PERMISSION TO REINCARNATE ?
OPEN THREADS
The government of China, which claims control of Tibet despite the region's vigorous culture of independence, announced in August that it would henceforth require Tibet's "living Buddhas" (special clergy believed to be continuously reincarnated) to get permission from China's religious affairs officials before submitting their souls to be embodied in the future. The government acted, it said, because the reincarnation process needed to be managed better. [Agence France-Presse, 8-3-07]
Vaughn Tolle said:
OT
The NEMHS Site Council met last night. Among other things, those in attendance reviewed the results of the State Assessments taken by last year's Junior class. Among many good and so-so results, one thing stood out clearly, namely a serious decline in the Reading assessment scores.
The Principal, to his credit, didn't try to minimize the results. He presented some of the possible reasons for this decline, including (at NEM) the fact that all but one of the English department were new last year, perhaps too large a concentration on the math assessment due to past success on the reading assessment, and other building-specific items. What caught my interest was his comment that district wide, reading assessment scores at the high school level dropped (with one exception, as I recall, Metro Boulevard) significantly. During the discussion, it was mentioned that the district had adopted a new literature curriculum some two years ago, with nothing more said on this subject thereafter.
This has been running around in the back of my mind since. From all the discussion, it appears the district is quite concerned about the drop, analysis is being had of all data, etc., etc. BUT, during the presentation/conversation, there was nothing said about taking a hard look at the curriculum change, the one thing that appears to me to be a constant across the district which, to me, seems the first place to "look" for an explanation. Fairness dictates that the middle school reading assessment scores for these students should also be reviewed to see if this was just an issue peculiar to this cohort, although it is hard for me to imagine such district-wide.
Time did not allow for an explanation of the change in curriculum, thus I don't know if there was a total change in the readings or a different emphasis on what the readings meant, etc. If any of you has any information on this, I'd appreciate it, as this one isn't going away from my perspective. You know I don't care for the state assessments as administered and the use thereof for NCLB purposes, but if there was a significant drop across the district in the scores on the reading assessments, as prepped for, etc., there's a deeper issue here, one, I suspect, may rear its head this fall as the seniors take the ACT or SAT in preparation for application for college.
Thanks for letting me vent. Now back to work, or in the next life, I'll surely be the beetle rolling his little ball of dung....
The NEMHS Site Council met last night. Among other things, those in attendance reviewed the results of the State Assessments taken by last year's Junior class. Among many good and so-so results, one thing stood out clearly, namely a serious decline in the Reading assessment scores.
The Principal, to his credit, didn't try to minimize the results. He presented some of the possible reasons for this decline, including (at NEM) the fact that all but one of the English department were new last year, perhaps too large a concentration on the math assessment due to past success on the reading assessment, and other building-specific items. What caught my interest was his comment that district wide, reading assessment scores at the high school level dropped (with one exception, as I recall, Metro Boulevard) significantly. During the discussion, it was mentioned that the district had adopted a new literature curriculum some two years ago, with nothing more said on this subject thereafter.
This has been running around in the back of my mind since. From all the discussion, it appears the district is quite concerned about the drop, analysis is being had of all data, etc., etc. BUT, during the presentation/conversation, there was nothing said about taking a hard look at the curriculum change, the one thing that appears to me to be a constant across the district which, to me, seems the first place to "look" for an explanation. Fairness dictates that the middle school reading assessment scores for these students should also be reviewed to see if this was just an issue peculiar to this cohort, although it is hard for me to imagine such district-wide.
Time did not allow for an explanation of the change in curriculum, thus I don't know if there was a total change in the readings or a different emphasis on what the readings meant, etc. If any of you has any information on this, I'd appreciate it, as this one isn't going away from my perspective. You know I don't care for the state assessments as administered and the use thereof for NCLB purposes, but if there was a significant drop across the district in the scores on the reading assessments, as prepped for, etc., there's a deeper issue here, one, I suspect, may rear its head this fall as the seniors take the ACT or SAT in preparation for application for college.
Thanks for letting me vent. Now back to work, or in the next life, I'll surely be the beetle rolling his little ball of dung....
Rox said:
VT, from what you posted, I have to agree with you that the problem may lie in the change in curriculum. I've seen it first hand with my own kids and a math curriculum, but that doesn't help much, does it?
