News-Record.com

There are many variables in this discussion. Quality of TA's are just one. The TA's at my local elementary school all passed the test (I don't think any had assoc. degrees) the first time and are seasoned professionals. I understand that 85 GCS have not passed after having up to 5 times to do so. Those people are obviously not qualified by standards set by NCLB. Of course, one might question who wants a job this stressful for around $20,000 a year. Answer: Lots of qualifed moms that like the hours and can be available for their children. The pay and flexibility are equally important to many.

How has it affected this area? At Summerfield (765 students) grades 2-5 we will lose 7 TA, leaving just 5 to assist a total of 34 classrooms. All classrooms have maximum or nearly maximum allowed by law.Some as many as 28 kids.

I think 15 to 1 is an admirable goal. I don't think it is finacilly or physically possible. Many schools that are highly impacted don't have the room and would have to add trailers. And who said that this would only benefit highly impacted schools? I am sure that every k-3 would benefit from this plan; no matter their parents income. Will it happen? No way! Would it be good? Probably. Should the schools that are not 40% FRL have to lose TA's-- not so sure about that. I fear that the achievement gap will narrow because the ones at the top will cease to grow. I don't begrudge extra help to bring the bottom up, ... every child should have to opportunity to succeed to their full potential. However should we not quit with new plans, extra magnets, choices etc and get back to the basic education of all students?

Common on, I know you guys have comments on this

debora,

You make a lot of sense and you are right, as usual, but why should we bother with any comments? Terry Grier and the School Board haven't been listening for the past year, and they aren't listening now, as though they really care anyway. They are going to do what ever they choose to do, and what you, I and the other residents of this county think doesn't really matter (with the sole exception of Darlene Garrett, who is a lone voice of sense and reason in the howling wind.)

Darlene is great. The one problem she has is that once she takes the oath, she is suppose to do what is best for all children of Guilford County. Sometimes, her priorities get mixed up. It is not right to put NW first and the rest of the county 2nd. In all fairness, she is not the only Board Member that does this. It is a malady that is very common

Joe,
Darlene is one of the few BOE members that people from the entire county count on for her level headed approach to education. I have heard many say that she is the one they go to for answers even though she is not their rep. But guess what? We elected her to watch out for our children AS WELL as others. Its seems that district 3 is always losing things so that others can get more, more, more. I didn't struggle to get an education so that my child doesn't have a fair chance at his right for a quality education. Come on out and see what he deals with everyday with the overcrowding, lack of air conditioning,Long bus rides, etc.

Do I think that highly impacted schools need more than his school does? Yes! Do I think that means that this area doesn't deserve some of the perks that other schools get? No! Parents in this area have to do it all, we don't get extra money, extra teachers, extra books, extra assistant principals, social workers, nurses and on and on! We are maxed out in the class rooms, library etc. Will the new schools help? Yep in a few years, but for now we are always losing something to spread the wealth somewhere else. Even when they open it won't fix the problems at NWMS and Summerfield that have been neglected for year. Please remember that part of the "all of GCS children" includes the children out in this area!

Joe,

I beg to differ. Were it not for Darlene, Jamestown and North High Point would have no representation on the board.

On the subject of the original strand. I have seen good TA's and ones that are not so good. I do support TA's having an education. When we moved here and my daughter was in 2nd grade, the TA had some of the worst grammar I have ever heard. I wondered what kind of an example is this for a 7 year old. I was so embarrassed for that class and the teacher. We were "new" and adjusting so I let it slide. The next year was better.

I have heard that the test to become a TA is not difficult. So if one cannot pass it, perhaps they do need to find another field where they would be more qualified.

Reviewing at a glance the links Bruce provided, and I have even heard Dr. Grier say something similar long ago, every study is different. It depends on who does the study. Different criteria; different settings; different educators performing the study. It would seem that common sense would tell you the less students, the easier it is too teach and the better the results. I don't feel either that having a TA or not would make a difference as far the students are concerned. What a good TA does is relieve some of the burden from the teacher: counting money; taking a troubled student out so she can teach the rest of the class; helping grade papers; run extra copies when a teacher cannot leave the class; or take a sick child to the office. It also helps prevent teacher burn out.

