News-Record.com

Doug, how do you respect a man who sits by idly, waiting to see what he's going to "get", while a governing body spends hours (until 1am) debating and devising ways they can pay him 7,000 more dollars a year when he is already making 210K, hours they could spend actually solving a myriad of Guilford Co.'s EDUCATIONAL problems, when the schools are short of paper, textbooks, teaching asst.s,. and kids are sitting in shanties instead of classrooms.

A man must be judged by his actions and not his words. The above says it all. We could go on and on. We're getting flim-flammed. We know it, you know it. Because of your High Point fealty, you can't admit it.

Gobble $$$$$$$,Gobble $$$$$$$,,,,,Gobble$$$$$,Gobble $$$$$$$$, Gobble,Gobble,Gobble,,,,,,,,

Thanks, John. I have no problem with your opinion of Terry Grier or school board members. The performance of GSC leaves a lot to be desired, as High Point's new workforce preparedness study bluntly points out. I'm working on an editorial about that and will follow up with a column.

What I'm talking about in this post is a public act of disrespect by children. It's my view that shouldn't be encouraged, whether the target is an unpopular superintendent, an unpopular president, the principal, a teacher, the football coach, whoever.

The minds of 8th graders! Too bad they can't have a guaranteed seat at the arts high school next door to their middle school.

As protests go, calling the superintendent a turkey is very tame, IMO.

As I sat and watched yet another school board meeting last night, I could not help but question what direction our schools are going in.

Once the board bullshit their way through another stall tactic session of redistricting, it was time to get down to serious business.

First, the board would once again spend to much time Pandering to Deena Hayes complaints about Minority Contractors.....Now, mr. grier admits that he is out talking to Bankers trying to find the $$$$ for the Minority Contractors to do business......This is NOT part of mr. griers job description...Whats next Mr. grier,,,are you going to help them bid the jobs too???

How in the HELL does this improve the Education of our Children ????????

Next on the Agenda,,,,,mr. griers Raise.

If mr. grier had any balls about him he would step up to the plate and Nix the idea of a Raise .

With the Economy such as it is, the $$$$ for his raise would be better spent on Fuel for the "Socialist Abduction Busing Plan of Occupied High Point".

When mr. grier thought that the goals for his raise were unattainable, he reminded me of a 2 year old, Pouting,,,,Bottom Lip hitting the Floor and face turning Red.

This seems to be the norm for a GCS board meeting....Led by mr. grier and his "Valet", Alan Duncan, these meetings to many times turn into Bogus Award ceremonies for board members and Staff,,,,,With little or no VALUE toward the Education of our Children.

grier a TURKEY??????????????? Nah,,, we would n't want to give a TURKEY a BAD name

By sheer coincidence I ran into an employee of Southwest Elementary School last night at a function in Winston-Salem. I heard this person saying "Southwest" and I was sure that she was talking about a school in Winston-Salem. When I further inquired, she was talking about Guilford County's Southwest Elementary. I mentioned that I live near the 'former' Southwest district and the FIRST thing she wanted to talk about was TERRY THE TURKEY!!!!!! She said employees at the school enjoy it very much!

It seems the only people that don't like it are YOU Doug and Crazy Joe.

Sorry, Doug, I guess you are surrounded by children.

Oh, and Butterball is my real name.

Doug, with apologies to Jimmie Walker from "Good Times", and in the grand scheme of things and considering the spectrum of derogatory names that exist in the lexicon, I think "Turkey" is pretty benign, don't you think?

Dr. John Martin Gehris, III,

Could you please offer a free, COMPLETE physical/mental exam to Mr. Douglas Clark? He's exhibiting Turkey Envy Syndrome, among other things....

Any remedy that you could prescribe would be a great community service.

I know you are a very busy doctor, but thank you in advance for considering.

Doug,

Comparing President Bush to Terry Grier is a travesty, and I am disappointed that you would do so. How can you compare in the same sentence a lame example of a school superintendent with the President of the United States, whoever it might be?