I often wonder why curriculums are changed, when nothing has been found wrong with the old/current. Do teachers get tired of teaching and want something fresh, for them? Is it trying to be more with the times by the BOE? Your answer may only be found by talking with the teachers, finding out what was used and what is now used, and doing some research.
That's my .02 and probably worth about 1/2 cent. :/
I often wonder why curriculums are changed, when nothing has been found wrong with the old/current. Do teachers get tired of teaching and want something fresh, for them? Is it trying to be more with the times by the BOE? Your answer may only be found by talking with the teachers, finding out what was used and what is now used, and doing some research.
That's my .02 and probably worth about 1/2 cent. :/
Rox said:
Another OT... (Thanks for the space, Tracy!)
Did anyone else see that Bush is again wanting to make his "spy program" permanent? Better hurry, George, you might not have enough left on your side to sneak it by the American people soon.
Did anyone else see that Bush is again wanting to make his "spy program" permanent? Better hurry, George, you might not have enough left on your side to sneak it by the American people soon.
Vaughn Tolle said:
Rox, thanks for the response. I've requested some of that information be provided to the next meeting, along with a bit more. On curriculum changes, I do wonder if there's a bit of change for change sake, along with an attempt to integrate other authors who are not "dead white men" into the curriculum.
On the "spy program", my recommendation to the Congress is to go into the "four corners offense" on this issue.
On the "spy program", my recommendation to the Congress is to go into the "four corners offense" on this issue.
lindainks55 said:
How sad Vaughn! I hadn't paid any attention to reading assessment scores. I hope someone is studying the matter and taking steps to help improve it. Guess you and NEMHS are taking a close look at it! How can a student learn anything without a mastery and love of reading? Does Ralph Teran have anything to do with the situation? I don't think it was Wichita's loss when he left for Missouri. I sound a lot like I'm against most administrators, don't I? That isn't true at all but in addition to my lack of confidence in Winston Brooks the one I was glad to see go was Dr. Teran. I didn't think he had much on the ball as principal at John Marshall Jr. High or later at North High and was disgruntled when he seemed to be promoted far beyond his level of incompetence (sometimes the Peter Principle is repeated!). Who replaced Teran? See how far I've gotten out of the loop.
Vaughn Tolle said:
Linda, Denise Wren (who was principal at North) replaced Dr. Teran. I've many thoughts on Ralph, most of which I won't post in a public forum, although on the plus side, he was a "friend" to Northeast. The district-wide state assessment results will be released later this fall, we got a look at Northeast's at Site Council.
Vaughn Tolle said:
One thing I noticed I omitted from my post of yesterday was the sub-scores. An area of great concern was a drop in the scores on the reading comprehension questions of the assessment. Thus, the impetus to my inquiry of the building principal on the change in curriculum as a potential explanation to the drop in scores. To me, if the new curriculum is "easier" to understand, then the students logically, to my mind, will struggle with more complex literature.
There are other factors which may be a part of this; the increase in internet usage, the increase in gaming, the students just saying "oh, the heck with it", ad nauseum. However, I just found it curious that with all the analysis that is being had, there was no mention of a look at the new curriculum; maybe there is one, but it wasn't mentioned. In past discussions where scores deviated so much (in the absence of a change to the substance of the assessments themselves), the suggestion that the curriculum be reviewed generally was met with a bit of hostility (although I'm aware of at least one time in one area, there was a sudden change in curriculum following one of these "reviews").
I freely admit I'm not an expert in these matters, and to place blame on a one-time set of scores which coincidentally follow a curriculum change may well be too facile. That doesn't change my feeling that the curriculum change needs to be looked at, though.
There are other factors which may be a part of this; the increase in internet usage, the increase in gaming, the students just saying "oh, the heck with it", ad nauseum. However, I just found it curious that with all the analysis that is being had, there was no mention of a look at the new curriculum; maybe there is one, but it wasn't mentioned. In past discussions where scores deviated so much (in the absence of a change to the substance of the assessments themselves), the suggestion that the curriculum be reviewed generally was met with a bit of hostility (although I'm aware of at least one time in one area, there was a sudden change in curriculum following one of these "reviews").
