By Mad Mike

June 10, 2007 2:25 PM | Link to this

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PALM BEACH POST

FEAR MONGERING LIBERAL RAG

By s

June 10, 2007 1:02 PM | Link to this

I am not advocating more spending of money or more government. I am pointing out that all decisions are arrived on Olive Street in West Plam Beach and that open meetings are held at 9:00 am…ever try to arrive there on time Monday -Friday? Only if someone else gets your child to school or the bus stop. I am advocating the following: Regional School Boards..(north and south )….One (1) school board for Budgets, etc.

A regional division would make a big difference. More input from parents, more cohesiveness in schools, more appropriate requests and grants for the given area. Meetings at more appropriate times. Boca parents…the ultra rich who send their children to private schools at some point? the ultra poor of Dixie Manor that have no resources?, parents work two jobs, the kids are being raised in a communal setting? Or the median income parent with no option of private school and no ability to attend a school board meeting in West Palm Beach in the morning. Or, even worse, the parents of a special needs child who have no option public or private? and if the School District does have an appropriate program chances are very high that it is not local. And some poor child is being transported so far from home (whether or not by bus) there will be no play dates or parental support system.
Or the fact that those in West Palm have such a poor understanding of the geography (not DEMOGRAPHICS) that one never knows what school they are to attend next year. These children cant say,” I went to the same school for 5 years”. Having lived in NJ, NH and Texas I have never seen such a massive geographic area controlled by such a small group.

Teachers are already burdened by teaching and their second job to pay their bills.

By Curious

June 10, 2007 11:14 AM | Link to this

Does anyone know why a magnet school was needed at Morikami Park Elementary? Seems an odd area to put a magnet school. Wonder if this decision was made objectively, in the interest of the entire district and all the kids???

By Lynne

June 10, 2007 11:04 AM | Link to this

As a first year teacher here in Palm Beach County…I think the class sizes do not really make that much of a difference. I have interned in classes with 30+ students, and currently this past year taught a class that had 15 students right in the heart of downtown West Palm Beach, and to be quite honest with you, I have had more discipline problems in the smaller class than in the larger class. A lot of people bring up excellent points- I think smaller classes help in being able to focus more on individual students, and with NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND and FCAT teachers are held accountable for their students and the scores they receive on these state tests. I think if it is possible we should try to keep the class sizes smaller, but again there are always going to be people that argue against it. But especially with the demographics in this county, and at the school where I teach- there is NO parental support or involvement, kids go home to nothing (no food, no bed/place to sleep, parents who deal drugs and could care less they even have a child, and the kids are the ones who are telling you this- its pretty sad the disadvantages you see firsthand as a teacher) so as it is the responsibility teacher you want to do your best to help these students in the hours you have them in YOUR CLASSROOM because they aren’t getting anything at home. Magnet schools are very competitive to get in especially Bak and Dreyfoos- I think all these schools that have auditions are going to have real real problems with outrageous parents complaining about who gets in and who does not- I think this will evetually change, that is if the district gets more ahold of this ever-growing problem and regulates it. This is about the children though, they should get a QUALITY education no matter what school they go to, and in this county it is not happening, that is why enrollment is down and students and their parents are flocking to home schooling, virtual schooling, and private schools- which can offer the quality, but a lot of kids/parents in this county cannot do that for financial reasons. Try being a 21 year old first year teacher in this county too, spend 3000 dollars to set-up and buy supplies for your own classroom and on top of that only make 31,000 dollars…I think there is more than just the problems this article addresses. We are the teachers who are teaching the future of America and they pay us just as much as low-end jobs with people who have no degree. I paid over 80,000 dollars for my college education and I make less than a janitor…kind of strange, don’t ya think???

By joanie

June 10, 2007 11:02 AM | Link to this

There is so much waste within the school district that the property tax cuts should not affect the students. If they reduce the administration, get rid of the thieving charter schools, do away with useless programs invented just to make the adminstration look good and stop building new schools just because they have the money than they can balance the budget. They have to learn to live within their means. Don’t fall for the guilt inducing statement “It’s for the Children” because it isn’t. It’s for the adults.

By Mark

June 10, 2007 11:01 AM | Link to this

BRAVO LIZ! You are correct! The funny thing about the temperature thing is this: The school district offices are CHILLY! I was there for a meeting recently (on a Saturday) and I was COLD. And the folks at that building, most of which are making $80K or more, spend nearly EVERY day in meetings. I have been teaching nearly 20 years and have seen NONE of these people in my school(s)…EVER! They “plan” workshops, meet to plan, plan to meet and squander our resources. You were correct in stating that the focus of the article was not on Dreyfoos…I began my post by responding to someone else’s comments and failed to address the issue at hand. Thank you for re-focusing me!~ Wish it was that easy to focus our district administration.