Doug, I will say that I agree with most of your positions and expressions on this site, but when it comes to Terry Grier, the school board, and the school lottery, you have a definite blind spot. You seem unwilling to look at this for what it is. I know that you have a personal position to protect as you supported the choice plan/lottery when you were editor at the HPE. You were sold a bill of goods by Dot Kearns, Susan Mendenhall, and Terry Grier, and I know that it is difficult for you to admit that you were duped. But, do you think that just maybe you could take a fresh, unbiased look at this situation?

Let's review. You have a plan in place that only affects three high schools in the entire county (why not all, if it is a good idea?). All students at Central and Andrews are granted their first choice of schools. The students of only one school, Southwest, are subject to being assigned to another school other than their first choice, and to-date a couple of hundred children have been subjected to that fate, with many more to follow. Now, if you are concerned about being fair to Terry Grier, how can you support a lottery that unfairly treats 14-year old kids in this manner? Perhaps, when fairness is returned to the kids of the Southwest area, and they are given the same rights as any other child in the county, people will be fair with Terry Grier. Can you really find fault with the actions of 12 and 13-year old children when they being discriminated against in this manner? Do they not have the right of protest of an unfair policy?

Having a display of Terry Grier and calling him a turkey can in no way be compared to a display of President Bush as the Grim Reaper.

Doug, stop being rediculous in your support for this bastardized plan. You correctly express your thoughts on the state lottery as not being in the best interests of the citizens of the state, so why do you support a lottery that determines 14-year old childrens' educational options? You seem to have different standards here as well.

Doug, if you really believe that this lottery is right and good, then will you make a push at the News-Record to have it support the installation of a lottery throughout the county district? A lottery to be fair has to apply the same to everyone. Let's bring fairness back into the educational system.

Stormy,

Thanks for taking the time to write a very thoughtful and constructive post.

Nevertheless, it's not my intention on this string to debate the merits of any school policy or the attributes of any individual. I'm simply writing about the form of expression by some young people.

Doug,

I decided to look in the dictionary and see how it defines "turkey". Well, it has several definitions other than as a large North American bird that has brownish plumage and a bare wattled head and neck and is widely domesticated for food. Actually, I am almost sure that was not what was meant by Terry the Turkey.

There was one other definition, though, that certainly makes a lot of sense when considering the lucrative salary being paid our superintendent of schools while the quality of our schools continues to deteriorate:

turkey n. An investment that has performed poorly.

Doesn't that fairly define Terry Grier as a turkey?

Stormy, you're a smart weather system.

Hmmmm, wonder why no one addressed the original question of the presidential effigy issue? Could it be that........ naw surely not, well at least hopefully not but then................... Guess we will never know. dpw

No need to address Doug's question of the presidential effigy. It's already been answered. It's called "Free Speech". I believe you can find the details in that little thing called the Constitution. Of course YOU know that Mr. Produce, a fine veteran like yourself, but some need daily reminders.

Semper Vigilans!

Merry Christmas Everyone !!!!!!!!

The Elves of North High Point are in the Workshop, working on the Christmas Extravaganza planned for many locations in High Point ,with its' Debut planned for the High Point Christmas Parade!!

If the Thanksgiving themed Yard Display can make the N&R, then this Xmas Display will surely warrant National News Coverage.

Doug and mr.oops,,,, your support of the Failing School Lotto plan in High Point, and your excitement over Terry the Turkey, could make you eligible for a part in the Xmas Display.

Do Ya'll have any preferences as to what Character you would be?????

Elves, Snowflakes, Tin Soldiers, Jockey Boy are still available,,,,,The Grinch And Reindeer have already been Cast.

Gotta go, it's time for my yearly Raise Evaluation(First Things First).

HO,HO, HOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

Doug,

Getting back to your original objection about the appropriateness of 12 and 13-year old children building a display of expression of their protest against the discriminatory school lottery policy.