I freely admit I'm not an expert in these matters, and to place blame on a one-time set of scores which coincidentally follow a curriculum change may well be too facile. That doesn't change my feeling that the curriculum change needs to be looked at, though.
longhorn said:
Heh VT. Sounds like the book Steven Davis was touting (Mistakes Were Made But Not By Me) applies here. IF the curriculum change is a factor, no one is going to want to admit it. That's a shame, because as long as everyone is CYA, NO one will get to the real answer.
I was thinking the other day about how little reading I do anymore. I used to read 3-4 papers per day, plus magazines, plus a book or two going at all times.
Now? I read on the internet, which amounts to skimming more than anything. Less in depth info to process, unless I process it myself out of intellectual curiousity. And I wonder how much curiosity kids really have today. Hard to generalize.
But I agree with Linda. Reading and comprehension are essential for ALL learning, no matter how many end runs the educators try to make on it. And I'm with you VT worrying about the future workforce upon which my social security depends.... :)
I was thinking the other day about how little reading I do anymore. I used to read 3-4 papers per day, plus magazines, plus a book or two going at all times.
Now? I read on the internet, which amounts to skimming more than anything. Less in depth info to process, unless I process it myself out of intellectual curiousity. And I wonder how much curiosity kids really have today. Hard to generalize.
But I agree with Linda. Reading and comprehension are essential for ALL learning, no matter how many end runs the educators try to make on it. And I'm with you VT worrying about the future workforce upon which my social security depends.... :)
longhorn said:
Is reading for pleasure a thing of the past? Is it too quiet to be engaging now? Are fantasy and escape too easy to come by on TV and the internet? If I wanted to "escape" I either went outside and had my adventures there, or I escaped for a while with a book. Maybe that is just because I was an only child 20 miles out in the country? Just wondering...
lindainks55 said:
Absolutely! As do all other factors that may have an affect on the scores. I have a grandson who would have been one of last year's Juniors so this is of personal interest. Wouldn't most people this age have mastered the skills measured by now, or be in need of more specialized help?
Is Denise Wren an improvement for the position? Is being North Principal a fast track to Asst. Principal of High Schools? Are these both questions you would rather not address on an "open" forum?
I get to have lunch at school today! The nearby grade school where my youngest grandchild attends invites grandparents one day each year and TODAY is the day! Madeline has requested I bring our lunch so I'm packing some kid favorites -- chicken nuggets (w/homemade white gravy for dipping), raw carrots and sugar-snap peas, fresh strawberries. After lunch we play on the playground. I am NO GOOD at foursquare! But I can swing. Monkey bars and slides are out. Teeter tooters are fun.
Is Denise Wren an improvement for the position? Is being North Principal a fast track to Asst. Principal of High Schools? Are these both questions you would rather not address on an "open" forum?
I get to have lunch at school today! The nearby grade school where my youngest grandchild attends invites grandparents one day each year and TODAY is the day! Madeline has requested I bring our lunch so I'm packing some kid favorites -- chicken nuggets (w/homemade white gravy for dipping), raw carrots and sugar-snap peas, fresh strawberries. After lunch we play on the playground. I am NO GOOD at foursquare! But I can swing. Monkey bars and slides are out. Teeter tooters are fun.
lindainks55 said:
I have escaped in so many books! You can be anyone, anyplace in a book.
I do remember in very recent years when my son-in-law (at that time a social studies teacher) complained that ONE DAY every week a cart full of books was pushed into his classroom and students must read one for that hour. This was one of Dr. Teran's initiatives to improve reading scores. No one was to do more than provide the books -- no accountability! My son-in-law saw this as an intrusion on the time he should have been teaching his subject matter. Oh, and this person who wheeled the cart of books into the social studies class was paid as if they were a teacher so the cost wouldn't reflect that too much money was spent elsewhere. This person didn't "teach" anyone anything, just wheel in a cart of books...
I do remember in very recent years when my son-in-law (at that time a social studies teacher) complained that ONE DAY every week a cart full of books was pushed into his classroom and students must read one for that hour. This was one of Dr. Teran's initiatives to improve reading scores. No one was to do more than provide the books -- no accountability! My son-in-law saw this as an intrusion on the time he should have been teaching his subject matter. Oh, and this person who wheeled the cart of books into the social studies class was paid as if they were a teacher so the cost wouldn't reflect that too much money was spent elsewhere. This person didn't "teach" anyone anything, just wheel in a cart of books...
