News-Record.com

WEll, I guess we all now clearly know where Dr. Childs sits on the R issue..funny though, he didn;t talk to me, or any of the families that were victims of the lottery. We too are now his constituents, since our children attend his schools...guess institutionalized racism DOES work both ways...

Quite interesting that HP Council had 2 meeting with Dr Grier and Eric, without public notice.

On another R topic, Alan Duncan asked for Eric to look at Northern maps to address 2 parents concerns from NE. These maps were voted on and approved just last week at the retreat. They say approved on the maps out for public view, so anyone agreeing would think that the issue was over-- now we might be in for more changes.

I find this quite entertaining. Opinions are like noses, everyone has one. This is ludicrous at best. The school board and the administration have gone to extensive lengths during the past few years to not use the "R" word but say "socioeconomic diversity" in attempts to sound "legal". However, they have slipped a few times on tape. Also in the newspapers. They have used the two words interchangebly. I guess that is because busing for "R" is still ILLEGAL.

This entire essay is a moot point as as Southwest High School is a very diverse school. Please pray tell what is the magic number to make an integrated school? Would that be the numbers at Dudley?

As Ted S would say "GIVE ME A BREAK!"

Walter, you should have continued on to tell it like it is...

"In order to build these bridges, Dot and I reserve the right to kidnapp your children and take them where we want them to go. We realize this is painful for you, but we know what's best for your children. You don't. And guess what, We Vote!! You don't. Dot and I have never shown any tendancy to support any particular neighborhood schools or constituency in High Point but have always been 100% for all children in the town. Our objectivity and wisdom is beyond reproach. We have no ulterior motives.
We realize not a single parent in any part of town has had a single thing to do with the geographic segregation that has taken place in our towns and cities, but guess what, since Dot and I can't attack the banking and lending industries, or the real estate industry (Dot's a realtor for christ sakes) or capitalism in general (you think we're some kind of commies?) we're coming after your butts.

See you in September, and @#%& YOU!!!

Private meetings between Grier and the High Point City Council (just like the Choice Plan began)

A "new" group that supported the Choice Plan to meet on 2/14/06 with a guest lawyer who believes in resegregation

Mr. Becoats history of his job description in Charlotte

All makes for an interest pot of stew.

No bonds for you.

We buy our furniture in Vegas.

I am surprised Walter felt this way. The schools are not segregated and in High Point at least well integrated. There is a segregation of sorts along the lines of "free and reduced lunch" and that does reflect a couple of realities. One, people choose where they live by the homes they can afford. Two, populations and demographics do change and those who can afford to will move for the schools they want to attend or pay for private schools or even home school. Magnet programs can make a small difference here, but sadly they leave out those who need the most support. The real issue is not what school, it is what "quality" of education. No school in High Point is up to par, and therefor busing a few does little if any good. We must work to improve the quality across the board (pun intentional) as a community. Now is the time for a group of concerned parents and community leaders (Mayor, city council, school board -not Grier) to address the real issues and provide real solutions, those that really help the poor, those that provide quality integration, real recognition that race plays no part in schools. Proper discipline, quality education in a safe environment will erase all other issues or at least make them "mole hills".

Jennifer, thanks for being there last night.

Today's news about Mayor Smothers and the HP City Council having two private meetings with Terry Grier and his demographics specialist in January is most interesting. The participants all claim that it was just an informational meeting and no preference in the "R" discussion was offered.

Mayor Becky Smothers said: "There wasn't any attempt to keep the public out of it. It wasn't a political event; it was an informational event."

Councilwoman Bernita Sims said council members needed more information about a complex topic, so they could better answer questions from citizens on how redistricting could affect High Point schools. Each meeting lasted 30 to 45 minutes, Faircloth said.

Faircloth said that while the council needs to know what is going on with redistricting, "It would not be proper for us to take a position."

