Get Schooled

By Mrs. M

July 13, 2007 8:17 AM | Link to this

Summer vacation? I have two new preps this year so my entire vacation has been filled with research and planning, planning, planning! I’m not complaining because I do love what I do. I teach English so I’m actually reading and researching something I love.

With add-on certificates and graduate schools, I think the proper term should be “working vacation.”

By Jeff

July 13, 2007 8:55 AM | Link to this

Well, last summer (my only one spent as a teacher), I gave myself two weeks to do nothing. After that, it was back to work. Getting ready for the move to South GA (due to job), getting ready for shifting to 6th grade, debriefing from HS, briefing MS, conferences, etc. School started in Randolph on July 24, and I started a month before that - was actually physically at the school two weeks before the kids.

T, from what I can tell, isn’t doing NEAR as much as I did in the summer, even though she has a similar shift (ES -> HS). I’m kinda starting to fear that she really doesn’t know what she is getting into with this shift, as she (again, from what I can tell) is NOT actively planning anything at the moment. But she is still doing SOME things, and I must admit that wedding planning is her primary focus for the moment. School starts in her system Aug 3, and she plans to be actively in her classroom starting Monday.

So far, as my first summer as a “business professional” nears its end, I gotta say that I kinda like this MORE than summers as a teacher. Even with the work I was doing, I was still consistently bored and simply watching TV or playing video games all day. At least here, while it is roughly the same 51 weeks a year, there is never that chance to be bored out of my mind for a month straight.

By jim d

July 13, 2007 9:26 AM | Link to this

And so the case for offically going to YRE strengthens.

By luvs2teach

July 13, 2007 9:34 AM | Link to this

Since I started teaching, I have never had a summer where I did nothing for the 8 weeks I am off. The first couple years I took the classes I needed to get my teaching certificate, since I am alternately certified. I’ve also got my ESOL and Gifted add-ons, which are three classes a piece. Because 8th grade and 6th grade science flipped (Earth to physical, and vice versa), I took a refresher course in physical science. This summer I took 3 weeks of classes and attended two conferences. Last summer I went to Brazil for a month to learn Portuguese, and took a 2 week class.

Since I love to learn, this is the best part of being a teacher - I even get paid a stipend sometimes! There are many summer travel and learning opportunities for teachers, some partially or completely paid for, too. In future summers I would like to finish my Master’s, take students on a field trip to either the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone, go on an Earthwatch Expedition, and work for a local company through GA Tech’s GIFT program (I tried linking but the Tech website wasn’t cooperating).

I also reflect on the past year, and plan for the upcoming year - it’s nice to be able to have time to check out books and lesson plans and play around with programs and websites I found during the year, but didn’t have time to properly check-out. I usually get together with my fellow 8th grade teachers at least one day to get a head start on the year, and I go into school a week early to get my room ready.

I like Mrs. M’s description of it as a working vacation - I also look at it as comp time for all the weekends I give up during the school year.

(Lest you think I don’t have ANY fun, I go on a family vacation - usually a week at the beach - and I read, read, read - 12 books so far. I highly recommend Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson, The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, and Bitter is the New Black by Jen Lancaster)

By luvs2teach

July 13, 2007 9:36 AM | Link to this

“And so the case for offically going to YRE strengthens.”

jim d - I agree, but you are probably going to get blasted for that one, LOL :-)

By Jeff

July 13, 2007 9:45 AM | Link to this

luvs (and anyone else, really):

You should check out One Bullet Away: The Making of a Marine Officer by Capt. Nathaniel Fick. I’m nearing the end, and it is an AMAZING read. One that I don’t think anyone of ANY political stripe will TOTALLY agree with, but this guy was one of the first boots on ground in both Afghanistan AND Iraq, and this book is a completely real retelling of his story. Should be required reading for ALL, IMHO.

By Tony

July 13, 2007 9:47 AM | Link to this

This issue of “summer vacation” is one of the things that prevents schools from implementing effective strategies for improvement. This single issue is the best example of how school reform is thwarted in favor of maintaining status quo.

Let me explain. There is plenty of research that backs up the summer slump many students experience when away from school. Their memories of the academic knowledge and skills actually fade during long breaks. Many students are party to excellent enrichment opportunities through family vacations, travel, and summer camps. Unfortunately, our most at-risk students do not have access to these privileges.

