Get Schooled

By S. Williams

August 3, 2005 01:56 PM | Link to this

I truly believe that strict enforcement of the dress code is the only way that things can get better. Many times administrators make a dress code but it is not enforced. Teachers send student to the office if they are “dressed inapproprietly” only for the student to be sent back to the room and things remain the same. No I don’t think an entire school day should be wasted on writing up students who are breaking the rules/dress code. If we nip this problem at the beginning of the school year with a “zero tolerance” attitude, then we won’t spend the rest of the year trying to deal with it. I wish schools had uniforms. So many parents are against the uniforms because they want their child to be able to express his/her self identity. Children can express their identity in their classwork and outside the school. How are they expressing their self identity when they want and you buy them the same sneakers and jerseys that the rappers and other kids are wearing? We are grown and we can’t express our own “self identity” when we want to. If our Delta, Waffle House, NFL, NBA, Wal-Mart, etc jobs require uniforms, we have to wear them or we lose the job. It’s as simple as that.(How long do you think Micheal Vick will stay with the Falcons if he chose to wear a retired Dallas Cowboys jersey during the game?)It’s a time and a place for everything. You can use your off-days to express your identity. Schools have one goal: To teach children and this includes teaching them to obey the rules so that they may grow up to become productive members of our society.

By A. Woodall

August 3, 2005 02:20 PM | Link to this

I support new Ms.Pulliam 100% I am very impressed with her leadership skills and what she brings to clayton county Board of Education. I really wish that uniforms were mandatory for our children. I don’t understand why so many parents are against it. Luckily my children haven’t reached the age where they want to be like someone else they are happy with whatever I buty them to wear. Additionally the school that they attend is an excellent school and they have excellent teachers as well as a excellent administration

By pg

August 3, 2005 02:28 PM | Link to this

Although I also with that school uniforms would be required, I really feel that one thing should be required more so than uniforms. That’s respect!!

My daughter attends a Clayton County Middle School and she constantly comes home in amazement at how the kids are allowed to speak to each other and even teachers.

It never ceases to amaze me when she tells about how the students call each other vulgar names and the young boys are freely telling the girls to suck their body parts.

Why isn’t anyone putting a stop to this.

I had to speak to one teach last year about how a particular student was speaking to my daughter (in the teacher’s presence) and the words this student was using. All I got from the teacher was a look as if she was a deer caught in the headlights.

The only thing she promised what that she would speak to the student.

Why aren’t students required to conduct themselves in a respectful manner.

Respect should not be a choice, it should be required. There should be major consequences for such disgusting behavior and there are no consequences therefore the children will continue to behave in this way.

By Reggie

August 3, 2005 02:47 PM | Link to this

Barbara Pulliam is fighting an uphill battle. She started off on the wrong foot by releasing or firing devoted good teachers that had degrees in Education. The only thing these teachers lacked were time to complete GA PSC requirements for certification. Clayton Co school officials traveled weekly out of state to recruit qualified teachers and then within 45 days of Pulliam taking office, she fires them. Now look at the mess they are in . Clayton Co schools will start the new year with Subs in some classes. The Bible Teaches as you reap shall you sow.

By Anne

August 3, 2005 04:15 PM | Link to this

I attended private school & altho we didn’t wear a uniform per se, we did have a dress code - no jeans, denim, sneakers, ripped clothing. Boys wore white shirts, dark pants. That is something any parent can buy for their child & is presentable. And no teacher shoud have to worry about being verbally abused by a student.

I am thankful I have no children in the CCPS system & if things don’t improve by the time they are school age, I’ll have to take on a 2nd job to send them to private school.

I really hate that Clayton is stigmatized by violence & a lousy school system - we love living here & hope that things improve soon, know it won’t happen overnight. But its gonna take a lot more than a new dress code for things to improve & unfortunately, the parents who need to hear & apply these things probably don’t read the newspaper …

By Deb

August 3, 2005 04:23 PM | Link to this

“Why aren’t students required to conduct themselves in a respectful manner.”

It’s not that they are not required to so it’s they do not fear the punishment. We need to revamp the whole system.

