News-Record.com

...spiritual vitality??? (from your own set of questions)--seriously? This is public schools, I don't think this is in their "to teach" list. I would be happy to have them teach our kids to simply read and write. Let's leave the spirituality up to the the parents or private schools.

Looks like its the Alan and Margaret show again.

Havent these two meddled enough?

"Let's leave the spirituality up to the the parents or private schools".

That is an interesting comment. Therin lies the root cause of many of our troubles.

It's very sad but many children are spiritually bankrupt because frankly their parents aren't doing a good job raising them or their parents lack the financial resources to get ahead. We have to take care of students' social problems so that they can thrive in a classroom setting and learn to read and write.

It's not up to the teachers to do this. It's up to us as citizens of this community. I am encouraged by the initiation of new mentoring programs for minority students in Guilford County. I hope this will be a great beginning to helping all at-risk students in our schools. If enough people care to give some time to these children, we can make a big difference.

It's also very sad that there is no one listed on the panel as "parent" or "community volunteer." Some of these people may be parents but it's not the same thing. Once again, people with titles and power will be talking "at" parents. When will the movers and shakers figure out that parents have to be included in the process?

Duncan and Arbuckle need to go.

We need CHANGE!!!!!

"Guests will have the opportunity to share ideas and feedback. Ample parking is available."

Maybe they expect the "guests" to be parents. At least the N&R is including a principal, a teacher and a former student (Morehead Scholar?) on the panel. That's an improvement.

It doesn't take a presidential commission to improve this situation--it just takes one or two phone calls to parents. In this case, the organizers' actions speak louder than words. Parents are not part of the process here because they are considered to be part of the problem. The condescension is breathtaking.

The News-Record online reported that a kid was tasered this morning at Northeast High School.

I didn't say I agreed with it but remember there's a little law about religion in the classrooms. My point was that public schools are NOT allowed to teach religion so if they could just stick to the basics we'd be better off. Look, half the kids in High Point can't even read (YES! article) so let's just start there. Morgan has high aspirations for our schools and that's great but let's just start simple and build from that.

"we have to take care of students' social problems..."

Why? and How?

Children only spend so much time in a classroom and legally there are limits as to what a teacher can do. Most of a child's time is spent in the home (with or without a parent present either physically or emotionally)

It has to start in the home. If there is no adequate home life than communities can provide support through churches and organizations like Big Brother Big Sister. There should be a liason who works for the public schools and can coordinate some of these programs with churches, etc. for the children who need it most. It would be better to have some organized activities for children to participate in rather than "the streets" or the internet.

Ultimately, the child has to be held accountable for his behavior in the public classroom. There needs to be consequences for those who can't follow the rules. The teachers need support from the school system. Hopefully some of the new programs like the Twilight School and tutoring/mentoring programs will be the start of something good.

About the kids who got tazed...Sheriff Barnes said on the news that the RO was assaulted by the student. He used a simple word "compliance". If kids would only comply when they are being asked a simple thing like empty your pockets. Of course, this is a word Deena does not like to hear. I thought "compliance" simply meant following the rules or listening to someone in authority. How simple is that.

It's funny how the word "kid" is used when a "sheriff tasers a kid' in school , yet we have 17 year old men murdering innocent elderly women.

These 15-17 year old young men that are shooting innocent people, hijacking cars, robbing stores, breaking-in homes are in our schools.

The SRO officers know what they are capable of doing....if the parents did...we would have a mass exodus from our schools.

Do you feel comfortable knowing your kid is sitting next to someone that shot someone the night before?

Let's not worry about this poor kid being tasered...he was a drug dealer...send him to jail and keep him away from our kids.

Anonymous said:

"It has to start in the home. If there is no adequate home life then communities can provide support through churches and organizations like Big Brother Big Sister."

I couldn't agree more! Like I said, it's up to the community not the teachers. As a parent volunteer in my child's elementary school, I can already see where some of these troubled children are headed. If we can intervene early on with mentoring programs and extra-curricular activities that direct their energies in positive directions, we can perhaps prevent them from ever becoming addicts, car-jackers, drug-dealers or thieves. They also need tough love and to be shown that bad behavior will not be tolerated in school or in society.

It seems that someone has woke up@!

"We have an appalling and unacceptable number of kids in middle school and high school who cannot read," Jeff Belton said.