When schools propose the idea of year-round schedules there is a huge public outcry against the idea. As a result of the community’s response, the school is unable to implement the strategy that would help many of its students earn higher achievement scores. And this is just one example of how politics undermines attempts to improve schools.

Other strategies that would be beneficial to students but are quickly dismissed include extending the school year, providing Saturday school for at-risk students, extending the school day, and there are many others. Any attempts to fundamentally address weaknesses within the current system are rebuffed by communities and politcos.

Another excellent example of how the calendar strategy is thwarted occurred in Georgia during the last couple of years. The legislative committee on tourism tried to push a bill that would limit when school starting dates could occur. This bill was not based on scientific research of whats best for student learning, but rather on the need for cheap summer workers at tourist attractions throughout the state.

So, the idea of reorganizing the school calender remains a hostage to emotion, romanticism, athletics, and economics.

By Jeff

July 13, 2007 9:52 AM | Link to this

I’m really thinking about writing up a guest blog about my evolving Tech-based approach to building an entirely new Educational System, but jimd, let me point out this:

One of my founding principles in it is based upon the collegiate model: Once you finish one academic year, the next classes OFFICIALLY start on some set date, say Aug 3. Let’s further say that the previous school year ended on May 22. Under my system, if you wanted to go ahead and start on your next school year, the classes would be AVAILABLE on June 1. You would then have until May 22 of the next year to get them done, but you MUST have STARTED within 2 weeks of Aug 3. (In other words, if you haven’t started by Aug 17, there will be truant officers at your door on Aug 18.)

By luvs2teach

July 13, 2007 10:06 AM | Link to this

Thanks, Jeff - I’ll check it out - have you read Making the Corps by Thomas Ricks? It’s about USMC boot camp - it’s very good - it’s 10 years old, so it’s post-Iraq I, but pre-Iraq II.

By jim d

July 13, 2007 10:23 AM | Link to this

L2T,

you are probably going to get blasted for that one

Perhaps, but hey someones gotta do it. :-)

By Happy in Conyers

July 13, 2007 10:26 AM | Link to this

School starts in Rockdale July 30th.

By Lee

July 13, 2007 10:36 AM | Link to this

Not that many years ago, schools got out about the first week of June and didn’t return until Labor Day. (Actually, we started the Friday before Labor Day and then had Monday off. Never did figure that one out.)

Now, schools still get out around the end of May / first of June, but go back in early August. The systems have finagled a good month off summer vacation.

Guess what? The perception is that schools are still worse off now than when we took off the full three months.

Every year, we hear of new programs and strategies to improve education - many of which we adopt. And things keep getting worse and worse.

Sorta like when you take your car to the mechanic and he doesn’t have a clue how to fix it, but just keeps replacing parts until he finds something that works.

That’s a very expensive and inefficient way to fix something.

“Mr. Lee, you need to flush out your brake fluid and replace with new or your wheels are going to fall off.”

Yeah, right….

You’ll have to excuse us taxpayers and parents for not trusting you when you tout “the next big thing in education.” We’ve been burned too many times before….

By luvs2teach

July 13, 2007 10:56 AM | Link to this

I guess I got screwed going to school up north - we always got out of school the 3rd or 4th week of June (depended on snow days, which we had to make up - even the blasted week we were out for the Blizzard of ‘78 - we got out the last DAY of June that year) and went back to school the “first Wednesday after Labor Day” - random, eh?

We had a half day the day before Thanksgiving, about a week off depending on what day Christmas fell (Wednesdays were the worst - we had one week, Wednesday to Wednesday in those years), a week in February and a week in April. We had more holidays, though - Columbus Day and Veteran’s Day (which as a veteran, ticks me off that we don’t take that one off).

I do know that my daughter, a rising college junior, started school towards the end of August when she was in elementary, and got out the second week of June - I have definitely seen a shift.

I was talking to a friend of mine who teaches in Massachusetts - I had been out about 3 weeks - she still had a week left. She’ll be laughing in a nother month though, while lounging by the pool.

By Jeff

July 13, 2007 11:02 AM | Link to this

Lee:

That is the exact reason for my Tech-based revolution. The problem is the SYSTEM, and until we scrap the SYSTEM we will not see real change.

