Wyatt one of the 398?
"Last May, Hill wrote to Birmingham Superintendent Stan Mims to tell him how Aysiah bloomed in Wyatt's class. Hill said she felt saddened by Wyatt's departure, and told Mims that '...given the reputation of the Birmingham City Schools, I do believe losing Mrs. Wyatt is a great loss.' Hill said she got no response from the superintendent."
Wow. So Wyatt was dismissed for no reason?
"Hamilton waited through the summer. She decided to publicly share her concern in a Commentary article in The Birmingham News on Oct. 28. In the story, she praised Wyatt's 'nurturing classroom, where much was expected, everyone was valued and treated equally within a calming and fun environment.' Hamilton asked in the article: '... how could you let go of this amazing second-grade teacher?' and 'Where, oh where, is Ms. Wyatt?'"
The News found her, and reports she's doing a great job teaching first-grade in Jefferson County.
Aha! So Wyatt was laid off at random, right? That's intolerable!
Oh, wait a minute. In the 28th paragraph of a 35-paragraph story we finally get to this:
"Tenure laws are the reason Birmingham loses teachers like Wyatt, said Birmingham school board member Phyllis Wyne. The system has to let untenured teachers go first."
Journalism 101: Don't describe the crime in the lede, then wait until the end to identify the culprit.
It begins: "Teacher layoffs last spring dismayed two Birmingham parents. On the layoff list was Shasta Wyatt, second-grade teacher at Epic for the children of Monica Hill and Majella Chube Hamilton."
It continues: "How in the world could Birmingham schools let a teacher - a remarkable teacher in Hill's and Hamilton's eyes - go?"
OK. Why was she let go?
The story tells us 398 Birmingham teachers were laid off when the district discovered a $19 million budget shortfall.
Got it. Why was Shasta Wyatt one of the 398?
"Last May, Hill wrote to Birmingham Superintendent Stan Mims to tell him how Aysiah bloomed in Wyatt's class. Hill said she felt saddened by Wyatt's departure, and told Mims that '...given the reputation of the Birmingham City Schools, I do believe losing Mrs. Wyatt is a great loss.' Hill said she got no response from the superintendent."
Wow. So Wyatt was dismissed for no reason?
"Hamilton waited through the summer. She decided to publicly share her concern in a Commentary article in The Birmingham News on Oct. 28. In the story, she praised Wyatt's 'nurturing classroom, where much was expected, everyone was valued and treated equally within a calming and fun environment.' Hamilton asked in the article: '... how could you let go of this amazing second-grade teacher?' and 'Where, oh where, is Ms. Wyatt?'"
The News found her, and reports she's doing a great job teaching first-grade in Jefferson County.
Aha! So Wyatt was laid off at random, right? That's intolerable!
Oh, wait a minute. In the 28th paragraph of a 35-paragraph story we finally get to this:
"Tenure laws are the reason Birmingham loses teachers like Wyatt, said Birmingham school board member Phyllis Wyne. The system has to let untenured teachers go first."
Journalism 101: Don't describe the crime in the lede, then wait until the end to identify the culprit.
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