First, education should not be a Right. In the old days parents fought to get their kids in schools and the children also fought to stay in school…because it was something to be earned. Cherishing educations has gone by the road side. In the “old” days if you did not get educated you lived in poverty. You got nothing from the Government. No house, no food, no medical, zero.

Second, when you have 50% of children born to single mothers do not expect anything grand out of about 30% of those children. Get rid of the trouble makers. A group of Nuns in the slums of Chicogo asked for the worst 100 kids the school system had. At the end of the first year 92 students remained. They attendance was superer. Their grades excellent. Ask why they were doing better the students all replied that they felt safe, the trouble makers were gone, the nuns took zero crap. Zero.You act up you are gone and you will never amount to anything.

Third, strict discipline. No playing around. Install pride. Reward those that do. Do away with school sponsored sports programs for a year. If the students behave, the sports will be brought back. Give each student a couple pair of black pants and white shirts and a tie. Girls get a black skirt and a white blouse.

If the student acts up call the parents…or more than likely…parent or guardian to come get the child. If the child wants back in they have to work at the school for X weekends along with the parent(s).

No cell phones, no radios, come to school with yourself and books.

(Go see Riverside Military’s website and see what these kids have to do.) That is the way Public School needs to run.

Maybe we should go so far as to build dorms and require H.S. aged kids to spend the night at school during the week.

Have seperate schools for boys and girls starting in the 7th grade.

By Arman

August 3, 2005 04:32 PM | Link to this

“when you have 50% of children born to single mothers do not expect anything grand out of about 30% of those children.”

Right on the money!

When our society deemed fathers unimportant that is when we started failing our children.

We now see nothing wrong with being born out of wedlock. It used to be when a child was born out of wedlock people looked down on the mother. Now we celebrate it. Married, have a child, get a divorce…no big thing. Yes, it is a big thing.

Sports figures, actors, business leaders….all having children out of wedlock and with no shame. I am not a bible thumper but I know a shameful thing when I see one. Bring fathers back into the picture women and you will see a better class of children.

The school system CAN NOT raise your child!

By Bill

August 3, 2005 04:50 PM | Link to this

As a sophomore in college, I would like to share a story.

I attended a high school where behavior was not the best. A new principal took over for my sophomore year, and changed that whole culture through his dress code policy. On the first day of each new school year the principal would get on a loudspeaker and announce the dress code. He then warned everyone that the first day would be free (with only warnings given out). However, starting the next day, he took action (which included suspension to those students who continutally broke the rules). To keep student’s pants up on their waist, he provided rope. If you chose not to wear it, you went home for a few days. It was surprising the result that he got in his first year. By the third week of school each year, everything ran smoothly. By then, all of the students had realized that the party was over and that they had to follow the rules. By enforcing the dress code on everyone (from honors students to 19 year old 9th graders) he earned the respect from everyone. True, some students that did not want to be there still broke the rules, but they were gotten rid of and it made the whole school run better.

This policy helped in all areas of behavior. We had a food fight in lunch towards the beginning of school, and he was not too pleased about that. He decided to take decisive action. I never thought I would see a principal who would have the authority or respect from the students to give silent lunch to 700 high school students (for a whole week!) by simply standing on a table and demanding their attention. After a few questioned authority, the rest of us realized that he was definitely in charge.

I would like for everyone to note to that although this school is not in intercity Atlanta, it is not in the best neighborhood. My class started out in ninth grade with approximately 400-450 students and we graduated with 250, a terrible dropout/failure rate. Dress code can change a culture of misbehavior/failure!!!

By yesiamworried

August 4, 2005 08:50 AM | Link to this

Bill

Your story is really right on the money — a strong principal can really turn a troubled school around. I fear that those type of administrators are few and far between.

Unless Pulliam can make sure that her principals and teachers enforce the dress code consistently within each school and within the system, it is doomed to fail.