Vaughn Tolle said:
Generally, Linda, I think Ms Wren is an improvement. I don't know the answer to your second question, given that the position (and analogous positions for the middle and elementary schools) are relatively new in the organizational chart of the district, but it is interesting that the two people filling the high school job to date were both principals at North.
Enjoy the lunch with your granddaughter, and be careful on the playground.
lh, I don't know if my experience tracks with yours, but I find myself in the same position as you as to reading. Once a voracious reader, it seems that by the time I get home, about the last thing I want to do is read anything. I blame it on aging eyes, etc., but other than the paper in the morning, and the occasional magazine, I find that I'm not doing any reading other than work-related at all, as a general rule. When a mere child, back in the late Cretaceous, I read everything in the "children's" section of the small library in Whitewater (where we lived until we moved to Wellington after my 7th grade year), and was working on the adult section.
Both our girls, as is my wife, are/were readers as well. I noticed that our younger is not reading as much for pleasure any more as she once did; I'll excuse that for the moment on the basis of all the reading that's required for her college studies. I attribute a great deal of their success on the ACT/SAT to their early reading (which, of course, should tell you my attitudes about the prep courses offered for both).
Enjoy the lunch with your granddaughter, and be careful on the playground.
lh, I don't know if my experience tracks with yours, but I find myself in the same position as you as to reading. Once a voracious reader, it seems that by the time I get home, about the last thing I want to do is read anything. I blame it on aging eyes, etc., but other than the paper in the morning, and the occasional magazine, I find that I'm not doing any reading other than work-related at all, as a general rule. When a mere child, back in the late Cretaceous, I read everything in the "children's" section of the small library in Whitewater (where we lived until we moved to Wellington after my 7th grade year), and was working on the adult section.
Both our girls, as is my wife, are/were readers as well. I noticed that our younger is not reading as much for pleasure any more as she once did; I'll excuse that for the moment on the basis of all the reading that's required for her college studies. I attribute a great deal of their success on the ACT/SAT to their early reading (which, of course, should tell you my attitudes about the prep courses offered for both).
Vaughn Tolle said:
Don't know about the cart of books being strictly a Dr. Teran thing, Linda. I recall the push for SSR some years ago at the high school level (SSR seems to be a program that has some foundation for elementary school students, but to me never had any rationale at the high school level) coming from the district, but I viewed Dr. Teran's involvement at the time as being the messenger.
Rox said:
lh, you sound like me, only I wasn't 20 miles out in the country until many years later. I would stay up and read by my nightlight, so it's no wonder I started wearing glasses in second grade.
I've always loved to read, but like everyone else here, reading time is hard to come by now. And there isn't as much pleasure as there once was when I do get the chance. I pick up on things in the writing that most people don't, only because I have to be aware of them in my own writing. It takes a damn good book to pull me in completely and suspend the real world for a few hours. Those are the books I go back and read again and again.
I've always loved to read, but like everyone else here, reading time is hard to come by now. And there isn't as much pleasure as there once was when I do get the chance. I pick up on things in the writing that most people don't, only because I have to be aware of them in my own writing. It takes a damn good book to pull me in completely and suspend the real world for a few hours. Those are the books I go back and read again and again.
Rox said:
SSR? That sounds familiar, but the brain is in low gear this morning.
Forgive my hit and miss posting. My 'net has been up and down (mostly down) for the past three days, and it's starting again today. Maybe I should just go grab a good book and read? :)
Forgive my hit and miss posting. My 'net has been up and down (mostly down) for the past three days, and it's starting again today. Maybe I should just go grab a good book and read? :)
lindainks55 said:
Thanks for putting me straight! It wasn't a good idea but I shouldn't have been so quick to cast blame without the facts.
Vaughn Tolle said:
Rox, I suggest that the pending myopia was the reason you were reading as you did, rather than being caused by the reading by nightlight. I also needed glasses early, but read by "good light" all the time (my mother insisted), and will continue to think that the lack of distance visual acuity was already there in a lesser form which helped me to the books as my escape rather than other activities.