Now, on Wednesday, 2/8, the HPE reports that a new group countering anti-redistricting sentiment has been formed. "Proponents of the now-defunct High Point Choice Plan – which sought to diversify and balance area high schools – have created a band of High Point parents and community leaders to rally for a longterm strategy to address “educational woes” in Guilford County. The group includes High Point City Council members and leaders from the High Point branch of the NAACP."

In addition, this group is hosting a presentation next week by Ashley Osment, an attorney focusing on public school resegregation.

Is there any doubt that the High Point City Council is working with High Point BOE members to ensure that redistricting doesn't result in "neighborhood schools"? Is there any doubt that Mayor Smothers and the High Point City Council have been and are working behind the scenes to influence redistricting in High Point, even though they say otherwise? Is there any doubt what the outcome will be and that it will result in gerrymandered school districts and increased busing of students to what end?

Is this all just circumstantial, signifying nothing? Maybe when certain people say things are different in High Point than the rest of the county, they are right.

Stormy

To answer your question

THERE IS NO DOUBT!!!

If this was a meeting for "information" and it is so "complex" why couldn't they go to the PUBLIC FORUMS like the rest of us peons they try to bamboozle. They could be forced to look upon the same wonderful "maps" that we were given and gaze upon all the stars on stars.

The redistricting plan for High Point is being conceived just like the Choice Plan. BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

There are no new schools being built in High Point. The Choice Plan is not gone. Only the lottery part. People fail to acknowledge this.

http://www.law.unc.edu/PDFs/leandroreplymemo.pdf


Bio

Senior Attorney S. Ashley Osment is a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill. She received her law degree from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1995. From 1987-1990, Osment was assistant legislative director for the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) in Washington, D.C., where she coordinated grassroots lobbying throughout the United States and wrote position papers on a number of issues for the organization's membership. After graduating from law school, Osment litigated civil rights cases with the Chapel Hill law firm McSurely & Osment, focusing on employment, housing discrimination, education and police misconduct. In January 2005, Osment joined the Center as a senior attorney, focusing on public school resegregation.

Just like the Choice Plan/Lottery, the fix is in for High Point.

New schools in High Point? There'll never be any new schools in High Point. The powers that be will just have a fleet of buses to transport the children of North High Point/Jamestown south to keep the classrooms of Andrews and Central full.

We don't need no stinkin' new schools in High Point.

Walter, seriously now, how do you build bridges by kidnapping people?

To the group who wants to bring back the "choice plan". How do you say to a group of people that you want support from; "Look, we think our children are or are going to be compromised by the conditions in this town. We feel that your children must be brought to our school because we need them, and your parental feelings and needs are just going to have to set aside".
I ASK YOU, ARE THERE ANY PARENTS ANYWHERE WHO WOULD RESPOND TO SUCH A THING?

Walter, don't you think if you are trying to "build bridges", kidnapping has to rank pretty far down the list of ways to do it. Allright, like maybe right above torture, blackmail, assasination of family members etc., but still pretty far down the list.

Thinking that problems in any school are going to be solved by the forced importation of children from some other locale who will provide the "elixer" of salvation is a dangerous destructive illusion. It is the illusion of desperate people who are looking to scapegoat somebody else for their own failures.
The schools in High Point are failing because of twelve years of inept representation and administration propagating destructive short-sighted policies, many of them made in demographic support of their home institution by these inept representatives-the very people who are yelling loudest for the elixer. They're not going to say they did it. They can't face it. Instead they are going to sit up at the desk on Eugene St. and say: "if we only had the "elixer". Let's get it"

Notice to 'choice plan" parents, notice to Walter.

THERE IS NO ELIXER!!!!You are shortchanging yourselves and your children. Get mad at the people who deserve it THERE IS NO ELIXER!

Wow, I never thought Dr. Childs could stay awake that long during a School Board meeting to say this much.