There need to be consequences that make sure that it is an inconvience to parents. (Bringing them a change of clothes, out of school suspensions vs. in school)

By kdw

August 4, 2005 09:25 AM | Link to this

My son attends Lovejoy Middle School and so far I have not felt the need to remove him because of safety concerns. I am, however, already making plans to either enroll him in a private school or purchase another home in another county once he enters high school because of all of the gang-related problems that have been reported at Lovejoy High School. If Dr. Pulliam’s plan works, and I truly hope that it does, I will consider allowing my son to attend high school in Clayton County.
I support the dress code whole-heartedly. I already do not allow my son to wear inappropriate clothing. More importantly, I don’t purchase inappropriate clothing for my son, so he has no choice. Furthermore, I don’t wear inappropriate clothing so my child has an example to follow. If a school uniform were necessary, I would support that decision although I am not personally fond of it. But if it helps to keep students safe and helps them to realize that learning is serious business, then I will certainly cooperate.

By pg

August 4, 2005 09:28 AM | Link to this

30% percent of the child raised by single mothers don’t have a chance? PLEASE!!

I am a single mother whose child is fatherless because a kid from a so called “good” family, mother & father in the home, supposedly church going people, decided that he would do drugs and go out and kill someone.

Those of you who are trying to blame all of society’s ills on single parenthood really need to stop.

There are plenty of people in our society who were raised in two parent homes and are still criminals, drug users and extremely dysfunctional. Just like there plenty of people in society who were raised in single parent home and are hard working, law abiding citizens.

There’s enough blame to go around when it comes to society’s problems.

It’s not fair to try to place virtually all of the blame on single parents.

By Karen Armsby

August 4, 2005 09:49 AM | Link to this

pg, No one is trying to blame society’s ills on single parenthood. The comments are not “blaming” you, the single parent for your children’s struggles. The comments are blaming the absent parent, the deadbeat dad or missing mom, who fail to be there to parent their kids. It is harder to raise a child in a single parent household than in a two parent household, where both the mother and the father work together in a supportive way to rear their children.

By Ginger

August 4, 2005 10:15 AM | Link to this

Yes ma’am, 30% will not do as well. Why? Its relatively simple:they don’t have a level playing field. When there is only 1 parent, that parent is responsible for ALL aspects of that child’s life as well as that of the parent. This means food, clothing, shelter, for starters and that takes massive amounts of time since that one parent has to shoulder the financial burden for all of that. Then, you have the issues of spending good quality time with a child that needs more from you than just to make sure that it is alive and breathing. THey need a parent who is alert and not exhausted to really “READ” them, and have enough energy to put forth the effort that raising a child takes. Sometimes, it is just overwhelming and you let things slide for once, then as any parent will tell you, an inch that you allow them once will become a mile that they TAKE rather than being allowed. Sometimes, it is just hard to be a parent, an employee, a homemaker, and a person in your own right. When you have 2 parents in the home, or a parent and a support system that has authority IN THE HOME, it lightens the load a little. It is just nice sometimes to have someone else be the “bad guy” instead of you having to be the bad guy all time. You have to a parent first, not a friend, to the child. My kids, all 4 of them, are my friends, and I love to hang out with them, but they know that if a choice is to be made as to me being their friend, or their mother, I will be MAMA. They don’t have to like me, they have to respect me and know that what I do, I do in their best interest whether they like it or not. * Having my husband there makes this job a little easier. When I am too tired to see straight, and one of the kids thinks they can slide on something, he steps in and says NO.*

THIS IS NOT A PUT DOWN, I ‘ve been there for a while with 2 little ones while my husband and I were seperated. It was so hard to be everything they needed because at the end of the day, there are only so many hours in one day, and only so many directions one person can go at the same time.

God made us 2 halves of 1 whole unit. Without the other half, you may be able to make do, but it doesn’t work the correct way. Now, that said, my sister raised 2 good boys as a divorced mother. She was not alone. She had a support system, that while it may not have been perfect by any means, was there so that if something fell apart (plans, money, sickness, etc) there was help readily available to help pick up the pieces. I grew up thinking it was normal to have extended family living in one home (granted, we had to get a much bigger house, as we had at one point a married couple with children, the wife’s parents, a divorced sister and her children lol) and help each other out. BTW, the 2 boys are grown, one in the military in Afghanistan, the other is a successful businessman .

That, more than anything, will help todays kids in the school system, having a family that actually works together, thru thick and thin. Whether the kid has 2 parents in the home or a mama and an uncle or grandfather, kids need a male and a female in a home, caring and showing it, to achieve in life. Until that happens, we will have babies born out of wedlock with a strike against them before they can get to the playing field.

