News-Record.com

I agree that it is wonderful that these 44 young people have graduated.

A senior class of 44 is part of the reason for the school's success. Smaller classes result in more individual attention from the teacher. Each middle school has its own principal and guidance counselor. Again more personal attention. Flexible hours and more freedom really benefit some kids. This is all wonderful and what many kids need.

Why can't we do more for the rest of the kids in Guilford County so that they may enjoy these benefits.

I agree with Carol. It's great that 44 students can experience academic success, but, of course, they have many benefits not available to the other thousands of 65,000 students in the system. This system spends an inordinate share of its funds on special programs and short-changes the vast majority of students in the traditional schools. Heck, they don't even have sufficent paper supplies and textbooks in those schools. Are we to praise Grier for doing the right thing for 44 students and the wrong things for 65,000?

We should only be so lucky to get our wish that Grier would get outta here. That would be a day for great celebration when he gets out of this county. You will recall when he made his visit to Charlotte, the only success he had to sell was his middle college success. The people of Charlotte were not fooled. They sent him home to Greensboro where we celebrate his one small success and ignore his huge failures.

O.R. R.,
Until your group can find more broad appeal, saying "Get Grier outta Here" will have no bearing. I'm no TG supporter, but I find those who lay all of the blame on a salaried superintendent that serves at the board's pleasure, uninformed and bitter.

Broaden your base by something other than "Terry Grier" and you might have more sympathy from the rest of the county.

I agree with Demon Deacon, in a way. In my opinion, Terry Grier is an obnoxious failure. However, it is the school board that keeps this guy in power and the school board that implements most of his hair-brained ideas.

While I am not familiar with the Guilford College Middle College program and cannot comment on it, my son graduated from GTCC Middle College and I do have some strong feelings about it. Although there's no doubt he would have dropped out of "regular" high school and I'm certainly thankful he now has a diploma, he certainly did not earn it. Heck, he never even completed the basic science requirement! I firmly believe his diploma was the result of somebody (Grier or others) wanting to make the program appear more successful than it actually is.

Thanks for some inside insight. You know of what you speak.

As I said, I am thankful these kids have a diploma, for what it's worth. I just continue to feel that these programs cost so much money to run that the benefits do not outweigh the cost. The money has to come from somewhere, and I feel it is taken away from other kids, as ORR pointed out.

Agree with YD. Until we have a change on the board, more money will go down the drain and the kids will suffer. I still think all that TG does is for his glory..and he can make himself look good on paper.

While we pat Grier on the back about these 44 kids lets look at some other statistics. Andrews, Central, Smith and Dudley have not improved there scores in the last five years. That means that for the last five years Grier have been failing a much greater number. There are at least 5000 kids in these schools.
That means he is not passing 2500 a year!!

Ladies and gentlemen, lets put these 44 into perspective here!

Its easier to target Grier as a scape goat. Anyone who wants credit ofr the positive things they do had better expect to have people point out the negative, especially when there is so much more negative the positive being produced.

Demon D

Where have you been for the past year??? There is no "your group". The person who came up with the magnets and signs knew Grier was the "lightning rod". He knew all along as many parents did that the ultimate responsiblity rests in the school board. Don't be fooled by what you think you know. There is much you do not know.

You need to quit saying "your group". It makes you sound extremely foolish.

My dear Mr. Peiffer, bless your little ol' heart....Guilford County will be the loser, you say? Well, welcome to the party: 1000s of children in Guilford County are already on the short end of the stick regarding their education. Grade inflation and administrative promotions, test scores that mean literally nothing and cannot be depended upon to give an accurate assessment of a child's actual progress or grade level, "learning" environments devoid of solid instructional time due to discipline problems the likes of which would make your jaw drop and teachers who are usurped by disbelieving, litigious parents and a top heavy administration ....the list goes on.

Yes, congrats to the 44 at GSO Clg Middle College - now what do you propose we do about the countless students in the rest of the system who will be promoted without the skills necessary to write a simple letter of correspondance or tally a restaurant bill and figure sales tax???

You are right about not letting this rest on one man's shoulders alone; the Dog & Pony Show needs to be held accountable...for this among many other things. But you are living in a fantasy land if you don't see that we've all been Grier-ended. I would invite you to spend a day at a few of the private schools in the area and then take a field trip to several of the public schools. Don't just visit the "problem" schools so often showcased in the media. Visit a high school or two and then hit a few middle schools. If you still think we're on track with the current leadership (Grier and The Show) after your foray into War Zone, I'll be beyond surprised.

