Rick Badie / My Opinion

By alice

August 7, 2007 7:44 AM | Link to this

It was my impression, when I was solicited to contribute money, that students would come from “low wealth” areas. I am surprised, then, to hear that it is a diverse socio-economic group. I also thought they were only starting with 5th grade next year?

Would you like to know why I didn’t contribute money? I don’t like that the school choose the students. I think any model that wants to be replicated as much as Mr. Clark wants his to be, that locates in the inner city, needs to serve kids who need to be remediated.

When the founders of KIPP schools (a fairly successful chain of nonprofit charter schools serving high risk students) opened their first two schools, they were shocked at the high cost associated with remidiating students who were behind. The older the student the more expensive and time consuming these services were.

It is going to be a wonderful experience for the students. I am sure learning will be fun and frankly, for the most part, middle school is the worst part of the educational experience.

By Kirk

August 7, 2007 8:01 AM | Link to this

I think that Gwinnett has great schools, but I’m considering a private school for my kids because I prefer the discipline in the private schools. Public school teachers have to tolerate too many students with behavior problems due to parents that do not teach them respect. Because of this, teachers lose valuable time with the kids that are there to learn. That’s really the only reason I’m saving for a private education for my child.

Great topic Rick!

By Jack

August 7, 2007 8:53 AM | Link to this

Mr. Bradie,

Great topic of discussion. I think as parents we need to not only put a high emphasis on academic success but to put a high emphasis on the childrens behavior as well. I believe that public schools are not entitled to address bad behavior or behavior being demonstrated by the child, that could lead to failure or future bad decision making. Parents do not want to hear from the teacher anything negative about their little perfect child. Nor do they want to take the time to correct behavior problems. When it comes to rearing a child in todays world, it seems as though we hear more excuses as to why we as parents can not discipline our children instead of positive ways that we can.

Here is the deal. It does not matter whether a parent chooses a private or public school for their child. What matters is, are the parents doing their job as a teacher, mentor, leader, displinary, role model, and most importantly a parent. Until parents decide to step up to the plate and teach their children right from wrong, respect, discipline, how to make good decisions, how to learn from mistakes, how to have goals and big dreams, ect. then choosing a private school or public school will not help or make a difference.

My daughter is ten years old, I only get her on the weekends which is very frustrating. I see her myspace page and it sickens me, I see her and her other ten year friends being unhealthy chasing boys and being super boy crazy, I hear them curse and use foul language, I see them dressing inappropriatly, ect..ect.. Wake up parents, to many parents are condoning behavior that will lead to failure instead of success. It’s not the schools job, it is your job!

We need to bring back the old fashion way of rearing children. We need to bring back paddeling in school. We need DFACS to get involved in the parents life if teachers tell the parent about bad behavior or problem behavior or constint failing grades or constint not having home work done. We need a revival, we need more children to be brought up in church.

I will say this. My daughter attends chapman intermediate in Town Lake, Woodstock. She had awesome teachers that were truly inspirational. One even takes a risk and prays with my daughter and tries to correct problem behavior with biblicial teachings. I love that… I give that teacher a huge thank you…

By kloliver

August 7, 2007 9:21 AM | Link to this

I have all three of my children in private school this year. It is the things I don’t want them learning in public school. I have a 13 year old girl that is not boy crazy like some of her friends in public school. She is maturing slower and at a pace I am more comfortable. She has a myspace that I have the password for and I monitor. I see which friends at 13 are using horrible language and passing around e-mails that are not age appropriate. They are exposed to too much in public school. In her private school she has to work hard. A lot of her school friends want to go to public school because they don’t want to work as hard as they are required in private school.

It is a price I have chosen to pay.

By Camille

August 7, 2007 9:48 AM | Link to this

To Jack, all I can say is wow. My son is 9 and myspace is not even an option for him, much less being allowed to chat online. His only online options are games, and that’s just Nickelodeon, Disney, ToonTown, and Cartoon Network. And, before anyone else asks, yes, I am absolutely certain that’s all he’s doing online on the computer. And, the inappropriate language and dressing thing is even worse. Now, I don’t know what my son says around his friends, but there is only 1 child whose house he is allowed to go to without my presence and I’m pretty certain that they are not misbehaving there (the mother still babies the boy, but that’s another story). I really feel your frustration, and I hope that things get better before they get any worse.

