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It will be interesting to see how the duty free lunch period will work. Some elementary schools have it now and the TAs watch the students. At other schools you sit there with the kids in the same room and can't even go to the bathroom. With the limited number of TAs this should be interesting to see how this plays out.

Just had a news release sent to me from a friend. Transportation director, Jim Moen, has passed away. Please keep Jim's family in your prayers.

I am surprised that the only note of Jim's passing is in the obit section of the N&R. No article, no mention in CB. Jim Moen was a professional. He always had safety first. He was a good supervisor. He ran a steady ship. His style should serve as a role model. Question? How many supervisors did he have in the last 12 years? He will be missed.

I think there are some real misunderstandings here: many schools have just one PE teacher, who can't possibly meet with every class every day. Thus, it is teachers who are mandated by law to be on the playgrounds. Try planning then!

As for lunches: again, as Barbara points out, not enough TAs. In addition, the very youngest children are in particular need of supervision, so kindergarten teachers are loath to leave them with just one TA at lunch, anyway. Don't get me started on the craziness of middle school lunch rooms!

So, all this political posturing about planning time is a fraud, as usual. Teachers will ocntinue to do their planning time when they always have: at home and/or after school, on their "own time", and throughout summers. This is especially tough on the year-round teacher, like my wife.

Joe,
One of our reporters tried getting something on Jim Moen last night but no one with the district would talk to him until they had the family's permission. However, we will have something tomorrow.

RE Playgrounds I was told at one elementary school (which is a super school and run like a tight ship) that the teacher must be on the playground with the children because of insurance purposes. Now I do know of other schools that let the TA's take the kids out, esp, kindergarten. Sometimes both teacher and TAs go out together.

Kindergarten teachers (at least at Florence) always sit with the kindergarteners. (other grades sit at the teacher's table but in the same room) With one kindergarten class only the teacher sits with them, while the TA has her lunch. Regardless, just as you wash your hands, you are opening ketchup packs, milk, juice, etc. It never ends.

The teachers I know do put in lots of time at home and in the summer. I ran into a teacher friend of mine last week who said "what good is all this new training if we never have grade level planning time to discuss it and evaluate what we are doing?" (good point) "They give us training but no time to really learn about it. Just more stuff to take home."

Joe,

Jim will be missed and I am sure we will feel it once August 25th gets here.

HELP ME PLEASE!!!!!!

I saw where the HP-Scale School passed its' AYPs....

I got in the car this morning and decided to find the campus of the High Point Scale school,,,,,after riding every street in High Point and buying 3 tanks of gas I finally called a School Board Member in Walter Childs to find the Location....

Seems that the High Point Scale School is located in Greensboro on the same campus as the Greensboro Scale School......

Also seems that there are 2 Principals at this one Location.....

I once again smell the rotting of a fish from the head down........

Confucious say "Fish rots from the head down" If you want to find why anything stinks in this system, look toward the top.

Hear, hear, Barbara Ann! But, of course, most people think any idiot can teach kindergarten. Hah! It's so much like first grade used to be...and actually my wife's kids almost all end up reading at third grade level by year's end.

Barbara Ann,

You're making things sound nostalgic.

Teacher in the school yard looking over the little ones while they scurry around the playground in the 60's. Teacher pouring over her student's papers late at night denying herself an evening with Ed Sullivan. Oh the love that poured forth from our educators in those days who put their mission call above any material gain.

God bless them.

Lord Hear our Prayers.

Bubba,

Look what teachers make compared to what other jobs pay. I do believe there are many who still hear the mission call. They aren't in it for the money, that's for sure. I can guarantee you there is no money or benefits package in subbing. You really need to enjoy being around children.

Freddy,

Of all the grades I have subbed in elementary school, kindergarten is by far the hardest and most exhausting. To me it's lots of fun though, especially when the "Show and Tell" toys tell me funny things and I have the class laughing at the silliest things, that and lots of other fun games like "bank line" to wait for your turn to have your papers checked. If you make it fun, it is fun. And then, "kids do say the darnest things". If their parents only knew some of the tales they told.....

Unfortunately for today's kindergartens, teachers have lots of paper work, lesson plans, and evaluations. One of my best friends who is a super kindergarten teacher of many years, says it's sad they barely have time to do art projects anymore. You are right about the reading. It starts early. People don't have a clue about the structure involved. It sure isn't what it was when we grew up.

and one more thing Bubba many times it's more fun to sit with a bunch of kids at lunch then listen to a bunch of adults complaining and gossiping. Kids can be much more entertaining.

That's very true Barbara Ann. How you must suffer as a result of all the complaining nabobs (such as Truth, Stormy, Numbersgame, etc.) who blog at the Chalkboard.

Just like you Bubba I can choose to participate in debate, agree or disagree with comments made by anyone or simply turn off my computer.

There is a major difference in people standing up for the rights of children's education and commenting on factual AYP results, SAT results, etc. than
adults complaining that someone's class was five minutes late for lunch (God forbid maybe a child had to use the bathroom) or a teacher got an award and they didn't agree with the decision. Petty gossip goes on in any work environment. People are "stuck" at work but by sitting with the children you have a great "out" if you choose not to listen to stupid stuff.

I was told a long time ago from being in sales training, not to discuss religion or politics and esp don't tell someone else how to raise their children. To me that also means if you have children, don't expect the government to raise them. Don't expect teachers to solve all the social ills - they can't. And I believe as Mr. Faircloth, HP City Council, said it best at a past school board meeting, you don't mess with other property, dogs and especially people's children. I think we can all safely say since the inception of the "Chance Plan" and forced redistricting only on "select" groups we have all witnessed the repercussions of this.

You may not agree with many who post here and you have the right to free speech as they do, but parents have a right to fight for their children's education. Taxpayers have a right to support their tax dollars being spent wisely on education of all.

As for NCLB and public education, it is a Catch 22, the government will push for sanctions, public schools (not just GCS) will always find ways to get around the sanctions. NCLB is a measuring "tool" and can has forced public education to look in a mirror as to where they are failing certain students. It has also forced society to look in the mirror at our current youth culture and to see where certain parents are failing miserably. NCLB is not necessarily providing solutions because their will always be, just like the beginning of time, children who will be struggling for one reason or another.

If you move students to another school, that school either A) becomes overcrowded in the classroom and hampers the learning of those who where there or B) if you move the same teachers with students you move, you are just changing the "real estate" but the same problem is hidden, delayed to deal with later.

At best NCLB should be forcing educators to actually EDUCATE but it is a three way street - educators, parents and especially a student who wants to learn and not disturb other who want to learn. A student must want an education. How do you accomplish that? Also we must accept that certain students will only ever reach a certain level. They won't all be doctors, lawyers and scientists but they should be able to read, do basic math and at least graduate from high school and have basic skills to find a job.

There's my soap box for the day.

p.s. please excuse my many spelling typos - still a bit early in the am