Graduation Rates for Giles County
2005 – 82.0 % 2006 – 84.8 % 2007 – 76.5 %
While
How long are we willing to pay more each year while getting less? Allen Barrett
posted by Allen Barrett | 10:31 AM
Giles Free Speech Zone
The purpose of the "Giles Free Speech Zone" is to identify problems of concern to the people of Giles County, to discuss them in a gentlemanly and civil manner, while referring to the facts and giving evidence to back up whatever claims are made, making logical arguments that avoid any use of fallacy, and, hopefully, to come together in agreement, and find a positive solution to the problem at hand. Help make a difference! Email "mcpeters@usit.net" to suggest topics or make private comments.
Contributors
- Too Many School Supervisors Or Not Enough?
- County Gives Back $18,000.00 to Lynnville
- Approved or Not Approved
- Admiration for Commissioners
- Leaps and Bounds
- Assistant Principal Position
- To Quit Or Not To Quit, That Was The Question!
- Bonus For Classroom Teachers???
- Ghost Staff
- Another Bonus??????
37 Comments:
As long as the public education system is focused on looking good and spending more for bureaucratic eloquence, no parent will be left with a behind and no child will not be left behid. When the state is filled with hinnie sniffers and the local run by people like Mr. J, emphasis will be political protocal not education. Would you like to be recycled in that environment?
The value added reports and clipped bar charts belong to the paper tigers who have corrupted their own morality to blow their horns and pretend they are winners instead of pathetic loosers.
The pent up anger amongst the grunts indicates that the core of competence is held back by the rule of incompetence, because too good might expose the "leaders".
The regimentation is like ducks waddling across the road, beak to butt. The next time the ducks quack about conflict of interest with the assurance they will vote their conscience, is the prime time for the audience to break out in uncontrolled laughter! It's called pathos - so pathetic it's funny.
When the school block votes to cook the books so the auditors and public will not know how screwed up the system is, we have an abominable mess! Thirteen votes to end it is an astounding improvement!!!!!
Does anyone think the students can't figure out this mess?
A lot of the comments above are with merit, but I think the biggest problem with our school children not meeting graduation rates is parents. I am a substitute teacher at times, it amazes me at the kids who have no one at home giving them support and attention in order to acheive a good education. Parents seem to want to leave everything up to the school system and don't care enough to get involved. I am not saying that every parent is like this, but a great number are...
The graduation rate is a huge problem, but the way Mr. Jackson is running his show no wonder. Until we the voters can get him and his followers out of the school system it will continue to be a problem. He needs to put more interset on the children than on how many people he can fit into the central office building. Our children are the future and they need a very good education.
Could we please have more topics other than the educational system, votes involved or persons involved with it or budget constraints. I agree this is a hotbed for parents and concerned tax payers but the point becomes labored and the response is becoming redundant. How about introducing topics of concern in the areas of crime, business practices, charitable scams or economy concerns (ie;jobs,cost of living or gas prices). The more topics the greater the interest in this blog and more mass appeal.
633 - sounds to me like everything you want to see in new topics is really SOS in the school system - crimes, business practices, scams, economic chaos, & much more.
Might even be some political clout just itching to pull the flush lever.
633 - Great idea, but good luck trying to get it to work. The truth is that not that many people visit this blog. It's the same few wannabes (often pretending to be more than one person so it appears that they have alot of support) that post the same thing over and over - they hate this person, that person shouldn't have their job because of this or that reason (usually fabricated), this system or that office is corrupt, etc, etc, etc. These people are so negative that everything they want to talk about is negative. Sure, there are a few like me who read the blog for kicks and giggles, but the few actual bloggers don't want to talk about anything else because they are consumed by wanting what the people they talk about have.
Let's all have the motto GCHS has- "A Diploma in Every Hand." They are giving them away, so let's just pass and graduate everybody. The principal complains at the teachers when the students fail. They get fussed at rather than the kid who chose to do nothing in class. Follow the lead of the principal and just pass everybody and put "A Diploma in Every Hand."
We can then have a 100% graduation rate. WOW!
Keep 'um stupid and you keep 'um able to be manipulated when it comes time to vote, how else can you explain somebody like McCain and Obama actually being considered for president or Vanzant as county mayor?
This is about graduation rate, not Vanzant, McCain or Obama. If you don't like your choices, go somewhere else and live.
100% graduation rate is impossible and 90% is about as close to impossible.
Keep the same old topics but PLEASE add a choice rather than keep the same repetition. I doubt many minds have been changed here or enlightened with a new view. Maybe some have or just angered enough to comment back. This county does need free speech without backlash. Make it so with NEW TOPICS that consider all the areas of the county rather than just politics or those in the school system. Break it down into categories and let those who want to read it do so. What do you have to lose?