Jennifer I apoligize for this cut & paste, but let me see if I can respond to him:

Statement to the Guilford County Board of Education

After attending the three forums on the subject of redistricting, I feel compelled to make this statement. I have observed the groups of people demanding a return to “Neighborhood Schools” in a vociferous manner. I have also received dissenting comments from friends and constituents who have not publicly expressed their sentiments. I can assure you that many people of all races, background an economic means in High Point are not in favor of “Neighborhood Schools”.
************************************************
Do the dissenting comments out-number the comments in favor of neighborhood schools?

I can count on one hand the number of people I have heard speaking against neighborhood schools.
************************************************
Let us clearly and directly identify what “Neighborhood Schools” means or what they will accomplish. Due to the housing patterns that already exist in High Point, a return to neighborhood schools will ensure that our school system will be racially and economically segregated. The people that propose “Neighborhood Schools” may not want to think about it in those terms, but if they pause and reflect on it, segregation is its only conclusion. It is plainly clear; to claim otherwise is simply disingenuous.
***********************************************
What evidence do you have that the housing patterns in High Point differ from the rest of Guilford County?

Why not treat all schools the equally throughout the county?

What plans are there to diversify Dudley and NW Guilford for example?

I think it is disingenuous of the leadership of the Guilford County schools to come in through a backdoor with selected diversity.
************************************************
The word segregation may cause some to recoil and respond with vehement indignation. Segregation has an evil tone that is haunted by the unspeakable acts of overt racism that many of us have either witnessed or participated in as victims or perpetrators. In its landmark decision of 1954 in Brown vs. Board of Education, the Supreme Court found that “Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.” We are clearly talking about returning to a scenario where our educational facilities are separated by race and class.
************************************************
Again you have already achieved educational facilities that are separated by race and class; please refer back to NW Guilford and Dudley.

Why not balance these two schools first?
************************************************
Now we can play mind games with ourselves and argue that any child can attend any school in their neighborhood regardless of race or class. However, the fact remains, the overwhelming majority of minorities and poor remain concentrated in the core-city; this was confirmed by the 2000 Census. Consequently “Neighborhood Schools” must reflect the racial and economic segregation that is imbedded in our neighborhoods or living patterns.

I can appreciate the desire of “Neighborhood Schools” to look out for the best interest of some children. But as elected officials, we must look out for the best interest of ALL children in our school system. I have given the matter much thought and I can’t rationally conclude how “neighborhood Schools” will benefit all students in our system as opposed to befitting a few.
*************************************************
I have given this matter an equal amount of thought, and I am unable to rationalize how busing children all over the County will benefit ANY child in the school system.
*************************************************
I realize that going against the grain of a seemingly popular movement or idea, isn’t politically easy, but consider for a moment those who we all revere historically. They did not shirk at potential unpopularity. They were bold and stared down the demon of injustice or stood steadfast against the winds of injustice.
************************************************
Now there is a problem, you should not be mixing political risk with the education of children and somehow patting yourself on the back.

Please do not flatter yourself; neither you, Dr. Childs, nor any of your colleagues of similar conviction will ever be revered; despised definitely, but definitely not revered.
***********************************************
Please, don’t be offended by the words that I have used tonight. I don’t believe that anyone on this board harbors racist concepts. However, I do believe that many of you have not looked beyond the thin politically correct veneer of “Neighborhood Schools” to examine the segregational impact of its practice.
************************************************
How can a person be ANYTHING BUT OFFENDED when you support the attempt at the legalized abduction of children in the name of equality in education?
************************************************
In closing, I’d like to read a quote from Thurgood Marshall’s last public remarks before his death. “The legal system can force open doors, and sometimes even knock down walls, but it cannot build bridges. That job belongs to you and me.” Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to make this statement and I hope that my colleagues receive my comments in the proper spirit.
*************************************************
Congratulations Dr. Childs, you have blown up the last girder on that bridge.

Like was said during public comments last night, the fastest growing section of education in High Point is the private school section. Tuition is going up over $700 per student at HPCA next year, but I can tell you from personal experience it is worth every dime.

Did Emma Kay write Walters' Speech??????

Buckmtn,

I say that bridge has been blown to smithereens!