We won't debate the policy any more as you requested, but what I will do is challenge you regarding the ethics of peaceful protest. The display in question is basically just that, a non-violent expression of protest against a discrimnatory school policy, a lottery affecting one segment of the total population. Would you deny the right to these students to express their protest in this manner? We rightfully exalt civil rights protesters in this county and this country, because they protested against discrimnatory policies in a peaceful and non-violent manner. Isn't the Terry the Turkey the same, a peaceful and non-violent protest against unfair and possibly illegal discrimination?

People in the Southwest areas have been expressing their concerns and objections about the school lottery for over one year, and the policy obviously discrimnates against some childrens' educational rights, perhaps in an illegal manner, but those expressions have gone unheard. The discrimination continues.

So, what would you recommend that those 12 and 13-year olds do to protest and actually be heard that would be a satisfactory expression in your opinion? How do they protest this injustice? Why do others, including yourself, allow it to continue and actually support it?

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Doug, you can be free of all this and re-join the ranks of the human beings by just signing the confession. The confession will simply state: I Doug Clark, hereby acknowledge that an educational program, even though it provides demographic improvement of my children's neighborhood school which I have faithfully supported as an active parent for the last twenty years, which forcefully removes, by lot, other children from their respective neighborhood school against the wishes of active parents at this school and transports them to my school, while being in my best interest, may not be in the best interest of said parents or said children. Furthermore, given that the above was accomplished by the active abandonment of said children and parents by their duly elected schoolboard representative secondary to a fealty similar to mine, representing a taxation without representation scenario that I actually supported in direct contradiction to my own political principles, I hereby acknowledge that I acted as a puddin'head.

I also acknowledge that I used an editorial bully pulpit to imply racial bias on the part of the above parents when they simply would not allow their children selected by lot and transported against their will to a school that was rated by an INDEPENDENT organization as one of the four WORST highschools in the state, thereby putting these parents in an unacceptable double bind of either obeying their schoolboard and fitting my definition of "non-racist" but abdicating their responsibility as parents. I further acknowledge that I have yet to apologize in any way for my actions and for this I am even a bigger puddin'head.

Now, I can't guarantee this will free you from future harrasssment, but it will help YOUR SOUL.

Stormy, I'm not questioning the kids' right to protest. I think their display would be fine, and make the same point, without the Terry the Turkey sign or the Grier-ended bumper sticker.

Savage, your concern for my physical, mental and now spiritual well-being is touching. But, please, I know you have worries of your own. Don't dwell on my problems.

Doug,

My children are taught to respect adults, peers, animals, and property when all's said and done everything and everyone. They are also taught respect is “earned” and when you show respect you will receive respect in return.

The students at Southwest are not honored with the same respect thousands of students in Guilford County have. They also have a constitutional right allowing them to protest. The display is on private property there is nothing violent, vulgar, or explicit in it.

Save your breath telling me the plan is wonderful and the students will adjust. What I am waiting to hear is what the plan is doing to improve the education of High Point students? Is anyone going to answer that question? If Grier is reading this board maybe he can?

If Susan and Dot (at-large board member) say, they are doing what is best for all the children then why not advocate the best plan countywide. Since they are not it leaves open speculation this somehow is a self-serving interest.

Susan Mendenhall being the support system for Southwest schools is a joke in itself. She does not represent views of her constituents living in the former Southwest school district.

Southwest parents are not the citizens asking to relocate our neighbors yet somehow we are accused of being racist and doing wrong. Has anyone ever referred to Susan and Dot as racist for advocating poor, minority children should leave their neighborhood schools to raise the educational bar. What message does that send to a high school student? You are not good enough to stay in our community so we are working hard on a local exchange program.

