What Is The State Of Our School System?
This topic was requested by a poster who stated, "Mr Barrett - I don't mean to hijack this thread but could you start a thread on the state of our school system? Specially, about how well our children are being taught?"
posted by Allen Barrett | 12:27 PM
165 Comments:
May I am old but why do students get to use calculators in school and also P.E. should be physicial education not for snacking, catching up on gossip, and texting. We need to make our students use their minds games and tv have taken away from that. When was the last time anyone saw children playing outside or even at the park for fun not just for sports? I dont feel it is the teachers fault I feel it is those that give direction to those teachers. The best P.E. teachers I have ever known were Kay Garrett and Mrs. Braden (Beadle) they actually knew what P.E. was all about. Not pointing anything to anyone just want to to see if anyone had any answers to these 2 questions.
thanks
I'm sure we have lost alot of potentail industry because of out poor school system.
I am sure we have but there are ways to fix this and i just dont know how the powers that be are only out for the money and running a school like a business as with anything these days. But our children are the future and should not be made to feel part of that "business world" they will reach that status soon enough as they get older.
to: Tuesday, August 18, 2009 1:19:00 PM - are you a product of this school system? just curious.
Too many supervisors (watchers) and not enough teachers (doers).
The main problem is PARENTS have taken away the teachers ability to discipline. Kids get away with just about anything they so desire in the school system today!
If I got in trouble in school I knew I had had it, but kids today think "Oh my parents will take care of it!".
3:00
Yes
Parents have had some of their abilities taken from them. When it is posted if you feel abused call 1-800-**** even if yelled at and parents dont want to go to jail then there is a problem. Kids have not got the fear of God in them like the older generation. I had the fear of the teachers, mom, and dad or even adults. Kids are not afraid of adults or respect them at all. But enough of that there should be a way to really teach our children they spend just as much if not more time with school system than parents or caregivers. I went to college recently and a few of the students in my core classes could barely read what is that telling us. Also I know that the children should know something when they start kindergarten but when i started it was for learning some of the basics not at a 2 grade level. School was also fun what happened to those times. Our children need to have the want to to go to school this is the best times of their lives WHAT DO WE DO FOLKS!!!!!!!!
to 12:52
I agree with you totally. I had to purchase a calculator for my child who is in the 5th grade. It was a must that they have it. They need to be able to do it with out a calculator. I don't allow my child to use one at home, but some teachers require one. Another thing why in the world are we having to pay such high fees and supply list gets longer each year. It has stuff on it that looks like the school should supply with our tax dollars. Another thing is some of the teachers and principals are only worried about what a child makes on the TCAP test at the end of the year since it reflects on the school. I am more interested in what my child is learning through out the year than on the TCAP test. We do have some of the best teachers in the state, but some needs to learn how to teach.
Teach your kids family values and manners at home. I know that there are alot of parents who do. But than there are those who let their kids run wild. Most kids(even good ones) will get in some kind of trouble but they have to be taught at home first and foremost. It is the parents responsibility to teach these kids who and what to respect. Kids have no respect these days. If you have a loving relationship with your child you don't have to worry about that 1-800 number!
It could be some warped and corrupt conspiracy to ruin our children. This needs to be investigated.
I think the elementary schools should provide reserved parking spaces for the students that drive to school. My son's corvette has been painted twice due to careless drivers parking too close to him at school. They have this at the high school.
I have said this many times; everyone needs to work in a school for a week. Children deal with adult problems today whereas those of us that are older were just children when we were in school. We didn't have to worry about the many world problems that are present in our schools. School is not the same place it was 20-30 years ago, neither are the children.
When you see a teacher, thank that person for having to do jobs that are no where in the job description for such little praise that gets thrown their way. Let's thank some people rather than run them down on this thread.
Someone mentioned the TCAP test. They are used throughout the state as an indicator what the children, school and teachers are doing. It is not as accurate as you may think. Let's sy little Johnny doesn't want to take the test on a given day. He just goes through the test and marks answers without any care as to whether the answers are correct or not. Then when his scores come back (poor as they may be) questions are asked why teachers didn't do a better job with that student. Parents, you just don't know how difficult it is to reach and teach some of the children of today.
Again, give thanks to our teachers.
5:52, 5:55 and 9:52
If not at the high school what school would a child drive to that he needed a parking place?
Why do children need cars at
school anyway. When we were learning our A, B, Cs about one student in 200 had a car to drive to school.
Most math teachers today are struggling with students who refuse to learn their basic facts. I imagine those teachers
who require calculators are trying to teach mathmatical problem solving skills to students who have no basic math skills to fall back on when they get to the more complicated problem solving.
Yes parents should teach their children good behavior at home, but there are parents who do not do so. The child who seems to have been taught to behave at home has become somethng rarely seen in today's classroom. When your well-behaved child gets to school and mixes in with the others you would not believe how they behave.
Have you ever seen a well-behaved cow in the middle of a stampede. We call the phenomenon "herd mantaity." We see this mentality in children---they have a tendency to blend in with their buddies rather than behaving as they have been taught.
Most teachers care more about their students than they do the TCAP scores, but in reality if the TCAP scores go down so does school funding, jobs are lost and schools are either closed are taken over by the Federal Government and more money from you tax dollars are thrown into the mix---but now with much less impact or the schools are turned over to for-profit schools managers.
Don't expect the for-profit to supply textbooks etc unless there are tax dollars allocated to them to provide these things. These for-profit schools have to get their operating funds somewhere. Either from tuition or from public funds. Either you or yours will still foot the bill. Just choose the way you want your money spent.
After I got my teaching degree I stayed home to start a family, then went into the classroom in about 8 years. The difference in the classroom and student behavior from the time I was in school and I did my student teaching was tremendous---and I might add not for the best. Then from the time I did my student teaching and entered the profession there were even more changes---also not for the best. The changes continue---children seem to be the last thing considered by the parents of the last few years. Their parents for the most part are of the "ME" generation---they are only interested in satisfying their interests and lusts with no thought of how this affects their children and the message that it gives to the child is what I want is more important that what I need to do to learn.
When you plant seed you most usually get a crop of what you planted. Sometimes teachers can touch a life and change it---but for the most part we are just a part of the fast passing scenery in the lives of our children no matter what we try to do.
I still love being around children, love to see that light go on in their eyes when they finaly understand what the teacher is teaching. But after 25+ years in the classroom I can say that it is harder and harder to see those little eyes shine with a love of learning because of the baggage they bring into the classroom from situations beyound their control.
Hope those of you who regularly blog can solve what is wrong with education in Giles County and in our whole country. Our children here in the US can no longer compete with those of other nations. Maybe you can come up with an answer and wake us all up
to where we are going wrong.
My prayers go with you.
Melanie
Over all, OUR school system is a good one. We have turned out doctors, lawyers, teachers, dentists and many other professionals from the crop of students who have come through the Giles County School System. Education needs reforming all across this country. We are having to water down the curriculum more and more all the time to get our students through school. We are told that failing students is not good, but passing them along is just as bad.
There are no good answers for education except it belongs to all of us. We must all contribute in a positive manner to see that improvements are made for all and not a few.
Melanie shares some very keen observations and thoughts. Teachers are not that different from any other group of individuals working in the same professions. There will always be those who are outstanding and those who really stink and should be doing something different.
The vast majority fall somewhere between outstanding and stinker.
It seems to me that even the ones who are outstanding begin to lose more interest in being outstanding when they feel unappreciated, ignored and required to do things they know to be non-productive.
While so much emphasis is placed on TCAP and teaching that test we find less than 40% of those taking the A.C.T. are ready for college. Simply put our children are not learning to think only repeat programed answers. Children who are doing complicated algebra on advanced calculators can't do simple division of whole numbers much less fractions on paper or in their head.