With regards to public education, we are in Gwinnett county. I have to say that my son’s school was really good, the administrator’s and teachers all knew me, and they were very responsive to my and my son’s needs. However, I saw potential problems with regards to his future educational needs, so when I received a letter in the mail this summer stating that he was eligible for the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship, I jumped on the opportunity to send him to a private school. His “disability” is very slight, but in order to keep him on grade level he was allowed to do all testing in a smaller classroom setting. This allowed him to excel in his classes, making mainly Bs (with a couple of As) in the class subjects. However, I have noticed that it is progressively taking him a little longer to grasp the concepts and keep up to speed with the rest of the class. Basically, I see him falling further and further behind in the future grade levels, all the while the teachers and administrators are telling me that he’s doing well, when I see otherwise.

In essence, sending him to a private school would give him the opportunity to work in a smaller classroom settings at all times, plus the additional curriculum items that will give him a bigger edge over the public school setting. Private schools are also allowed almost free reign to implement the curriculum in whatever manner necessary to ensure that the students are grasping the material. This is what my son needs, teaching that will work for him versus having to make his mind fit the one-size fits all teaching method dispensed in the public school system. This is what I feel will make a huge difference in his learning potential. There are other opportunities that the private school will provide him in addition to the educational opportunities that I think will be excellent for my son, things that will make him a more “rounded” individual. All in all, I think that it will be a much better opportunity for him, mainly, hopefully allowing him to excel at an educational level that he may not be able to reach in public school.

So, while I think that in essence the Gwinnett county public school system is very good, I am hoping that the private school system will be better. Worse case scenario, he goes back to the public school system that he was in for 4 years and we work it the best that we can.

Also, I looked at the Ron Clark Academy website and watched the video of the trip to South Africa. Very powerful video, and an experience that I’m sure those kids will never forget and hopefully that will have changed those kids lives forever.

By Jack

August 7, 2007 11:35 AM | Link to this

To Camille, It sounds like your a great mother..keep up the good work. It really upsets me to see parents being so non-chulant and being so lienant with their children. When my daughter comes over to my house on the weekends, she will sometimes ask if one of her friends can come over and spend the night. Well me and my wife puts this through the test. I tell my daughter yes and she calls her friend and her friend tells her okay, my mom will drop me off at 4pm. When her friend drives up, gets out and comes into the house, I then tell her friend to have mom come back and pick her up. I then go out to the friends car and speak with the childs parents. I ask, how can you drop your child off without meeting her friends parents first? If thats the kind of parent you are then I dont want my child associating with your child.

Then parents wonder why their child at 9, 10, 11, 12 years old are growing up in a unhealthy manner doing things that a child at that age should not do. My daughter this summer told me that she does not want to come over to my house ever again because I am to strict. Shes right, I am strict. I wont let her get on inappropriate web sites such as myspace when she is at my house, i dont let her wear inappropriate clothes, I dont let her curse, I make her respect people, I have to meet her friends and her friends parents before she can associate with them, ect..ect..I am proud to be a strict parent….

How can a parent accept the responsibility of their childs education if they dont accept the responsibility of parenting. My heart bleeds for my daughters friends parents because at 10yrs old, all of her friends act, talk, and do things that are not 10yr old age appropriate. Where are the parents?

By Joe Abraham

August 7, 2007 2:16 PM | Link to this

Mr. Badie, I loved your articles then, I mean about 6 months ago, you changed! You were not afraid to write about the “good, bad or ugly”, something happened, did Cynthia Tucker get on you? She is such a powerful and big shot for AJC now that she’s a controll freak. How about looking at some articles you use to write about 1 year ago and now. Notice, political correctness, I believe. Bring out the FIRE you have to let us know how it really is. Gwinnett is your home, let us know how GREAT IT IS!! I’m being a smart a*, I just missed the real you. NO DISRESPECT, SIR.