By fed up

July 13, 2007 11:09 AM | Link to this

Tony, in our district, we have summer school for kids that are struggling, so they get the extra time on academics that they need. Our city rec also provides scholarships for children who cannot afford day camp, so we really don’t have an issue with lower income children or low achieving children not getting help or stimulation. Now if a parent chooses not to go to the trouble of getting the scholarship and signing up for camp well, … then there are probably some issues outside of schooling that need to be addressed.

We are lucky to be able to provide enrichment to our children. We make some sacrifices to provide that enrichment to them. and we firmly believe that there is much, much more to life than school, and a reasonably long summer is the best way for children to experience real life.

If children need help with schooling, then they should have summer opportunities to focus on academics. Summer school, or enrichment camp or whatever you want to call is should be provided to them.

However, my kids are very bored with school by May and are always above grade level. It is a waste of their time and taxpayer money for them and other kids at their level to have to go for more academics in the summer. Why should taxpayers pay so that I can send my kid off every day in the summer when they don’t need the work?? I think taxpayers pay enough for my kids as it is.

Why have a one-size-fits-all solution for low achievement? All through the school year, high achieving kids are forced to endure all sorts of garbage (like NCLB, inclusion, etc.) so that the low achieving kids can catch up. Why not provide extra schooling when needed and spare the high achievers of another few weeks of boredom?

Better yet, why not offer a choice. Districts could offer year around schools and traditional schools and let parents decide.

By Jeff

July 13, 2007 11:09 AM | Link to this

luvs:

Been thinking about the Guard. Think they’d have me?

By Jeff

July 13, 2007 11:18 AM | Link to this

fed up:

How about a 15yo HS graduate being the NORM? (Though students would have the “normal” amount of time currently allowed.) Working YRE, at the individual parent’s discretion rather than the local Board’s, it would be possible with the Tech-based….

Wait a sec…. Tech based really would be the best of both worlds: You could vacation whenever you wanted, whereever you wanted. At the same time, because students could work on it whenever they wanted, you would not have the three month gaps…

By lovelyliz

July 13, 2007 11:19 AM | Link to this

Between sports/band camp, girl scout camp, grandparent (3 sets), visit with the ex, etc., etc. there really isn’t much left for vacation.

By d

July 13, 2007 11:32 AM | Link to this

Once you reach 40, everything gets shorter. Enjoy the time you have.

By Lee

July 13, 2007 11:50 AM | Link to this

Sorry Jeff, in my company, we have “net meetings”, telecommuting, and web based “interactive learning.”

They all require a certain level of discipline that most adults do not possess. I just can’t see students going through years of this stuff.

By GOB

July 13, 2007 11:59 AM | Link to this

Jeff, when you say tech-based, are you just talking about something like NovaNet (in Cobb at least) where students take all their classes online, and in a more self-directed way? Is that something you think would work for most kids?

By luvs2teach

July 13, 2007 12:00 PM | Link to this

Jeff - I don’t see why not - there is a need, after all. Never hurts to check it out - good luck with that!

By OldSchool

July 13, 2007 12:20 PM | Link to this

I’ve spent most of my “summer vacation” here at school (unpaid) working on the notebooks required for my program’s bid for industry certification…for which I will get no personal compensation. I did take several days off to attend my out of state aunt’s funeral and I will spend a weekend with my daughter and her family.

But I’m not complaining. I’ve never had a summer completely off in my 33 years of teaching or even before that. I’ve been in school myself, teaching in summer gifted programs, working in retail, or back on campus as I am this summer.

I love what I do and as far as year-round or whatever, I just go with the flow. I do miss ending the first term in January. It was kinda nice having Christmas break and then returning for a couple of weeks of assignment completion and review for finals with a single workday between semesters.

By Jeff

July 13, 2007 12:26 PM | Link to this

GOB:

I’m talking about a combination of essentially a super-Powerpoint (the technology is actually more complex than that, but the end user never knows it) along with videos - many of which would be taped specifically for the lesson, such as demonstrations of different techniques - and communication methodologies such as forums, chat rooms, emails, and IMs. THAT is the heart of the system, though other - in some cases, less familiar - technologies would be used to give, collect, and grade assignments. Also, the legal structure would have to be ammended and “government” style rules put in place. (FAR less than the current system, however.)

The super-PPTs at the heart of this lesson would be “self directed” only in that the student would select when to do the lesson. Once the file is opened, it becomes teacher controlled the entire way, with the student taking notes and otherwise doing exactly what they are supposed to do in any classroom on any day of the year.