In Japan and Korea teachers are addressed with respect and they hold absolute authority over their classes, no ifs, ands or buts about it. When this country adopts a similar attitude toward education then improvements will take place. Yes, I understand there are some teachers who are not worthy of respect based on the way they dress, act etc. those must be weeded out in order for the system to survive and produce. This will require getting rid of unions that focus only on more money and nothing else. It's not always a matter of money although that's important. I've known people who felt so much a part of a unit they were willing to make life endangering sacrifices for less that a hundred dollars a month.
Teachers in Giles County have been lied to, ignored, disrespected, undermined and made to feel totally worthless by both parents and administration big wheels. It's surprising they have any morale left at all but for the most part it's their own fault. Teachers simply have not demanded they be treated with respect when they do they will begin to be treated differently. Kick the unions to the curb if they are not supportive, why pay them for doing nothing. While you can't legally go on strike you can quietly organize sick outs. See what the response is when only principals and administrators show up for school. Take responsibility for your life and demand respect, support, truthfulness and control of your classes, until you do things will remain as they are. Allen Barrett
This is a well worn question all across the country. I am stepping out on a limb and writing that throwing money at the problem to provide better schools, better sports parks, and the most modern provisions will not solve this problem. Look at countries that have none of these. A lottery for who can and cannot attend school. And as for higher learning only the brightest and most willing get that privilege. We have been the wealthiest nation so throwing money and building better,making teachers accountable, and better and higher wages have not improved the state of education. What is missing then? It begins at home and with the attitude of education for the ones receiving it. Education is a privilege to which over entitled children are not used to appreciating or even reaching out for. Parents need to embrace community schools again. Go in and volunteer your time. Ask a teacher all through the year what you can do to improve your child and help them to facilitate learning. If you have no children ask how you can improve the school free with labor and supplies. Make a difference...get involved.
TO: Tuesday, August 18, 2009 6:39:00 PM - you hit the nail on the head! I think these new fangled calculators need to be investigated. I was told that those little numbers can get imprinted on your eyeballs if you stare at them long enough! Heck, next thing they will be wanting them to use those computer things! I say we go back to each having a personal chalkboard by a coal oil lantern - aw, now there's some real learning!
I think the teachers need to teach math and show the kids how to work the problems out on paper or the board instead using calculators. As someone stated above when the kids get out of school they will not even no were to start solving problems. I know my child was doing her math homework a couple of days ago and I made her work out the problem on paper and she got upset because she said the teacher tells them to use the calculator at school. Years ago you would have been sent to the principal if you were caught even bringing a calculator to school. It seems to me that if the kids are struggling with a problem help the kids out instead of saying use your calculator. I believe kids would learn to read better if it was done on a slower pace than using words in first grade that should be on a fourth grade level.
To 12:22 calculators and computers are great things but they must be used appropriately not as substitutes for basic skills. Mr Barrett was right what good is finding the square root of a number on a calculator when you can't make change for a dollar? There is still much positive to be said about a simple chalkboard.
And there is much positive to say about our school system. Why must it always be something cynical and negative?
I think a minister suggesting a "sick out" is unconscionable. Can you believe that?
I have to agree with 7:15 PM. What example is that teaching our children if the teachers call in a "sick out" day? Asking what the principals would do is to ask what kind of faculty he/she has. I would bet all the money in this county that no school faculty would resort to hurting its students or its boss by all calling in sick. Teachers care MORE than most of the critics can understand. If teachers were in it for the money, there would be few teachers.
"I think a minister suggesting a "sick out" is unconscionable. Can you believe that?"
You're right 7:15 the teachers should just suck it up and accept the lies, lack of respect, undermining by supervisors and lost control in the classroom. Teachers should just shut up and accept the threats of being moved to distant schools. Teachers should just sign up for food stamps and accept that even when the county gives money for a raise and the superintendent uses it for other things they are priviledged
to teach under his guidance.
By all means just let the teachers shut up when they complain about not having enough textbooks or workbooks and their complaints continue to fall on deaf ears.
By all means attack a person for being a minister because his thoughts are different and he suggest a more aggressive way of changing the status quo.
Sign me a teacher who is fed up with being treated like a cowpatty.
I did not see anyone call for a "sick out" day. If that happened it would cost the school system $50+ per teacher per day. Who do you think pays for that. That would accomplish what? I do not know the answers but that is not it. The teachers AND support staff need raises. The teachers got a state raise last year but the supports staff has not had a raise in about 5 years. The bad part is that GCEA can negotiate a teacher raise but there is no rep for support staff. Teachers getting a raise does not mean a support staff raise.
The Board does not allow GCEA to negoiate for support staff-GO TO THEM AND ASK THEM TO LET THIS HAPPEN!
6:44 - What part of "While you can't legally go on strike you can quietly organize sick outs. See what the response is when only principals and administrators show up for school." as posted by Mr. Barrett do you not understand?
Get rid of Tee and over half the staff at the central office and all the teachers share their salary. The teachers will get a huge raise that they deserve.
10:32
I do not see where the writer said teachers should suck it up and accept whatever treastment they are given. Did you see it?
Again throwing more money toward teachers has not solved the educational dilemma in this country. I am related to and know enough teachers that would love more money and do deserve to be paid well. But, it starts with home, student attitudes, and the learning process not how good the benefits or well paid the job or nice the school. It depends on how much the community embraces education and supports the process. How involved they are willing to be in life long learning and flexible. Whether you have kids or not or they are young or in college. Encourage the learning process and get familiar with both the teaching and the learning side. You cannot fix it if you cannot understand it or are not involved with it.
If the average IQ is 100, it's reasonably sure at least 1/2 of the population will never learn anything useful in college and may not even get through high school. Chances are high no one will ever qualify for a skilled trade or technical position. None of that has anything to do with a person being good or bad, productive, or a ward of the state. just facts.
The good news is the fact that the new order has relocated all jobs requiring an IQ over 100. Doctors, etc. will be skimmed off the bottom of the barrel in third world countries. If you can slide the loaf of bread across a scanner, you have a place. If you can think, you will see trouble & trouble isn't happiness.
If you have a good line of BS, good at making up stories, & always ready to pat the boss on the back, you may be in line to pass your skills on to someone else - TJ has a place for you.
What has happened to children is the fact they don't know what working for something is! This mentality that I want my kids to have more than I did(is what most parents want) and than handing them everything they want without having to lift a finger have made kids lazy and disrespectful. Most kids don't know the value of hard work or what it feels like to earn something for themselves, they don't want to work for anything they want it all handed to them.
More & more teachers are getting involved. That is a very good thing! The universal expression of fear to openly express yourselves is the reason we are in this mess. What could the director of schools possibly do to you that is worse than silencing your dissent, holding you hostage to a counterproductive environment, begrudgingly doing things you know to be wrong? The core value of freedom is lost in that process! Doesn't it matter that our forefathers fought and died to give us freedom?
The "word" is mightier than the sword! If you can't write, you shouldn't be teaching. If you have no values worth fighting for, you can't pass meaningful knowledge to the next generation! Our legacy of rights has obligations - the same obligations our forefathers accepted without question, because they believed in God, country, and family! Who would have imagined God, country and family, would become politically incorrect and offensive? "Anonamouses" have made no difference in the passage of time! Do you know any that are not afraid and miserable with their state of affairs?
Excellent post 8:53!!!
EXCELLENT 8:53. Allen Barrett
Please allow me to share something concerning the state of our school system.