How could he sit on that board for a year and a half and not say anything and then come up with an essay on segregation?

If it were on the table to bus students to and from Smith or Dudley, would we hear the same words from you, Walter?

Imagine living in a town, not far, far away, but just like just like fifteen minutes away, (Winston) where schoolboard members actually debate educational issues instead of how they can engineer the next "kid grab". Imagine schoolboard members concerned about educating all the children in their charge instead of "who can I grab for my school". This is exactly what you have here. It's obscene.

This is desperation endstage stuff that's going to be voted on here. Desperation doesn't sell folks. Forced busing is the end for Guilford Co. If it comes to High Point it must come to Greensboro. Hundreds of people will demand it. Hundreds of people will campaign against bonds. It will go on and on.

Are we going to lay this to rest or are we gonna vote ourselves down the crapper?

It is ironic that Dr. Childs cited the 1954 Supreme Court decision of Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka when he said that neighborhood schools are not good. Linda Brown's father initiated the case in 1954 because Linda had to leave and walk one mile to attend school. There was a nighborhood school only a few blocks from their house which she wasn't allowed to attend. Linda's father wanted her to attend a neighborhood school, but now Dr. Childs feels that segregation is the conclusion of neighborhood schools. How ironic is it that he now wants students to be bused away to schools outside of their neighborhoods.

Yes, Stormy, you know your history. Indeed, Brown vs. the Board of Education was not about segregation; it was about a parent's right to have his daughter attend a closer school, which is all we want. Dr. Brown did not want his daughter taking a long bus ride.

Citing that case did not gave his statment any creditbility whats-so-ever!!!!!

"I don't believe that anyone on this board harbors racist concepts"

Why is old Emorywood so worried about what is going OUT of Central? Which "community" AKA "gang" to move out? Why are they trying to kidnap all the smart, white children for their IB Program?

Where were you Walter when the Choice Plan was conceived? Who made the motion?? Who seconded the motion??

WAKE UP!

General 16 STARS now for that astute observation on the speech writer. Nothing gets past your keen radar.

You almost have as many stars as Eric's maps.

Sweet 16 General,

I was thinking Dot Kearns was the author of Walter's speech, but DotK/Emma K--same thing.

Possibly another statue tribute is needed to honor all of them. How many crappers do they have at Andrews?

I can see the statue now.......

The sun is rising with the KREMLIN in the background,,,The Bronze Busts of Dot and Emma Kay stand near the Fountain that has been dry since the Fall of Communism in their Mother Land.

Dot,,with her Sickle in Hand,,stands tall beside her sister,,,Emma Kay,,who holds the Hammer high in the Air to symbolize their quest for World Domination through Socialism and Communism....

Lenin, Marx, Dot, Emma Kay,,,,,Socialism,,,Communism.......

People,,,, We live in AMERICA,,,,Land of the FREE.

Many great Soldiers have given their lives in Battle to fight against Communism....

When we have leaders in our Government who are promoting a Socialist-Communist Agenda toward the citizens of a Free Nation ,,,,,,WE HAVE A BIG PROBLEM!!!!!

Democracy must prevail over Dots' Agendas,,,,or the Security of our Nation is at Risk.....

Eastern Europe is a waste land due to Socialism and Communism,,,,do not let America DECAY due to fact that some WACKED OUT Government Official has finally gone off the DEEP END.

STOP the Madness Now,,,,Let Freedom Ring!!!!!!!!!

This is in response to debora who was concerned that the northern lines may be changed after they were tentatively approved. those 2 concerned parents were from the NE district and they were representing a much larger group. sorry if you may be in for more changes but we believe our problem is much bigger than yours!! the new northern schools won't have to worry about low test scores,high percentages of kids on free and reduced lunch,and fighting. you will be a smaller NW- mainly all white with higher incomes. it doesn't seem fair that NE and Eastern should have to carry the majority of low income kids, especially since yancyeville rd and rankin aren't any closer to us than they would be to northern. hopefully, you see our point a little better.