Vaughn Tolle said:
Oops, Rox; thanks, Linda for the translation. I've been around the schools so long now that I've started to develop some fluency in yet another language (educatorese) to go along with my native tongue and American English. :-)
lindainks55 said:
Another language is my opinion of the one kids use today for IMing and texting. I think they deserve credit for inventing and becoming fluent in another language. As long as they realize it is another language NOT to be incorporated into American English, not to replace, not to be used instead of in the appropriate situations.
longhorn said:
"I've been around the schools so long now that I've started to develop some fluency in yet another language (educatorese) to go along with my native tongue and American English. :-)"
Hee hee VT! I think you are being too modest. Where does "legalese" fit in? Or are you saying that is your "native" tongue?
HEE HEE!
Hee hee VT! I think you are being too modest. Where does "legalese" fit in? Or are you saying that is your "native" tongue?
HEE HEE!
longhorn said:
Rox, I agree, that I dont get the same pleasure from reading that I used to get. Maybe it is the subject matter, as I tend to read nonfiction now, whereas I read lots of fiction when I was young.
I did the most reading when I was flying commercial five days a week. All those wait times in the terminals and in the air were put to good use. Once I stopped traveling for a living, I read fewer books, but still lots of papers and Newsweek and such.
Now? I come here for comfort and skim the papers on line.
Oh, and I commune regularly with the chickens...
I did the most reading when I was flying commercial five days a week. All those wait times in the terminals and in the air were put to good use. Once I stopped traveling for a living, I read fewer books, but still lots of papers and Newsweek and such.
Now? I come here for comfort and skim the papers on line.
Oh, and I commune regularly with the chickens...
longhorn said:
..and back to the thread for a minute. I think this regulation or "management" of the reincarnation process is a CLASSIC example of "leaders" running to the head of a parade that has already started.
And who says communists arent spiritual? heheheh. They want to "manage" their nation's sprirituality of reincarnation?
I guess whatever works...
And who says communists arent spiritual? heheheh. They want to "manage" their nation's sprirituality of reincarnation?
I guess whatever works...
Vaughn Tolle said:
It seems, lh, that despite my best efforts, legalese has become my native tongue. Damn, I fought it for a few years when first out of school, but it just sort of slips up on one....
longhorn said:
...and right on cue, I talk about airport and airplane reading, and THIS appears? The comments are also priceless.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboa...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboa...
Vaughn Tolle said:
Somehow, I felt this was appropriate to the topic; Fred has really po'ed Dobson:
http://tinyurl.com/26vlek
http://tinyurl.com/26vlek
Rox said:
If it isn't my internet not working, it's the 3-year-old busting keys on my keyboard. But I'm determined to win this round.
Is there a sequel to Orwell's 1984? If not, I believe we're living it right now. It's often said that truth is stranger than fiction.
Linda, thanks for the definition of SSR. I knew that. LOL I'm just now getting my first dose of caffeine, so real thinking still hasn't kicked in yet.
Now to catch VT url on Fred v. Dobson. This should be interesting.
Is there a sequel to Orwell's 1984? If not, I believe we're living it right now. It's often said that truth is stranger than fiction.
Linda, thanks for the definition of SSR. I knew that. LOL I'm just now getting my first dose of caffeine, so real thinking still hasn't kicked in yet.
Now to catch VT url on Fred v. Dobson. This should be interesting.
Rox said:
Ohhhh, poor Fred! Jimmy won't support him. Too bad, so sad.
I own and read several times a copy of Dobson's THE STRONG-WILLED CHILD a long time ago. It made sense. It didn't work. I can't understand why the Christian Right sets so much weight on this person or that. I'm not saying that Dobson isn't a Godly person. I have no idea if he is or isn't. But he's one person with an opinion. Nothing more, nothing less.
And some call Democrats "sheeple". Good grief.
I own and read several times a copy of Dobson's THE STRONG-WILLED CHILD a long time ago. It made sense. It didn't work. I can't understand why the Christian Right sets so much weight on this person or that. I'm not saying that Dobson isn't a Godly person. I have no idea if he is or isn't. But he's one person with an opinion. Nothing more, nothing less.
And some call Democrats "sheeple". Good grief.