I have personal knowledge of a bullying situation that has been an ongoing thing at one of the county schools. In fact, it has gotten so bad that the teacher (victim) makes a huge effort to avoid this wannabe power-hungry employee who seems on a mission to make life miserable. This teacher has told me in detail about the situation and is now keeping copious notes of every attack or rude remark. Mr. Jackson will be given copies of these notes in time. This teacher has told me of being nauseated some mornings when it's time to go to the school, not knowing what the day will be. It's a shame that grown people can't behave and not feel so insecure and threatened by someone who, in this case, is and never was a threat!
Bullies are usually viewed as very unhappy people of low self-esteem who can't stand to see someone else being happy. That seems to be the case in this situation.
Such audacity! How dare a teacher to be happy at work? The irony is that the victim in this case can teach circles around the bully and never seeks any praise for it.
My child goes to the elem school in town and has been coming home telling me about the treatment a boy is getting in his classroom. Something about a boy that is being made to sit in a big box? Does anyone know if this is true? Does the principal at this school allow this to happen? Sounds like we (parents) need to being making alot of visits at this school during the day. I know I plan to next week.
I think its a shame that a principal would allow that. It would also be wrong if a principal allowed a teacher to bully another professional. I thought personality conflicts were checked at the door? That would be professionalism.
She is also on a mission to be the boss.
Think about what is being said - taking notes to present to "management" at some future date, possibly when things have heated to a point of no return.
If you believe in God, country, and family, within the context of what freedom is, you will cherish and protect it!
The first obligation is to confront the person you feel is threatening you, to determine if the threat is real. Freedom includes the right to like or dislike others for any or no reason whatsoever. There are timid to forceful personalities in bad and good people alike. Find out what they like & tell them what you like. If you are not exhibiting respect within that very broad band of mutual freedom and cohabitation of work environment, none will be given. If you can't agree & they are invading your assigned work environment order them to leave. If they don't leave, order management to remove them.
If you or your property are physically threatened, order management to resolve it, and engage law enforcement. That is only for real and serious situations, not disagreements or petty griping.
Whatever you do, do it immediate, firmly, and with your adversary, in a peaceful & productive manner. You don't have to respect of love one another, but you do have to work together if you expect accomplish anything!
Doormats are designed & placed at the entry for people to wipe their feet on - everyone knows that. If you don't like being a doormat, get off the floor & stop it. You must communicate and react. Doing nothing begets nothing.
(Note - Think about teachers & support employees not getting raises while the school system still manages to increase spending two or three times higher the inflation! Jackson may be the instigator, but the BOE is the one that makes it happen! That's not only disrespect, it's taking money away from you to create a socialist empire that will strip away every other right you think you have!)
6:48
That's all I was told...that the notes would be given to Mr. Jackson in time. I think for now it's simply a matter of gathering and documentation. Thank you for the response.
To 8:53
Look who the principal is at the elem. school. The way he acted at the boys baseball park, then I would not put nothing past Bill Holt. My guess is he does not care what goes on or it is his idea. If this is so, then that should be another reason to get rid of him.
710 - not trying to be critical or put down the person, but the solution is a relatively simple "first step". We get bruised and hurt taking the first steps, but it is the only way to stop crawling. It is the only way to walk, then run, and eventually move with purpose.
If you wait for someone to take that first step for you, you will never stop crawling. DON'T LET INCOMPETENCE RULE! Shove obstacles aside if necessary - the pen is mightier than the sword. Carry a big stick - twigs don't count.
8:53 - I happen to have it on excellent authority that they do, in fact, have a boy in a box at Pulaski Elementary. His name is Jack. They also have Prince Albert in a can, but I think they let him out.
I'd like to say something concerning the "boy in the box" issue. I'm not defending such action, if that be the case, but there could be another explanation. Teachers sometimes use the large cardboard boxes that refrigerators come in and make them into a three-sided study carrel or booth. They work quite well. I'm just saying that this could be what's going on.
I am one parent that is tired of having to spend half the night teaching to my child what should have been taught at school. The teacher goes over the subjects so fast so she will have time to gossip with others that the kids don't know what she is teaching. She needs to slow down and explain how to work and solve problems. I don't mind helping my child because it takes the parents and teachers for the kids to learn. If I'm going to have to explain everything that has already supposed been taught then I should have home schooled my child. I have talked to other parents who have the same problem. I would like to have a little time for my other children at night instead of doing homework all night. I agree with others that calculators should be removed from the classrooms. I wish teachers would start teaching the basic before they move on to harder and more advance work.
From what I hear, the boy in the box is put there to try to keep him out of the teacher's hair. It is certainly NOT to help him study. I am a parent that heard about this and starting asking around about it. Yes, the principal knows and lets this happen. He really does not care about the well-being of the children at his school and I am not sure if the assistant principal does either. I plan to call my school board member to check further into this issue.
Has anyone contacted the parents of this child?
I heard of a recent incident involving the kindergartners in the lunch room. Seems the asst. principal has to yell and intimidate these impressionable little children in order to feel she is important. The very first day a parent was eating lunch with their son and experienced her yelling at all and force ably shaking a little child's hand to get him to stop eating when her yelling did not work. Can you imagine the first day of your child's kindergarten year this is the display you experience??What kind of person reacts that way to small children??? I hope those who experienced this event because there was more than one, push to have disciplinary measures taken toward this lady to insure this does not happen again. I personally would be afraid to let my child go back!!! One of the parents who experienced this was just relocating their children to our "wonderful" school system. As if it wasn't enough to be terrified to be there as a little child alone and without your mommy or daddy but then on top of it to have this hateful woman yelling at you. Many children were terrified and began to sob they were so scared. This is disgraceful!!! This crazy out of control woman needs to be over there at the high school doing Hastings job since we need tough leadership to whip them in shape. I hardly think it necessary to treat kindergartners that way.
8-22 at 6:48
I think you misunderstood what I said. This teacher (the victim) has not been threatened at all by the bully......at least yet. The bully feels threatened by the very presence of this teacher who, by the way, is doing an excellent job and who has a solid bond with the students.
If the victim has the bully under control and the bully is really the one terrified, we don't have a problem, do we? No need to pin the tail on the donkey if it's under control.
Could it be, the victim is really a bully who became a victim of their own choosing because they picked on the wrong person & things didn't work out?
Which story fits the circumstances?
The hijacker who jumped in a little old lady's car may have had last words like, "She didn't have to shoot me! - ought to be more laws against guns" - just before his last breath... Liberal headlines would read, "Alter boy shot by crazed woman."
624, I hope what you say is right, in any event it's good productive productive thoughts & conversation. Everyone loves to see bullies get nailed!!!!
No matter if the school considers putting a child in a three sided box a 'study corral", its child abuse pure and simple. Isn't Pulaski Elementary where Bill Holt is principal?
The victim is not and never was a bully. So much for your incorrect analysis.
Study carrels are NOT abuse when a child is placed in one of them to avoid distractions. The alternative school has several of them. Why don't you go on a fact-finding mission and see for yourself?
When I was in school I remember seeing kids desks out in the hall because they could not concentrate on their work because of distractions in the class-was that child abuse too? I remember seeing children get paddlings for misbehaving and guess what, they didn't do it anymore, was that child abuse? Children were made to stand in the corner, wear dunce caps, sent home, sit by themselves, desk turned around backwards against a wall, sit out of recess and many more ways teachers disciplined children were they all child abuse? Most of these things helped children to understand that the behavior they were exhibiting was not acceptable in the classroom. So why is putting a child in a three sided box considered child abuse now? Each child is different and you have to deal with each accordingly, what gets through to one may not work on another, maybe this is the only way the teacher can get through to that particular child! I'm sure that child has went home and told the parent and if they don't have a problem with it, why do you?
I would rather see a child in a three sided box than zombied out on pills.
