News-Record.com

I love Terrina's optimism that was quoted in the paper, but I have been in a school that has PBS and it is a joke. They reward a few disruptive children that walk down the hall quietly, they forget the other 99 percent. If that changed the 1%'s behavior that would be a success, but truthfully, those children would get a reward in the morning and detention in the afternoon. Hopefully it turned around a few, but it is very timeconsuming and costly with very little results.

I hope that the reports were accurate and a true reflection of the schools, however I fear that all too often many things go unreported to keep down the statistics.

Many things go unreported. Trust me!

Many things go unreported. Trust me!

Many things go unreported. Trust me!

Many things go unreported. Trust me!

I agree with Debora but if it is true, and I hope it is then please dont give Grier the credit.

To anyone who knows,

Were the gang fights at SW that happened a few weeks ago reported? I do not recall seeing anything in the media about it, even though the police had to be called.

Wally World,
A reporter did look into the SW thing and it turned out to be a rumor. I believe a fight did occur but it was off campus.

Schools go to great lengths to "hide" much of what happens in the building. Just because it is not reported (or the county tries not to find problems) doesn't mean it is not going on MORE! When is the last time drug dogs were run in your child's high school. Believe me, they try NOT to find problems. It is very similar to how our county makes it suspension rate decrease by not suspending acts that deserve it.

Morgan,

Who was the reporter that looked into it and said it was just a rumor? I heard it was a gang confrontation and threats in the cafeteria, not off-campus at all. And, did the reporter not verify that police had been called to the campus?

Morgan,

I heard that their was a couple of days that the school was under lockdown. That's not likely to occur is a fight occurs off-campus. Who were the participants in the off-campus fight that you mentioned?

What happenned at Southwest a couple of weeks ago was blown out of proportion.

SWparent,

Really? What did happen then?

This is a tangent, but what happened to Keith Kremer who was principal at Southeast? I recently found out that he left or was fired. Does anyone know what happened?

Many thing do go unreported. I have heard that principals have been told to stop sending so many kids to ISS. They are writing to many kids up. So the trouble makers sit in the classrooms day after day and disrupte the education of those who want to learn. Once they know they can get by with breaking the rules they will do it again.

Many thing do go unreported. I have heard that principals have been told to stop sending so many kids to ISS. They are writing to many kids up. So the trouble makers sit in the classrooms day after day and disrupte the education of those who want to learn. Once they know they can get by with breaking the rules they will do it again.

Many thing do go unreported. I have heard that principals have been told to stop sending so many kids to ISS. They are writing to many kids up. So the trouble makers sit in the classrooms day after day and disrupte the education of those who want to learn. Once they know they can get by with breaking the rules they will do it again.

Why don't we count....do you know of students
on your campus with hand guns....and these
were the ones that were turned in.......Since we do not have metal detectors we will never know.

Eastern...2 handgun violations (9 mm, not bb)
Knifes?
Razors?

Wally World,
As I said before, what you are referring to was fueled by rumors. I was one of the reporters who looked into it; the other was Joe Killian. Joe called the HP Police and was told by a very annoyed officer that there was no lockdown at SW. I was also told by someone in media relations that no lockdown or gang-fight ocurred at the school. If you want more specifics on what Joe learned, you can e-mail him at jkillian@news-record.com (he's a High Point reporter). Remember that a school can be locked down for various reasons, including if a crime or shooting has occurred off campus but near a school; the police may recommend a school go on lockdown to prevent a shooter getting into a school, etc.

Regarding Keith Kremer, he submitted a letter of resignation to the district at the beginning of this month; it takes effect June 30, 2008. Kremer is now on special assignment reporting to the academic office to support them in the area of math (his area of specialization) with the middle colleges. Sounds pretty close to the route former Grimsley Principal Rob Gasparello took.

Effective today, Ralph Kitley, principal at The Middle College of Entertainment and Technology at GTCC since 2005, is being assigned as principal at Southeast High.

I tried calling Kremer a couple weeks ago to find out why he was leaving but he didn't call me back. So I have no official reason yet for the position change.

I can say that Ralph KItley was loved at NWHS when he was there. He developed great relationships with the students and they respected him.

From what I've seen, the Guilford County Schools' policies on fighting actually encourage bullying and violence.

The schools make no distinction between the instigator and the victim in a "fight." They both get punished just the same. So unless a kid just lies down and takes a beating, he or she is going to get punished just the same as a bully who starts a fight. Of course, the trouble-makers don't care if they get suspended or flunk out, so it's hardly a fair trade.

The end result is that the good kids have two choices: 1. Live in fear, hoping that the bullies don't notice them. Some kids won't even use the bathroom at school for this reason; or 2. Defend themselves and get punished, causing their grades to slip while they are suspended.

Morgan,

we were told by many parents and students that go to SWH that there was a lock down for 2 days because of impending threats by gang members who threatened to "come back with their friends and bring guns to school" because of a fight that had occurred the day before

many of the students were picked up for early release by their parents

To others who commented,

It's easy to reduce the number of suspensions by not suspending students who deserve it. It's just as easy to "reduce" the number of violent incidents by not reporting them. This doesn't mean the schools have improved, only that they have improved from a PR perspective.

It is sad when a student can't even use the bathroom or walk down certain halls in fear of being threatened. This is still happening daily.

Parents won't be fooled. Until our school board and administration truly clean up our schools and make our exisitng schools safe, voters will not vote for bonds for new schools. The message will be heard loud and clear. We want safe schools. We want our teachers supported and respected. We want our students to feel safe. We want students who want to learn to be able to learn without constant disruptions.

Not just rumors,

Your version is much closer to what I heard happened there. From what I heard it wasn't just something fueled by rumors or an overblown situation. I was told that there were many frightened students and concerned parents.

As a high school teacher in G. County, I can honestly say that if things stay the same, there is NO WAY my child will go to middle or high school here. That is the sad truth. Understand that I have always been a big supporter of public school and wish my child could follow her elementary school friends all the way through graduation, but it is gotten so out of hand that I have totally changed my stance.

"Teacher said" if you haven't already, I would recommend looking into getting a job at one of many fine private school alternatives in the county. Most of these schools offer tuition for your children at 50% off in exchange for your teaching services. No doubt it would safer working conditions for you as well.

I too was a life long public school supporter until about 4 years ago.

You know, I've thought about that, but I love my job. I love high school kids and really believe that eventually the powers that be will realize we are going about things all wrong. Maybe then things will swing back to an atmosphere that is conducive to teaching and learning.