Vaughn Tolle said:
Dobson, I believe, senses his days of "glory" vis a vis the GOP are about over. He further sees many of his flock, that he has been shearing, gathering around Mr. Thompson's candidacy on the marketing job being done portraying Mr. Thompson as the "next white hope" for the true conservatives (which religious conservatives consider themselves). He additionally perceives Mr. Thompson as really not giving a rat's behind for the opinions of Mr. Dobson and his fellow travelers. Should Mr. Thompson be able, then, to gain the GOP nomination with this attitude, Mr. Dobson stands to loose quite a bit of his base.
Elections may come, elections may go, but the money needs to keep on coming.
Elections may come, elections may go, but the money needs to keep on coming.
Vaughn Tolle said:
And (I inadvertently omitted this from the above), I can see Mr. Thompson, should he be the nominee, cheerfully giving Mr. Dobson the famous middle finger salute as he rides off into the sunrise.....
longhorn said:
hee hee heeeeeee VT!
"Dobson, I believe, senses his days of "glory" vis a vis the GOP are about over."
Ditto. You KNOW it's bad when values boy is running away from the "values voters" label, and so is dobson.
Rats, meet the sinking ship!
"Dobson, I believe, senses his days of "glory" vis a vis the GOP are about over."
Ditto. You KNOW it's bad when values boy is running away from the "values voters" label, and so is dobson.
Rats, meet the sinking ship!
lindainks55 said:
I survived! No worse for the wear. A grade school really is a very noisy place! And such fast moving creatures children are -- darting here and there they could easily trip up a grandparent. Grade school age children are easier to take one at a time. This is another reason I attribute to teacher turnover -- can you even imagine the working conditions!?
Vaughn Tolle said:
Linda, thank you for the report. As I become more of a curmudgeon, I find that any group of children are hard to take, although admittedly as they approach the age of majority, it's easier on me to deal with a group. I don't want to think about the conditions faced daily by elementary teachers, especially those in K-3.
Rox said:
Linda, I tip my hat to you. Or would if I was wearing one. I take both granddaughters to school everyday at two different schools, and it's a small learning experience.
VT, K-3 is bad, but middle school has to be the worst. No amount of money could get me to teach that. Or live through those awful years myself, either. LOL
VT, K-3 is bad, but middle school has to be the worst. No amount of money could get me to teach that. Or live through those awful years myself, either. LOL
Vaughn Tolle said:
Rox, middle school may well be the worst. Due to my wife's employment, I'm in the middle of middle-schoolers often. I've determined that all those good folks who deal with that group have a special place reserved for them in the hereafter, whatever the hereafter may be. It is amazing to me that where the wife is there are so many of the faculty who have been doing it (teaching middle school) for >10 years and who, as near as I can ascertain, remain sane; I'd have already been the subject of a "Care and Treatment" proceeding much earlier than that. Heck, Judy's on her 16th year as the administrative assistant and continues to exhibit signs of sanity, although seemingly she is the "surrogate mother" to some 180 or so every year, etc., etc. It does make me glad to be "Mrs. Tolle's husband" in that environment, as I gladly bask in the reflection of all the good things I hear about my wife, as unearned as the reflection of those things are by me.
Rox said:
VT, those teachers and your wife should be nominated for sainthood. I, too, know some excellent MS teachers and wonder how they manage. They have far more patience that I do.
lindainks55 said:
I agree about the reserved special place and sainthood! I don't exhibit signs of sanity and I'm home alone many hours a day enjoying the peaceful solitude.
Honestly, I do believe the working conditions of teachers needs to be greatly improved. Some ways that fall short of removing the children I guess...
Honestly, I do believe the working conditions of teachers needs to be greatly improved. Some ways that fall short of removing the children I guess...
Vaughn Tolle said:
Linda, I am at a loss on how to improve the working conditions of teachers. Much of what I observe at the "whitebread" (to use Lindsay's term) school where my wife works causes me to shake my head, even though I recognize things there are better (because I've been told this by teachers there with public school experience) than in 259. Something has happened with parents in the past 8 years or so; there is the feeling, I guess, that all they (the parents) have to do is pay the tuition, and all other issues are for the school to deal with. Generalization there, I know; but it's increasingly true. I can only imagine what it must be like for the public schools with the apparent apathy of parents I see in my now limited contact with the district.
