Kudos to the kids! I've glad they've found a constructive way to voice their frustration.

The High Point plan has been a complete failure. A miserable failure. It was doomed from the beginning because it put economics above students and education. I think Terry Grier underestimated the intelligence of parents and their concern for their children.

At this point, the Board and Dr. Grier realize they have a complete failure on their hand and I'm sure they feverishly looking for a way to ditch this plan that will create the least embarrassment for themselves.

truth,

Many wish that it would be so that this plan would be dumped like the turkey that it is. Actually, most of the board knows it is a loser and have actually tried to dump it at various times, but two of the board members, Dot Kearns and Susan Mendenhall, have a vested interest in the plan remaining in place, and they have dug their heels in and rejected any efforts to overturn it. One can only surmise why they are fighting it so hard in light that it is an educational and financial loser for the district. One can also only surmise why it remains in place in only High Point and forces students from only one of those schools, Southwest, to attend another school, not of their choice. Interesting, huh? What do you think their reason might be?

"Some students of Southwest Middle School are attacking the controversial lottery/choice plan..."

Oh no, they're not! They're attacking the superintendent of their school system.

"Terry the Turkey?" And kids did this? And adults are applauding it?

Allegations against Mr. Grier notwithstanding, such a blatant, public display of disrespect for an authority figure says far more about the perpetrators of this "yard art" than it does about their target.

Where are the grown-ups? What are they teaching their children?

Educators and others complain that kids don't have any respect anymore, and it's no wonder when they do things like this, and instead of being held accountable, the adults around them cheer and take a photo of their shame so that it can be glorified in the newspaper.

And don't even tell me to lighten up. This is just ridiculous. (And it has nothing to do with Terry Grier. I don't care what authority's name was on that sign. This is not OK. Missy is fired up. Somebody needs to go to the woodshed on this one.)

"Somebody needs to go to the woodshed on this one."

Yeah. Terry Grier.

(Sorry, I couldn't help it. And I know you were all thinking it! :-))

I would encourage anyone who disagrees with Terry Grier to run for the school board or field a candidate who shares your views. And Missy, how many kids do you have in the Guilford County schools? And are they affected by the High Point Choice plan? Have you seen your child's school's test scores dip when the reassignment was made? Do you have a kid in northwest Greensboro who is going to school with kids from High Point and Colfax? Until the answer to those questions is yes, what right do you have to say that Terry Grier and his plan benefits our students and therefore should be respected and not criticized? Respect is earned and this plan hasn't done anything to earn respect.

Missy,

Susan Mendenhall, is that you getting fired-up again? I can understand your anger about people losing respect for authority figures, like yourself. But, you, Dot Kearns and Terry Grier asked for it when you slammed this plan on the good people of Southwest. Those people pleaded with the three of you to not implement the plan, and then further for the past year when it was done. Have you shown respect for their concerns? Have you answered their emails? Have you met with them to discuss their concerns rather than hiding out? No, no, no.

Susan, when the three of you see the light and disband this discrimnatory plan that is applied to only Southwest students, then perhaps, people will begin to show some respect for you and the others. But, as long as you and Dot stubbornly continue to fight any efforst by others to kill this plan, you will continue to be subjected to a lack of respect. As spooge said above, you have to earn respect through your efforts and actions. It is not automatically granted because you are an authority figure. Let's remember, Sadaam Hussein was once an authority figure himself. Did you respect him because of that?

spooge,
I would dearly love to see what reaction a candidate would who ran on a platform of wanting to get rid of Grier.

Astro Boy,

That would, indeed, be interesting, but I fear that the political machine would grind up anyone who came with a fresh mind and soul to this game. That's what happened in the last election, although no one was running specifically on a platform to replace Greir or specifically against his policies, although they should have. The political machine in this county are just too tough to overcome, although the school board is supposedly a non-partisan race.

It is interesting to note, though, that Grier was sent outta town in his previous place of employment when several board candidates who ran against Terry Grier were elected. So, it is possible, at least if politics doesn't rule.

Again, people, Terry Grier was not the issue in my post. The disrespect of authority by children, and the approval of that disrespect by adults, was by target.

spooge and Oak Ridge Runner, I don't know anything about the High Point choice plan. I do know that you have a problem with it, and if I were you, I would fight for my children using every legal, moral, ethical and civil means available to me, if I felt led to do so. And when you do it that way, then good for you!

But don't fight a "good" fight using "bad" weapons. How is God going to bless your efforts when your efforts don't honor God?

There's so much anger here. Find a way to keep your passion and cast your anger. Fight for an issue or principle that you believe in and that is honorable and true, and stop attacking a person or people. Even if the issue IS a person, find a way to address the person's actions or attitudes or words, without making it such a personal attack. That just comes back on you.

Teach your children to stand, and fight, for their beliefs and principles in a way that respects those that differ. That's all I'm saying.

As for the actual fight you're in, I don't know enough about it to venture an opinion, so I won't. But please, please consider what I'm saying. You'll get nowhere with anger and hate. And I can't imagine that's what you want your children to inherit.