By MikeGSU

July 13, 2007 12:33 PM | Link to this

Wow all this “hard work” of planning and taking “field trips” to the Grand Canyon seem like an AWFUL summer of work. I’ll trade my year round grind with no summers off for that work anyday…

By Viking

July 13, 2007 12:43 PM | Link to this

The public can’t have it both ways. Common sense would tell you that students will retain more information given a lesser time to forget said information. Numerous studies have supported this. As a teacher, I get a little irritated when people complain about the lack of time off and make the comment that they feel as if school never ends, or something to that effect. We’re under incredible pressure to have kids perform at a certain level on tests. Many of the same people who argue against the shorter summers are the same ones who will be the first to gripe if their school doesn’t make yearly progress. Make up your minds. Don’t ask us to achieve increasingly lofty results unless you’re willing to sacrifice, too.

By luvs2teach

July 13, 2007 1:06 PM | Link to this

Hey MikeGSU - Did I say I was unhappy? Did I say it was hard work? Was my comment a complaint?

I think not.

Nope - I said it was one of the BEST parts of my job (and BTW, a field trip to the Grand Canyon with 30 8th graders would be work - but it’s work I like - and I haven’t done it yet; I am planning to next year).

Planning is something that has to be done, whether I do it now or during the school year - I’m just being proactive.

And I left the corporate world after 12 years of “summers on” - you can make the same choice, if you’re that jealous :-)

By Lee

July 13, 2007 1:10 PM | Link to this

Viking, perhaps the reason students are not retaining information over the summer break is because they never mastered the subjects to begin with.

Currently, the emphasis is to throw more and more at these kids at an ever increasing younger age. Teachers have to blow through the subject matter so quickly, it doesn’t get moved into the “long term memory” section of the brain. There’s a lot of research on that subject as well.

This lack of mastery is probably why we see such a precipitous drop in test scores in the middle and high school age groups.

A house built on a shaky foundation will surely fail…

By Mrs. M

July 13, 2007 1:47 PM | Link to this

MikeGSU,

What are you waiting for? We need great teachers in the schools. Come on and give it a shot!

Oh, and I’m not complaining at all. I love what I do so year-round schools wouldn’t bother me a bit.

By mgregory@georgiasouthern.edu

July 13, 2007 2:23 PM | Link to this

Mrs. M & Luvs2teach,

I have thought about teaching before, but I wouldnt want to make a decision just because I want more time throughout the year to play golf and lay at the beach. :) I would want to do it becuase I love it, not because I want more “me” time. It takes special people to do that job. Some of the greatest people I met in life are teachers. Im in no way knocking the profession by any means. Just be thankful for having summers technically off. What you choose to do with it is totally up to you. Just dont lose sight of it. Some of us in the corporate world can only dream of weeks off.

By fed up

July 13, 2007 2:38 PM | Link to this

Viking, how would you feel about having only the kids who need the extra work coming in for extra days in the summer, or on Saturday or after school? Do you think it is right to impose all this extra time on kids who learned what you were trying to teach weeks or months earlier?

Plus, if summer sessions, Saturday school and after school work suddenly become based on a child’s performance, I bet you big money we would start to see more serious attitudes and better performance from most of the kids who are failing now.

Also, if school districts are going to add more days or hours, who will pay for them? I don’t see taxpayers being too interested in paying for more school when property tax rates are already through the roof in many areas. In particular, I can’t imagine taxpayers wanting to waste money putting kids through extra work when they already know the material.

I don’t like YRE, because in its most popular form, it does not involve adding extra school time, just increasing the number of breaks and shortening them. There is a ton of research out there showing that if a kid is going to forget something it will be forgotten in two weeks. Why give kids 7 or 8 two or three week breaks where they can forget everything?

By luvs2teach

July 13, 2007 2:42 PM | Link to this

Mike - I am thankful that I love my job and the summers, whether you consider them on, off, working, or comp time, allow me to pursue some of my own interests (some of which ironically are job-related - go figure - I was a scientist before I was a science teacher) and improve my craft. I think if I were to honesty add up all the time I work now, it would be more than when I had my corporate gig.

That being said, the allure of “summer’s off” is the WORST reason to go into teaching - if that’s all someone is looking for, then they need to find something else to do. It’s not worth it to spend 9-10 miserable months, negatively influencing a groups of children, just for 2-3 months “off.”

