News-Record.com

Yep, the kids are winning. Just like the kids in Guilford county. I'm sure there are stories like this all over the country. It's the kids of the kids of the "me" generation. Now it's the "me, me, me" generation taking over.

We need separate schools for them and military personnel to teach them, or jail, they can choose. But until We decide that We need to take our schools back, they will have the last laugh.

Well, at least one positive is noted in this story; it seems to indicate that if a student actually assaults a teacher, they can be removed from the classroom. In Guilford County, the offending student is usually returned to the classroom and nothing is done, especially if the parents throw a fuss. One of the reasons that teachers leave GCS is because they are assaulted, and nothing is done about it.

Jennifer,

You made this comment at the end of this story: "Any of this sound familiar?". As I got to thinking about this school district, I realized that it had more in common with GCS and Terry Grier than first meets the eye. A little research provides some of the following quotes from Washington Post stories about this school district and its controversial superintendent, Andre J. Hornsby.

On rotating and replacing principals:
"Few would dispute that Andre J. Hornsby has shaken up the Prince George's County public schools since he took charge in June 2003. As of last week, he had hired at least 87 new principals for the 196-school system. In a brief hallway interview at the county government center, Hornsby ascribed much of the turnover to attrition or other factors outside his control. But he made it plain that he relished the chance to put his stamp on the organization." WP, 4/7/05, Page PG05

On eliminating public comments:
"New schools' chief Andre Hornsby told The Gazette June 19 he will propose eliminating the public comment portion from televised board meetings." Gazette.net 7/2/03

On matters of conflict of interest:
"An internal probe of a $1 million educational technology sale by a California company to the Prince George's County schools has led to the resignation of the company's president. The resignation is the first time the Emeryville, Calif. company has acknowledged problems with the sale. The school system's chief executive, Andre Hornsby, is under state and federal investigation over the transaction. Hornsby presided over the $1 million deal without disclosing that he lived with LeapFrog saleswoman Sienna Owens. The schools chief has said his relationship with Owens did not affect the sale and he was recently cleared of wrongdoing by the system's ethics panel.

"Hornsby is also under scrutiny for his acceptance of a 10-day trip to South Africa in 2003 while serving as president of the National Alliance of Black School Educators. That trip was paid for by an education software company that is seeking a major deal with the county. The county ethics review also cleared him in that case." WUSA 9 News, 12/15/04

On playing politics with schools, teachers and students:
"Courageously standing up to an administration that's willing to play politics with the city's school children, Yonkers teachers walked out Oct. 1 over unreasonable class size, unsafe learning conditions and an absurd scheduling scheme....Just one week after he joined the faculty at Roosevelt, Michael White was shivering on a pre-dawn picket line with his new colleagues, two months away from becoming a father and facing the loss of his non-tenured position as a ninth-grade English teacher. I have felt some very real fear," said the soft-spoken White, echoing the YFT's complaint that teachers cannot get administrative support to put disruptive students into an alternative learning environment. In his first week at Roosevelt, White said, he ordered one student out of his class for shoving him, only to see the youth returned by a security guard the following period....Teachers are deeply concerned about ballooning class sizes and severe overcrowding. In many cases, two classes are being held simultaneously in space designed for one. Other classes are being held in libraries, auditoriums and storage closets with no ventilation." New York Teacher 10/6/99

Yes, Jennifer, these are just a few things that come to mind that "sound familiar". I had to cut it short here, or I would have used too much of your blog space. And, I take no satisfacton that there are other school districts out there that feel the same pain as Guilford County.

Teddy,

This wasn't just another homerun but a walk-off GRAND SLAM!

Jennifer,

Thank you for sharing that article with us. It is sad and frustrating to read what goes on in other schools. And even sadder to say, that at times, it seems to be going on here too.

I found it ironic that it is about 4th grade - I know of a similar circumstance of two 4th grade teachers quitting mid term this year at one school; another talking seriously of leaving next year. The talk among the subs is they won't work there unless it is a lower grade, if at all. It is one of those learning situations where you feel totally hopeless for the kids who want to learn; kids get screamed at all the time in the halls; the cafeteria noise just about requires earplugs and you definitely don't feel any support like to experience at other schools.

Max is right - many kids know they have the upper hand as there are no consequences. Kids misbehave and are right back in class. Children learn by example. If they see other kids getting away with breaking the rules; the rest soon follow. It is a dominoe effect.

It has nothing to do with a teacher controlling a class. If kids just walk out of the class and others follow to go to the bathroom; get a drink or whatever or are constantly out of their seats, standing up and dancing; throwing things, calling names across the room; in each others' face constantly and it is many at once and you have a class of 24 to 30 kids and no assistant; where a kid has already been to the bathroom several times and an office helper tells him he can go again, etc., what can you do?

Would you choose a school like that to sub or one where the bathrooms work; you get to go to the bathroom; an assistant watches your class so you can eat lunch; and the majority of the kids are well behaved vs not, where you actually see the principal, etc. Which school would you choose to sub for the little pay a sub makes (inclusive of zero benefits)?

