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Morgan,

Do you know the number of students in Guilford County who currently are allowed to take these simpler tests (i.e., the number currently designated as "disabled")?

Thanks

That's great news! I bet more schools will pass AYP as a result. Its ridiculassly stupid to test children with dissabilities like dyslexia the same as other children and then hold the school and the child accountable. Too bad it took 3 years for Bush to make the improvement.

These kids' test scores could have brought down other sub-groups causing an entire school to fail. If I remember correctly a kid could be classified in one or more sub-groups and their score could count multiple times. For instance a low income African American boy with dyslexia could have been in at least two subgroups (low income and African American Males). Since dyslexia is a reading disorder it would be very dificult for that child to score a 3 no matter how hard he tried or how good his school is but his score could have caused the school to fail AYP.

Quest, please let us all know once you have all the data!

The Real Truth

what is to prevent the number of "disabled" children increasing just to prevent the marginal children from being tested? let's keep an eye on Dr Z's new stats!

We are all a little disabled,

Children have to be tested with standardized tests like Woodcock-Johnson etc. You cannot simply say you are dissabled and be classified as such. Parents have to agree to have their children tested and then they are given a 504 plan that has to be reviewed periodically by the school and approved by the parents / guardian. Its not a flippant procedure and I doubt any parent would want their child labeled as such if its un-neccesary.

The Real Truth

Real Truth,

I'm done with Guilford co., but on my way out the door right after this school year, I'd like to ask one question. I saw your notes on the other thread.

First you imply SW parents are racists, now you say were not really racists but are prejudiced only against POOR black people.

Can you define for us when does one enter the middle class, so we can know which ones we are supposed to be prejudiced against, because your giving me trouble here.

Although it's hard to imagine, since you seem to be changing defintions and terms to suit your needs, maybe you could say we're socio-economicists or something.

Just trying to help.

Dear Confused,

I am also confused. Can you tell me from your experience why it is okay for a black female who is accidently bumped in the hallway rush madness to tell a white female "I'm going to beat you up white girl!" (because she was accidently bumped)

What would Deena say if a while female made a similar comment to a black female?

All the forced redistricting has only proven that you cannot make people be nice to one another if they are so angry at being where they don't want to be for whatever their reason.

Confused,

Let me try to explain. First I never said all Sw parents are racist or predjudice. I'm just referring to you Grier haters that post here.

Second, You are referring to my response to a Dr. John Gehris whom said that SW was a diverse school citing that it mirrored diversity statistics in Guilford County. He wasn't comparing apples to apples. Diversity referes to both race and income. SW isn't a title one school Andrews and Central both are. Clearly SW doesn't have the challenges that the other schools face. His comparison is stupid.

Lastly, I hope you find the white middle class utopia you've been dreaming of and can insulate yourself and children from people of color and different economic backgrounds.

The Real Truth

Also confused,

That poor white girl! Its a shame she cannot go to an all white school so she wouldn't have to face being terrorized by a black girl. I bet if you talk to Buckmtn, he can get Mr. Hardy to let the white girl into HPCA so she won't have to fear anymore!

If HPCA doesn't have room, what do you propose? Should we just kill the black girl or lock her away forever? Clearly black girls don't know how to be nice. Or are you proposing that if she went to an all black school she wouldn't be hostile?

I'm confused now!

The Real Truth

Dear Real Truth,

Thank you for making the above clear. You seem to have a talent. I'm not sure for what, but you seem to have a talent and should consider offering your services to the schoolboard and maybe you could straighten things in this county out.

The Real Truth is raising some interesting points and she is right. Diversity means many things. I think all schools should be matched and made as equal as possible in consideration to shoe size, I.Q.'s , skin color, body parts, income level. And if they aren't, then the Real Truth can decide if we can stop or not, or keep striving.

Sounds like a heavy load to carry, especially with only one Real Truth to go around. So many schools, so little time.

RT,

Sorry to call you on another lie - but neither Central nor Andrews is a Title I school.

Again - please get the facts straight first before you start your story.

The Real Truth aka Red Rose aka EKM (pretending not to know how to spell now when you previously knew how to spell)

It IS a shame she can't go to a public school in Guilford County where the SAME rules apply to everyone no matter what color, a school that is drug free, where threats, intimidation and bullying are not tolerated, and where there is discipline and order. No child should have to fear going to the bathroom alone because she may get "beat up" because she is white.

We sure miss your Saturday column in the HPE (NOT!)

Will the breakdowns for states and localities regularly include the breakdown for how many are taking the simplified tests? If I were a major employer looking to relocate, I might take a pass if there are larger numbers of students in the public schools are suffering from such disabilities in a particular area versus some other school system.

....such as using the word "are" too often.

Dear The Real Truth

Are stating only white middle class Grier hating citizens who are parents of students attending Southwest Guilford Schools are racists??