Then we move to 259's policy which puts pressure on the buildings to not expel/suspend, especially where "students of color" are concerned. How the devil are teachers or the principals supposed to keep discipline in the building with one hand tied behind their back? There are incidents about which I've been told that clearly warranted such action but in light of the pressure from "downtown" alternatives, such as in-school suspension, were tried, many of which were not successful, with the same students creating even more problems.
Back to my ranting about NCLB, with a bit of a twist. NCLB puts NO accountability on the student. None. I consider this a symptom of a bigger environment that the student should not be held accountable. I cannot get into detail on this one, but I'm aware of several incidents within the past two years about allegations being made of disparate treatment of minorities when, in point of fact, the student was being treated absolutely the same as any other student would be in the same set of circumstances.
I realize that as 259 becomes more and more an "urban" district, there are issues which are without our experience as students. However, I fail to see how equal treatment of students regardless of their ethnicity is in any way harmful. There are times a student is so disruptive, s/he needs to be temporarily or permanently removed from the building for the good of the other students, ethnicity notwithstanding. For there to be situations where a "white" student is suspended/expelled and a minority student to not so be when the same conduct occurs makes no flipping sense to me. Or, when "administrative reassignment" occurs due to an appeal to the BOE of a hearing officer's decision upholding expulsion where the student is a minority, when the BOE votes to uphold the decision where the student is not, again makes no sense to me. Either way, the student should suffer the same consequence.
Sorry for the rant.
Then we move to 259's policy which puts pressure on the buildings to not expel/suspend, especially where "students of color" are concerned. How the devil are teachers or the principals supposed to keep discipline in the building with one hand tied behind their back? There are incidents about which I've been told that clearly warranted such action but in light of the pressure from "downtown" alternatives, such as in-school suspension, were tried, many of which were not successful, with the same students creating even more problems.
Back to my ranting about NCLB, with a bit of a twist. NCLB puts NO accountability on the student. None. I consider this a symptom of a bigger environment that the student should not be held accountable. I cannot get into detail on this one, but I'm aware of several incidents within the past two years about allegations being made of disparate treatment of minorities when, in point of fact, the student was being treated absolutely the same as any other student would be in the same set of circumstances.
I realize that as 259 becomes more and more an "urban" district, there are issues which are without our experience as students. However, I fail to see how equal treatment of students regardless of their ethnicity is in any way harmful. There are times a student is so disruptive, s/he needs to be temporarily or permanently removed from the building for the good of the other students, ethnicity notwithstanding. For there to be situations where a "white" student is suspended/expelled and a minority student to not so be when the same conduct occurs makes no flipping sense to me. Or, when "administrative reassignment" occurs due to an appeal to the BOE of a hearing officer's decision upholding expulsion where the student is a minority, when the BOE votes to uphold the decision where the student is not, again makes no sense to me. Either way, the student should suffer the same consequence.
Sorry for the rant.
Rox said:
That's a racism of another kind, VT.
Let's hope I don't screw this up. Got it from my daughter.
**
Everyone concentrates on the problems we're having in this country lately;
illegal immigration, hurricane recovery, alligators attacking people in Florida
Not me. I concentrate on solutions for the problems. It's a win-win situation.
1) Dig a moat the length of the Mexican border.
2) Send the dirt to New Orleans to raise the level of the levies.
3) Put the Florida alligators in the moat along the Mexican border.
Mr. President, you couldn't figure that one out yourself?
Any other problems you would like for me to solve today ?
Let's hope I don't screw this up. Got it from my daughter.
**
Everyone concentrates on the problems we're having in this country lately;
illegal immigration, hurricane recovery, alligators attacking people in Florida
Not me. I concentrate on solutions for the problems. It's a win-win situation.
1) Dig a moat the length of the Mexican border.
2) Send the dirt to New Orleans to raise the level of the levies.
3) Put the Florida alligators in the moat along the Mexican border.
Mr. President, you couldn't figure that one out yourself?
Any other problems you would like for me to solve today ?
lindainks55 said:
259 is too big, isn't it? It's not efficient and must make too many rules. Rules are always needed because someone pushed beyond the acceptable. When you have lost the ability to deal with the individuals you are too big with too many rules (also interpretations which run the gambit!).
Loading....