Thanks, but I'll keep my obnoxious bumper sticker and yard sign, which are sadly hidden away - employees can't have a public opinion lest we become unemployeed. One graduation ceremony with a few articulate graduates does not constitute a healthy school system. Get the WHOLE story first hand, then your opinion will have a leg to stand on.

Kel - I'm sorry about experience, but I appreciate your candid (and quite accurate) assessment of the situation.

Sid,
Jim Kirkpatrick would be on the board right now, if emotions had been held in check within the ABC group---the one whose remnants are still denying they were ever a part of! Covering up Dot Kearns signs turned off voters across the county, and the bush league "Get Grier Outta Here" magnets may have made the Southwest area feel good, but it did little to advance their cause in the rest of the county.

DD,

Kirkpatrick's not making it on the board had to do with certain campaign promises made to the black voters in High Point. It had to do with a very shrewd political campaign, putting Dot's name on the Democratic ticketin a national election and busing in loads of college students,etc. to the polls and telling them how to vote straight Democratic ticket. Many people saw flyers with her name that looked like church bulletins. These were handed out at black churches in High Point. You are entitled to your opinion of why she won. That is history. Kirkpatrick underestimated the black votes he needed in the city. His campaign manager missed the target.

FYI there are no "remnants" denying they were every part of ABC. At one time ABC had over 800 names on a roster ALL ACROSS THE COUNTY. No one involved with ABC has denied it, why would they. Many chose to leave over differences of opinion in the leadership of the group just as this happens in other large volunteer groups: churches, sports, PTA...

About the signs that were covered up. Many Kirkpatrick signs where removed or torn down. Who did that?? ABC members also heard of Dot's own people covering her signs to frame ABC. The elections are over. Give it a rest.

I guess you will start saying next why Bush won. Who cares.

Well said Angel.

DD, give it a rest. Its over. Its history.

Well spoken Angel. Your perspective on the historical turn of events is very accurate, especially the torn down Dot signs. You nailed it on Kirkpatrick as well, his underestimation of the black vote did him. Your statement on the voter being bussed in, the names put on the Sunday bulletins in black churches is very accurate.
I applaude your accuracy since some on this subject seem to overlook all except what fits within their frame of thinking,if you can call it that since it is the same garbble they use on any political subject.
I really loved the last sentence but just wait it won't be long in coming since that particular poster can always find someway to re-direct any subject to his views on Bush.
He also decries the use of the magnets calling for "get greir outta here" but applaudes stuff like "trim the bushes". Boy isn't that just so urbane instead of bush league. Others suit him as well as you have seen on other LTE which he so aptly does a copy and paste from the Air America like websites but then, you see , that is acceptable and above your "bush league" signs because it is HIS high and mighty opinion and who knows according to him it might be just what Jesus would do.(one of his new favorite sound bites)
Dang if he don't sound more like the HOGG every day. Make's you wonder doesn't it?

You have to wonder why so much time and money was spent to win an election to a school board. It seems to me that there was a plan in work which was sponsored by people with money who wanted power. It seems they got it. The poor are again suffering from the plans of the rich.

"Fixing" the two High Point high schools has been attempted in many ways while sacrificing Southwest High. Instead of fixing two, they have caused three to have unnecessary problems.

Providing an environment for learning is the first thing that needs to be fixed. Busing or more money won't do that.

Did you read the article about a fight at Southern High? When did a fight at school becomes news? I loved the last of the article where they were criticizing the principal for not telling which hall the fight was in. Who cares? Loved his answer. Go Indians...no wait..they had to change their name because one woman was offended. What a waste of time and money. Another example of giving in on issues that should have been ignored.

Demon Deacon,

Well, I guess you got your answers on this board. Now, who is uninformed? People know a heck of lot more about Grier and Company have been doing the past several years than you think. Yes, the school board is complicit in keeping Grier in place. We have a core of six that have wrecked havoc here for the past two years. They only enable Grier to do his thing. When Grier's only claim to success is that he has been innovative and established a middle colege that successfully graduated 44 students, something is bad wrong. He's responsbile for the education of 65,000 students. What about them? No, DD, we are not uninformed, rather just the opposite. We know very well what is happening, but we don;t have enough political power to overcome the political machines in Greesnboro and High Point. And, rest assured there are some powerful political forces that control everything in this county, not just the schools. Perhaps, someday...

You know, I guess the neoCOn would say you guys suffer from "GDS" or Grier Derangement Syndrome!

Spin it how you will, but I think Jim Kirkpatrick would have made a great member of the board. Unfortunately, some folks, no doubt some of you vehement posters here, gave his campaign a bad name. People like Mr. Produce will blame it on blacks in High Point, because that is the expedient thing to do. Produce is even on record on another thread minimizing slavery when compared to other atrocities in the U.S. of A.
If the High Point/SW/ABC group had tried to make it about EDUCATION and not Grier, they would have been successful.