The elementry school has been natoious for hiring women who love to yell at these children. While my children were there they were terrified at lunch. Yes true. The school board knows of this problem, they knew of it then adn I am sure know of it now. Parents complain every year but no one on the hill will hold themselves to a higher standard and do something. If Bill Holt would hold himself to a professional standard then it will trickle down and so will everyone else but that will not happen. So unfortuantly for our children they have to eat lunch in fear of being yelled at or listening to that buzzer. If you do not believe how bad it is go eat lunch there any day of the week. see for yourself.
The lunchroom at this school is a huge issue with me and many other parents. Parents - stay involved with your children, even if it is just to come eat with them! Be your child's advocate to make their school better!
If the kids would act right they wouldn't have to yell.
About the box...could have been used so a special ed kid could focus....by the way, what ever happened to "inclusion" where, I thought, special ed kids would go to lunch, classes like P.E., assembly programs, etc. with the other kids..........now they're with the regular kids more than in the special ed classroom. The regular kids are constantly disrupted. There are almost as many aids as teachers.
For years the cafeteria has been a big issue at the elementary school. Many times the principal and the director has be told by the board to make it better. Now this is what needs to be done.....Many parents come to the next board meeting on the second thursday of each month. It starts at 5:00 pm At the end of the meeting the public can speak. Now the time is only two minutes but alot can be said in two minutes. The meetings are televised and that really gets to Jackson and Holt would die if it were on 3PTV for a month. Stand up parents and speak out. My child is gone from PES but when there I gave them hell all the time about the cafeteria.
About the box some need to be in a surrounding to keep focused.
Just from reading some of these posts it's obvious why there are so many issues with kids today. The ability to take direction and follow rules should start early, imagine a couple hundred kids screaming, horse playing,with no regard to school rules in a gym in the lunch room. The rules are known to kids and parents beforehand, if you want your kids noisy and out of control let them do it at home during you family meals...
Maybe some of you parents who are interested in the conditions during the children's lunch time could volunteer to over see some of the time. Then you might be able to provide workable solutions to a bad situation.
Or perhaps you will realize that there are some children who are so undisciplined that they create choas These same students actually create dangerous conditions for other students who are trying to obey rules of good conduct.
Either way this could prove to be a learning situation for all.
Melanie
One does not have to scream and yell to get the attention of a child or a group of children. Yelling may seem easier in the short run but in the long run it is counter productive.
The school system and parents need to work together for the children. I wish our children would get educated more at school.
Instead of education at school these days they are having to do drug searches. These kids that are disrupting classes, so other kids can't learn need to be kicked out of school and let the parents make their kid behave or be sent to the alternative school for the rest of the school year and have to do community services. The teachers that do try to teach kids if they have someone misbehaving then they send them to detention. When they get out of detention then it is usually the same behavior. There is to much in schools besides teaching and learning.
I saw some of the worst of the worst last school year. The parents should be made to home school them. The ones in question had absolutely no respect for teachers, other students, and apparently themselves. And most of the parents wanted to blame the teachers for "picking on" their obnoxious kids. Go figure.
My sentiments exactly, many of these kids mirror society:totally out of control. All you hear is how bad our system is baloney!! It's easier to blame our teachers than to actually parent these little pilled up, legally may I add problem children.
Doesn't the Bible admonish to Train Up a Child? We all need to be part of the solution, instead of enabling bad anti-social behavior..
10:54
Apparantely you have never tried to get the attention of 150 to 200 kids going wild in a cafeterian situation. Try it sometime you might not like it.
If the teachers set at the tables with the children like they did years back then the children may not act as bad. The teachers then only used the teachers lobby for their free period. This is just a suggestion. I know at one school the aid walks around in the lunch room blowing a whistle and turning the lights off and on. The kids are not even allowed to whisper. During lunch is the only time some classmates see each other. If the kids have eaten their lunch then I see no harm in a low whisper. No need in embarrassing a child in front of others. There is always a solution to a problem.
The boy is no longer in a box. it has been cut way down to a three sided study carrel
The boy in the "box" caused quite a stir last year. He took a cell phone to school and repeatedly called 911. Other school principals and police officers were involved in trying to locate the culprit. Instead of a child at Southside, Bridgeforth, or GCHS, it was discovered to be a first grader at PES. He's lucky he is in a "box" and not at the alternative school...or worse.
to 8:51
I think that there is at least one school in Giles County where the teachers still eat lunch with their children---or at least in the cafeteria where they can watch the children.
and I know which school that is since I am one of the teachers who do this on a daily basis. Some of you folks are using too broad a brush to paint all teachers. And you are not very favorable either.
Absolutely, it's disgraceful that these teachers take a full 20 minutes without the responsibility of children to wolf down a sandwich. How dare they? Don't they know that teaching is a calling, and pay, stress relief, food, etc are luxuries that they don't need. Plain greedy to even want them. And yes we all know the school where the principal "asks" the teachers to each with the kids which by the way is a direct, blatant violation of state law. But hey, it's Giles CO, we are exempt from most trivial things like laws and ethics.
mad as ----
well, mad as --- what you may not know is the teachers do this willingly, not forced. Yes, according to the state law teachers have a "duty free" lunch, but if you can earn a couple extra dollars a day and eat in the cafeteria, well that is a choice. No one is forced. If you transferred to our school you might notice a difference in atmosphere. Hmmmmmmm
Those teachers are somewhat forced...the choice is either eat lunch with your own kids...or have your lunch time "free" and then go watch someone else's kids in the cafeteria...they would have to develop a rotation. The aids didn't want to do it years ago, so they weren't required to. Therefore, the teachers have no choice.
1:41 you really don't know what you are talking about. The teachers are not forced. They eat in the cafeteria and are compensated for the lost "duty free" at the end of the year. If they don't want to do it, they don't have to. And, after lunch, everyone goes back to class. So, yes there is a choice.
What is the compensation?
Your supervisor "asks" you to do something; you have to work within the building; sure you could say you won't be a team player and still be within your right, but hey anybody ever worked with a supervisor who wasn't pleased with a decision you made even though it was the RIGHT decision?
So basically according to your post 1:32, you are saying that the supervisor bribes the faculty to compensate the law violation. Have I got that right? I also would like to know how much is the compensation and where exactly do the funds come from to bribe the teachers. What did you mean by transferred to your building?
mad as ----
8:14 Stop whining and being such a weenie. If you don't have the guts to say no to your supervisor when you are right you don't have what it takes to be a good teacher. Case closed.
The people in the lunchroom are there to make sure your children eat instead of playing and talking. I wished that every parent that thinks the ladies are so mean come over a do a week of lunch duty. If you let them play and talk their lunch time they dont eat then they come home and tell their parents they didnt get to eat lunch. You dont know how many kids are shoving foods in their mouths when time to go back to class because they sit and play or talk their whole lunch time. So please come and work lunch duty for one week.
8:51
Amen! Inmates in prison are allowed to talk in the cafeteria, and I too see lunch as one of few occcasions children have for socialization. I am shocked to learn that kids aren't even allowed to whisper. Then they are embarrassed in front of their peers if they do? Surely, you are joking. No wonder kids go to classes angry and upset.
They are allowed to whisper!! When they dont follow the rules about whispering then the red light is used and when that doesnt work they are told no talking until they can follow rules. Like I said come and work for one week then when the parents start callinhg the school and want to know why their children get eat lunch you can tell them they sat and talked instead of eating.
That was supposed to say when they dont get to eat lunch you can tell the parents they talked instead of eating
Weenie here, I never said I was a teacher. And you are correct, in my job I do not have the guts to commit insubordination. The boss makes a request, I comply if it is not illegal. As I understand this situation, the teachers aren't breaking the law, the supervisor is and paying the teachers to make up for it. Again I ask, where does this money come from and how much is it? Unless it is coming out of this supervisor's personal checkbook, it is MY tax dollars.