The trouble with "being positive" is reality. Not everyone has the mental capability to gradualte from high school and far fewer have the ability to graduate from a real college. That doesn't make them bad citizens, bad people, failures, or incompetent. They can be productive in society. About the only way we can find our niche is through success and failure. If you succeed, go to the next step, if you want to. If you fail, find another step or find one that works for you. The most important issue is morality with a good dose of honesty.
The gland hand and smiley face are the nemisis of education. The obedient idiot is the first to get squashed by reality - good job, raise, authority, but ... never there because being discovered ... lost in an underwold of bungles & cover up ... bringing their bright underlings down to their level ... on & on --- Usually very nice people who are easily hurt and sometimes destroyed by misdirected "kindness" or bad people taking advantage of their vulnerability.
The head grasshopper is a whole different bag of worms that will hurt many people before he's finally tossed out.
To Anonymous of the 5:05 post.
Anytime you would like to add a new topic please feel free to make a suggestion, call me or just pull me aside somewhere and I'll be very glad to start a new thread. Thanks Allen Barrett
I know for a fact that you better not try to put a high school kid into GED. Ron Shirey & Mr. Hasting will have a cow rather than see that happen. The only way is some sort of Christian home school scam they have going on. Or your kid better be so bad that they are in alternative school & GED program.
Otherwise the just show up everyday to make that warm body count & continue to make failing grades till they turn 18 & quit.
The question that keeps coming to my mind is why each year the funding goes up and the graduation numbers go down?
I understand the need for the school system to keep students coming in and filling a seat so they can continue funding levels but it seems much too costly for teachers and other students having to deal with those who do not want to be there. Should those who actually want an education not be considered, should those teachers that still have an enthusiasm for teaching not be considered. If a child no longer wants to be in class but absolutely has to continue in school take them out of regular classes so others can learn, place them in a totally separate class setting with smaller numbers, greater discipline and uglier teachers until they can behave in regular classes.
If this sounds like alternative school it isn't. Alternative school ideally is for those who have committed violations requiring punishment.
Under the current circumstances even those who do hang on and graduate are not leaving school as well prepared as they should be. Even most of those going to college are being required to take remedial classes. Allen Barrett
Mr. Barrett, While you and I usually don't hold the same views, in the previous post you make some good points that I do agree with. There are a few other issues that must be considered though. First of all, the problem of needing to keep kids in school isn't really with the local school system and isn't all about funding, though of course that does play a part. The problem is the regulations that local systems are required to follow. State law says that no student may drop out of school until age 18, unless - and this is only if the student is at least 17 - both the parent and the director of schools sign a form to allow that to happen. If they do sign, then that student counts as a dropout and against the dropout rate pushed so heavily by the state mandates. So like it or not, teachers and principals and even the director have no choice in the students who don't want to be there being there. If principals don't try to keep those kids in school and do their best to try to motivate them to graduate, then they automatically count against the school's dropout rate. With the state breathing down necks with their mandates, no one is going to simply say hey, it's ok for you to drop out. In some instances, the drop out of one additional student could cause the school not to meet its required rate. Then it becomes a target school and the state steps in and the school could possibly eventually face sanctions, all because a student drops out. Teachers don't like it, principals don't like it, and neither does the director I would imagine. Yet there isn't much choice.
I agree that it would be more efficient to take those students who don't want to be in class and place them in a separate class setting. It's a fine idea. But in what class and with what teacher? There aren't any extra teachers in any of the schools. Teachers already have a full schedule. Do we really want to spend precious funds to hire someone to just babysit students in a class who don't want to learn when we could really use more teachers to reduce class sizes for those students who do want to learn? Studies show that one of the top factors in student success is small class size - for every student.
As for discipline, what greater discipline measures could be taken? Teachers and administrators already have their hands tied with what disciplinary measures they can use. And what if that child is a special education student? You would be surprised at the students who fall under this category now. They aren't necessarily those with learning disabilities or lower mental functioning. Some have normal or above IQ's but are labeled special ed because of things such as "oppositional defiance disorder", which basically means having difficulty with authority and rules, or ADHD, which is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. That is basically what it sounds like, but the problem is that, while there are truly some students with ADHD, many are labeled as such who have just never had a parent set any boundaries or teach them how to behave, so they don't know how. In cases such as those, schools are limited to what discipline they can impose. For instance, no matter what trouble a special education student gets into, they can only be suspended for a maximum of 10 days per year. That's it. Say they get into a fight and are suspended five days, then are disrespectful or skip class or such, all within the first couple of months of school, and are disciplined for those events with suspensions totalling 10 days (say 5 for fighting, 3 for disrespect or skipping school, etc.) Then for the rest of the school year, they cannot be suspended. The school just has to put up with them. If they do something that any other student would be expelled for, they can't be expelled, even if what they did has nothing to do with their disability. This isn't the teacher's rule, it isn't the principal's rule, and it isn't the director's rule. Everyone is forced to deal with these types of state and federal laws.
