Get Schooled

By jim d

January 2, 2008 8:16 AM | Link to this

Well Good morning and Happy New Year to all. Hope everyone had a safe holiday season and are ready to resume our verbal sparring on this blog.

Bridget,

Again, this year I resolve to try.

No guarantee’s though. Seems my intolerance for ignorance has grown even more trenchant.

By WFC

January 2, 2008 9:11 AM | Link to this

Blogs, by their very nature, will always inspire inappropriate comments because bloggers cannot be held accountable for their comments. Welcome to “modern times.”

By catlady

January 2, 2008 10:06 AM | Link to this

Point of comparison: Look at Thinking Right or any of the sports blogs. Now, look back at this blog on even its most “passionate” days!

My resolution: to try to stay focused on the topic better (wait, what was the topic today?)

Sometimes, misstatements, incorrect information, and obfustication must be challenged, however.

By Jeff

January 2, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this

cat:

Sometimes, misstatements, incorrect information, and obfustication must be challenged, however.

COMPLETELY concur.

Particularly when those misstatements, incorrect information, and obfuscation borders on libel.

By Erin

January 2, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this

I agree, too … but really, can’t misstatements and such be challenged without conversation turning really awful and terribly nasty?

By jim d

January 2, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this

Jeff,

A Libel defense may be based on “Fair Comment”: the defendant shows that the statement was a view that a reasonable person could have held, even if they were motivated by dislike or hatred of the plaintiff.

By catlady

January 2, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this

Sometimes it does no good to “debate” with the dog. Sometimes you just have to hum.

hmmmm hmmmm

By thomas

January 2, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this

First of all, this blog is TAME compared to some of the others on AJC.com. I have seen some entries on other blogs that are absolutely vile.

Here on Get Schooled, many times you can read insightful entries from people connected with education/schools. I have actually learned a little bit from reading about others people’s experiences and opinions. Also people do offer real facts from time to time, that you don’t normally see elsewhere (except on a hardcore, dedicated education blog).

I think the few problems we do have stem from one or two people who are bitter and have an axe to grind. A few people out there have had a bad experience in education and now walk around fixated on their failure to work within the system and act like a normal person. These problems only started about a year ago after a certain person lost their job as a teacher and now grinds his ax by reading and posting to this blog nine times a day.

Get Schooled’s New Year’s Resolution: Only real teachers, administrators, and parents should post to the blog.

(In the interest of starting the New Year off right, I will save the last part I was going to write. Use your imagination. However I think what was going to be my last line was rather witty. It made me laugh out loud!!!).

By jim d

January 2, 2008 1:29 PM | Link to this

While we’re on the subject of what is allowed on these blogs. Dare I point out that most states defines

TERRORISTIC THREAT

(a) A person commits an offense if he threatens to commit any offense involving violence to any person or property with intent to: (Among other things)

place any person in fear of imminent serious bodily injury

And in Georgia,

Code of Georgia 16-11-37.1

It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to furnish or disseminate through a computer or computer network any picture, photograph, or drawing, or similar visual representation or verbal description of any information designed to encourage, solicit, or otherwise promote terroristic acts as defined in Code Section 16-11-37. Any person convicted for violation of this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature.

By Jeff

January 2, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this

jim:

To be an ‘imminent’ threat, I would first have to be able to locate you.

I can honestly state that there are precisely three regular contributors to this blog that I even know the GENERAL area of, much less the specific location. (Yes, you are one of them.)

And honestly, those three I have no problems with. Sure, we disagree some - more on some topics than others - but it is honestly not something that I would even consider doing bodily damage about.

There really is only one person I would consider doing bodily damage to, but I’m not going to go out of my way to find him and I’m 99.999999999% sure that he does not run in the same circles that I do in any area that I frequent. Therefore, I am not an ‘imminent’ threat to him. And honestly, if he would back off on the personal attacks against me, I wouldn’t have ANY problems with him.