Walter,

Give me a friggin' break. Your words were drafted by Ms. S. Ashley Osment. She's the activist attorney that will be using the High Point NAACP to further her new, fledging activist practice.

Here are HER words in HER bio ....
"In January 2005, Osment joined the Center as a senior attorney, focusing on public school resegregation."

Sound familiar? Walter WAS SLEEPING during those meetings! He has a ghost writer!

Bridge and cover blown Walter!

PS One simply needs to Google Ashey Osment or S. Ashley Osment to find out what she's all about. Too bad she's focusing on High Point and not ALL of Guilford County. Is that discrimination?

I recently attended a Psychotherapy conference that was attended by over 8000 mental health professionals from 31 countries. The theme of this conference was that we are now living in a highly complex social system that almost none of the current leaders have been prepared for. Dr. Jean Houston, one of the presenters at this conference, and the understudy of the famous anthropological psychologist, Margaret Mead said, "Few have been prepared to deal with the current complexity that today's society demands. We are using the leadership model that was developed for white men in the year 1928."

She also added that "different times require a revolution in how we lead and function."

The faculty of this conference included luminaries in the fields of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Mental Health.

When you attend one of these conferences there is always a message that the faculty wants participants to take back to their communities.

The message we were asked to take back was the idea of applying the psychotherapeutic model to communities.

So if I were to apply the psychotherapeutic model to the conflict over neighborhood schools and socioeconomic integration, beginning with Walter Child's statement, it would be something like this:

There is the superficial level of a conflict. People present a psychotherapist with an upset or conflict. There are details, and things that are debated, but that is almost never what the conflict is REALLY about.

As a psychologist it is our job to be the speluncors of the issue. What is really under the conflict/upset?

This is my observation of what may be "under" or at the core of this issue, and why good people, like Walter Childs, Dot Kearns and others are pushing for this socioeconomic integration.

What I believe is under this issue is the deep pain of those in this community who still see that after all that has come to pass, and all that has been done, that there are still large numbers of African American children living in poverty. It is painful to those who risked so much, almost everything, to make the world a better place for African Americans.

Walter Childs and Dot Kearns were young parents at the time of the Woolworth sit-ins. Can you imagine how that must have been?

Human beings, black and white fought for civil rights. Can you imagine how it must be for those same people now, to see that after all that has come to pass, that there are still large numbers of poor, black kids? It has to be painful for those community members, black and white, who worked so hard to make things better.

And so today, we are angry with each other and in a state of "against-ness." Because we still have African American kids who are struggling.

Any psychologist will tell you that it is easier to be angry than to feel the pain, the sorrow, or the grief. Pain and grief are always under anger. So anger and indignation over this issue is the avoidance of the true pain of facing poverty in our communities.

What I find different about this community vs. Dallas Ft.Worth, LA, or other cities who deal with high concentrations of poverty is that this issue is being perceived and experienced here through the pain of the past.

The issue of poverty is always tied to race here.

Walter mentions segregation, but the segregation of the 1950's was solely based on ignorance and race. Separate but equal was black vs white. And that was proved to be inherently wrong.(Duh)

I believe Dr. Childs and others are looking at the issue of Neighborhood schools through the pain of the past.

Are these leaders feeling that they have not done enough to help the impoverished, African American kids? Therefore, are we balancing the pain of the past on the pain of the present?

As a psychotherapist, I will tell you that almost every adult has an issue with being "enough" or "doing enough".

I think the NHP parents are caught in the crossfires of this "not enough-ness".

What I see happening is that the young North High Point parents are caught in the middle of something that did not start with them and will not finish with them.

They were born between 1965 and 1975-ish. They did not create this, and it is not their problem to solve. They are just trying to create a life. Yet we are asking this neighborhood of young parents to help "us- the larger community" resolve the issue of poverty as it relates to public education. They did not sign on for that job when they bought their house. They are just trying to raise a family.

We are in the year 2006. Our community is not black and white. It is complex.