By GOB

July 13, 2007 2:46 PM | Link to this

Jeff - Your idea would never work. As someone mentioned earlier, most adults dont have the self-motivation to complete something like that on their own, so expecting a kid to is just crazy.

And do you really think that the best way to educate our kids is a one size fits all powerpoint?? I cant even begin to see how it could be succesful. How does a kid get clarification if all he has is a video and powerpoint? It sounds like nothing more than than pre-recorded lectures.

By Lisa B.

July 13, 2007 3:03 PM | Link to this

Luvs, I lived in Pennsylvania during the blizzard of ‘78 and remember it well. I also remember making up all those snow days and having a much shorter summer.

In some school systems with a modified year-round school calendar, students have a break every nine weeks. The breaks are two-three weeks long, with one week spent on rememdiation. That really makes more sense than what most schools do. If a child is behind after the first nine weeks, he or she needs rememdiation right then. Instead, the kids fall farther and farther behind and try to catch up in summer school. Teachers earn extra pay to work the extra days during the breaks. Some people like the breaks throughout the year. I love my job and don’t feel burned out enough to need long breaks during the year.

It doesn’t really matter to me what kind of calendar we have. 180 days is still 180 days. I do think some kids get bored during the summer months. My husband, son and I travel a lot during the summer, and relish the few lazy days we have at home.

By luvs2teach

July 13, 2007 3:36 PM | Link to this

Lisa B. - my dad and I had to cross-country ski to the grocery store! This past year, during my unit on weather, I pulled out some of my pictures from that storm - drifts up to the roof of my house, my siblings and I sliding right off the roof, and buried cars. The kids thought it was cool - then I told them about the snow days…not so cool anymore.

Since we were under a state of emergency, the state said it would be a system choice whether or not we made up those days. The worst part of all was that my street crossed a town line, and half the street went to a system that opted NOT to make them up - meanwhile, my end of the street had to trudge past those houses on our way to the bus stop :-( I’m sure we would’ve been teased, but those kids were sleeping in!

By gloria

July 13, 2007 4:06 PM | Link to this

The only thing i hate about school starting so early is that rush hour turns to crap again. The summer months are really nice to actually get to work on time w/out sitting on the highway for an hour when you live 10 miles from midtown.

By unclefast

July 13, 2007 4:07 PM | Link to this

Yadda, Yadda, etc. Has ANYBODY noticed that most of the northern states with higher test scores than Georgia start school after Labor Day? I’ve been teaching high school for 24+ years and YRE won’t do anything but burn out the teachers and the students. Everybody in this business uses phrases like “research shows” or “plenty of studies” etc. Where? Who? Cite them, please. Always ambiguity. www.georgiansneedsummers.com

By Viking

July 13, 2007 4:09 PM | Link to this

Fed Up, I don’t have anything against your suggestions. However, I think you have a misconception about what’s called a “balanced calendar.” The number of school days in a year is still 180, but it’s distributed more evenly during the year. If it came to it, I would teach the extra days, if paid.

By luvs2teach

July 13, 2007 4:27 PM | Link to this

unclefast - they start school after Labor Day but the are in school until the 3rd or 4th week of June - I was out the Friday before Memorial Day (well, not counting post-planning).

180 days = 180 days whether you are here or up north. That’s not what the problem is.

Curious question: Does anyone out there have old school calendars from when they were kids - or even better from when your folks were kids? I just have a hard time believing that anyone anywhere had ALL of June, July, and August off. Back in the 70s, my mom’s cousin, who was my age, used to come visit us from Florida at the end of May - I still had 3 or 4 weeks of school - but I got to laugh when he headed back down to Florida in August. I think we’re all suffering from a collective nostagia and the fact that time goes by so much slower as a kid.

Interesting article about the history of the summer of here

From the article (and something I didn’t know) - prior to mandatory attendance laws, rural areas actually went to school primary in the summer and winter - spring and fall were for planting and harvesting. Urban schools were open year-round, but didn’t expect kids to attend year-round. Kids in both groups averaged about 6 months. And doctors were against too much schooling because it was considered bad for the kids’ health, LOL.