I’m typically NOT a violent guy. Matter of fact, I go MUCH further than about 90% of people I know to AVOID fights and at least minimize the amount of violence needed when I do get into one that I couldn’t somehow avoid.

But neither will I allow someone to attack me without response. I’ve LONG held that if you come gunning for me, you’d better kill me with your first shot, because by the time you can THINK about your next move, I’m going to be all over you and I’m not going to stop until you quit fighting.

I’ve never been around this person, never had any interaction with him at all other than the blog here. There is ZERO reason for personal attacks against me. All I’ve done is had a difference of opinion with him, same as with a few others here.

But all others have managed to keep the tone at least somewhat civil.

The one man keeps making personal attacks.

He backs off, I’ve got no problem with him, same as with anyone else.

He keeps it up, and I will continue to defend myself.

Again, I have done NOTHING wrong. I’ve done NOTHING to hurt this man other than to advocate at the top of my lungs that which he would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of his.

I would never do anything to silence any opinion of his other than his personal attacks.

He (and evidently a couple of others) would silence any view that they don’t deem ‘valid’.

Doesn’t that go against the very ideals of the Founding Fathers?

After all, “You want free speech? Let’s see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who’s standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours.” Yes, that is a line from a movie. (The American President) But the point is still valid.

By Jeff

January 2, 2008 2:00 PM | Link to this

Oh, and thomas:

Dare I point out that I’ve been around here longer than you??

In fact, I was here no later than Fall 2005, and I think I was here even a year before that.

FEW on this blog have been here as long as I.

By HB

January 2, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this

Get Schooled’s New Year’s Resolution: Only real teachers, administrators, and parents should post to the blog.

Why are these the only people you consider worthy of commenting on education matters? I am not currently a teacher, administrator, parent, or student, but as a member of society and a taxpayer, I do have a vested interest in public education. I am proud to play a role in public education by voting in elections for local school board and state superintendent as well as non-education specific offices including the governor and state legislators and in tax referendums relating to schools.

I resolve to continue to read the AJC’s latest education articles and discuss issues here.

By Jeff

January 2, 2008 2:45 PM | Link to this

HB:

The wild thing is that thomas said that in an attempt to silence me, and yet I still hold a teaching license! Therefore, technically I AM a ‘real teacher’.

And since I once held a teaching license - even after I let it expire in 2011 - I will have once held a license, I will FOREVER be a ‘real teacher’.

Furthermore, when I go into collegiate teaching at some point in the future, I’ll be able to add ‘Professor’ to that list of titles.

By luvs2teach

January 2, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this

This blog is tame, compared with others - even the parenting blog seems to get more heated and suffers more from flamers, name callers, and trolls that “Get Schooled.”

I did not keep my resolution from last year, which was to keep my comments to three paragraphs or less, LOL - I gotta say what I gotta say, I guess. My resolution this year is to not get upset by ingnorant fools dissing on teachers just because they have a forum rather than an actual beef.

Happy New Year, everyone!

By Jeff

January 2, 2008 4:07 PM | Link to this

My blog-olution shall be thus:

No greater friend, No worse enemy. As long as people are civil towards me, they shall have no greater friend - even when they are shouting at the top of their lungs that which I would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of mine.

If people are NOT civil towards me, they will have no greater ENEMY on this blog than I.

And that is truly the bottom line.

FYI though: At some point this year I’ll be reading a book by Bill Myers called The Wager. The book is basically a retelling of Job in a modern context and with a New Testament twist: The challenge is not to ‘love God’ per se - as in the original Job story - but to LIVE the Sermon on the Mount. Myers is one that I have a love/hate relationship with because his books are always so challenging. Not from a reading comprehension standpoint, but from a moral/spiritual/be-a-better-person standpoint.

Why do I bring this up? I’m kinda betting my personal challenge there is going to relate to the whole ‘No Greater Friend/ No Worse Enemy’ stance…

By jim d

January 2, 2008 6:03 PM | Link to this

Jeff,

I mentioned no names nor did i make any accusations. Simply passed on a bit of information to the people blogging here in regards to what may (should) draw the wrath of AJC censors.