By jvb

August 7, 2007 4:07 PM | Link to this

If you read the web site correctly, the school is targeting kids who have untapped potential. This could include kids from all backgrounds, NOT just those who need to be remediated. These are the kids most at risk, and who it would be a shame to see fail, …just because of differences in learning. Not to mention the unskilled teachers, especially in Gwinnett County. Take ADHD for instance. (or attention issues, call it what you will.) Those kids have some much energy, good energy. Though most teachers will call them ‘bad’. Mr Clark knows how to use this energy and teaches with creative learning styles. Something I have always had to do as a parent. Taking my child outside and walking while reciting math facts, for example. Also, if you read the web site the school was ALWAYS planned to be 5th and 6th the first year, then adding from there.

By Penny

August 7, 2007 4:10 PM | Link to this

I remember when we were very concerned about the quality of public education and about the social aspects of middle school, and we chose to put our oldest daughter in a very exclusive private school. Our experience was eye-opening to say the least. We truly did not find any better or more dedicated teachers there, and what was truly surprising is that the private school didn’t have nearly the resources that we had become accustomed to in good old Gwinnett County Schools! We have decided to skip the private middle school for our younger daughter and stick with public schools. We are in complete agreement with a California couple who just moved to our neighborhood, and were raving about the quality of the public schools and libraries here. In our experience, you will find more expensive schools and more “prestigious” schools, but not necessarily any better schools than Gwinnett County, at least in the northern clusters.

By Mike

August 7, 2007 5:38 PM | Link to this

What schools are lacking is educated and intelligent teachers.

By Public Schooler

August 7, 2007 5:38 PM | Link to this

Public Schools used to be great. They were the great equalizer and a source of pride for communities. But our government has seen fit to spend money on stadiums, vanity road projects and more instead of our schools. And in the end we all pay the price. If yo want to send your kid to private school I certainly do not blame you. But many people cannot afford that option and send their kids to public schools that are sincerely lacking. What does that portend for our future? A country full of under-educated adults unable to compete on the world stage. And that will spell the end of this once great nation. It is soooo cliche, but these children really are the future and we are squandering it. Just as our infrastructure has been neglected so has public education.

By Angie

August 7, 2007 5:50 PM | Link to this

Like Penny, we didn’t find anything better in private school than what we found in the public schools. Lots of people who can afford to, send their problem kids to private school thinking they can “fix” them. All that happens is that they bring their problems into the smaller setting, and everyone else deals with the fallout.

So we opted for homeschooling, which I know is not an option for everyone. But it’s been amazing, and my kids are showing all sorts of good character traits that that might’ve been killed completely had they remained in the hostile environments of our local public and private schools. I taught an extracurricular class at the private school one year and was FLOORED by what I saw those kids do. Even little kids, cussing and trying to act so grown up.

I agree with the others who have said that it all comes down to what is done in the home; whether that includes homeschooling or not. If you want your kids to have good values, you have to teach them. No school, church, or peer group can replace the influence of a loving parent. Unfortunately, too many parents in our society have never learned that…and the rest of us are left trying to do “damage control” to protect our kids from their bad decisions.

By Shannon, M.Div.

August 7, 2007 6:09 PM | Link to this

Good topic. I attended a private school 1st through 8th grade, a public school 9th through 12th… my bachelor’s came from a large public university, and my two master’s degrees both came from a private university. I think there are pros and cons with each—at every level.

For a kid who isn’t your all-American kind of sports-loving, socially gifted golden child, a private school can be tough. I was socially miserable through 8th grade; when I started public school in 9th grade, I felt like the world opened up and I could make friends. But my 8th grade class had only 14 people, and my 9th grade class had several hundred. Out of the several hundred, there were a few other odd birds like me. Not so in the 14.