Your cavalier response earlier is so typical of the arrogance of a few educators and gives the majority of compassionate educators a bad name. Let me rephrase my question: Any 1st year, non-tenured, 23-24 yr old teachers going to say when asked by their very first principal "Now the law says you have a duty-free lunch. But here at this school, my teachers help me by voluntarily giving that right up, but it's totally up to you if you want to be the only one who doesn't want to help out at lunch time. Have a nice 1st year. Let me know if you need any help." How many tenured teachers would have the "guts" to refuse, much less non-tenured. It's wrong, it's against the law, and it's unethical. Principal wants lunch monitors, they should hire them, if teacher has free time and wants to apply, that would be a whole different story. But anybody who knows what school this is absolutely knows that there is NOTHING voluntary about this lunch duty.
mad as ----
No...it is not voluntary.
Just spoke with a teacher at that school...teacher was livid!! Said that non-classroom teachers DO have a choice because they DON'T have the responsibility of a homeroom. The regular classroom teachers HAVE to eat with their kids...they were told that's the way it was going to be and if they didn't like it, tough. They get around $70 per year for being in the lunchroom with their kids. The money does come from the state.
I have ate lunch with my children at school several times. The principal and aids would be cutting the light off and on and also screaming at the kids. The kids were not doing anything wrong. Some may have been sitting on their knees so they could reach their plate or softly talking with their friends. I have seen were they make the kids wipe the table down if they got in trouble. Do you know how many germs are on those nasty towels? If they get caught talking then they will have lunch detention. Don't let the kids go wild, but let them have a little time to be kids. School is suppose to be a place to learn and have fun not be in prison.
Oh please people!! How did this turn into a financial squabble? The issue originally brought up by myself, which has now taken on a whole new life of it's own, was over kindergartners being yelled at and forcibly told to stop eating. Now, I don't care which way you slice it. My child's first day of kindergarten and they are yelled at like a drill sergeant, I will find out what teacher or principle or aid or whoever did it and we will have a little chat that just may consist of me yelling in their face. Now, I put my child's well-being in the hands of the school when I drop them off and for someone to yell at a 5 year old on the first day during lunch is OUT OF HAND AND OUT OF LINE!!! I would not tolerate it. Who gets paid to monitor the lunchroom during lunch, whether it be an aid, principal, teacher or whoever is irrelevant, as well as their compensation for doing so. The heart of the matter is no child, the first day going to school and beginning to learn how the whole going to school thing works, should be subjected to that. It is intolerable! Perhaps, the person doing the yelling should be over at GCHS helping Hastings out where he fails miserably in keeping some of the troublemakers there in line. It really takes a low down person to scream at a 5 year. I hope this lunch monitor is immensely proud of their behavior. This issue has gone on for too long and it is time it stopped. I would love to see Bill Holt's hiney in a sling for tolerating this. All in all we have SOME sorry excuses for principals and teachers.
10:47
You are very much correct.
I think we need to get some qualified teachers to teach at GCHS. There are teachers brought back to teach that has been retired for several years. They have teachers that are suppose to teach subjects that they know nothing about. Some walking around over there need to retire and stay retired. When the students leave class they are more lost than when they came to class. I'm not saying all the teachers are bad, but when I send my kid off to school I expect him to be taught something. A diploma is nothing but a piece of paper if the kids do not have knowledge when they graduate.
Tee Jackson is the first person in the school system that needs to go. Instead our school board members choose to continuously extend his contract. What does it take to get qualified board members with backbones to ask the hard questions and make the hard decisions? With a new better qualified director of schools that has the best interest of our children at heart, would bring an abundance of positive change. Then we could begin to rid our school system of those teachers who do not meet expectations. This should be paramount to all of us because it is our tax dollars that contribute to the delinquency of this school system and the burden of what having Jackson at the helm has done. An expensively ran county school system has come with a mighty high price tag to the citizens. Too bad it is isn't churning out a large number of exceptionally educated and well-rounded young people.
We all need to start contacting our school board members to let them know we are tired of the good reviews they give Tee Jackson. Because of him and some of the board members our children are suffering everyday. The Giles County School System is in a huge mess. Buildings are run down while he sits with his staff in the new central office building which they did not need. The children are not getting proper education. It is time for a change. Back to the central office staff, how many people does it take to hold Tee's hand or wipe his behind.
Give me some names of people who would be good principals and one for Director. Let's start looking for a few good men. Now, let's see those names. Any volunteers?
Any of the roaches or rats that run around GCHS can do better than what we have now!
Tee definitely has to have help with the ole hiney wipe. He wouldn't want to mess up his manicure.
The charter that went around for people to sign for us to elect our school director instead of one being appointed. Does anyone know if there was enough signatures and how we as citizens stand with the charter?
Maybe GCHS will change since Hastings is not running for mayor of Ardmore. He stated that he was going to devote his energy on making GCHS a great learning institution. With a full time principal soon and 3 assistant principals maybe some good things will happen. What do you think?
I think not! If he is suggesting he has not done 100% of what he could have as principal in the past, then why should he be allowed to stay on as principal. He isn't capable of running that high school. Perhaps he should resign as principal and re-qualify for mayor. He does neither one with any efficiency but, I would rather him run a town than a school. Surely you don't believe once relieved of his mayoral duties he would do a better job as principal? He could spend 24 hours a day living in the school and couldn't make it better. How about resigning? Then you will see a 100% turnaround. Good idea?
I was just stating what he said why he wasn't running for mayor again. I thought it was a joke. Everytime I have been to the school he is sitting in his office layed back in his chair doing nothing.
Great people talk about ideas.
Average people talk about material things.
Small people talk about other people.
Which one are you?
I'm a concerned citizen with a loud opinion. You must be a lamebrain with zero though provoking ideas to contribute worthwhile hearing obviously. I guess your idea is to turn a blind eye and let things just run themselves. Uninvolved and unaware. Hope that answered you question.
10:44 AM
Understand WAB is the chairman of the charter group so maybe he will see your questions and give you an answer.
so, you are a loud mouth that resorts to name calling when someone doesn't agree with you. So very mature. You sound like my mother-in-law
Well, it got your attention didn't it? And a rise out of you I might add. Oh poor baby, someone calling you a name hurts you? Grow a thicker skin. You are a moron on top of being a lamebrain. Now I have called you a name. Before I just described your behavior. So what I called you a name. We are both grown-ups right? You can't handle someone calling you a name or labeling you according to your behavior? There was an issue here everyone was discussing. Can we get back to it?? You go on back to elementary school and tattle to the teacher for being called a name. We adults who can handle being adults when criticized will take the conversation from here. I couldn't care less if you or anyone else agree or disagree with me. I don't need anyone else to validate me and my convictions. Do you? I call it like I see it and make no bones about it. We have a problem in our schools and you choose to change the subject to petty name calling. Create a diversion to deflect attention off of the real issue. You are clearly part of the problem within our school system, otherwise you wouldn't be so defensive. It must really suck to be you. Now, go on, go back and tattle.
To the 1 Sept. 10:44 poster who asked about the Charter petition.
Yes we have enough signatures. The election will be next year and there is much need for some concerned citizens to start planning to run for the Charter Commission which will determine what changes and ideas will be incorporated into the Charter. If you are interested in running for these positions please contact me if you need more information. Allen Barrett
Gee, 9:48, you hurt my feeling so much I had to go cry myself to sleep. NOT!!! Here's a suggestion for you. Instead of typing away on this blog with all of your "high ideals" about how to fix our school system, why don't you DO something about it? Have you thought about running for school board? Have you thought about applying for a job in the system? Have you thought about volunteering in a school? Of course not. You just want to complain about the same ole, same ole. Once again:
Great people talk about ideas.