This plan has the potential to create a higher rate of dropouts. Students not happy with their assignment and lacking self confidence may decide the pressures of trying to fit in and make friends again is too much. That might sound trivial to many of your readers but the truth is it’s highly likely to happen. The school boards assessment of high schools not being neighborhood schools is wrong. More students attend high schools because they are fed more students but the fact is middle schools feed the high schools creating a larger student body. Most students transition into high school together from the same middle school.

Don’t forget Southwest students went before the school board begged and pleaded to not separate them from classmates, friends, and neighbors.

Do you know why there was no High Point representation at a meeting recently discussing diversity in the schools? Is it because High Point has the answers already?

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

Martin Luther King, Jr.

What does that mean, exactly, Stormy? That if our justice system makes a mistake somewhere, the system as a whole doesn't work?

I don't buy that quote. It sounds good but doesn't stand up to scrutiny. Not one of King's better utterings.

Doug,

So that everyone can have a peaceful and non-violent conclusion to this discussion, I am providng a link for everyone to view what might be a response from Terry the Turkey to this Thanksgiving display. It is my hope that you will find this entertaining, Doug. Just copy it into your browser, turn up the volume.

http://www.msn.americangreetings.com/view.pd?i=382219626&m=1652&rr=y&sou

Thanks, Stormy. Have a good weekend, and don't stick your neck out.

Doug,

I agree, you don't get it. This is extracted from MLK's famous letter from the Birmingham Jail in 1963. This letter may be his most powerful and meaningful message. It's funny that you aren't familiar with or think that it is a very good quote. As you read the letter, it is the very essence and justification for peaceful and non-violent protest. What follows is an portion of the letter that may help you understand what the quote means.

"Moreover, I am cognizant of the interrelatedness of all communities and states. I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provincial "outside agitator" idea. Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds."

"Let us consider a more concrete example of just and unjust laws. An unjust law is a code that a numerical or power majority group compels a minority group to obey but does not make binding on itself. This is difference made legal. By the same token, a just law is a code that a majority compels a minority to follow and that it is willing to follow itself. This is sameness made legal."

Doug, by no means should anyone think that I am comparing the school lottery plan to segregation and discrimination in the South in 1963, but the principle that MLK enunciated applies. What makes the school lottery unjust for Southwest families is that it is a policy that compels a minority to follow that the majority is not willing to follow. So, until Central and Andrews, and the entire of Guilford County, is willing to be subjected to the Kearns/Grier lottery, then it is an unjust policy that everyone should be compeled to protest against.

I understand King's overall message, but I don't believe that statement in isolation is true.

It takes a Big Person to stand up and admit when they have made a Mistake.

I think the time has come for Dot and Susan to come forward and make a Call to Do away with the H.P. Choice Plan.

If this Plan is removed and Neighborhood Schools are restored in High Point, most of the Agony that all board members have had to put up with will go away.

This plan has done nothing but cause turmoil in High Point and has run many good families into the private school sector.

Susan, How do sleep at night knowing the way you stabbed your constituants in the back with your approval of this plan???

The Citizens of North High Point are willing to Forgive you if the plan is dropped, but if you continue with this plan, North High Point will continue to make both of your lives as board members, Miserable.

At what point is Common Sense going to enter into the equation,,,,,,,,This plan is wrong and must be reversed....

Kris Cooke is hungry for change and so is Darlene.

Stand up for True Freedom in America,,,,Drop the Choice Plan.

Not to douse this debate with the proverbial bucket of cold water, but I don't think this display was done by 12- and 13-year-old kids. Or at the very least, I believe that some adults helped them out.

We had a whole discussion on this display last week over on The Chalkboard. No one ever mentioned students doing this; in fact, I think some of the merry pranksters are regular posters on our blogs!

Having said that, I thought it was funny, not offensive. This didn't hit below the belt and Dr. Grier is a public official; he's used to taking public criticism. I doubt he was offended by it.

If any adults want to take credit for it, that's fine. But I'm standing behind my caption.

Doug,

I am suprised at your stubborness to see, understand, and acknowledge the truth of MLK's quote, even after taking it into the context of his Birmingham letter.