That is a very broad statement to make about a group of fellow citizens you obviously do not know!

However, you still insist on sending students across town to attend school with the same people you deem as lowlifes?

WHY???

I don't understand how you could despise a group and at the same time view them as role models in the community.

Please explain or stop your asinine rants!

The Real Truth,

Yes it is a "poor girl" (you put in the "white" and the person who threatened her also had to mention her color. I have no idea why the color of her skin is relevant for accidently brushing against someone in the mad rush between classes. Do you?) It is a shame that she is in a school where she could be terrorized by a girl (of any color). She could go to an all white school if she chose to, but she does not. No one said she is in "fear", you said that. She could have made an issue with the principal if she had chosen too, but she didn't.

I hoped you watched the last school board meeting and heard Anita Sharpe's comments about what is going on a Southern High School and what her niece had experienced. There is bullying and intimidation by students who block the hallways and claim their "territories". This shouldn't be the case at any school. These are public schools. Students have a right to be treated with respect and not threatened in their own school. Those who cannot abide by the rules and conform to acceptable ways to act in society need to be in an alternative learning environment. I read in the Rhino that Grier mentioned Twilight Schools for those students who disrupt others. It sounds like a great idea to me.

I propose that students (of any color) who do not follow the rules and threaten others should have serious consequences. I propose that the rules in the student handbooks be enforced for ALL students. Incidents should not be ignored just to keep the suspension numbers down for certain groups. Apparently this particular black girl does not know how or chooses not to be nice. Apparently she is very angry. Could it be that she doesn't like being bussed out of her neighborhood school across town to unfamiliar territory? Maybe she doesn't like the crowded halls that didn't exist at her previous school. Maybe she hates white people. She would probably be hostile at an all black school too if she where bussed across town for 90 minutes out of her neighborhood. I would be angry too. What a waste of useful time.

As far as your comment "I'm confused now". You stay confused. It is quite obvious to everyone who posts here from the asinine posts you make about people you don't know that you stay seriously confused. "Confused" is too mild a word.

Is The Real Truth Emma Meiden? She had an article in the High Point Enterprise and I think I heard she is moving to Texas. Is that what you people are saying? I still don't understand all the cats and cars stuff. Why doesn't somebody just say it?

Sure sounds like it. She drives a Volvo.

Just Saying,

BINGO!

Dear Also Confused,

As usual you miss the point. You made a point of bringing out the race of the two girls in the altercation you described. What did race have to do with it?

There was racism in every word of your post. If it had occurred between two white girls would you have described them as white girls... I doubt it.

Dr. John,

AS ususal you miss the point as well. Balancing diversity and resources is simply about fairness. Why do you want an unfair playing field. Are you afraid your kids won't measure up if they don't have an unfair advantage or are you just a selfish oaf?

The Real Truth

You go E. Herrin! If Dot could clone the North High Point kids and railroad them to Central as a ploy to avoid being forcably bused to one of the lowest performing schools in the state, she would.

The top GPAs at SWH are well above 5.00!

I believe "Also Confused" point was this was an unhappy black girl being bused out of her neighborhood. A white girl wouldn't say "I will beat you up white girl" for being white. She was telling a story to make a point.

Real Truth, how the heck is a child who is provided extra resources at Andrews and resources do not follow the child to SW, have an unfair advantage? Dr. Childs himself said Andrews is a "model school". You really need to watch those school board meetings. These children should be allowed to attend their model school if that is their CHOICE!

And as someone said before, why would you want these supposedly "disadvantaged" students sent to a school where you seemingly hate most of the families there?

The school board has been pretending to speak for "their people" for too long. All we need to do is let the parents speak for themselves. How many hundreds of times have we heard, "There is a reason we don't hear from the black community. Transportation is an issue as well as working more than one job."

So, we won't hear from them at the board meeting but nobody has to speak for them. Don't let Dot or Walt speak for them. For God's sake, don't let Alston speak for them. Give them the choice and let them speak for themselves. Then, if any of the aforementioned want to make the decision for them, they will have to visit them face to face and help them complete their paperwork.

Doesn't that sound fair?

My question is - why haven't Dot and Walter gone to the parents in their own community and asked them how they feel?

Maybe Dot and Walter don't want to know the answer.

E. Herrin,

I just deleted your posts instead of editing them. A parent can say what he or she wants on live TV about his/her own child. But it's not fair of you to disparage someone else's child to make your point.

TRT

I am waiting for your response to my above post!

Real Truth, my inbox was filled was filled with messages saying that you were looking for me today; hold on let me scroll up this thread and see what you want....

Oh there I am.... Let me see what you said....

"Clearly black girls do not know how to be nice?" What in the $%$%$$@# kind of a comment is that to make?

Real Truth with a comment like that, who are you? Don Imus?