By s

August 4, 2005 10:26 AM | Link to this

To Deb and the rest of you who think that the problem is single-parent home children. Well, maybe you need a little enlightenment. I know you all like to think that because there are two parents in the home everything is peaches and creme. Well, maybe it is because when childen from a two-parent home get strung out on drugs or alcohol it’s called a terrible disease. When children from a two-parent home get caught breaking the law they’re really good kids who are just looking for attention or hanging with the wrong crowd. So I can see how you may think that the problem is only a single-parent problem because it’s called something else when the “perfect” child from the “perfect” family does it, but I don’t see any children from a single-parent home needing the Nanny to come in to help them discipline her children. I don’t see little children from single-parent homes cussing their mothers out in the store when they can’t have their way. I don’t see children from single-parent homes wearing black trench coats with black hair and nails and lipstick. I don’t see children from single-parent homes planting bombs in people’s mailboxes or planning to blow up schools. And, oh, the children who are joyriding, driving while drunk—I mean, intoxicated—and wrapping themselves around trees all come from single-parent homes. You know, you’re right. It is a single-parent home issue.

By s

August 4, 2005 10:34 AM | Link to this

And, besides. All the two-parent homes I know of, the father does nothing but work, and when they do come home all they do is eat and crash out on the sofa for the rest of the evening. There’s no real interaction with the children. The mothers are doing all the work. They work outside of the home too. They come home, pop something in the microwave and crash in front of the television themselves. There’s no reading to children as some would suggest since there’s so much of a support system there. You tell me how many women are ready to leave the deadbeat men who live in their houses. Come on. Give me a break. You’re living in a world of fantasies. Two parent homes are not an oasis. They’re not perfect. They are just as dysfunctional as any single-parent home. So get off your high horses and remember judge not lest ye be judged and try not to throw stones because you’re living in a glass house yourself.

By Karen Armsby

August 4, 2005 10:40 AM | Link to this

Boy this single parent thing has really struck some nerves! No one is saying that two parent households are perfect, only, as Ginger said so well, that parenting in a single parent household is so much harder. pg and s you are both turning this into a bitter us against them debate. Y’all need to quit being so defensive. Don’t you agree that if you had a loving supportive partner to help parent your children, that it would be so much more manageable?

I saw an article that unwed births are down, and isn’t that a good thing? Shouldn’t our unwed teenage children wait until they are married and in a stable loving relationship before they have children? Shouldn’t the absent adult fathers or mothers finally grow up and come back into their children’s lives and be a supportive parent?

By Karen Armsby

August 4, 2005 10:48 AM | Link to this

s, I am sorry that you live in such a miserable community. Obviously you do not interact with the many two parent households where mom and dad do parent together, do read to the kids, where they sit down togetrher at dinner, coach their kids’ ball teams, volunteer in their schools, teach them to swim, ride a bike, go hiking and camping with them. I suggest you move.

By pg

August 4, 2005 10:53 AM | Link to this

30% of the children raised/born by single mothers don’t have a chance? PLEASE!! Give me a break!!

I am a single mother whose child is fatherless because of a kid from a so called “good” family, mother and father in the home, supposedly church going people, decided that he would do drugs and go out and kill someone.

Those of you who are trying to blame all of society’s ills on single parenthood really need to stop.

There are plenty of people in our society who were raised in two parent homes and are criminals, drug users and extremely dysfunctional. Just like there are plenty of people in society who were raised in single parent homes and are hard working, successful, law abiding citizens.

To assume that just because someone is raised by a single parent they will become a low life in society is just plain ridiculous.

There’s enough blame to go around when it comes to society’s problems.

It’s not fair to try to place all of the blame on single parents.

By pg

August 4, 2005 11:05 AM | Link to this

I was not being defensive.

To be honest with you my life is very good and my child is well taken care of.

I have more than enough time to spend with my child. And yes I do work, and provide for my child. I raise her to always conduct herself is a respectful way and to always be honest and not to judge others.

I just wanted to point out that society’s problems don’t all fall on the shoulders of single parents and the children that they raise.