TA's should not, as stated in one of the reports, be doing the teaching. They can be very valuable in kindergarten to help keep order with the centers and checking daily work as checking is done on the spot; help put out snacks, etc. However, I have been in situations where a TA is disruptive to the learning process, if she starts screaming at a child or talking too loudly and the teachers is trying to teach the class.

I have seen situations at some schools where the TA feels they are "the teacher" because they do too much and start to think that is their job. There are similar situtations where a substitute (a Guilford county employee) is paid to "babysit" a student teacher. This should never be. The student teacher does not have security clearance so an employee must be in the room with the student teacher. It can make for a very strange situation. Ultimately, it is the sub's responsbility to know where the kids are and that they are safe and to fill in for the teacher. She is the one being paid. If there is a sub that day because the teacher is absent, a student teacher should not be in the room.

p.s. I forgot to say though that in conclusion, Teddy B is right. They don't care what we think. They will do what they want.

Deb is right about this job. There are many moms who love this job because it is the same hours as their child; they have summers and holidays off; they get paid sick leave and benefits and HEALTH INSURANCE. It is not the best paying job but there are many who find this set-up ideal verses punching a clock 8 to 5 and overtime and working weekends, etc. It is a super job for many moms.

Joe,

You are so off base about Darlene. You are not even in the same ballpark (see Teddy's post too). Maybe you have missed something during tax time or those numbers are getting to your brain.

There are some school board members that aren't always part of the "get along gang" as my friend puts it - just to play politics. Darlene has gone out of her way to listen to the facts and help solve problems that do not involve her district. She is the reason Jamestown Elementary got an art teacher and another specialty teacher the first few weeks of school. This is just one example. I wish SW had a rep like her.

She and Anita are great at questioning the "numbers" - the REAL NUMBERS and have the courage to speak up and the SMARTS to know when they are being fed a bunch of B.S. Some others are good at questioning too, but sometimes do not follow through.

I have been to Northwest for my daughter's soccer game. It is a shame how crowded this school is. This county should be embarrased that for 17 years they couldn't build some schools and just kept buying trailers. They have what - over 19 million in maintenance repair lists from principals yet they have spent millions YES MILLIONS, excuse me WASTED millions of tax dollars on the failing HP plan (which I will try not to go there.) The NW area has needed a school for a long, long time. SW will be needing a new school too. WHERE ARE THEIR PRIORITIES!?!?

Where did the School Baord put seats after redistricting in 1999? In a land locked school where seats where not needed. WASTE. Any person with common sense would put seats where growth is and charge developers impact fees or have them donate land for schools. This is what the rest of the country does.

What people in other parts of the country are finally realizing as they lose the true magnets because the magical federal grant dollars have run out is that the HP Plan has robbed the rest of the county of money that could be used on programs that have proven themselves; that the other school board reps could spend more time worrying about their own districts instead of all their energies being used to fight the SW parents whom they have alienated.

Now we need 8 new buses for the HP Plan. How does the rest of the county feel about that. This could be your money for your school, that is the ones lucky enough to have a base neighborhood school or a school to fall back on if you CHOOSE a magnet school and it does not work out.

I would choose a school uniform, a school with a number name or similar things that did not effect education if it was that or have to put my child on a FORCED 90 MINUTE bus ride when I live across the street from a school.

THANK YOU DARLENE FOR HAVING THE COURAGE TO SAY NO TO THE HP PLAN; TO CONTINUE TO QUESTION THE WASTE; TO CONTINUE TO WORK FOR ALL KIDS.

Joe - I cut and pasted the following from another strand. Maybe you didn't see it. I am still waiting for an answer, please. That is so strange how your letter got in the paper so fast. CUT and PASTE BEGINS:

Joe, the News & Record informed me in writing that your letter to the editor was received BEFORE the vote on the school's name and they even put the "BEFORE" in bold letters. They said they adjusted it a little to make it work for the timing; that you had wanted it in even sooner.

So did you have no faith that Murrow would win?

or

Did you have inside information that the public did have access too?

I was just curious as you hadn't addressed how your letter got in so fast when others' take weeks to be published. This now explains part of it.

Barbara Ann

Posted by: Barbara Ann at April 28, 2005 11:45 PM

Joe,

How do you always get to speak last at the board meetings?

This is not fair. You have the advantage to comment and debate on what the previous speakers have said.

This practice needs to stop.

Sue

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