Average people talk about material things.
Small people talk about other people.
Which one are you?
Spreading your seeds of ignorance once again. Think before you open that big mouth thinking you know what you are talking about. Is that the best you can do? I mean really. You totally make an ass of yourself being that you do not know my background, profession and my involvement in community service. Whoa actually you give new meaning to the word stupid!I think our conversation has run it's course. You don't have anything intellectual to offer to discuss and clearly are a staunch defender of our less than adequate school system.I think it is time to stick your head back in the sand.
You win. I won't argue with an idiot.
Is everyone ready for Obama day next week? Will the schools tune in the moonbeam channel to DC land? Will the little tads hold their hand over their eyes & pledge allegiance to Mr. O before they get their little minds rewired.
I wonder if they'll tell the wee tads a story about Goldilocks & the bear wolf, get them all fluttery eyed, snap electrodes on each ear, & ZAP, the little tads will look like Al Gore, talk like Barney Frank, smile like Pelosi!
SAw some bad stuff about education textbooks on Fox - What has been happening in Giles County? It's frightening!
I seriously doubt Obama's speech encourging our kids to stay in school will convince any of them to become raging, liberals or socialists as all the nut cases want us to believe. Like it or no, this black man was elected and is the sitting POTUS. I'm sure many of you white christian americans find that uncomfortable oh well..at least the kids will get a complete coherent sentence.
To the person saying Jackson gets good reviews. He got a below average on the results of his evaluation. He has until the middle of October to give the board a decent budget and he hasn't been given extra years on his contract in two years. Sorry he hasn't been removed but the DA isn't following through on anything given to him. The board decides on the school board chair next Thursday night. May be a new chair or Murrey may be reelected.
I think it would wise if all of our county and city schools would think twice about letting the children watch obama. This could indeed be a slippery. I think a lot of parents will keep their kids home next Tuesday.
Someone posted some unkind remarks about white Christians who do not like obama because of the color of his skin. Perhaps some on both sides of the isle feel that way, but the problem with this man is far deeper than skin color. I wonder when people will wake up and see what he and his cronies are trying to do to this great country. He denies being a socialist but the proof is in the pudding. Keep in mind that we have to endure three more agonizing years of this, and I'm not sure it will be easy to reverse the damage these dangerous people can and will do.
Is this blog about a meeting of the minds in order to solve the problems for which the topic refers or is it for adults to ACT like children and call people names? And some of you wonder why children are the way they are!!!
I don't remember anyone complaining when Bush, Sr. spoke to the students in the 90's. Wonder if anyone complained in the 60's when we heard Kennedy. The man is our President, he won the election, get over it.
TO: Tuesday, August 18, 2009 3:00:00 PM - I don't this that person you referred to came out of a Giles School. Looks more like maybe another Yankee that moved in to show us how it is done.
always negative is there not a positive believer in giles county at all or do you people only know how to complain, blame others, and bad mouth people. If you want something resolved take the steps to get it done and you will see results.
To: Saturday, September 05, 2009 3:21:00 PM
Too bad there are so many dumb hilly billies in Giles County. We should all be as smart as you. Say anything but about the subject.
I am so sick and tired of people posting on here about the ignorance of Giles County citizens. I am well aware of the fact that they are doing so sarcastically, but one has to wonder if they don't truly believe that to be the case as they so frequently bring it up. Are you people who constantly throw that idea around so easily not open to the possibility that it is entirely possible to have opposing views on an issue without either side being ignorant?If the words you are reading offend you, offer an alternative opinion, don't continually plead stupidity whether it be spoken in jest or not. It only serves to make your own statement APPEAR TO BE VALID.
The same goes for those who constantly claim the President of the United States has his critics solely on the basis of his skin color. When you claim those who would disagree with him are "uncomfortable with a black president", you are conversely stating that your ONLY disagreement with our previous president was that he was white. That would also put you in the racist classification. You can't have it both ways.
Obama is not good or bad simply because he is black;Bush was not good or bad because he is white. Your statement implies that such is the case however, and I for one resent it. I also resent the fact that you could not be bothered to capitalize the word "American" and more importantly, "Christian." I must wonder if that was done due to laziness, ignorance, or bigotry. I quite frankly, being an intelligent person do not care whether the President of our country is black, white, or purple-polka dotted, his policies and behavior, his truths or untruths, his decisions while in office, with determine my opinion of his; his skin color does not even cross my mind until someone such as you remind me of it. Why is skin color of anyone at the top of your list?
Deanna
There is a difference between being ignorant and stupid. Being ignorant is not a slander it's a deficiency. Being ignorant and being satisfied to remain ignorant is stupid.
The only way Obama will deliver a complete coherent sentence is if the teleprompter doesn't fail!
That "complete coherent sentence" will be intended to deceive, not logically inform! All of the hype over the bill is lost in the fact that "the health bill" was and remains a poison pill! Health care will come when corporate health providers, insurance, pharmacological corps., and USA borders are held accountable by law - most of which exists but isn't enforced by the courts!!
So we don't confuse racism with trying to save our country and freedom, add Pelosi, Frank, Kennedy, and Reed and you have 80% white & 20% black. If that doesn't suit you, toss in the Clintons, Bushes, and too many other white rats who have worked to destroy this country! No, it it shouldn't a Republican or Democrat isuue either. Yes, there are too many democrat lemmings to count. I wouldn't contribute a dime to either party!
Name one real job either party has "created" in an inner-city or the countless other impoverished areas! Collectively they have gutted this country of its industrial and innovative might! That "might" has become "might be", if the boat from China gets here on time!
1:28
The difference between Kennedy Bush, Sr., and this guy they call obama is simple yet profound. The latter of the three has an obvious socialist agenda. Please tell me you can see that difference.
Frankly, deanna who cares what you think or want capitalized!God..Jesus..yes christans no..And as for our previous President, my issues with him don't include his skin tone. I happen to remember when this school system was intergrated in 1965 some folks didn't want black teachers instructing their kids. History does repeat itself at least in the south. And as for ignorance, or bigotry guess who wrote and updated the book lady..
So what you're saying is that if anyone has issues with the current president, it's solely because of skin color, but issues with past presidents have nothing to do with skin color? Have no idea what you are referring to with the rest of your rant, and it's not what I want capitalized Bozo,(not name calling, just someone who won't stand behind their statements, so I needed a way to identify them), the capitalization rules apply to the English language. Bozo, you seem a bit testy, did I hit a nerve? What caused you to go off on integration, nothing in the previous posts was about that. It was never mentioned, suggested, alluded to, implied, or otherwise incorporated into this thread. The posts prior to mine indicated that any disagreement with President Obama must be because he is black, which is asinine and the obviously very deliberate insult by not capitalizing the word Americans, or those who follow the teachings of Jesus. That and the fact that you are constantly calling your fellow citizens ignorant and less intelligent than Giles Countians who relocated here from other places. The reason for your rant which is in no way related to anything that was previously posted is anybody's guess; Have you tried cutting back on caffeine?
Deanna
Deanna,
My issues with this president has absolutely nothing to do with the color of his skin even though he is the first bi-racial president we have ever had. The problem I have with him is his socialistic views.
It's almost laughable how the democrats (aka liberals) accuse conservatives of being backward in their thinking. They have the "audacity" to refer to themselves as progressive thinkers. The implication is that they are enlightened beyond the sound principles that used to be embraced by most Americans. They are so wrong about that. It is they and not us who moved away from those principles.