By thomas

January 2, 2008 7:43 PM | Link to this

HB,

This is why I say that only real, currently working or retired (not fired) teachers, administrators, or parents should be posting on the blog. It isn’t that people like you shouldn’t post. On the contrary, much good conversation can come from outsiders. It’s the angry, BITTER, don’t-have-a-life KOOKS that ruin everything.

Just read some of the previous posts from today. It’s enough to curdle your blood. Nuts babbling on and on about violence- just after the moderator gave a general warning about decorum and asking everyone to act like normal adults who aren’t mentally disturbed.

New year’s resolution #2- Only one post per topic per day. 99% of us have a life and cannot (and probably don’t want to) post 8 and 9 messages a day on one blog topic. Therefore, when I do get the time to read the blog, I would kind of like to read it without scrolling through 13 posts by the same person. Just a thought.

By Bridget Gutierrez

January 2, 2008 7:58 PM | Link to this

Hi, folks! Thanks for all the comments. I brought this issue up only because I (and others) felt the tone of the blog had changed for the worse in the past several months.

I agree that we have one of the better online communities on ajc.com. We often have insightful comments and a variety of perspectives represented, which is what makes the blog great.

But there are also tons of Get Schooled readers who never join in the discussion because they’re either afraid of being attacked or they’re tired of the talk centering on a few personal vendettas.

Sure, education can be an emotional issue. But coming here shouldn’t give you heartburn.

As Old School would say: Lighten up! And have a great 2008.

By mmm

January 2, 2008 10:43 PM | Link to this

I haven’t posted in awhile. Mostly because I feel like the topics have been ones we have already hashed out before, or that my views were not being picked up and responded to by others.

One can eat up a lot of time reading the same old, same old positions—and so unless it is a topic near and dear to me, I have mostly dropped out. (not that I don’t have my weekly or daily vent sessions on the phone with one of your other now less frequent bloggers) I generally hear the news Kristine Torries covers at least a week earlier from my personal source.

Speaking of “getting along” my school was on the front page of the New York Times on Christmas day. see the link below:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/25/us/25school.html?ex=1199682000&en=3b138a96703220e9&ei=5070&emc=eta1

By mmm

January 2, 2008 10:46 PM | Link to this

If the prior link to the New York times article didn’t work try this one:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/24/us/24cnd-school.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

By SET

January 2, 2008 10:55 PM | Link to this

HB is right. I’m a former sub - a long time ago. I hold a lifetime teaching credential for Jr college where I have taught also. As far as I am concerned the “professional” educators are the problem and the rest of us have to pay for and clean up the wreckage of ruined human potential where the public schools produced fully grown children who can’t survive in society and have to be institutionized.

The points I make include that the right side of the bell curve population take care of themselves - and either use the public schools in some places to move on to university level or abandon public schools for private and church schools. The left side of the bell curve - including most of the black students - are deliberately (at least in the major cities of the USA) being raised in the public schools to be unable to survive in American society. The educrats are busy saying the exact opposite of what they are actually doing.

I enjoy saying the emperor has no clothes on occasion, or at least giving the readership a different line of thinking to consider. This blog seems to the the national cutting edge of the education question. Although I’m in CA, the disaster we see here is certainly moving towards your coast if it’s not there already.

See the following link for discussion of government cooking the books on education stats of public schools: http://www.vdare.com/sailer/080101_dropout.htm

Happy New Year 2008 all. I’m not going anywhere.

Brave New World.

By Lurker

January 3, 2008 12:29 AM | Link to this

But there are also tons of Get Schooled readers who never join in the discussion because they’re either afraid of being attacked or they’re tired of the talk centering on a few personal vendettas.