Simply, he says that any law that is mandated for a minority that applies only to that minority and the majority wouldn't want applied to them is unjust. That's exactly what I have been talking about here all day. The school lottery was implemented through the force of Dot Kearns and Susan Mendenhall to serve their own interests. The plan sounded reasonable to some people when it was announced, but the world class schools have never happened, and the reality is that the lottery portion only applies to a minority (Southwest area students). No other students in Guilford County, including those at Central and Andrews, as a result of a lottery are forced to attend a school that would not be considered their neighborhood school. Not one Central or Andrews student has ever been denied thier first choice of schools. This is a classic example of the tyranny of the majority punishing a minority.

What Dr. King was saying that if any minority is suffering from a law that applies only to that minority and the majority would not want to have that law applied to themselves, then it is an injustice. I just can't comprehend your refusal to see that as a valid principle of mankind. The statement in isolation says all that you need to know. People who say I see the injustice that someone is suffering and ain't it awful, but I don't have a dog in that fight is supporting an unjustice. The problem with that approach is that some day you'll have a dog in that fight, and who is going to find sympathy with you then?

Dougie Clark is never wrong, Doo Dah, Doo Dah.

Dougie Clark is NEVER wrong, Oh, doo dah day.

Self-righteous ALL DAY,
Self-righteous ALL NIGHT,

Dougie Do-right's NEVER Wrong, Oh, doo dah DAY!!!!

Doug, Sign zee papers!!!

Constance Tuiton, you don't need to remind me of anything much less the constituion, free speech and the price that was paid for such. I ask a simple question and because you have no real offering on the subject you choose to attack me.I will remind you that if it were not for people like me you would have no forum for making such attacks! Just thought I would remind you, some need it occassionaly.
Thank you Stormy for at least addressing the original issue limited as it may have been. Also Bruce at least you offered something other than an attack on someone.

Mr. Produce,

You totally misread my post! I sincerely respect you, my sarcasm was meant for the puddin' head that asked the question in the first place!! Any person that has flown overhead for the sake of this great country has my utmost respect! --SERIOUSLY! Please accept my apology if were offended. Douglas Clark is the one who needs the daily reminder about Free Speech.

Honestly, Dougie, you and Mr. Oops have no sense of humor!!! Haven't you heard of political satire? You know something that the News and Record and other papers print all the time.

If 8th graders truly created this display, hell I think the N&R should offer them a job!!!! At least they showed they understood the concept. May be there is hope for GCS!!!!

I can't wait until Xmas!!!! I hope they do the 12 days of Xmas; that would really be something!!!

Satire,

You're on to something. I think an 8th grader could do a better job with Do-right's blog! And why is he writing about school issues? Is he an education-reporter wannabe? Poor Dougie, no one give a rat's ass about your threads so to get some action you create a "NHP" topic.

Thanks for the attention, Penny. I couldn't resist this one.

But why is it that so many unrelated topics I've introduced on the blog have turned into the same old NHP rant? Maybe you shouldn't encourage me.

Doug, you must be a barrel of laughs to be married to!!! Your poor wife!!!

I think you should be called Dougie the Dud, not Dougie-do-right!!! Lighten up!!!!

I appreciate the advise, Satire2, but my wife teaches middle schoolers all day and says she doesn't want a husband who acts like one. I try to elevate my humor at least to 9th grade level.

Children, children, children.

Time Out!

All I want to know is why is Barbie flirting with another man and showing a full moon? I thought it was G.I. Joe she was after not this other Joe guy.

I am seeing the elves for counseling at the Christmas display!

No one seems to care about me.