We need to step out of the pain of the past, or even better, HEAL THE PAIN OF THE PAST, and accept where we are now.

Where are we now, where do we want to be, and how do we get there? Can we step into action and create public schools that meet the needs of the children who show up at the doorstep regardless of the socioecomomic status of the neighborhood? Other areas have done it. There is nothing unique about Guilford County that demonstrates that we cannot have successful schools that are located in high poverty neighborhhoods.

There are successful schools with high numbers of African American kids impacted by poverty in this country. It is possible. Hunter Elementary is one.

To apply the psychotherapeutic model... this is not about neighborhood schools. This is not about a middle class neighborhood that is racist and without a social conscience. This is about the pain of poverty and our inability to overcome it in the public school setting.

Spending money on busing would be, (to use the psychotherapeutic model) "deflecting" or "destracting from the core issue." That means the issue will just keep looping back until you face the core of it.

Terrina Picarello

"We live in a time when there dawns upon us a realization that the people living on the other side of the mountain are not made up exclusively of red-headed devils responsible for all the evil on this side of the mountain." C.G. Jung

Terrina,

very impressive. Thankyou!~

Have you thought of running for school board?

Ann,
Yes your schools have problems, but so do we! We have 2300 students in a school for 1600, you have about 1200 in a school that will soon serve almost all of those students.

The Northern HS will take about 400 students from your school, many from Brightwood and others from the Church Street area. Many of the numbers that you are concerned about are due to the 1999 redistricting area, not the Northern lines. Also the Rankin kids going to Madison and then to NE--is part of the FRL issue. You are looking at the wrong lines!!! Brightwood and Montecillo are both new, and not very overcrowded. Reedy Fork will be new. Madison has some expansion. Do you think we thought that was fair? Summerfield has 760 kids, with capacity of 460! We must have the relief that was promised in the bonds! NW is losing most of our PTA also, they were from Summerfield, but you have to reach out and find new parents. The issue with Mr Kidd is not due to the changes in lines, but poor decisions by Dr Grier. I suggested prior to the move that Mr Kidd not be moved in the middle of the year. I understand that problem, and it should have never happened.

Why are you only coming to the board with these concerns now? No one spoke about this at the NE forum. I was there, the only people from your area asked to be included in Northern or as one Rankin parent said.. I live closer to NE, not Eastern. Please send me there! , I don't think anyone said anything at the Page forum either.I know that no one spoke from Rankin and I thought that was odd.

My main problem is that a)why now, when the changes will be made at the last minute and most will not have time to communicate their happiness/unhappiness with any changes b)The current lines were voted on at the retreat and EVERYONE voted that they were happy with the lines. C) I am tired of my child going to school with 50% overcapacity issues. No money on the 2003 bonds for our schools, but both NEMS and NEHS will receive additional space. Northern should have been put somewhere closer so that more of NW could go. D) with your growth of Reedy Fork and other large Brown Summit communities where is Eric getting these numbers? It will take until the year 2009 for all kids to make it to the HS, but then the makeup of both areas will be different!

"It is possible. Hunter Elementary is one."

IT IS POSSIBLE. THE POWERS THAT BE KNOW IT IS POSSIBLE. IT IS JUST NOT EASY. IT TAKES TIME. IT IS EASIER TO HIDE A PROBLEM AND FIX THE NUMBERS TO LOOK GOOD FOR "NCLB" FOR SOME PEOPLE. It looks better on resumes that way when the time comes.

GCS WILL BE RUNNING OUT OF OP OUT SCHOOLS TO BUS TO.

ABOVE ALL IT DOESN'T HELP EMORYWOOD ACCOMPLISH THEIR GOALS FOR A DYING ECONOMY IN THEIR OLD INNER CITY. IT HINDERS CENTRAL FROM BECOMING THE NEW MINI GRIMSLEY TO ATTRACT NEW BUSINESS TO THE INNER CORE.