I concur completely with Bridget’s statment. I’ve posted here twice (both times under a different name) but read frequently. The conversation here is monopolized by a few with personal agendas….and that gets old. Ironically, the same names who pledged on 1/1/2007 to be “better” are the same names that continually appear over & over again. Very few “newcomers” seem to join and perhaps the attack factor is largely at play. Pleae don’t tell me how “good” this blog is in comparison to sports blogs or Wooten’s. This blog is about education AND that in and of itself should make the level of respect & decorum higher. If not, WHAT can we expect from those being educated in such a society???? Many times I would like to respond to some of the dogma here - that I agree with as well as that I don’t - but in reality the papers I’m grading, inventive lessons I’m working on, and never ending e-mails I’m trying to respond to related to my teaching job take prescendence. E-mail eating away at time to teach would be a GREAT topic to explore….

I’m also afraid of being very active here because I do have a strong (& well earned) reputation within the field of education. Before some of you shoot me down for that last statment…..I have a bigger issue with the slack-a— teachers and low expectations than most people in or outside of the profession.

Some of us “lurkers” are in positions where we could have an impact on a larger scale with issues raised on this blog. Example: I have brougt up math issues raised on this blog in meetings with Kathy Cox. I didn’t “apply” for her Advisory Council, but was invited to be there. I realize that has no weight with some of you, but the irony is I’ve actually taken some issues from this blog to the DOE in a rational manner and likely will do so again. Another item was all of the conversation when Ron Clarke’s school opened in September. He knows me on a first name basis and has singled me out in his speeches (after reading letters about me from students that were given to him as speech prep - not by me) and I would have liked to have joined in the conversation. You see, I’m doing a lot of that “in your face” stuff in the public school and I don’t back down on my expectations. I realize this is a vent area for many, but this blog could have a larger and more lasting impact on education if those of us without two hours a day to spend here felt like we wouldn’t be slapped down just for joining in.

Yes, I could probably contribute more here…and so could others…..but why when the pervasive attack and cut down mentality continues on and on. Fact & opinion….I do believe that is a GPS standard found in the Reading/LA standards to be incorporated across all grade-levels & content areas! How many times do some of you think where the issues you raise here fit into the content we are teaching our children????

By jim d

January 3, 2008 4:26 AM | Link to this

Let me start the year out by thanking each and everyone of you with whom I’ve disagreed in the past year. Which I suspect may very well be “each and every one of you.” It is from you that I learn.

Indeed, I’ve always found I learn little from those with whom I agree.

As for discourse on this blog? It is my opinion that were we all to agree all the time we’d be like ———-Well———-like a group of school administrators.

Blog entry 1 for January 3, 2008 (just counting to assure I offend no one by posting 9 times) :-)

By Lee

January 3, 2008 6:45 AM | Link to this

Jan 1

Bridget: Okay kids. It’s a new year. I want everyone to play nice.

Jan 2

Get Schooled bloggers: @#&@(#& (##&@( &#^%@. Oh Yeah. Well @&#% you too.

By OldSchool

January 3, 2008 6:54 AM | Link to this

My 2008 resolutions:

To be a kinder, more compassionate instructor. I resolve to try very hard to take a moment before responding to a challenge; to pause before acting; to consider carefully the impact my hasty words might make and slow down. I want to finish out this school year without regret. I want to remember that, like my students, I sometimes bring “baggage” to class but I must shelve that baggage and strive to create a haven of learning and caring. I want my students to see that I truly love what I do and that I learn as much from them as they from me.

I also resolve to read my favorite blog spot more carefully and with a more open mind…before I respond.

And I resolve to return to my old habit of posting comic strips above the work stations of students when I find one that “fits” and to again bedeck my giant purple cabinet with additional bits of humor to give my students a smile as they leave my lab.

Who knows…maybe my efforts will drop a few pounds off my cuddly figure!

Wouldn’t that be nice?

By jim d

January 3, 2008 8:29 AM | Link to this

Old School,

I think more importantly than making resolutions we should acknowledge what we’ve learned over the past 12 months.