This article is another sad reminder that the issues we have with our schools are not just isolated to GCS. I remember all too clearly the behavior problems I dealt with during my second year of teaching and my first year of teaching in Guilford County. I had never dealt with such outrageous behavior and was not prepared on how to deal with it (kids making threats, classroom materials being thrown out the window, having a stick thrown at me,etc.). I'm currently at a different school where I enjoy the kids more but have issues with the administration, especially their lack of support and respect for teachers. I'm now looking for another job where I can simply teach and not worry about politics or someone's personal agenda. Sadly enough, I'm not sure such a school exists any longer. . .

Prince Georges County, Md. seems to have a School Superintendent that rivals ours for being an out of control, free spending MADMAN.

I would bet that they also have a spineless school board that doesn't hold their superintendent accountable for any of his illegal or unethical activities.

Terrorism,Natural disasters, and Sickness are enough to worry about,throw into that mix a nation full of terry grier and dot kearns clones and I don't know if this country can handle it anymore.

Wake Up America!

Lt. Gen. Slak,
You can't see me, but I'm saluting you.

All of you are basically making me feel uncomfortable with my children's future education.:) The truth hurts especially when you know that your children will be let loose in a place where other children might bully them or stab them. After all those children are not getting the full outlook on what is wrong or right. Consequences are out the door. They do not want to respect the teachers. They would rather act as if they can be terrorists also? Hopefully they are respectful towards their teachers. How can parents like me that are planning for the future help. I want to think about this way before the problem arises. I am even thinking about going to the school my 4 year old will be going to next year and talking to them. Just to get a good idea on how that school ticks. Maybe I will just show up everyday to school with my child. Making sure he acts appropiately. All the great teachers are leaving the seen or coping.

Christy B,

I have 3 kids in Guilford COunty Schools. If I had to do it again, I would START THEM IN PRIVATE SCHOOL! Once they reach a certain age, it is nearly impossible to get them to switch.

Sadly, our school board and superintendent have agendas other than our children or their education.

The year is 2015, Lt. Gen. Slak now presides over the Guilford County School System.He was called to duty after a state of emergency was put into place by the governor of North Carolina.

As Lt. Gen. Slak and his school board members tour a typical school of the day,they think back on the irresponsible leadership over the past 15 years that has gotten the system in such disarray.

It all started several years back with a socialist experiment called a "choice plan",,,many good families up and left town or went to private school to avoid this movement.

When the Federal Government finally passed the school voucher amendment,it seemed as if the rest of the parents who cared were able to escape from the public school arena.

For the past 5 years the National Guard has been in charge of running our schools,which are now referred to as Public Holding Facilities.

There are no longer extra curricular activities such as sports or band due to lack af money and the liability from the constant crime that looms in todays society.

If only Terry Grier, Dot Kearns and Susan Mendenhall, were still around to see the legacy they left behind.

Well,,,I must go now,the bell has rung for another lockdown and interrogation period.

Lt. Gen. Slak's account is not as far-fetched as one might think.

Christy B and Chris,

I have had the pleasure of experiencing some great elementary schools: Florence, Pilot, Colfax and esp SW Elementary. Some others that I have sub at, I will not go back. I have also heard of other schools where subs will not sub. It is a shame that some school are like this.

We came from an outstanding public school system in 1996 from Virginia Beach. We had great teachers, great facilities, etc. We did not have trailers for schools; maybe one or two for an occasional music class or storage. I was in total shock when we moved here. No new schools in 20 years and a bunch of trailers!

I would say to the one who questioned what to do - get involved early - look around - ask questions and yes volunteer at school.

To the person who said start in private school, my husband has said the same think since we moved here many times. You are right - once you try to switch later - they don't want to leave their friends, etc. Personally, my daughter has gotten a fine education and is tops in her class but I wonder how much further she could have gone, if we had gone private. For both of us if we had know this complicated school situation, we would have never taken the job promotion and stayed where we were.

The problem is you have extremes - if you are in early college if that is for you or all A/P and Honors classes, it is a very different high school experience than for kids who are in basic CP classes.

What we have found most appalling and even know more now than we did is how kids can be allowed to take control and there are no consequences. The way it is heading, I feel it will only get worse unless there is a 180 turn from how discipline is handled now.

Lt. Gen. Slak's portrayal of the future of public schools may not be so far from reality. My husband predicts in years to come that it will just be like public housing as everyone would have left for private schools.

My husband did have one think to share with you that he wanted me to post. He said although he did not see any jobs in the newspaper on Sunday for Puppetry and Mime (SWH curriculum),he did see jobs for dancers at a few Gentlemen's Clubs. You have to understand his sense of humor. - His post not mine.

I heard there were some ads for teaching positions in Orange County in our paper. i wonder how many GCS employees responded to those???

I hate to say this because I am a public school teacher and believe in a good education for all students, but I would also suggest that parents consider private schools if they can afford it. I am now looking at teaching in a private school because I would be able to teach and help my kids without worrying about the discipline problems and testing that are out of control in our schools. Ideally, I would rather have our school system "straightend out" so that all students had access to a free, safe, and beneficial public education. Isn't it sad that that is the ideal and not the reality.