KEN

Satire, I am not mr.ooops, at least not to one who has nothing better to do than to attempt to equate name calling and critisim to satire. I am called mrproduce for a reason, I get things done and I don't have to stoop to the level that I am seeing more and more of on this and other blogs. Hopefully one day many of you will learn that using the tactics that were developed by the "far left" will get you nowhere. The newspapers who have insisted in supporting such groups are seeing circulation and advertising drop like a rock. Same goes with their media outlets. Do you think there might be a message in that? People , well at least civil, thinking individuals , are tired of the rant no matter how good the cause. I sided and still side with many of those on the school situation who choose to use civility in their arguments and do not stoop to calling others degrading names while calling what they do satire.Where I come from folks would call it "horsefeathers" for lack of a better word , others would refer to it as "barnyard bovine excrement" You call it what you wish, I call it trashtalk and find it disgusting and degrading not only to the one it is directed to but to the one who would stoop to use such to attempt to build an argument. I have always found that if you have nothing of substance to offer to an argument,or discussion, then be quite , study ,and hopefully learn something until you do have something to offer. The "farleft bomb throwers" have not learned this yet but the day will come when they too will have to stop and take stock in what their actions and reactions have brought them. The folks on the "far right" are no better so I include them also since they don't seem to have a lot of basis for argument these days and seem to only wish to attack the individual instead of the root of the argument.
You may take what I have written any way you please. I did not disguise it as satire, I believe in stating my case heads up and head on. I frankly do not care if you like what is said or not, for I am not running for office or for mr popularity. I make my statement and hope that somewhere within what is said you will find a nugget of good sound thinking that you can take away and hold on to. If you do not, then I can say, I have made my presentatoin and it was not accepted and in that no blame may rest with me.

Mr. Produce,

I suggest you move to Guilford County and run for school board in 2006.

I find your opinions to be solid and unbiased exactly what this county needs.

Thank you Sally, I left Guilford county in part, for many of the same reasons that we read here and elswhere on the blogs. I appreciate you thinking of me in such a positive way.
I have stated to several who take part in the discussions concerning the schools that I would be more than happy to assist them in putting together a campaign for that office or even in presenting the arguments that I have presented many times before in these blogs on the subject. Of course I do not believe that the BOE would appreciate me, an outsider , standing in their presence and making valid arguments such as I have attempted to do over the months that I have written in the blogs. I will continue to try to be the voice of reason crying out in a storm of fury .

Mr. Produce,

You keep thinking that people are attacking your words. I have seen nowhere where they are???? Mr. Oops is NOT you. Mr. Oops is someone called, "Crazy Joe"--we know it's NOT you. Actually when you post you make very good sense. Keep up the producing!

Mr. P,

I agree with Sally. Just understand this and being I know the open minded person that you seem.....

sometimes you feel there is no other outlet, you have not been heard for so long, you have tried it all and then some, and are struggling to keep you sanity in tact, there is a time to "lighten" up and enjoy some comic relief. To everything there is a reason and a season.

Above all it is "freedom of speech" and that is why we do really like listening to your views. but once in awhile you need a good laugh!

Stay aboard, Mr. P.

Mr. P,

Believe me you are no "Mr. Oops". You would have to know about him to get some of the inside jokes. Too long and an old story to explain.

Veg all

Vegall, thank you for straightening out the mr.oops thing however I will still stand with my earlier post in which I referenced to people who stoop to name calling in order to press their argument. I do not care if one agrees with me or Doug or any other writer, there is no excuse, no reason for the type of hostility I see here and then to blame it on an attempted satire? I think not. I do appreciate that many of you respect what I say or attempt to say in my feeble manner. I will continue, as I always have, to attempt to be a voice of reason,standing , crying out, hoping to be heard over the thunderous roar of the storm.

Mr. P.

I was not referring to you so don't get your boxer shorts in twist!!! Shssh!!!!!

Satire,

How do you know that Mr. P is a boxer man? He might be a brief boy...or maybe even favor a thong? OR "FRUIT!!! of the loom" hahahaha! I crack myself up!! Maybe he'll clarify.

Now Doug, definitely high-wasted briefs or one of those suits that you have to drop the back to take a dump--all buttoned up to the neck!