Here’s my list of things either learned or confirmed, blogging on this site, over the past year.

(in no particular order)

Some people are wise, some are otherwise

The difference between genius and stupidity, it that genius has its limits

Beware of half-truths, you may be looking at the wrong half.

Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.

If you can’t ignore an insult, top it; if you can’t top it, laugh it off; and if you can’t laugh it off, it’s probably deserved.

In politics stupidity is not a handicap.

When you’re right, no one remembers. When you’re wrong, no one forgets.

I’ve discovered a lie will travel half way around the world before the truth can get its pants on.

That the only thing that can unite all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we ALL believe that we are above average drivers.

If you’re not on somebody’s #%it list, you’re not doing anything worthwhile.

Blog entry #2 for January 3, 2008

By Jeff

January 3, 2008 9:00 AM | Link to this

jim:

All too wise, my friend.

I found myself listening to a song this morning that shaped me profoundly as a budding teenager, and that had direct impact on virtually everything I do, even now:

*We call them cool Those hearts that have no scars to show The ones that never do let go And risk it the tables being turned

We call them fools Who have to dance within the flame Who chance the sorrow and the shame That always come with getting burned

But you got to be tough when consumed by desire ‘Cause it’s not enough just to stand outside the fire We call them strong Those who can face this world alone Who seem to get by on their own Those who will never take the fall

We call them weak Who are unable to resist The slightest chance love might exist And for that forsake it all

They’re so hell bent on giving, walking a wire Convinced it’s not living if you stand outside the fire…

Life is not tried it is merely survived If you’re standing outside the fire.*

There are a few ‘cool’ and ‘strong’ people on this blog evidently. And to those, I say make sure you read the last line of that song. I made it my mission even back then to LIVE. I will not let failure stop me, I will overcome it. You won’t even risk it.

But, alas, I digress. I’m going to go ahead and modify my resolution from yesterday:

No Greater Friend. To those that attack me, I will simply remember that the only reason a person comes out with personal attacks is because they cannot refute the facts and logic being presented and must instead try to tarnish the messenger in order to tarnish the message.

By WFC

January 3, 2008 9:06 AM | Link to this

This actually is one of the more civil and focused blogs. Just compare it to the bizarre blogs on Jim Wooten. There are great differences of opinion here but that is the point of debate. Education isn’t easy.

By Jeff

January 3, 2008 9:24 AM | Link to this

WFC:

Ah, a great personal tragedy Mr. Wooten’s blog became. I was among the first on that one as well (wait a second… I’ve either kicked off or gotten in close to the beginning of three separate blogs here at ajc!!!), and early on we DID keep it civil, to roughly the level here at Get Schooled.

Then the bloggers from over at Luckovich discovered Mr. Wooten, and it went down hill from there.

I consider it a great personal tragedy that I did not fight harder to maintain the decorum there we began with, but honestly much of it started happening when I finally found a job and wasn’t there as much.

BTW: HOPEFULLY this won’t taint it, but our discussions over at The Book Page are often - from what I’ve seen - the most civil of any of the ajc blogs.

By wwww

January 3, 2008 9:27 AM | Link to this

Lurker: Thank you for your intelligent, well written and meaningful post. I would like to hear from you on a regular basis.
I am also in education and rarely post on this forum. Often, I feel my comment would get lost in the litany of bickering that occurs here regularly. When I feel as though I have something important to add, I usually decide against the idea - mostly because I don’t want to discuss things that could cause me irritation with other posters who are looking for a fight. There are things that need to be fixed - badly - in public education. On this I believe we all agree. This is an area of discourse that could truly make a difference if those involved would allow the process to take place rather than going back and forth over the same personal issues - some that have been discussed for almost a year. Can we all agree to move on from why Jeff left Randolph County? That would be great. Personally, I don’t care if he retired, was fired, or allowed to resign. There are other things I deal with on a daily basis that bother me a hell of a lot more than Jeff’s employment history. The following would be wonderful areas for discourse:

By Jeff

January 3, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this

(Post #3 today for those counting…)

wwww:

I like your topics! Bridget, can we see them at some point??