As for Produce and his ignorant ad libs, he needs to go outside and tend to his garden or maybe go blog up in Deliverance country.

Oh and just so I don't disappoint you "ANGEL",
Bush didn't win the first election, he was appointed! Don't you feel empowered being part of the harcore 28%? Grab old Produce and crash some Gay weddings and throw water on the rampant flag burnings! LOL!

DD,
checked my stats.

Central,Andrews,Dudley and Smith have about 5400 children. A whopping 2900 children failed last year.

The results have been like this for the last five years. No change.

While we have all these resume building programs in our county, a whole generation fails.

Grier said in Charlotte that his speciality was turning around struggling High Schools!
HA!

Trish,
You have the basis for change right in your hand.

The group should start talking about "failing schools" and how to make them successful vs. talking about how Grier made my child go to that awful school with all those black kids". Oh, and don't tell me that type talk hasn't gone on, because that's what I hear from people around Jamestown all the time!

Hear me out here. Build a message on a positive and not the negative. You will get larger "buy in" and you will not have to run uphill ALL the time. High Point/Jamestown/Southwest parents got off on the wrong foot with lots of folks and they have not recovered from it. They tried to get Kris Cooke knocked off the board by bashing her on their school situation. They should have put up a candidate who was not mediocre at best, rather than run a transparently one issue campaign. They got over exuberant about dissing Dot Kearns when they could have taken the volume down some and worked harder behind the scenes.
It's not as much what you need as HOW YOU GO ABOUT IT.

(Oh, and don't listen to "Mister Produce" on anything related to schools, as he only knows what he reads in the N&R.)

Demon,

So - you say that you "think Kirkpatrick would have made a great member of the board". And you have chastised some of the posters of this blog because you assume they were part of some organized group in 2004.

Refresh my memory - how did you campaign for Kirkpatrick?

DD,

You sure know how to spin the truth two years after the fact. Jim Kirpatrick came within a hair's breath of beating Dot Kearns at large. Anyone would tell you that beating an at-large candidate is almost impossible. Had it not been for political shenanigans of Kearns and some political deals with certain High Point groups, she would have lost. No, Kirkpatrick lost the election in a few Greensboro and High Point precincts that were heavily influenced to vote for Dot Kearns. It was in those precincts that the vote turned with Kearns getting over 90% of the vote. What deal did Kearns make in those precincts, and what did she promise in exchange? I agree with you that Kirkpatrick would have made a superior board member because he wasn't beholding to anyone. What help did you provide him DD; many of the ones that you disparage helped him endlessly.

Kris Cooke was nearly beaten by a "candidate who was not mediocre at best, rather than run a transparently one issue campaign". If that candidate was so bad and Cooke so good, how was it that she was almost beaten in her home district? If Cooke is so good and so loved in her district, why did she nearly lose? I suppose if there had been a "better candidate", she would have been blown away. I guess the people of her district aren't so impressed with Ms. Cooke. And, remember, High Point citizens couldn't vote in her district, so she isn't as secure her district as you might think. Of course, we know that she is a good friend of yours, so you would think that she was a great candidate, wouldn't you, even though you don't live in her district and couldn't legally vote fo rher?

Oak Ridge,
Don't lecture me about taking on an "at-large" candidate. It has been done, and it is not rocket science. (Maybe it was)
The Morehead folks did it against a RICH, entrenched candidate, and they didn't use the race card, the victim card, or the "poor" card. They did it by using grass roots communication and a positive message and a positive candidate.