One more comment: I agree that we need to look at separating our HUGE district into more manageable pieces. Some things, like transportation and food services, can remain county wide directed but others, such as curriculum, professional development and human resources would be better served by a smaller, more focused leadership team that understands and works to solve the problems of the smaller geographical area it represents.

Just one guy’s thoughts!

By Mark

June 10, 2007 10:50 AM | Link to this

Native,

I know to click post once…I did not post the same thing 5 times…that was you. Now, as for your response, I am offended. It showed a great lack of class (not class size) on your part. Shame, shame!

By Liz

June 10, 2007 10:44 AM | Link to this

Mark, why is your focus on Dreyfoss & not on the issue of the article? We all know kids from higher economic areas do better on testing, etc. because they have more resources at home & school. But, the article is about the class size limits. Come on, if you’re a teacher you know by now that the District works everything to their advantage and will slant anything to get the public crying in sympathy. Let’s not change the topic of this article. The District should have seen this coming & perhaps planned better. To the parent who wants the temperature raised in the schools - it’s already 78. Have your kid bring a sweater. As a teacher who never sits, 78 is too hot - please let me at least be comfortable!Please, worry about more important issues in this District. Such as, millions of $$ wasted on frivilous resources & training, and the massive amounts of resources thrown out each year. Let’s not worry about classrooms that are chilly…let’s worry about a school board who wastes our money every year and doesn’t know how to plan.

By vic

June 10, 2007 10:24 AM | Link to this

Native just click onpost one time only-there is a delay-be patient when screen flickers about 40 seconds after posting it is sent. if you keep clicking you’ll p**s off mark who should have been kind enough to tell you this, but likes to b***h instead!

By Mark

June 10, 2007 10:00 AM | Link to this

First, can someone teach “NATIVE” to post a message ONCE? There is no need to post the same thing 5 times. It does not get your point across, it annoys people into dismissing your comments.

Second, BRAVO to teacher for stating what most of us know, which is the “arts schools” hand pick their kids and their populations do not come close to reflecting the demographics in our school district. Dreyfoos students are supremely talented and I am not trying to dismiss their accomplishments, but the fact is, you could put a monkey in the class with those students and they would still succeed. It is how those students are wired. Now take some of those Dreyfoos teachers, place them at a school with an impoverished student population. When THOSE students show the success that the Dreyfoos students have then we can say the teachers are amazing.

Lastly, smaller class sizes at all levels makes a HUGE difference…but since I am teaching an art elective my class size does not matter - remember FCAT tests are more important than creativity, problem solving. So therefore my class sizes have soared under the state law. Don’t believe me? Ask your children’s high school (or middle school) arts teachers - band, dance, chorus, television, photography and the like. They will tell you that their class sizes have increased as well. Watch the following video for one man’s perspective of creativity and what testing has done to our kids in schools. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4964296663335083307

By Tony

June 10, 2007 9:55 AM | Link to this

Smaller class size is great. I think the county and state should do anything they could to continue these programs. I am 100% behind the principal of this school and the board of education of PBC. We should give teachers and schools all the financial resources they need to educate our children. Hey, we spend billions of dollars every months in worthless wars around the world, why not doing it for a good cause?

By Liz

June 10, 2007 9:47 AM | Link to this

To Teacher: Ref:The school of the arts. You state most are rich white kids. Do you have the stats on the finances of these kids? I know a lot of poor-middle class students that go there. Acceptance is through an audition - and yes even poor kids can take dance, singing & piano lessons (for free through community programs & school grants) Why would you change the main idea of this article and start talking about racial equality? Small classes help, but discipline is the core. I have had 36 kids in my class and had no problems. But, I have also had 15 kids (4 discipline problems) and it was a nightmare. The school district can figue this out without crying all the time about the lack of $$. If they stop wasting it & they might actually have some $$ left over each year!

By Native

June 10, 2007 9:22 AM | Link to this

Yes, that’s what we need — MORE bureaucracy, more tax dollars spent on school boards and administration. You have questions about your child’s education? Go to the school, ask the teacher. Riviera Beach and South County is different? Dont all students deserve the same education? Please remember all this when you plead to the state for lower property taxes. That saving will be paid for on the backs of those students, the ones in Riviera Beach — the ones in Boca will be just fine; Im sure that is reasuring to you.

By Native

June 10, 2007 9:21 AM | Link to this

Yes, that’s what we need — MORE bureaucracy, more tax dollars spent on school boards and administration. You have questions about your child’s education? Go to the school, ask the teacher. Riviera Beach and South County is different? Dont all students deserve the same education? Please remember all this when you plead to the state for lower property taxes. That saving will be paid for on the backs of those students, the ones in Riviera Beach — the ones in Boca will be just fine; Im sure that is reasuring to you.