By luvs2teach

January 3, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this

mmm - great article! Your school sounds amazing - I would love to work in a place like that, despite the challenges. My school has similar, although not on as large a scale issues - we got the waves of Bosnian refugees about 10 years ago; we have a highly multi-lingual and ethnically diverse population - as well a upper-middle class McMansion dwellers. I really liked that the article brought up the fact that some of these kids have never leraned to read or write in their native tongue - even those in their teens - yet we are tasked with teaching them in one year how to read English to the point where they can pass a standardized test - or risk be labeled a failing school. Asinine. Well, kudos - what you school does sounds suspiciously like teaching!

Lurker - lurk no more - post! It’s usually fun (although I can’t say that I’ve never been upset by something I’ve read on here). I find that I enjoy the different takes - parent’s perspectives and all that - it makes me reflect on my practice. You’re right about time, though - many a day goes by that I read but don’t post because I’ve nothing to significant to add and I just don’t have the time. I’ve gotten better about not getting involved in the personal vendettas, and I, for one, welcome new posters who had something valid to contribute - even if it’s a differing point of view. It’s refreshing to hear from a new voice. The one thing I can’t abide, though (and it always seems to happen when the blog gets a “major” link) is the flamers who drop by to insult teachers with some lame comment about how we have it so easy because we have the summers off, blah, blah, blah…I get a little snippy. E-mail as a time waster would be a fabulous topic - although, I love e-mail for getting in touch with parents - much better than trying to phone.

OldSchool - I like your resolutions - I’m with you on the “baggage” - if I expect my kids to leave it at the door, then I need to model that myself. I think your classroom sounds like a great place to be :-)

Jeff - The Book Blog is very cool, I agree.

By luvs2teach

January 3, 2008 10:15 AM | Link to this

wwww - GRADES - awesome topic! I think I just wrote here a couple days ago about a question I saw in Reader’s Digest - a student didn’t do that well on a test and knew some classmates had cheated. When she confronted them, the other students said that grades were “just a game.”

Indeed.

What message are we sending?

It drives me nuts when I give an assignment, and the students ask me, “Is this for a grade?” as though that number were the end all and be all of learning. It also drives me up the wall when I catch cheaters - and I often catch them because they are so unapolegetically BLATANT about it - and the one who is sharing the work says, “I’m helping him or her with his or her grade.” NO, you’re really NOT!!

Neither kids nor parents understand grades - particularly when they are weighted categories. I can’t tell you how many times I had to explain to a parent or teacher why turning in one or two homework assignments doesn’t raise the grade when an entire project worth 10% isn’t turned in. Now I teach a little mini-unit I made up called “The Math of Grades.” It helps.

Zeros are a problem for me - logically, I feel if someone did zero work, then a zero is appropriate. Mathmatically though, if you look at grades like a target, the “bull’s-eye” - an A - is very small, but the “F” category - from 0 - 69, is very big! Chances are you’re more likely to fail! And mathematically it skews your numbers. As I teach my kids, it takes 3 100s to bring a 0 up to a passing grade, average-wise.

BTW - since when was a “D” a 70 - 73? Talk about a small target. When I was in school up north, a “D” was a 65 - 70 and in most of my college classes it was 60 - 70. I would like to grade on a 4 point scale - A=4, B=3, and so on. That way all grades, even zeros, have equal weight.

By jim d

January 3, 2008 10:36 AM | Link to this

wwww,

There is actually something you can do to improve this blog.

Have you considered writing a quest blog on any of these topics?

By V for Vendetta

January 3, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this

wwww,

I would really like to see your topic on giving kids zeros addressed on this blog. It is something that has been floating around in the air for a while here in my neck of the woods, and I would love to see the topic debated. I have actually heard interesting arguments FOR the practice of NOT giving zeros. I 100% completely disagreed with them, but as JimD said, I learned a lot from the discussion.