More of the same ignorance from the mighty Deacon. Now he claims that I would blame blacks, how just totally stupid can you get DD. He also claims that I know nothing except what I read in the N&R. My my he must have a terrific crystal ball for he knows this and knows my finiancial situation and my background , wow aren't we all impressed.
He likes to twist what I stated about slavery compared to the past and current conditions of the American Indian but everyone knows that it is his style when he knows nothing on the subject. He couldn't even get Ed Cone to agree with him on that issue. Perhaps he forgets that I lived in G'boro for several years and have many friend who live there and are undergoing the painful disruption of their children's lives because of a school board and one infamous Grier. Oh yes, Grier is well known and his history is available for anyone who is willing to take the time to look it up. Unfortunately it seems that the Deacon has all the answers on this and of course he did eventually get around to blaming it on Bush and managed to drag gay marriage and flag burning into the post. You see he gets one thing on his mind and he has to repeat it over and over again lest he forget it. It's all the Air American Syndrome that is to blame, you see that is what they do,continuous repletion of the same old crap. Now he is an expert at running campaigns for school board etc. Hey Deacon, just how many campaigns have you run, oh excuse me , someone else asked that question and evidently the answer was none. Isn't it amazing how one can call posts that contain information on the subject and do not run off to drag up gay marriage and flag burning ignorant. My, My, talk about real total blind ignorance. Grow up Deacon and learn how to respond to a topic in a dignified manner and carry on a conversation with out dragging in your Air America rants every time. You never know people might even get to like you a little bit and have something other than disdain for your ignorant rants.
Oak, doesn't his rants remind you of The Hogg? Wonder if Deacon has been taking lessons on school board misinformation from him or could it be......
It seems that he was the authority on the subject over on the chalkboard until you and a few others managed to trim him down to size. Looks as if you guys are doing just as good a job on the infamous Deacon. Keep it up Deacon you might learn something. Naw, doubt it, closed minds and clouded spiteful minds can't comprehend solid information only airhead Air America information. I think I will sit back now and enjoy the pig roast or monkey roast as it maybe. Can't wait until BA chimes in and cleans the Deacons clock.

Produce,
Give it a rest. As the Bard would say, "Methinks thou protesteth too much".

You were much better when you pretended to be a secret agent. At least then you just condescended on matters "of national security" lest we all have to be killed! LOL!

Seriously, you need to ratchet your emotions down a bit. Breathe in and breathe out....there you go...

Deac,

I think you should give it a rest. But then again you are very entertaining. Thanks.

ORR,
The Morehead folks took on an "at-large" candidate and won.
Kris Cooke's opponent was exposed by the Page PTA as a disgruntled teacher who was asked to leave. When that hit the streets, he was toast. The High Point/ABC folks plastered signs on Elm Street and in Cooke's neighborhood. That helped Cooke even more. My point is that the negatives that were associated with the group did more harm than good. The old saying "Word of mouth is the best advertising, but bad word of mouth travels faster" is so true. Those who would normally carry water for such a group, refused to because of ABC and the covert race card being played. Example: Rhino Times. Had the group been able to bring some big guns into the debate, they would have been more successful. Garry Burnett's widow shared many emails that her husband received, and they were not flattering. That did not help.

Bottom line (for the 100th time) is that the group needed to work from a positive, and avoid making Grier the lightning rod. You need to understand that I do sympathize with the predicament. You have the best board member in Anita Sharpe and you should build on that. She's crazy like a fox!

(sorry about MrP going ballistic and getting us off message)

Truth,
Thanks for the backhanded compliment! Produce gets on my nerves with his "patronizing" but heck, it wouldn't be the same without his hubris.

MrP and Deac, I agree with and enjoy your thoughts on lots of issues. Yesterday was not one of those days. Please stop swinging at each other in the blogs. Share e-mail addresses and do it that way. It gets tiresome.

I do agree that the perception of the ABC group was not good around the county. A few people got a little carried away. I know their intentions were good and that they were beyond frustrated with the treatment their kids were receiving from the lottery and all the other "High Point Plans"....I continue to be amazed that the schools are labeled this way...it SHOULD be the GCS.

Carol,
The big problem for High Point was/is Susan Mendenhall. Good news is she won't be around much longer. Mendenhall has a symbiotic relationship with the administration and has never had the children or High Point as her main concern. Just like with the country, we need someone bold enough to try and mend fences broken by Mendenhall and Grier. High Point deserves better.
As far as the Southwest area goes, you cannot do better than Anita Sharpe, but unfortunately people around the county think "YOW" and "MOORES" and "GIBBS", the three nutcases sent to the board of commissioners from district 5. Those three stooges have not done anything to lift that area up, and they give those who do, a bad name.

Carol, the cowardly Deacon hides behind his name and refused to e-mail me as I have asked him to do on several occasions. Makes one wonder just what he has to hide and just exactly who is hiding behind the cloak of DD.

Produce,
Why don't you just give it rest. The last thing I need is Kooks like you calling at all hours of the night because YOU don't have a life.

Thank you Oak Ridge Runner for you very accurate description of the 04 school board elections. 48% of the votes to beat an incumbant who has been on for years proves how influential the ABC group and others were. No one had ever come this close.

46% of the votes to a weak candidate in Cooke's district, right again. High Point people could not vote there. There are written emails that prove Kris was not so secure with her position.

Demon,

Nancy Routh did not just will because of the Morehead group's efforts. Sorry to burst your bubble. Many people in High Point/Jamestown never heard of the Morehead parents (or Nancy Routh for that matter). They did however know of Pam Allen's big mouth from being involved in the 1999 redistricting maps. Sitting in a room with her for one hour would be enough elect anyone who ran against her. For many it was a vote to get her off.