I know, you were all chatting about academics, not social life. I was far more motivated to do well in my classes when I was happy and had a reason to look forward to school. That private school prepared me excellently academically, though. When I entered 9th grade, I won the top math award in the county—in the entire urban county—and placed well in a short-story competition. My literary skills aren’t bad, but my math ability honestly isn’t genius level. What made the difference was that I had been taken through and past Algebra I in that private school—in 8th grade, with tons of one-on-one instruction. I enjoyed high school thoroughly, racking up honors left and right and enjoying the fact that I finally had found people weird enough to be my friends.

I think it was the perfect balance, to be honest. We set the foundation in a private school, where character can be formed and academics honed. My parents gave me the choice between attending another Christian school (mine only went through 8th grade) and attending a public school. I visited the Christian school and was told that I would have to sign a “pledge” saying that I wouldn’t drink, dance, or see R-rated movies. (this was 1989). When I walked around with some of the kids there, they told me not to worry about the pledge; they all broke it. A friend opted to go there for her high school, and she let me know—the kids weren’t kidding. In fact, they drank, danced, and watched more R-rated movies than my public school friends—in no small part, I think, because of that laughable external attempt to control behavior. I actually didn’t do any of those things in school, but it was because they held no appeal for me. Character is not formed through a list of rules but through habituation of character.

By Aparent

August 7, 2007 6:19 PM | Link to this

Most parents desire a quality education for their child, not all, but most. Many parents want an outlet whereby they may drop their child off and leave them for someone else to do the work of teaching them. They rely too much on the structure they have chosen. This is an inherent problem with all schools, public, private or homeschool.

There is no dispute that Georgia’s public schools are a disaster. It is always amazing to read how someone belives their child’s school is “the best”. How would they even know to qualify? By what measure are they judging the product? Feelings is the typical yardstick, rotten statistics is another one, but they don’t even know better to realize this.

As a parent, it is up to you ALONE to decide what is best for your child. But if you are a lousy parent, then you’ll most likely make a lousy choice, public OR private OR homeschool.

Rick is doing the most important job in the world, being his son’s dad. Nothing else will ever be as meaningful to him or his son. Good for you Rick. Keep up the good fight. Your son needs you more than you know, especially at this age. He needs to see what being a man is supposed to be. Read “Wild at Heart” by John Eldredge.

By Viking

August 7, 2007 8:44 PM | Link to this

Mike, your ignorant and flippant comment shows that you wouldn’t even have the capabilty to sub. I’d match IQs with you any day. What greatness have you displayed?

By comp133xi7y

August 7, 2007 8:57 PM | Link to this

The one component that separates great education from poor education is a belief that education is important. Ideology ruins education. Obsession with testing ruins education. Education is empowered by one thing - the belief that it is important. Anything else, particularly religious-based education, is hampered by fear that a young person will be exposed to ideas that are conisdered “dangerous”. The minute we refuse to allow certain ideas to be discussed, we destroy the educational process and replace it with indoctrination.

Want to know why Georgia is so low on the National scale? It’s becuase of the religious fanatics and the dogmatics who only want ideology taught. Most parents in this state don’t want their children to be taught to think, because thinking creates questions, and the narrow-minded right-wing evangelicals who make up most of this state are terrified of original thought.

You reap what you sow, and most of you have been sowing ignorance and hatred for most of your lives. I view it as poetic justice that your children are poorly educated. Congratulations! You deserve the morons you have raised.

By CS

August 7, 2007 9:40 PM | Link to this

The truth is that Christians should not even consider putting their children into the pagan temples for education. Be assured that the Israelites never sent their kids over to the Moabites for education.

No, Christian children don’t need to go into the atheistic schools and be salt and light. This is a common excuse for sending Christian schools to government schools, but not a valid one. We, as Christians, are to teach our children about the Lord and Him only. All of our worldview should be from a Christ-centered position.