By the way. I never mentioned anything about having any struggles. Raising my child is anything but a struggle.

By Karen Armsby

August 4, 2005 11:15 AM | Link to this

pg you said It’s not fair to try to place all of the blame on single parents. Sorry, but that sounded defensive to me.

I said that we, who are blogging here, and for that matter, society, aren’t blaming you single parents who are raising your children alone, we are blaming the absent parents, who fail to provide the money, the time, the emotional support, academic guidance and spiritual nurturing that their kids need.

By Karen Armsby

August 4, 2005 11:30 AM | Link to this

pg and s, I guess a distinction should be made about how you became a single parent, because responsibility should be placed on the shoulders of women and men who choose to have a child out of wedlock and then don’t parent together. If the dad does not support the child and mother, then the mother’s choice to get preganant does create a disadvantage to the child from day one.

pg, You are a widow and so had no choice in becoming in single parent, and no one blames you.

There are also single parents who divorce and the dads are still involved in their kids’ lives, so there is a two parent support network. But when the parents divorce and the former spouse is gone from the kids’ lives, leaving the other to be a single parent, then it is the absent parent who should be ashamed and blamed for abandoning their parental duties.

By Yevette

August 4, 2005 11:47 AM | Link to this

Dr. Pulliam I support you 100%. There are parents out here who believe in what you are doing. Please make you principals and adminstrators accountable. Make sure they understand that the only way change works if for it to be enforced. It won’t be easy but it will work….and after this works move on to the next issue and make it work also. Sometimes we have wonderful plans, but we don’t work the plan. Clayton County is not the place where violence and all the problems of society resides. It is a good county with good people who want the best for their families. Include the parents in your plans. Make the principals and administrators follow through. Leadership comes from the top and if teachers, students and parents see the top is on board and will not falter then they will either follow through or leave. I will continue to keep you and all of Clayton County in my prayers.

By Sly

August 4, 2005 12:45 PM | Link to this

More of the same BS as to why the system is broken. Karen is right. Move if you don’t like your surroundings. I can imagine the amount of tax money going not only to the schools themselves, but to the welfare victims in those neighborhoods too. When everything is given to you don’t expect a whole lot. Work, move to the better school districts, get off public assistance and have a feeling of being in control of the brief life you have on this planet. Pulliam has a tough sell.

By pg

August 4, 2005 01:18 PM | Link to this

Karen,

I was not being defensive and if that I you took it then that’s fine but it doesn’t mean that is how it was meant. Trust me, I have absolutely nothing to defend.

Please take note of my original message. I said nothing about single parents. You can thank Deb for opening up that can of worms. The only thing I did was respond.

Anyway, Dr. Pulliam should be supported because she is attempting to make change for the better. She has a very difficult job.

Feeling safe in school is important. It’s difficult to learn if you feel you need to look over your shoulder. No child should go to school afraid. A dress code is always a good idea but how people treat each other should be important also. What sense does it make for someone to be dressed nicely and use vulgarity to express himself.

Disrespect and vulgar language should not be tolerated in our schools. This kind of behavior can definitely create an environment where anyone could feel unsafe.

By Karen Armsby

August 4, 2005 01:38 PM | Link to this

pg, I agree with you, and wish Dr. Pulliam well, too. It takes the whole community coming together to work for the success of the schools. Principals, teachers and the parents must work together for their students.

By Kenya

August 4, 2005 01:56 PM | Link to this

I think that Dr. Pulliam has the beginning of a good idea. What she is doing is a good start. I don’t live in Clayton COunty but I believe that somebody needs to step up and take some kind of action. I also don’t believe that it is single parents that are having the issues with kids. I believe that two parent families have just as much to do with the situation, these are the parents who turn the other cheek and pretend like their kids are angels when they know full well that their child is definitely part of the problem. I would like to congratulate Dr. Pulliam for what she is trying to do. Keep up the good work!!! And God Bless.

By Robert

August 4, 2005 03:02 PM | Link to this

Single parents are not by definition poor parents. As a teacher I see my share of children with poor parenting from TWO parents.

However, as parents continue to reduce their parenting, schools are being asked to pick up the slack. This means teaching children the very basics of what society defines as right and wrong. When I was growing up, the parents did this…. not any more.