The question I had is why did he not say this before? Its irresponsible to come into a position like this and keep quiet or stick your head in the sand.

On another point the other BOE members seems to be owning up to Griers flaws.

A superintendent who can be visible in schools, integrate the various agendas of business and community stakeholders, and encourage transparency among employees is also important, board members said.

Folks, I think I heard someone once say.

"This is a great day for Guilford County" When Grer decided to leave. Well, that man was very wise indeed.

What is the most interesting is the BOE has not addressed the question of what they can do to be more attractive to a serious educator. It has never dawned on them that wandering around in the desert with no core values is only attractive to those that worship at the foot of the almighty dollar.

Joe,

Amen to that!

Joe,

Here's GCS the core values (http://www.gcsnc.com/community2/mission.htm)

"District Core Values

The Board in partnership with parents and community members wants to share these district core values in order to strengthen our schools and improve the quality of life for all of our citizens.

Diversity. We are committed to creating an educational organization where a variety of persons and perspectives are welcome. We are committed to providing an environment where students and staff from all cultures and backgrounds may succeed.

Empathy. We are committed to developing a culture where our employees identify with and understand the feelings of our students and parents and their colleagues.

Equality. We are committed to creating a school system where everyone is appreciated and judged based solely on their contributions and performance. Through the work of this institution, we will create awareness of and develop strategies to understand and eradicate prejudice, discrimination and racism on the individual and organizational level.

Innovativeness. We are committed to fostering a work environment where the goal is not to manage innovations, but to become innovative. Problems are identified, ownership of those problems is assumed by the adults in the district, and everyone works together as agents of the solution until the problems are solved. We will not stop until obstacles are removed, solutions found and clear and compelling goals are established.

Integrity. We are committed to creating a school district that acts with honesty and forthrightness, holding ourselves to high academic and ethical standards, and dealing with everyone with respect."

Why in the world is the failing leave all children behind principal Mr. Rogers at Smith on the panel....he needs to go out of the door with Grier, he came in with him and needs to go out with him and he makes at least 130,000 - and has yet to make AYP or produce any significant change other than the "No" signs across the campus.

I agree. Mr. Rogers seems to be above evaluation. The Smith record speaks for itself. It is worse today than the day Rogers arrived. He can't get the job done. Noone even asks him what the problem is.

It has been said that Rogers brought in his attorney to create a 3 yr contract, which underscores the fact that Rogers and Grier both knew he would not help the students by getting achievement gains, but would serve as a "Joe Clark" figure so Smith would do its best to stay out of the newspapers for fights and disruptive behavior. If you research, you'll find that the previous principal, Sam Misher (forced out to the new Northern middle) actually had better achievement scores, but loss control of the school's discipline. The staff liked Sam, but hates Rogers. Over half of the staff has resigned or transferred since Rogers entered in Feb. 2006. Even the famous "star" basketball coach could not stay to coach the team, before he left so abruptly. Check the guidance and administration departments (all resigned or transferred) and he is still cleaning house and making 130 plus his Mission Possible 10,000 bonus and Grier knew by the time anyone actually figured out his plan, he would be headed far away, like Cali...again the joke is on GCS!

I have been told by a friend of mine who is a NC attorney with many proven years of experience that since NC is a Right to Work state an employee contract is only good for one year, that you can write an contract for as many years as you want, but it would be challenged in a NC court. Just like Grier's contract, others can be broken. Then there is the matter of "performance". Is the person under contract performing their part of the mutual agreement as expected?

Rogers did come from a very tough school in Norfolk, Virginia so if you want a "Joe Smith" type guy, he would be the one for the job. Maybe some of the staff left because they were called to task. Maybe the previous principal had better achievement scores because "scores" were easier to attain and the bar has now been set higher with NCLB laws.

From what I had read in the "Peacemaker" and other sources, something had to change at Smith. It seems the school had many problems between the Hispanics and the Blacks and gang problems. It's hard for any student to learn in a school if he does not feel safe. It's a shame the Smith Academy cost so much to start. Only time will tell if this school will be successful.

What does Deena have to say about the performance of Smith High School? Is the school still on Judge Manning's watch list?

NADA

Boy, I'd love to hear what the public school administrators think us college professors really expect and want out of incoming freshman.