By mom3boys

August 7, 2007 9:44 PM | Link to this

Mike, Where in the world do you get your information about teachers being uneducated and ignorant? Most teachers at my school have a masters degree, while a very large number have EdS. degrees. I know we have at least a dozen PhD’s as well, with several others working toward terminal degrees. Did you ever think that maybe we teach because we want to make a difference in the life of a kid? So many are so screwed up before we get them, that they are in need of serious work. However, many come with great hearts, eager to learn and become prepared for the future. I am sorry that you feel we are stupid and don’t know what we are doing. The problems associated with our schools are generally not the teachers, but the lack of discipline and the utter denial some parents are living in. You can’t ignore a kid for a dozen years and then expect the middle school teachers to fix or undo years and years of bad parenting. Parents: do your job. Set limits, learn to say, “NO,” and be consistent. Mike: keep your mouth shut. Even a fool appears wise when he is silent.

By comp133xi7y

August 7, 2007 11:05 PM | Link to this

Thank you, CS, for making my point. An ignorant, superstitious fool like you can never hope to appreciate the true meaning of education. All you want is the indoctrination of your children. I think perhaps you should move to Saudi Arabia. Surely you can find some Christian version of Wahabbism that satisfies your lust for ignorance.

By Bill

August 7, 2007 11:13 PM | Link to this

The problem in the school system where I teach is the lawsuits, some lazy parents who do nothing with the child at home, some teachers who are lazy and not that bright, and so many freaking rules and regulations. A good teacher can sometimes help a disadvantaged student who wants help. A good student can overcome an occasional bad teacher. A good parent can overcome both!!

By CS

August 7, 2007 11:40 PM | Link to this

Yes, comp, my point exactly. That’s exactly what I’d like to see — the indoctrination of my children. God’s people are not to serve false gods. We are not to honor them. We are not to come under their teaching. Our instructions, from Deuteronomy 6, are to teach our children as we walk along the way, as we rise up, and as we lie down.

Those of you who are haters of Christ cannot understand this viewpoint, but there is God’s grace, and it can overcome all of the deception under which you fall.

By Preston

August 8, 2007 7:47 AM | Link to this

Both of my children have been going to private school since they entered school. My wife and I wrestled with the idea of sending them to public schools this year and we decided against it. We live in South Fulton and we are not satisfied with the schools in this area or the lack of discipline of some of the children. You have to be very careful when you consider a private school however. All private schools are not the same and just because it is a private school does not mean that it is the best place for your children. You have to look at how the school is run and who is running the school. We had our children in private school and to be blatantly honest with you, we wasted our money and possibly 3-5 years of our children’s education. I would ask parents of the school that you are contemplating sending your children how do they feel about the school and the curriculum and also ask for references of present and former parents. Really get to know the staff as they will be the one’s mentoring and teaching your children. This is not to say that public schools cannot be good for your children but until the parents step up and really get involved with the school and discipline their children, you have no idea who or what your children are doing in school. Remember you were a child once and if you could get away with something you probably did…nothing has changed over the time. Be careful as this is your children’s future and your legacy.

By Elona

August 8, 2007 2:24 PM | Link to this

Rick, I’d like to support what Aparent said: Rick is doing the most important job in the world, being his son’s dad. Nothing else will ever be as meaningful to him or his son. Good for you Rick. Keep up the good fight. Your son needs you more than you know, especially at this age.

I see many at-risk teenagers in my classes who do not have the support they need from their parents. Some Dads are not being their children’s Dads; some Moms are not being their children’s moms. Oh, they may be there for financial support, but they’re definitely not there for emotional support. Being a parent involves more than just paying the bills and buying things. How do I know this? My students tell me.

By Lee

August 11, 2007 8:37 AM | Link to this

Every situation is different. Preston posted above that they sent their kids to private school and were not pleased with the results.

We’ve had the opposite experience.

Our youngest went to public schools until the 7th grade. It was ok until she entered the “middle school from he11.” We pulled her out and put her in a top notch private school and I must say, it is worth every penny.

There seems to have been an explosion of private schools in the past few years, most predominately, the church type school. As with anything, they run the gamut from excellent to very poor.

There is a reason all these private schools are cropping up. Unfortunately, our politicians and educrats have their head in the sand and refuse to recognize that there is a problem with the current public school system.