By Native

June 10, 2007 9:21 AM | Link to this

Yes, that’s what we need — MORE bureaucracy, more tax dollars spent on school boards and administration. You have questions about your child’s education? Go to the school, ask the teacher. Riviera Beach and South County is different? Dont all students deserve the same education? Please remember all this when you plead to the state for lower property taxes. That saving will be paid for on the backs of those students, the ones in Riviera Beach — the ones in Boca will be just fine; Im sure that is reasuring to you.

By Native

June 10, 2007 9:21 AM | Link to this

Yes, that’s what we need — MORE bureaucracy, more tax dollars spent on school boards and administration. You have questions about your child’s education? Go to the school, ask the teacher. Riviera Beach and South County is different? Dont all students deserve the same education? Please remember all this when you plead to the state for lower property taxes. That saving will be paid for on the backs of those students, the ones in Riviera Beach — the ones in Boca will be just fine; Im sure that is reasuring to you.

By Native

June 10, 2007 9:20 AM | Link to this

Yes, that’s what we need — MORE bureaucracy, more tax dollars spent on school boards and administration. You have questions about your child’s education? Go to the school, ask the teacher. Riviera Beach and South County is different? Dont all students deserve the same education? Please remember all this when you plead to the state for lower property taxes. That saving will be paid for on the backs of those students, the ones in Riviera Beach — the ones in Boca will be just fine; Im sure that is reasuring to you.

By John

June 10, 2007 9:19 AM | Link to this

Yes, that’s what we need — MORE bureaucracy, more tax dollars spent on school boards and administration. You have questions about your child’s education? Go to the school, ask the teacher. Riviera Beach and South County is different? Dont all students deserve the same education? Please remember all this when you plead to the state for lower property taxes. That saving will be paid for on the backs of those students, the ones in Riviera Beach — the ones in Boca will be just fine; Im sure that is reasuring to you.

By s

June 10, 2007 8:59 AM | Link to this

It is always wonderful when teachers are afforded the ability to teach and influence their students. Obviously, a good teacher with a smaller group enhances that experience for both, student and teacher.
But, it is time to seperate the north county and south county school districts. It is time to have boards that meet more regionally and after 6:00 pm. The school board has retained control by holding the majority of meetings at 9:00 am in WPB. Parents cannot easily attend and the message is: “we do not want parents there”. It is time recognize that the large, diverse population combined with the sheer geographic area of Palm Beach is NOT served properly by the small “centralized” school board. Maybe: a northern district school board and a southern district school board that meet in the early evening (7:00pm?) in “local areas” and an Umbrella organization known as the “The Palm Beach County School” Board. It is time to meet the needs locally and recognize that a school program in Riveria Beach does NOT satisfy nor duplicate the needs of “southern area students”.
Studies have shown that more overcrowded an area, the higher the propensity for violence.

By teacher

June 10, 2007 8:36 AM | Link to this

Smaller class sizes is by far the greatest advantage to the students we could ever give.

By james

June 10, 2007 8:13 AM | Link to this

well written marilee. the job in Florida is not worth the headache. I can work at Publix and make more money than most educators. Floridians as a whole have never backed education—they never will. They will however, dump tons of money into sports, biotech, and private companies.

By teacher

June 10, 2007 8:04 AM | Link to this

Smaller classes are a WONDERFUL thing ! I have taught 32 third grade students, as well as 18 fifth grade students. Smaller classes affords me the time to spend with each student every day — I am able to do more and different things with a smaller class.

Dreyfoos has been rated very high over the years, however, look at their demographics… They are teaching predominately rich white kids; look at their numbers: 1200 kids, 1000 white, 68 on free lunch ! 860 females ! Dont get me wrong - Its a wonderful program; I just wish their population reflected the diversity the county has.

By jill

June 10, 2007 7:54 AM | Link to this

It seems that the district had money to give school board members raises, and Johnson a bonus, yet they bellyache over reducing the class size and giving teachers raises. Up north most school board members are volunteer positions. Our board members earn more than a beginning teacher for a part time position. How is that right? How about turning down up the tempertature in most of these classrooms too. Everyone my child has been in is freezing…..think of the money one could save on that! It’s about time we start taking our children’s future seriously. It’s common sense the fewer the students the better the situation. More time for a teacher to help the students, and less distractions from studnets who don’t want to learn.

By marilee

June 10, 2007 7:10 AM | Link to this

As a former teacher, I experienced the downside of overcrowded classrooms. They lead to discipline problems, student and teacher frustrations, students with special needs being ignored and the brightest not getting the extra incentives and inspirations they need to excel.

I left teaching because I was being forced to deal, on my own without an aide, with 32, up to 36 [!!] youngsters in my classes each year. It was humanly impossible to give them the educational environment they deserved, free from the disruptions an overcrowded classroom guaranteed.