Many of todays parents do the minimum of providing some food, some clothing, and some shelter, and that is all.

As schools have to pick up the slack, they are requireing things such as metal detectors and other extreme measures that were unthinkable 10 years ago. This is because the students must be safe and those children that never learned the difference between right and wrong (and especially the consequences of doing wrong) will also be in the classroom. This is a tough challenge and Clayton County is not in an enviable position.

By Mj

August 4, 2005 03:42 PM | Link to this

. This is not a single parent problem!! My mom raise four kids on her own and she did a damn good job. She raise us the old fashion way. With a belt and strong values. Respect other and always show respect. Her biggest concern was not making her look bad in front of other peopleor out in public. Our kids are not afraid of adults like we were and its our fault. My mom taught us to respect our teachers at all times even if they were wrong. No matter what!! My mom worked two jobs to support us and she still made sure we new how to conduct ourselves. Our teachers are here to teach and they need the support of the parents. Stop Making excuses for other people and start taking action on our kids. It doesnt matter what school or where you live we as a community need to support the schools and there rules, no matter how we fill about them.

By Jess

August 4, 2005 03:56 PM | Link to this

Making the dress code stricter is not going to change the gang problem. Even if there are uniforms there is still going to be a violence and gang problem. the thing to help change that is more law enforcement in school and how about some metal dectectors? Those will always work. All the new dress code is going to do is keep teachers from teaching because they will have to spend most of the class period writing people up and sending them to the office for what they are wearing than giving us students an education. Yes, I am a student at a clyton county school, this is my senior year and I have seen a lot at school with the gang problem and things that are trying to change that. The canine dogs are a great idea, but also metal detectors would really make me feel safe especially if they are at every door entering the school, that way no weapons are allowed. the dress code being stricker might change a little bit of that but gang member can always find other part of their body to hide weapons and drugs. I want to feel safe at school and the main thing for that has nothing to do with the dress code. I go to school to learn and if the teachers have to spend most the class sending people to the office for what they are wearing, make me frustrated. If the teachers suspect that a student is part oa a violence act (gang member, bully, etc..) they should deal with them and them only. Also, when there are fights at school it feels like it takes forever for teachers to stop it and a lot of teahers are scared to step in because they feel like the students are higher then them. The teachers need to know that they are the superior not the students, and they have the last word, don’t be afraid of the students, remember we are just teenagers who think we know everything. So once again as a student of a clayton county school I say the best way to make students feel safe at school will be more law enforcment and metal detectors at all entrances of the school.

By Amazed (Independent Woman)

August 4, 2005 04:11 PM | Link to this

The two parent families are not raising children any better than single moms. There are several two parent families in my Loganville neighborhood, who have children who create the worst problems I have ever encountered. Their children have broken into several homes and been too juvenile detention several times in the past two years. Two of the families have stay at home moms. Go Figure…

The others have vandalized properties, one of them mine to be specific. Their parents make excuses and usually try to talk the other neighbors into not pressing charges.

I also hear stories from coworkers, many of them two parent families about problems with their children or relatives kids. They have four pair of eyes and still couldn’t tell you what their kids are doing.

Many of the children who have died in driving accidents have come from two parent households. I would think that two parents would prevent such terrible things. I’m just glad that their little darlings did not kill a single mom, because her child would probably be an orphan.

The problem in Clayton County is not about 30% problem kids by single moms, because I can tell you that my county experiences the same types kids, but it doesn’t make the 5 or 6 PM news.

From a single mom………

By FunkyGee

August 4, 2005 04:16 PM | Link to this

Clayton County! Listen to Jess! Let him have a safe senior year. Cause it’ll probably be his last year in school. How about those writing skills?

By FunkyGee

August 4, 2005 04:19 PM | Link to this

This stuff is priceless!