Very impressive in many ways Terrina. Put it is more about politics than education. You would have to live in High Point, know the politics, economy to "get" all of it. Maybe not politics for Walter but for others. (Even Dot said something at one of the board meetings about a dying High Point.) There are many more layers to peel in this big bermuda onion. You may have touched on one layer only from how one person feels.

Wrong on most born 1965, 1975ish. We all wish. They did not "create" this. Busing their children will not solve the problems of poverty, one-parent families, and inner city gangs. It only makes people continue to leave the entire public school system. They are not the "red headed devils" as others have chosen to portray them. You can bet your Vegas money on that.

Terrina, I agree children from high poverty areas can be successful. I worked as a teacher in another state in a high poverty area and the community as a whole valued education. I taught children whose parents were migrant workers, and they very much wanted their children to be successful. Funding was put towards ESL programs for both children and parents, parenting classes, computer labs were open on the weekends, summer school classes along with intersession classes which kept these child in school longer but it was well worth it. Busing was never even considered. I move here and I am still shocked on how the powers of be try to help children from high poverty areas.

NOtthewholepicture, you are so right; this whole forced busing and redistricting has more to do with politics than anything else. Old High Point cannot accept that the growth is in the north part of town. It is all about them and using our kids as a commodity to help bring Central back to its heyday! It is not about education and it never will be! As far as poverty still existing for African Americans, the movers and the shakers of the furniture business should be thanked for that - at least in High Point. NOt educating these people has definitely caused a domino effect, and are we expected to pay the price for sins that have nothing to do with the transplants of North High Point and Jamestown? Having said that I do believe that the older African Americans who did get an education could not, but the younger ones are blowing it big time!

Dear Runningoutofhope,

I worked with kids in downtown LA who were in gangs and just plain poor. Like you, I saw that these kids could succeed if given the time and resources. We did after school programs, Saturday school and summer programs. These kids looked kind of scary when you looked from far away, but up close, they were all little kids.

I worked with these kids right before we were relocated here, and like you, I was, and am still in shock by what I see here. I write back to my friends and colleagues about what is going on here and they almost think I am making it up. THey cannot believe anyone would want to "swap" kids and fudge demographics to actually improve education.

Terrina,

Have you found anybody on the board or Grier's staff that will listen to you about this?

Has Alan Duncan met his match?
Is he afraid of what S. Ashley Osment will expose about GCS's inability to provide a quality education?
Grier better get the job he's interviewing for in Mecklenburg County before she airs all of the dirty laundry that these two have been hiding. The fact that GCS has been shifting/busing their problems is about to be exposed. Unfortunately this will lead to more busing in High Point in an effort to appease this liberal/activist attorney... Watch them all scramble! Look for FOR SALE signs.... High Point realtors will have a record listing month.... sales will be dismal... too much supply, too little demand.

Terrina,

I think I love you!!!!!!

Shark vs. Shark-

Grier's interviewing in Meck county? Are you sure--you're not just pulling my leg, are you? Oh WOW-I think we should all write recommendation letters.

Shark, I think I love you!

Fan,
I wouldn't joke about such a serious thing. I have a close friend who is in HR in Meck Co. Only thing I worry about is that they are too close. They'll know what he can do to a county school system. Let's keep promoting him as a real innovator as opposed to the quality education terminator!

Hey Shark,

Quality education terminator - I love that!!!!!

You coined a phrase that speaks volumes!!!

Oh Shark v. Shark, my friend:

I didn't mean to joke, but that news put me in such a good mood! Don't underestimate ole' Grier. He's a smooth talker and has a resume about a mile long.

Tell your friend in Meck to talk Grier up like he's the best thing since sliced bread.

I, like Gilda, also like the quality education terminator name, but shhh--don't tell Meck.

Thanks for the news--I'd apprecite it if you'd keep us updated.

Psychology class makes me realize that I am not special. I'm in a high school AP psychology class and we're on the personality unit. I've always thought that I was overly thoughtful, compassionate, and all these sensitive traits, but after taking some per WBR LeoP