These problems do need addressing, I agree. But the change must come from state and federal levels. I've often heard older folks such as my grandparents say things such as, well you ought to just kick that kid out of school or I'd whip him until he couldn't sit down, etc. Well, those things can't be done now. They're against the law.
There was once a time when parents worked with the schools to make sure students were there and behaved. That is no longer the case, and that's where part of the break down is. I don't have any idea what the answer is. I agree with your idea in theory, but in practice it just isn't feasible.
What you describe is PC & Liberalism. If they don't know what to do & can't figure it out, give it a label & hire more mentally challenged bureaucrats to help study what none of them will accept or understand.
Eventually, all of the teachers will be brain washed and promoted to bureaucrats. Get a big merrygoround & everybody has to ride it till graduation. By then they'll all be ready for a good government job walking around in circles.
Ok, so for those of us who stop by on occasion, have similar views to many that blog and are at a loss of what exactly we, the general public, should do to FIX the problem - how about some proposed solutions? I am willing to do what it takes and I know many others that will join.
Hey 11-35 ...........start a recall petition against the administrators/managers/directors who are incompetent . All it takes for ouster is a majority of voting taxpayers .
You can find out all the rules for petitions and referendums in the county election office . You need to collect LOTS of signatures .Be SURE your forms say exactly what you want to do as they become the basis for voter action and NO deviation from that is allowed .
Will take a lot of time but not much $$ .
Sweaty
Contact your state senators and representatives in the house and let them know how you feel. Changes need to be made but won't without public support.
there are so many thing that need to done, it is hard to know where to start.
1. elect school board members that are objective and cannot be controlled by the director of schools.
2. insist that the director uses available funds for classroom needs and not central office empire building.
3. insist that the director appoint principals at each aschool who are dedicated and willing to maintain discipline of the teachers and students. you cannot have student discipline if you do not require the highest standards for discipline by the teachers. no school will be any better than their leaders.
4. enforce attendance requirements. take appropriate action against parents when attendance requirements are habitually broken.
5. the princioal and teachers should take action to encourage parents to be more active in the education of their child. i know this is easier said than done. be creative. get students and parents involved in thing other than athletics.
6. the director must encourage principals and teachers who do not do what is needed to find other careers.
To Anonymous of the 27 June 1:44 post.
Very well and accurately stated.
Allen Barrett
6-27-/144 what you say makes more sense than anything I've heard in the last 4 years - missed the main thing tho - need to dump jackson or nothing will work!
Does anyone know if recall petitions are allowed in Giles Co which operates under General Law.
they must because they used a petition to get the vote on the ballot about the financial management act after we already voted it in
But does that pertain to recall petitions? From what I understand its not a unifrom option.
Why not start the petition - need to get it up front. Someone must know how to file it. Let us know where to get a copy & let's get them in the stores etc.
Tired of lies, wasting money, & not taking care of business! Schools must be above reproach & question.
Its easy enough to file a petition but you have to know if the petition presented for referendum is allowable under the TN law. What is it you are wanting to do - get rid of Jackson only or what?
the only way to remove t. jackson is for the school board to negioate a buyout of his contract, unless you can prove he has committed an illegal action. lying unless it is under oath is not a criminal act. unfortunately, i do not think tennessee law allows recall of elected officials. be sure to remember all this when you go vote for any office.
Tee Jackson was not elected he was appointed by the School Board.
He wasn't appointed he was anointed.
falsifying a financial report is illegal.
Fire him!
I think the situation with regard to the education system is largely true. The troublemakers in school cannot be separated from the achievers. Teachers are forced to deal with them and attempt to teach at the same time. It's truly a travesty of justice for those students who come to school and behave themselves. Someone recently said that we ought to have two different school systems (one for those who are serious about getting an education and the other for the disruptive students who already think they know everything).
820 not a bad idea - problem is, education has turned into indoctrination & no one with a brain woud voluntarily sign up for PC.
As a former student of giles county I can honestly say that it sucks. To be blunt there is no room for politics when it comes to education. I also believe a lot lies with the families. Whoever said that 100% isnt possible, your wrong. It is if you believe that it can happen. Student have to take ownership for their work and need to be encouraged to do well. There should never be curves or passes to get you further. Students all over the country do it why can Giles County schools.
Furthermore, the teachers. Therein lies the responsibility and guilt of the system. If a teacher feels they have no time to help a student do well and they have time to pass them on as someone elses problem. Shame on you. Who are you to be judge and jury or a child. If you cant do the job get out of the job. Let someone who is willing to do it right replace you. Monetary value should not be put on a students grade. Its not a job teaching students, its a purpose to pass on your knowledge to enlighten the world.
Leave the politics of education at home. Teach whats in the books till the students know it like they know PS3's, XBOX's, and Guici bags.
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