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No way, no time, no how! I would be in their face about that in a minute!

I don't much care for this topic on the Chalkboard. It isn't relevant to any local education issue and could be somewhat controversial for some of your readers.

How in the name of common sense could this article not be relevant to the local education issue when it certainly is one on behaviour and the suspension of students. I am sure that some are suspended for use of such language toward teachers and others. Because some live in G'boro or the US is no reason to close our eyes to what is happening in other countries and their educational system since it actually mirror's our quite well.
Controversial is a problem? I thought that the purpose of blogs was to bring out controversial issues and discuss them in a rational manner rather than turning a blind eye toward a subject which does not please one.
One can not hide from the fact that the "F" word is used daily in our schools and can cause the same problem as it has created in Great Britain and other countries as well. To do so is to bury one's head in the sand and hope the problem goes away.

Perhaps I should have said this article concerns behaviour of students rather than behaviour and suspension. However, we have recently had several LTE's concerning the suspension of students in relation to their behaviour. In that sense it certainly would be appropriate to take a look at what is occuring in other places and this letter would certainly be one of the avenues to explore behaviours of youth, regardless of where they live and how to approach the growing problem.

I didn't go to the discussion about ayp's today because I thought (hoping?) that it would be televised. Why not? All meetings and the retreat are scheduled to be run live, do anyone know (bruce, jen) if they taped the meeting today to show later?

Debora,

I checked and found out they taped it and plan to run it at 7 p.m. today and 1 and 7 p.m. tomorrow.

The meeting lasted about 2 hours. Eight school board members were there plus several central office staff members.

Most of what they talked about was "where do we go from here" types of issues. Most of the strategies they've already told us about ie: increasing academic rigor by moving 9th grade classes (ie. Algebra I) to lower grade levels, keeping better track of student progress by giving "benchmark tests," and creating a mentor program where adults at a school are paired with students.

One of the new things they talked about was creating their own "assistance teams" to place in high-poverty schools that aren't meeting the federal test goals. They proposed using Title I money (federal money that goes to high-poverty schools) and other federal funds to hire retired administrators and teachers who had been successful working with students to help these schools improve. These would be in addition to state assistance teams assigned to the district.

They didn't give a cost estimate for the local assistance teams.

Thanks Jennifer!
Does anyone else think that we have enough "help" from the central office? It seems like over the last few years, there are so many programs that the teachers don't have time to teach

Let's not forget the following facts

- the board voted to remove all high schools from the Title 1 status

- Andrews is one of the 4 lowest ranked schools in North Carolina

I guess the school that needs the extra attention the most will be unable to have it due to having its Title 1 status removed??

quest, i agree, why take the money away from
the ones who need it the most, i think these
"special teams" will find out it was #'s

First, back to the "forbidden word". I saw on "The View" today that this was a particular school in England from what I gathered it was a special class for kids with behavior problems. They were allowed to say the "F" word a total of five times in the class for the ENTIRE class. Five times in one day per CLASS, not individual. It was a way to get them to say it "less" as they say it all the time now.

I agree with Debra in "NO WAY". There is enough disrespect in our schools now. I also agree with Gamblin Man, as it is not very relavant to the Chalkboard. There are many other subjects of more significance.

Also you better believe that kids with behavioral issues (and ones without) are saying the "F" word and it is just tolerated by many.

One other significant such subject and Bruce has said he has asked for it, but hasn't received it yet. What are the numbers of appeals granted and from where and to where for the HP Choice Plan? We are still waiting. The assignments were made in July. Any luck, Bruce?

I do see the new post regarding SAT Scores. Thank you.

And Debra, you are right. How much more help do teachers need from Central office to learn how to "teach". They seem to spend more time with learning new methods and writing up evaluations than having time to teach. Now they will have less time at the lower grades with not having TA's to assist in some of the tedious, daily tasks.

Quest, I thought I read that Andrews was one of the SECOND lowest in the state. And you are correct, if they needed so much help, why were the Title I funds that could have brought in extra help from the government shifted from that school? Most of us know why.

Had they been left there, kids could have opted out and rightly so. The classrooms that remain would have a smaller teacher/student ratio. We are continually hearing now that smaller classrooms work. This additional space at Andrews could be used for that purpose.

Jennifer,

Thank you for the update on the AYP meeting. The article in today's N & R was very informative.

Notice Darlene G's comment about taking teachers from teaching upper level Math and making them teach geometry. She stresses that this IS happening. Once again, Deb, you guys are lucky to have her - sometimes known as "The Lone Ranger". Dr. Grier states that he will monitor this.

Between the teachers being movedfrom higher levels to teach basic classes, the AL Program changing grade levels from 2nd to 3rd, from SWH losing traditional electives and being replaced with Puppetry and Mime, what does this tell you about GCS priorties and the needs of our advanced learners?

Deb, any comments?

I definitely agree about enforcing harsh discipline for any foul language in the schools.

More importantly, how about enforcing the foul treatment that the School Administration and the School Board collectively puts on the students and teachers.

It's a real cluster ****.

I agree that we are lucky to have Darlene, but she seems to be the only one that questions the status quo. Don't other BOE have kids in schools? Don't they see the same things? Strange to me. Currently at NW (probably many others) we have many kids that have to take zero period classes just to have the right credits to graduate! It could be because we are on standard schedule instead of block. Speaking of block, is is a coincedence that NW and Grimsley usually have the best scores in the county on most things and they are on semesters instead of block. Are the kids not getting what they need in the block are would it be the same if they were on semester. Dr Grier said that once failing kids were identified they would be doing double duty, taking their standard class and maybe a second math of LA class to bring them up to speed.

When will they fit that class in? Who will teach the classes, what classes will be forsaken for this?

I am still amazed.

When are the taxpayers of Guilford County going to wake and demand a change in the School Superintendent position.

We are paying for a Mercedes, but are getting a broken down Pinto.

FIRE GRIER NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gee Nick do you have a clone? You sure like that post. How many places did you say that. Very orginal. You missed one.

Jennifer and Bruce,

I don't think John's repeated emails belong here. His motive is not to discuss educational matters, rather to market something else.

Gamblin' Man,

I deleted John's posts. He seemed more interested in selling photo-related items than enriching this conversation.

John,
If the link was unintended, I apologize for deleting your comments and invite you to respond again.