Satire, you still need to read and take to heart what I have written. No matter if it be to me or to Doug or to the dog, you method of expression is certainly not satire.

As for "eatables for me" , who knows, I may wear none at all as I did while in SEA. But then I guess that only the Shadow knows, ahhahhaha.

I hate it when people impersonate you on this blog. I am the real bloody Ken.

Has anyone seen any nice curtain material that was stolen from my house?
Somebody with extreme good taste might be using them for a nice jacket.
Any ideas?

Mr. P., Why would Satire take heart on what you said? If you haven't seen the display, you don't know what satire is. Plus I don't exactly think telling someone that they don't have a sense of humor or that they are a dud as name calling. Hell, I seen alot worse on this blog! And if you are going to pick on someone for that, you need to see Dr. Gehris for counseling, too.

Hey John, I have another patient for ya!!!!

Satire 2, I have an open appointment time that I believe that I could fit both you and Satire into.
I would gladly do this appointment gratis just so you could understand what I have said and help you understand plain talk. (in this case writing)

I have seen the display thanks to a friend who lives there and took a pic shared it with me.

I find that folks who deal in name calling are actually below dud level as you so aptly put it.

I don't beleive I said that satire had no sense of humor I said that her attempt to cover an attack on anyone, no matter who and disguise it as satire was lacking in civility.

Thank you for pointing these things out. I hope that I have made my position perfectly clear to you.

OH and my office is located in my home in the beautiful mountains of WNC near the great little town of Tryon. I believe the time I have open after I attend a committe meeting is around 3 so you all would have ample time to drive here. I believe it should take about 3.5 hours or perhaps less. I usually do not take appointments on Saturday but in your case I will made an exception.

Mr. P., What the HELL are talking about? First of all I didn't say you said that Satire didn't have a sense of humor. Do you wear glasses? I think you need to get a new set. I am done trying to explain myself to someone who thinks they know everything. You, sir, are preaching to the wrong person.
Again, you still don't know what satire is. Do you read the newspapers? They actually pay people to think up stuff like that. YOu need to get off your high and mighty horse!!! Enough said!!!

Mr. P., What the HELL are talking about? First of all I didn't say you said that Satire didn't have a sense of humor. Do you wear glasses? I think you need to get a new set. I am done trying to explain myself to someone who thinks they know everything. You, sir, are preaching to the wrong person.
Again, you still don't know what satire is. Do you read the newspapers? They actually pay people to think up stuff like that. YOu need to get off your high and mighty horse!!! Enough said!!!

Doug,

of course you know this was done by Adults. Adults that have been turned into madmen/women by the School Board and people like you.

HA!

I hope we succeed in getting you little stressed out too. Looks like we are suceeding!!!
Maybe you will be building similar things in Emoneywood soon.

HAHAHAHAHA!

I must say, as petty as these arguments seemed before, when you're a teacher in the Tanzanian school system they are downright ridiculous. Having your kid bused a few miles is so insignificant. I've met students who are assigned to schools over 10 km away that they have to walk to every day. And those are the lucky ones because only about 20% of kids even have the opportunity to go to secondary school. Instead of whining about where your kid has to go to school, why not work to improve that school? Your kids not the only one out there and someone's kids are going to have to go to these "horrible" HP schools and it is in EVERYONE's interest that they ALL get a good education.

p.s. It's unlikely I'll respond to anyone's sure to be angry responses because I only get an hour online every week or two.

Then why in the hell would you spend that online time here??? Don't you have email from friends and family that builds up over a couple weeks? Sad.

Having your child bused a few miles IS insignificant so when the kids in Emerywood that have always dreamed of going to Central High School for the IB program are bused a few short miles to Andrews, everyone will be on the same page.

When that happens, somebody let me know.