By IJ

August 11, 2007 1:46 PM | Link to this

The problem with the current school system is political. Many administrators do not have the guts to stand up to whining parents who believe they, and their bad children, are owed something at the expense of others. There is nothing worse than dealing with an out of control child who has an out of control parent screaming that if Billy feels like setting the trash can on fire, he should be allowed to. Meanwhile, the teacher is putting out Billy’s fire, and 29 other kids are- what? Being taught? No, watching their teacher be forced to deal with Billy and his idiocy. Discipline of problem students is the #1 impediment to education in this country. I am your child’s teacher, not his baby sitter. If he doesn’t want to learn because you as a parent haven’t taught him the importance of critical and original thought, don’t send him to my classroom to be an impediment to the kids there who actually want an education. In fact, send him to the religious camp down the road- maybe they can brainwash away the damage you’ve done. Until the political leaders in the community feel that they have the backing of the majority of parents, they will not even attempt to stand up to these types of individuals (who unfortunately seem to be multiplying at an unhealthy rate). The sue-happys are running the show. Until we stop giving them audience and running around to pat them on the back and hand them tissues for their crocodile tears, we are stuck with these ridiculous behaviors that as a society we’ve allowed to spiral out of control.

By Lisa P

August 17, 2007 1:35 AM | Link to this

Great Topic and Responses. Here is an article I found that speaks about Atlanta Public Schools. Lisa

Connecting the Dots: Kids to Business by Jennifer Bouani http://boujepublishing.wordpress.com/

I’m all for schools and businesses working together to connect the dots for students to know how to compete in a global workforce. We do need to work to better meld the two entities. In the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Tim Hough writes about an initiative going on between Atlanta Public Schools and Atlanta businesses (Atlanta Business Chronicle, Jun 1-7) to do just such a thing. Beverly Hall, the superintendent, is working to fully reform the public school system to connect the dots in the disciplines of engineering, health sciences and research. But I think the focus may be misguided.

China and India are generating baskets-full of engineers and researchers. On sheer numbers, America cannot compete. But what has America always been good at (besides war)? Creating businesses!–tapping into our entrepreneurial spirit and paving new roads, new industries and new technologies. Who would have imagined Google or Amazon 15 years ago?

But are we forgetting where we came from? The Kauffman Foundation just reported that immigrant entrepreneurial activities are outpacing those of native-born Americans. While it increased for Asians and Latinos, it stayed steady for non-Latino whites and even fell for blacks. Where are our entrepreneurs? Who will create the next Microsoft?

Although I admire Hall for her courage to tread new ground, I wish school systems would focus their attention on teaching kids how to RUN businesses, not be employed by them.

By Lisa P

August 17, 2007 1:37 AM | Link to this

Great Topic and Responses. Here is an article I found that speaks about Atlanta Public Schools. Enjoy! Lisa

Connecting the Dots: Kids to Business by Jennifer Bouani http://boujepublishing.wordpress.com/

I’m all for schools and businesses working together to connect the dots for students to know how to compete in a global workforce. We do need to work to better meld the two entities. In the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Tim Hough writes about an initiative going on between Atlanta Public Schools and Atlanta businesses (Atlanta Business Chronicle, Jun 1-7) to do just such a thing. Beverly Hall, the superintendent, is working to fully reform the public school system to connect the dots in the disciplines of engineering, health sciences and research. But I think the focus may be misguided.

China and India are generating baskets-full of engineers and researchers. On sheer numbers, America cannot compete. But what has America always been good at (besides war)? Creating businesses!–tapping into our entrepreneurial spirit and paving new roads, new industries and new technologies. Who would have imagined Google or Amazon 15 years ago?

But are we forgetting where we came from? The Kauffman Foundation just reported that immigrant entrepreneurial activities are outpacing those of native-born Americans. While it increased for Asians and Latinos, it stayed steady for non-Latino whites and even fell for blacks. Where are our entrepreneurs? Who will create the next Microsoft?

Although I admire Hall for her courage to tread new ground, I wish school systems would focus their attention on teaching kids how to RUN businesses, not be employed by them.