It's sad that many people, particularly blacks, could care less about what the man stands for. It's all about his being "one of us" (sic) or his being a member of the democrat party.
I love when people throw around the term "socialist" when they have no clue what it means. They just hear it on Fox News and assume that it must be true.
11:18
Well, get used to it, because that's where our country is headed with this obama character. Speaking of Fox News, tell me where else one can get the real news without the stinking liberal bias?
Hey Bozo, we happen to be on the same side of the issue when it comes to our President! Scary, huh? My whole point was that people could say whatever they wanted to about Bush, and it was "free speech." Say something negative about Obama and bam, you're a racist. Sorry about the misunderstanding! And to the one who says we should investigate what socialism is, I wholeheartedly agree!
Deanna
Monday, September 07, 2009 11:18:00 AM
Would you like to tell us what it means?
I don't know what a lot of these big words mean.
I'm not the one saying "socialist", just wondering what you think or know what it means.
Socialism refers to various theories of economic organization advocating state, worker or public ownership and administration of the means of production and allocation of resources, and a society characterized by equal access to resources for all individuals with an egalitarian method of compensation. That is the academic definition of socialism.
My argument is not that the US doesn't have tinges of socialism, but to call President Obama a socialist is both unproven and unfair. Could one argue that these bailouts are somewhat socialistic in nature? Sure, but let us remember that it was President Bush who called for the bailout of the banks last fall, well before the election. And I will bet you dimes to dollars that had McCain been elected there would have been a similar stimulus package developed and passed. You could also make an argument that agricultural subsidies are forms of socialism. These were promoted by every president since FDR. By the way, those of you on Medicare are on socialized health insurance. Those of you who receive child tax credits are benefiting from a "socialist agenda." My point is that using "socialism" as a bogeyman word to try and scare people is not only unreasonable it is also ignorant.
Deanna,
I am 9:49 and would like to know if you called me Bozo? If you did, I'd really like to know why.
2"04
You should be concerned about socialism. We are headed down that path right now. And I do know what socialism is and what it involves. But thanks for the political science lesson anyhow.
To the 7 Sept 2:04 poster.
Your definition of socialism while technically correct actually does little to define or explain it. It’s sort of like defining the word kiln as a cook stove or football as any of a number of games played by teams with a ball on a field with goals at each end where the object is to get the ball across the goal line.
Ideally socialism in its purest form would be a Utopian society where everything is owned by all and equally shared by all including not just the privileges but also the responsibilities. In its practical application it has always been a matter of “everyone is equal but some are more equal than others” to paraphrase George Orwell.
Socialism in its simplest application has proven to be a matter of taking from those who produce and giving to those who do not produce, from those according to their means to those according to their needs. The enforcement of this ideology is communism. Now some have trouble separating socialism from what the Bible teaches about social responsibility. The Bible teaches that we have a responsibility as God’s people to care for and provide for the needs of those who are old and others unable to care for themselves, nowhere does the Bible teach that we owe a responsibility to those who are unwilling to care for themselves or be responsible for themselves. In my opinion it is an abomination for the government to steal from one person and give it to another person, redistribute wealth.
You state, “to call President Obama a socialist is both unproven and unfair”. One needs only to read “Dreams From My Father or “Audacity Of Hope” to see the extreme leaning toward socialism but to get the clear picture of Obama’s socialist ideology one needs to look at the people he has surrounded himself with and to Sol Lewinsky whom he has drawn his most active political characteristics from. It’s not even debatable that his forced loans and gifts to many financial institutions (those who made large contributions to his election) and parts of the auto industry (that part that was union controlled and supported him), global warming theories and nationalization of health care are straight out of the socialist handbook.
The question isn’t whether Obama is a socialist or not but to what level of communism is he willing to go. Already his administration is working on taking more control of the air ways with the so called “fairness doctrine” and the internet with emergency powers. The expansion of so called “hate speech” now includes anything said negative about Obama or his administration. Remember the Whitehouse hotline where people were told to call in and report those criticizing the president? What the president and his staff say may leave some questions about whether he is a socialist but their actions have made it abundantly clear he is a socialist determined to recreate this capitalist country into a socialist government with communistic leanings. If our union controlled school systems were more interested in educating rather than empowerment and political correctness and the media were the watchdogs they should be instead of the enablers they have become this situation could not exist.
As you put Obama, Bush, McCain and FDR together I agree and see the only differences as a matter of degree. I strongly supported Bush for his efforts to keep this country safe from terrorist but was almost as disgusted with his domestic policies as I am with the policies now espoused by Obama.
Finally you state, “My point is that using "socialism" as a bogeyman word to try and scare people is not only unreasonable it is also ignorant”. The truth of the matter is there are “bogeymen” in the world today and when they seek to destroy what I hold dear and precious they scare me enough to stand firmly opposed to them.
Allen Barrett
As I stated, I used the term "Bozo" to differiate your post from all the other "anonymous's". I meant no insult, as I may not agree with various ideas, but I do respect people's right to express them. I do apologize if you were offended. I just used the first flippant name that popped into my head.
Deanna
Does no one have any comments on the president's speech? I listened to it and thought it was a great speech. There was absolutely nothing wrong with it. There was no reason for parents to forbid their children to hear it. I was so glad to hear the president tell students to take education seriously. The teachers are not to blame for students not getting an education, students have to take control and do what they need to do and quit blaming teachers and society. Parents also need to take some of the blame. You cannot let junior tell you that the world is against him and you go and take up for everything that happens. Did you parents go to school and tell the principal that you were being mistreated. Mine did not, they took the side of the teacher and I got in trouble twice!! Go Obama, great speech.
The speech was written by Jon Favreau
and read from a teleprompter by the president.
The final version was a rewrite after so much controversy was raised due to the original content and the work sheets that were sent to school systems pushing children to answer such questions as "what can I do to help our president". That work sheet also was modified.
I commend the president for changing the original and delivering a positive message of encouragement for children
Allen Barrett
There was nothing wrong with Obama speeking to the kids. But as long as he was not telling political things. An was trying to encourage our children to do better an try to compete with the world that is what this country needs. Why could he not cause other presidents have done such. I am not for him but he is a influential position to be able maybe have a child out there want to do better. An I think any president or any other person of stature should take that up on themselfs.
All Obama did was ask the students to be accountable for themselves. The worksheets were probably not even done by most schools. I thought the speech was very good. I do not understand what all the hoopla was about.
The speech was great. We just didn't know what he was going to say according to some of the other things he has said.
Deana,
Here's flippant name for you and capitalized to boot, SILLYBLOVIATINGHOE..
And yet you're still anonymous, hence the name, Bozo...Sorry you took it so personal, I forget how ultra sensitive folks are if someone doesn't agree with them. Fortunately MOST grow up and learn to discuss without insulting; as I said, I meant no offense, not sure you can truthfully say the same.
Deanna
Maybe Bozo sounds to bad, try calling him/her Bubba.
No offense taken...
Deanna,
Why the name? I am 9:49, and I would relaly like to know. My post was totally in agree ment with what you said and you call me a bozo.
Go back and read my post again and explain to me why I am a bozo. Thank you.
The subject is the state of the state school system.
After five years of spending at a rate three times higer than inflation, how will the system survive without another unnecessary tax increase. Obviously, there will never be enough money for essentials or raises for necessary employees when such a large bucket has so many huges holes in it.
The director and board sees no leaks and cries that there isn't enough water for the thirsty children and teachers. It seems the the taxpayers fill the bucket up at the oasis, but none is left by the time the director delivers the water to the little red school house out in the desert.
If we look, there is green grass along the path to the directors lair and lush green garden, dwindling green along the path to the little red school house, and nothing but barren sand around that schoolhouse!