By Yevette

August 4, 2005 04:37 PM | Link to this

Jess, My son is also a graduating senior at a Clayton County High School also. The county would not have to enforce a dress code policy if students did not come to school dressed like they were in some 50 Cent or JayZ video. It is sad commentary on our society that you believe metal detectors will make you safe. Unfortunately, the style of big pants and oversized shirts can hide weapons. Young men cannot concentrate in class if the young lady next to them are dressed like Beyonce or worse Trina. Someone ealier said that Walmart, Target, Best Buy all have dress codes. When you go to work in the corporate environment you have a dress code. This is the first step. Hopefully, it will not have to come to the point where metal detectors are needed. It is not the 95% of the students that are cause the problems it is the 5%. If at the beginning of the year emphasis if put on making changes to dress codes and enforcing them for the students AS WELL AS THE TEACHERS (because they look a hot mess sometimes also) we can move on to really helping to improve the academics. Good luck on your senior year!!

By Earl

August 5, 2005 08:35 AM | Link to this

By s

August 4, 2005 10:34 AM | Link to this

“And, besides. All the two-parent homes I know of, the father does nothing but work, and when they do come home all they do is eat and crash out on the sofa for the rest of the evening. There’s no real interaction with the children. The mothers are doing all the work. They work outside of the home too.”

What a stupid, sexist, gender biased statment.

By Lisa M

August 5, 2005 08:42 AM | Link to this

**”By Amazed (Independent Woman)

August 4, 2005 04:11 PM | Link to this

The two parent families are not raising children any better than single moms.”**

Sorry to all you men hating women out there but you have no facts to back up your anger. The facts are very clear. Children that have a dad and mom involved in their lives do better than those rasied by single parents.

(And just because one is divorced does not mean that the child does not have two involved parents. Single mom does not always equate to a single parent raised child)

You want to improve schools….make divorce harder to get and make those that do file pay the majority of child support.

By Robby

August 5, 2005 08:46 AM | Link to this

To help set the record straight and do away with all the opinions on the issue….

61% of all child abuse is committed by biological mothers 25% of all child abuse is committed by natural fathers Statistical Source: Current DHHS report on nationwide Child Abuse

79.6% of custodial mothers receive a support award 29.9% of custodial fathers receive a support award

46.9% of non-custodial mothers totally default on support 26.9% of non-custodial fathers totally default on support

20.0% of non-custodial mothers pay support at some level 61.0% of non-custodial fathers pay support at some level

66.2% of single custodial mothers work less than full-time 10.2% of single custodial fathers work less than full-time

7.0% of single custodial mothers work more than 44 hours weekly 24.5% of single custodial fathers work more than 44 hours weekly

46.2% of single custodial mothers receive public assistance 20.8% of single custodial fathers receive public assistance Statistical Source: Technical Analysis Paper No. 42 - U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services - Office of Income Security Policy

90.2% of fathers with joint custody pay all the support due 79.1% of fathers with visitation privileges pay all the support due 44.5% of fathers with no visitation pay all the support due 37.9% of fathers are denied any visitation 66.0% of all support not paid by non-custodial fathers is due to inability to pay Statistical Source: 1988 Census “Child Support and Alimony: 1989 Series P-60, No. 173 p. 6-7. and U.S. General Accounting Office Report” GAO/HRD-92-39FS January, 1992

By Lisa M

August 5, 2005 08:56 AM | Link to this

Thanks Robby. I guess that will end all the “Hate Dad at all cost” we are seeing on this site.

By Karen Armsby

August 5, 2005 09:26 AM | Link to this

Robby, What is the sample size for the group of custodial moms and group of custodial dads that this data is calculated from? I believe the population of custodial mothers is much larger than the population of custodial fathers. Also, these statistics only include the cases that were enforced through child support and alimony orders and judgments. There are many single parent moms out there that don’t have alimony orders, never applied for child support, or gave up long ago trying to track down the dead beat dad and collect on an order for back child support.

By Karen Armsby

August 5, 2005 09:29 AM | Link to this

Robby, And your statistics are based on a 1988 census, which is 17 years old….

By Breonna

August 5, 2005 09:40 AM | Link to this

The dress code should be all student wear uniforms and only black or white shoes.That will cut back on so much problems in the schools.

By A

August 5, 2005 11:00 AM | Link to this

If yesterday Orientation at Jonesboro High School is any indication,then no I don’t think Clayton County School are safe. While Dr. Pullium is doing pr about Clayton School Sytems. Clayton County Police department is being dispatch over to Jonesboro High School. I guess they’re tried of coming over, because they took they’re time about coming to the school.