I cannot understand why after two years have past the elections, ABC, etc. still bothers you so?

Is it because you must acknowledge that ABC had significant influence over the elections?

Is it because ABC started the ball rolling on many other changes in Guilford County Schools and shook up the awareness in this county to many other school issues? That many of the parents are still very involved in our schools for positive change? That they volunteer often?

Does it bother you that despite orchestrated efforts of powerful people who have PR influence to make ABC look bad that noted members of High Point City Council, the Mayor, County Commissioners, State Legistators attended many ABC meetings. Some of them spoke at the meetings many times. Some of the council members spoke at school board meetings on Southwest's behalf. Some of them gladly came to give advise at ABC meetings. Or is it that some of them made financial contributions to ABC even though there where well orhcestrated PR efforts to destroy ABC and put them in a negative light. Which is it that bothers you so much? Apparently some of the movers and shakers in High Point believed in ABC's objectives.

Does it still bother you that we won the Big One - despite how you perceive who won the election, Bush is our President?

Is it because many people who were associated with ABC still have many positive relationships with several school board members and several county commissioners?

One must conclude that the ripples of ABC and the work of the many parents of High Point and Jamestown are still having a proven effect on our schools. For that many parents are proud.

I don't think people are still worried about the Morehead group.

Forgot one thing.... read your post about you could never support Garth on some blog. It doesn't matter because you aren't in his district. He only has to win a district race, not an at-large race. Similar efforts do not apply. Garth has an army of workers and then some just waiting in the wings. He doesn't need a PAC as he has the money. Other will provide the sweat.

Let's not forget ABC putting on two very successful, professional poltical forums in 2004 Every potential candidate was impressed and proud to be there.

Yes that is two professional forums, despite some intervention by others at the UNCG forum because of a certain rumors of someone cutting UNCG out of somebody's will if ABC had the full show.

Yep, folks still taking about ABC.

Let's not forget ABC putting on two very successful, professional poltical forums in 2004 Every potential candidate was impressed and proud to be there.

Yes that is two professional forums, despite some intervention by others at the UNCG forum because of a certain rumors of someone cutting UNCG out of somebody's will if ABC had the full show.

Yep, folks still talking about ABC.

DD

There you go again spouting off about alleged racial comments by a few people. You cannot judge a group of hundreds of many different citizens from all over the county by a comment you might have heard or a comment that was reported by proponents of the choice plan. This was an outright political ploy to discredit reputable parents.

Too many political leaders supported ABC. They would not want to be associated with a bunch of racists if this were the case.

For example, Terrina P, was on many committees and leadership roles in ABC. She now works hard with black parents for the betterment of black children's education. Does that make her a racist?

Taxpayers have questioned the role of conflict of interest in minority contracts awarded by GCS. Just because a spokesperson for minority contracts on the school board is black does not make these taxpayers racists.

Just recently many speakers from Dudley called the school board "racists" because of construction errors at Dudley. One speaker said "let's do the right thing and not the race thing". Because these speakers called the school board racists, does that make Alan Duncan and other school board members racists? I think not. How do you think they feel being on the receiving end of such comments? This is how many parents in ABC felt when unjust comments were made.

Comments, rumors and inuendos do not matter. The truth is what matters. Parents who have been involved in this know the truth. They want safe neighborhood schools. So does the black community in High Point. The Parkview kids will be in for a big surprise the first day of school when they are bused across town.

The race card has been played way too long. It has been played out.

If you want to talk race, let's talk about the very black school, Dudley, and the most lilly white schools, Northwest and surrounding schools. Then come and tell us this is not politics at its best.

It's about old High Point. What the politicians in old High Point have wanted, they think they got.

Smith and Company,
I hate it when you start that kind of talk because it gives credence to the folks in Greensboro who are always quick to say, "I wish High Point would just secede and go to Davidson County".
If you like Garth, then you work your fingers to the nubs for him. I will admit that anything is better than Susan Mendenhall....she's as useless as teats on a man!

Ain't that America....

Little pink houses for you and me....

It is easy to look good when you create a "private college" setting for a select few students and pay private school tuition to educate these students. Why not just give vouchers to all poor students for $11,000 a year and let them "choose" a good private school and claim the program a success? You think the idea is dumb? Well that's just what he has done and is failing terribly at it if you look at the program as a whole.

Great point Garth,
While Grier concentrates on building his resume a whopping 2900 children fail at our four lowest performing high schools per year.
WAKE UP people!