Great topics! Keep them coming!

Oh, and Lurker … welcome aboard! Forgive those of us who can be harsh at times, we (mostly) mean well on this blog. I’ve always joked with my friends that there is nothing more disrespectful than a room full of teachers. (Seriously, look at how many talk, text, and don’t pay attention at faculty meetings!) Unfortunately, sometimes we prove that point on here. Apologies.

My 2008 resolution: Find a way to work my hobbies and interests into my classroom with beneficial effects. And/or: help create a curriculum for an idea I had years ago for a new class here at my school.

By V for Vendetta

January 3, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this

wwww,

I would really like to see your topic on giving kids zeros addressed on this blog. It is something that has been floating around in the air for a while here in my neck of the woods, and I would love to see the topic debated. I have actually heard interesting arguments FOR the practice of NOT giving zeros. I 100% completely disagreed with them, but as JimD said, I learned a lot from the discussion.

Great topics! Keep them coming!

Oh, and Lurker … welcome aboard! Forgive those of us who can be harsh at times, we (mostly) mean well on this blog. I’ve always joked with my friends that there is nothing more disrespectful than a room full of teachers. (Seriously, look at how many talk, text, and don’t pay attention at faculty meetings!) Unfortunately, sometimes we prove that point on here. Apologies.

My 2008 resolution: Find a way to work my hobbies and interests into my classroom with beneficial effects. And/or: help create a curriculum for an idea I had years ago for a new class here at my school.

By mmm

January 3, 2008 8:23 PM | Link to this

Luvs2teach

Thanks for your comments on the article. Actually my comments to the reporter on the AYP repercussions of having a mission to serve these children were much blunter. i.e. there exists no “scientifically proven methodology” that will take an older unschooled AND non-English speaking child and get them at grade level in English in two years. So we will as some point have to choose between our mission and passing AYP. At that point I hope we will believe in our mission enough to CHOOSE to fail AYP. And then I explained why failing AYP has no teeth for our school as long as we are a “common” school.

The reporter didn’t want to explain my point—so he shortened it to “doing OK on AYP requirements for now”.

By Lee

January 4, 2008 12:39 PM | Link to this

In case you forgot….

• This is not a private chat room but rather, a public forum. Anyone with internet access can read and post responses here.

• If you make outlandish statements in this forum, someone will probably comment on it - and there is a good possibility that you will not like what they say.

• If you post 15-20 times per day, you increase the odds of someone responding to a comment that you made.

• If you make outlandish statements AND post 15-20 times per day, I can almost guarantee you that someone will respond to your comments in a manner that you will not like. If this makes you mad, might I suggest you find another hobby.

• If you include personal information in your posts and someone makes a comment about it, it does not mean that we are “attacking” you.

• Posting about how “bad” you are and if someone were standing in front of you, how they would be “picking themselves up off the ground” only illustrates how immature you are. Be careful about doing that. You post a ton of personal information on this blog and then threaten someone with physical violence, you might wake up one Saturday morning with a psychopath knocking on your front door.

• The very nature of this blog topic is certain to elicit strong emotions. After all, we are talking about people’s careers and children.

There. That about do it?

By Jeff

January 4, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this

Lee:

Glad to know you’re a psychopath. Remember, the first step to getting help is admitting when you have a problem.

By Lee

January 4, 2008 1:07 PM | Link to this

LOL Jeff. A good sense of humor is always appreciated. There may be hope for you yet.

By Jeff

January 4, 2008 1:18 PM | Link to this

Lee:

FYI:

An occassional barb is one thing. I throw those and have no problems taking my lumps when one is thrown at me.

Trying to silence a dissenting opinion by repeatedly trying to say the messenger is flawed is a completely different animal. THAT is where I have a point of contention with you. (Though take a look at my modified resolution above.)

By t williams

January 13, 2008 3:13 PM | Link to this

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