By Shaw

August 5, 2005 01:42 PM | Link to this

Karen…..you need to reread Robby’s post. Your comments do not make any sense. A percent is a percent. (And the sample group was large enough to conclude valid positions.)

“I believe the population of custodial mothers is much larger than the population of custodial fathers.”

Duh! Mothers are awarded custody 90% of the time even (When) the courts found the father to be (completey) fit.

Sorry Karen. The numbers are still valid today. These numbers were introduced at last years Congressional Hearings on D.V.

You can try and cloud the issue if you want to with Congress but it’s not working here. Please fell free to post your own study for our review.

“There are many single parent moms out there that don’t have alimony orders, never applied for child support, or gave up long ago trying to track down the dead beat dad and collect on an order for back child support.”

It’s so funny when someone post actual numbers that someone will still try and make their point otherwise with no supporting data. It’s almost like trying to reason with a five year old. Karen….Robby’s numbers were not made up. There were no words used such as many, lots, most.

Please come back with valid research and we will talk again.

By K. Carter

August 8, 2005 09:48 AM | Link to this

Yes! Other surrounding county schools have a strict dress code and it is enforced and they do receive all the press attention. I think Dr. Pulliam must enforce a new dress code to keep our schools and students safe.Maybe some of the police reports that are filed and completed by our SRO’s should become publized excluding any minor’s name of course. Maybe this would open up our community’s eyes and get their support. Our parents, teachers, and students want our schools safe also.

By Amazed (Independent Woman)

August 8, 2005 02:15 PM | Link to this

By Lisa M

August 5, 2005 08:42 AM | Link to this

You probably look like a man, because you took such a large offense too my statements. Believe me, my fiance knows that I don’t hate him or any other man. And BTW, he had a really good laugh at your statement.

If not a man, you probably fall into the second wife or new girl friend club. There is a third category, my son/brother walks on water - but they usually don’t spew as much hate as the other two categories.

And as far as the statistics, there are many other variables that come into play when it comes to being a good parent and being in a two parent household only increases the household income. One of the things to keep in mind is that single moms, who live above the poverty level generally do better with raising their children. If you live in a crime/gang/low income neighborhood - it’s hard to create a successful mentality. That’s why it’s important to provide as much real world (success stories) to the kids while in a school environment.

By the way, Lisa, my daughters father is ACTIVE in her life. Not only that, but he gives most of the credit to her success in school and outside of school too me. I also have enough respect for him to know that the new girlfriend or second wife would not spend her time worring about how much child support/non-child support I receive. Because he let’s her know upfront that he has other priorities.

The same goes for my fiance, who also have other obligations. It works both ways…….

By Brooks

August 11, 2005 12:15 PM | Link to this

Dr. Pulliam’s decision about the dress code is just the beginning to fix an array of problems in the Clayton County schools.

My son attended private school through middle school and is now enrolled in a public high school in Clayton County for the first time. I am shocked when he tells me how the students talk back to the teachers and the language that they use with each other. What is needed here is some basic civility training courses for these kids. Yes, in the old days our parents would teach us respect and about respecting others and you would think twice about talking back to them. Somehow we have lost that. It is a shame that if the kids are not respecting their teachers that means that they are not respecting their parents as well or any other adult.

Metal detectors and canine dogs may make you feel safe at school during school hours. But what about after school and weekends? If they don’t kill each other in school they will find a way outside of school. How about those incidents that have occurred outside of school at parties? Innocent kids being caught in the cross fire. Metal detectors and the such is masking the symptoms and is only a temporary solution. We need to get to the core and find a solution that will have a lifelong effect. We need to teach these kids some common social skills in order to function in society.

I believe it takes the parent’s involvement to see a change in kids society today. Parent’s need to be involved with what kids are watching, video games that they are playing, etc. The media has a strong influence on how children behave, they want to imitate their so called “role model”. What about these rap songs? They are nothing but negative messages being put in their heads. “Garbage in, Garbage out”.

The sad thing that is not just Clayton County, it is all over the nation. As parents we need to stick together and stand up against the negative influences that are being infiltrated into our society.