By two cents

July 13, 2007 4:49 PM | Link to this

Whether on YRE or Traditional schedule we should be incorporating academics during breaks for kids. My point is we all have been made to understand that kids loose some during breaks for whatever reason. So, when on the said ‘breaks’ make sure that your child/children take time for both what concern you and will allow that child to have a chance too learn/refresh at a relaxed pace. …so as you plan for the camps, visit to grandma’s, summer enrichement classes and excursions… ALSO plan academics enrichment according to what they learned the prior grade/yr and what will they see the upcoming grade/yr. I also suggest books/novels to read according 2 grade level. Ex: my child is headed to 3 grd so he will have to read and report on 6 grade level books he’s read this summer. He also is reporting to 3 different theme camps and he found it neat to read the cordinating books for themed camps. Tennis he found 2 subject to that, art, science and so forth. Not only did he enjoy HIS way of incorporating academics in HIS summer vac but he is still enjoying all of the benifits of being out of school for the summer break. The added bonus for me is that I’m not stress on whether his brain is being used and he doesn’t realize his is learning maybe even some things he would have never gotten at school…(DURING THE SUMMER!!!). Oh yea…allow them to help with family budget; open a bank account…i can go on and on about the benifits of using the summer break to advantage. Exspecially that fact that schools don’t teach outside of curiccula in most cases.

By OldSchool

July 13, 2007 5:33 PM | Link to this

I don’t have an old school calendar but do remember the years of starting after Labor Day and ending in early June. I also remember all 5 of us kids actively participating in the library’s summer reading program. We were always so proud to be awarded those stickers for the books we had read and to receive a certificate in a school ceremony. It was a big deal. All of us kids learned to read in the car on trips and that skill I taught to my own kids. (Hint: ignore the passing landscape by scrunching down until you are used to reading and riding.) My girls have always read way above grade level and are marvelous writers (both loved grammar as well.)

Enriching a summer is not a tough task nor does it take a huge imagination. Setting an example by reading and discussing books, stories, and magazines around the supper table is actually pretty easy and ever so interesting.

By Attn: Clayton Parents

July 13, 2007 5:46 PM | Link to this

On a blog that frequently goes begging for topics, why has there been zero coverage of the Teachers’s Bill of Rights that was passed by the Clayton County school board?

FINALLY, a school system takes a definitive stand on discipline, and the AJC is nowhere to be found?

Could it be that the AJC editorial board’s documented bias against the Metro Association of Classroom Educators is keeping this groundbreaking policy from being reported on?

By Just Because

July 13, 2007 6:01 PM | Link to this

MACE is a money-making profit machine for John Trotter. The Teachers Bill of Rights is simply a cog in that machine. Trotter and his stooges on the Board of Education (led by Norese Haynes who is a MACE employee) only want control of the money.

Thank you AJC for not giving publicity to that money-making profit machine called MACE and its money-hungry leader John Trotter.

By Attn: Clayton Parents

July 13, 2007 6:27 PM | Link to this

Like so many MACE bashers, you resort to personal attacks instead of dealing with substance. Tell us SPECIFICALLY, what is wrong with having CHRONICALLY disruptive students removed, so that the integrity of the learning environment is protected?

You won’t; because you can’t. The ONLY people who would oppose this are administrators (such as Barbara Pulliam) who don’t want to give up their power.

But that’s the difference between the Pulliam’s of the world and Dr. Trotter. Dr. Trotter wants to empower teachers for the betterment of students, but the Barbara Pulliam’s of the world are only interested in pure unadulterated power

If this isn’t true, why did she get the GAE, and mouthpiece Sid Chapman to try to introduce policy that would ALLOW chronically disruptive students to remain in classes with ZERO consequences?

We KNOW how that would help her keep her power. How would it help students? We know discipline helps students, so again what SPECIFICALLY is wrong with The Teachers’ Bill of Rights?

By Attn: Clayton Parents

July 13, 2007 6:44 PM | Link to this

PS to Just Because: If you were REALLY concerned about “money making machines” you’d talk about how Pulliam tried sneak HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of dollars in administrative positions (illegally I might add) into the budget, until Norreese Haynes put an end to it. No comment? I’m not surprised.

If teachers want to pay to join MACE it’s called “the free market”. But Pulliam has no business turning the Clayton County school system into her own “money making machine” so she can take care of friends and relatives from Minnesota. Though this is documented you remain silent on it. Doesn’t say much for your “concern” as to what’s best for the students of Clayton