Is this what YOU are saying or is this another of your frustrated attempts to put words in another person's mouth. Either way it's in poor taste, no doubt the HPE knew what it was doing.

Hold on let me read what else you have to say in this post....

HPCA an all white school..?? No that is not accurate, I happen to know for a fact that my daughter did her behind the wheel portion of student driving with a Korean boy. Does Asian count as a minority?

Hold on let me see what else you had to say....

What if HPCA doesn't have any room... That's a good point because the High Schools seats are pretty much taken and the Middle School is filling up fast. You know come to think of it Wesleyan is booked up as well. Even the new Dot Kearns wing of Wesleyan.

You know why its called the Dot Kearns' Wing don't you? Dot ran so many kids out of public schools in the County that Wesleyan could fund its expansion.

Hold on let me see what else you had to say....

Oh for crying outloud, why would you pick on the Headmaster of HPCA? Well let me try to explain this to you anyway. I don't believe anyone gets "let in" to the school. However I do believe that the student's grades, references, and interview during the application process may have something to do with admission.

Discipline is a little different at HPCA, have I ever mentioned that? You know what makes it different? IT'S ENFORCED.

Hold on, let me check if you had anything else to say.....

No, it looks like that about covers it.

The Real Truth sure makes a lot of disparaging comments and yet, none are ever edited or banned. Hmmmmmm...

Dear Parent,

I'm answering your question... no!

Buckmtn, Nobody picked on Mr Hardy. I simply suggested that the racist known as Also Confused see if you could influence Mr. Hardy to create a spot at your school for the poor girl who was to threatened by that black girl for running into her in the hallway. That's not picking on Mr Hardy. Of coures HPCA can enforce discipline, your comparison is ridiculas. First the children can simply be booted out HPCA doesn't take on the responsibility to educate all children. Their mission is to segregate themselves from the rest of society. They are no different than you SW Grier haters that want to kick the African Americans back to Andrews.

The Real Truth

Dear Parent,

I'm answering your question... no!

Buckmtn, Nobody picked on Mr Hardy. I simply suggested that the racist known as Also Confused see if you could influence Mr. Hardy to create a spot at your school for the poor girl who was to threatened by that black girl for running into her in the hallway. That's not picking on Mr Hardy. Of coures HPCA can enforce discipline, your comparison is ridiculas. First the children can simply be booted out HPCA doesn't take on the responsibility to educate all children. Their mission is to segregate themselves from the rest of society. They are no different than you SW Grier haters that want to kick the African Americans back to Andrews.

The Real Truth

E. Herrin,

Sorry I missed your comment before it was deleted. As for banning me. I'm just speaking my opinion. I think racism, irrational fear, selfishness, lack of empathy, and just plain ignorance are the foundations in which you SW Grier Haters build your case against our schools. Its just an opinion and I think what many of you write on this blog supports my position.

Your twisted logic always has the same result... keep SW mostly White and middle class! Let someone else deal with those poor black children.

Only the Truth from EH,

Wow 5.0 GPA's! How on earth did those kids get such good grades at SW? I mean with all the violence, threates from black girls and just the whole poor conditions in GCS that you Grier Haters are always spewing I would think that was impossible. Could it be that the sky isn't really falling? Could it be that GCS is doing something right?

The Real Truth

Dear TRT,

I do not understand your answer.

Please clarify.

I really dont understand why you all perpetuate this stupid discussion. I am a Southwest parent and I disown Real Truth and all those that continue this stupid conversation with him/her.

None of you reflect the views of the majority of Southwest parents so just please stop it and move on.

"irrational fear" The Real Truth

I think being afraid of gangs is not an irrational fear. I think being punched and pushed for accidently bumping into someone is not an irrational fear.

FYI, That's above 5.0s at SWH. These are the student in AP and Honors classes, not the children failing Algebra I or the children in some CP classes. Just like Grimsley, Northwest, and Central those in the IB program and those who pass AP exams are a different bunch. There aren't many students who discrupt these classes. These are students who had a great foundation before many of the our teachers started to leave and discipline started to get out of control.

Dear Real Truth,

Let's just have everyone in public schools who is threatened leave. Then let the bullies and gangs take over all our schools. This is what's happening in some GC schools today.

SW Parent,

Many of us do reflect the views of SW parents especially when it comes to the opposite view of The Real Truth and the right to true choice of neighborhood schools. I agree though about carrying on a conversation with him/her is a no win situation.

Quest,
The district currently has about 10,500 students (about 15 percent of overall population) who are classified as having a disability. Most of these students take regular tests, although they may get accommodations like longer testing times, etc.

So at 10 percent, you're talking about 1,000 students. Keep in mind that NC has two alternative assessments, Extend 1 (for most severe disabilities) and Extend 2.

But federal law limits to 1-2 percent the number of students earning a level 3 through these alternative tests who can count overall toward a school making AYP.