If we follow the green, maybe we'll wake up & move the teachers & beloved little children to the director's lair & move the director & board to the little red dump in the desert!
9:49, I do not know how many times you want me to say it; It was a way to differentiate you from the other anonymous's; NOTHING more. Give yourself a name if that insults you.Don't look for issues that aren't there. I've stated at least 3 times now that I meant no insult. It's up to you to accept that or not.
Deanna
deanna,
Such brilliance on your part! So, if I understand you correctly, you would identify one person in the crowd by calling him or her a name? Well, I suppose that's one way to get that individual's attention as you seem to have done here.
It might not be wise to do that in real life though. Somebody you just called a name might slap the taste out of your mouth. Just trying to help.
With the election of mike young as chairman of the school board and jim greene as the vice chair all the work toward accountability just went down the drain. Norman may as well have been re crowned. With such an undistinguished record of utter failure jackson has to be laughing his butt off. What dopes.
I second that emotion 9:50. I couldn't have said it better myself!
She was called a HOE! That comment should have been deleted.
10:44
That's not nearly as bad as some of the filthy language that's been "overlooked" on this blog supposedly for the sake of free speech. What a joke!
School board & business as usual is more than enough reasons to get the charter going. Enjoy your property while you can - these idiots will be after big tax increases & there ain't much hope of job, prosperity, or any other good news!
to 9/9 7:27
I understand Deanna desire for some form of identification for each poster. Something that is easier than trying to remember date and times when you are addressing a reply to a certain poster. This would not be for personal ID because that can be done by most anyone who really
wants to really find outwho you
are nothing you say here is completely free from the right person searching to find identies.
I really don't think that your response was very understanding and really quite rude.
Melanie
This topic is about the state of our school system. I know that teachers do deserve a raise, but my question is do all teachers deserve a raise. After I see what my kids have been taught and what they have not been taught makes me think some teachers are not teaching what the kids need. I have talked to other parents and they say that their children are behind also. I thought at first my child may not be catching on to what the teacher is saying, but after I hear other parents say the same thing then it raises questions. I have to sit down at night and reteach what should have been taught at school. It seems that one year you have a great teacher and the children learn a lot and the next year the children don't learn anything. My child was behind because of one grade and the next year the teacher said she would bring my child back to were she should be. The teacher did and I was so grateful to that teacher. I just don't want this to happen again. Like I said I have heard and talked to other parents and teachers and they say it has happened with their child. My point is I believe before a teacher gets a raise then they should have to pass a test. Not a test that Jackson or a principal makes up, but one that maybe a professor from a college could do. If we don't do something to help our children when their young then they will be behind when they go out into the real world. We have some of the best teachers in the state, but some just don't care or maybe don't no how to teach the subject their teaching. I am a parent who wants the best for my child and I hope every other parent does also. I know most places that you work at you get a raise on the quality of work you perform. I agree 100% that Tee Jackson and a lot of the principals should not be making what they make.
1126 good post - not giving raises because money is thrown to the wind in terrible. You are right, raises should be based on merit & contribution only. The private sector has many highly educated people doing menial jobs because that is all the can contribute, bottom line. Many can absorb knowledge, but lack the capability to pass it on or apply it!
I'm sorry, but I am still disappointed in some of our teachers not teaching what the kids need. I don't know what else to do because I have talked with the teachers. I guess I will really have to show how I feel at parent teacher conference next week. There is no sense in some teachers failing our children with their laziness. I am a very tired, sad, and frustrated parent who wants a chance for my child to learn. The way things are going I would be better off home schooling my child. No other year has been like this year. I had parents and other teachers to tell me what to expect, but I did not believe it would be this bad.
A good question was posed: on what's wrong with our schools these days? The answer is right in front of you: Our kids didn't fall far from the tree! Fights in the schools...misbehavior at every turn. I wonder where they learned it? Take a look at the nasty tone of these posts - from supposed ADULTS - and you'll understand why there are issues in the schools. The bad behavior was learned at home, at the feet of many of YOU! I wonder how many of you have physically been in a school - during school hours, and observed what goes on? Yes, teachers are demoralized. At GCHS, if a teacher disciplines, Hastings won't back them up. All he cares about is his football team. He'll even tell you if he has the choice between two candidates and one can coach football, he'll choose the coach. I believe the words he used were, "I'd be an idiot to not hire the coach..." The entire world needs to re-learn respect, just take a look at Kanye West, Congressman Wilson, etc. to see that many people have lost the fine art of being civil to one another.
A good school is a reflection of it's citizens. If the citizens care about education, if they care enough to support good candidates for the school board, if they hold the local adminstration accountable, etc. you can make progress. You can't go anywhere in Pulaski these days without hearing of problems in the schools - and what is done about it? Absolutely nothing! Just a whole lot of complaining. As citizens you should be calling each and every board member with your concerns. And if you do not know who your board member is, shame on you! You have no right to complain if you're not willing to do anything about it. Did you know 1 of the reasons the Giles County money spent per pupil is higher than some schools is because of our higher than average 'learning disabled' population? These parents have fought to get special rights and services for their kids. They have mounted large efforts and won. If none of you care enough to go through that level of process, what does that say about you? If you don't have the guts to make waves, then stop complaining. Our family did what we could and we saw no one willing to fight with us, so pulled our kids out. Now they're in a system that is progressive, has high standards, parents who really care, and teachers who have remarkable attitudes. I think our teachers could too, if they had some support. If you had to teach those kids all day and didn't get any support from your principal...you'd probably be a hag, too. But to those of you who wonder why some teachers are 'written up' and nothing done -it's called TENURE! How else could a Southside classroom teacher get away with demeaning and screaming at kids FOR YEARS!...or an elementary art teacher get away with yelling at the top of her lungs at kids in the hallway, and demeaning them in her classroom FOR YEARS!...or a middle school art teacher get away with flunking kids just because they didn't bring in a quarter for class...and therefore get kicked out of Beta Club FOR YEARS!...or middle school teachers watch as kids get bullied...enough that they threaten to take their own lives...or...I could go on and on. Now we're gone...and OH SO HAPPY! If your kids or grandkids are in the system,...or about to be...make arrangements to do something else for their education. It's a very sad state of affairs. I wish you luck - and the gumption it takes to do something about it. Giles County is being held hostage by administrators who have not a clue. The County will not move forward, nor the schools restored without fighting for it. Call your school board representative today and express your concerns. I promise you, if they start hearing from more people, they will listen - and they will act!
And if they don't, find someone in their district to run against them next time. But gather your facts. Be exact. Document. If you don't, you're just a complainer.
Right on 12:54!
Yes, teachers are truly disillusioned and discouraged. Why? There are a variety of reasons.
First of all, they are, for the sake of self-preservation, forced to "teach to the test." That is an absurdity. Secondly, teachers have to teach around the rude and disrespectful kids in hopes of reaching those who want to learn. A huge amount of a teacher's time is spent trying to control the disruptive student who could care less about anything other than self. I believe there should be some form of alternative (not alternative school necessarily) situation for the troublmakers. It's sad that these kids are taught those qualities by parents, live-ins, or what have you. It's just a shame and a blight on society. And some of the worst behaved kids are those whose parents defend them right down the line, regardless of what they do. It's always the teacher's fault! NOT!
Teach via internet and save millions!
Rural children do not have internet. Or were you just kidding?
Distance learning is a good idea. The state could buy computers for every household with children and still save a sack full of money. It's a novel idea nd one that just might work. It surely works for online college courses.
These computers could still be the property of the state. The major problem would be with servicing them
The way county school buildings are falling apart we may have to provide computers for distance learning and pay PES to install Internet connections to all student's homes. It might be cheaper than keeping up and replacing the present buildings as they fall apart.
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