Andrew,

My wife and I rode school buses in our days of youth as well further than 10 KM every school day, and we didn't complain about it. We lived on farms and had to ride a bus to school. But, the difference was that the school to which we rode the bus was our school. It was THE school in the town of 10,000 people, which was our community. Now, if someone told us that we had to ride 20 KM to a school in the next county because it would benefit the students in that school because they didn't have enough good middle class students, I don't think that we or our parents would have been too happy.

So, it's not necessarily riding a bus that is the problem, but rather being used as an educational commodity to satisfy someone else's personal needs is the problem. This is a discrimnatory plan against Southwest students. They are the only ones that are being forced to attend schools away from their community. When this plan is applied equally across the county, including the students at your alma mater, then we can discuss whether it is a good plan or not. But, your BOE representatives, Dot Kearns and Susan Mendenhall, will fight to the last man to keep this plan that they concocted in place for the glory of good ole Central High.

Andrew,

The difference is you are over there working with kids and that is your CHOICE. You went to them.

I have not seen one kid from Andrews or Central, in particularly Central being asked to leave their comfortable nest. They are not being asked to give up their childhood friends. They are not being asked to sacrifice their family time and schedules. They got 100% of their first choice. I doubt they picked Andrews if they did.

The maps were controlled by a select few in 1999 who had 2 reps per school. Those in the county didn't have much say. It wasn't based on the number of students per school based on the number of reps a school received. At Weaver Center the million dollar question was asked to the Central reps, "How many of your children are being asked to change schools? Just give me an estimate." The rep sheepishly answered "ZERO". The huge crowd applauded - a moment of TRUTH in the history of this long saga and what is so wrong with one area trying to tell everyone else in HP and Jamestown area what to do.

LISTEN to what everyone is saying. NO ONE will have any problem with the IT plan when it goes COUNTYWIDE. Until that time, everyone at SW is well aware of who the hypocrits are.

The one and only
Real Barbara Ann

Stormy,

That card link with the Thanksgiving Turkey is very cute. Could you post the link again please. I think even TG would have to laugh at this one.

Plus I don't exactly think telling someone that they don't have a sense of humor or that they are a dud as name calling. Satrie 2 quote.

It would seem that you satrie 2 have failed to grasp what I have written inregards to calling of names as I said, no matter if they are directed to Doug, myself, even the dog on the corner, it is beneath a person to even do such much less then attempt to cover their butt and call it satire.(Hell, I seen alot worse on this blog! your quote) And that is my point exactly, why is it necessary at all in the course of an attempt at civil conversation.
Yes, I am very well aware what satire is, I did manage a double major in college one of which was Literature.
Nowhere have you attempted to explain anything only only to rant about something that was not directed to you or concerning you, unless perhaps you two satires are one in the same.
Know it all? No but I do make an effort to continue educating my self by reading over 2 dozen newspapers on a regular basis. Guess that pretty much takes away your comment about never reading newspapers("Do you read the newspapers?")
I have found that what seems to you as a high horse is very practical when the barnyard bovine excrement gets as deep as you have attempted to pile it. As far as Enough Said. I would agree and perhaps unless I address you directly in the future you will politely keep you mouth shut, read and perhaps learn something.
I would suggest that you see the good Dr. to perhaps help you overcome the seemingly anger problem which you have so vividly expressed.

Doug, sign zee confession papers!!!

If you do not, Gilda our "corrections" officer just home from prison duty in Iraq, will come to your house with dog collar and leash, digital camera and offer commentary on your endowment.

Andrew, and another thing..... (I sure hope you are listening from Africa)

A year or so ago when Cassandra-Carr was at Andrews, several from SWM, SWH and Florence Elementary called Andrews to volunteer and help out. Some of these parents didn't even have kids in high school. They wanted to help tutor or help in any way. They not only had the door slammed in their face once, but several times. So you know, after that, you get the hint. How many parents from Shadybrook and Central called Andrews to volunteer to tutor.

It has been so convenient for certain people in the community to use the "race" card on the SW people to accomplish their agenda. These same good people who have been attacked unfairly, volunteer in all the schools and in their community both in time and money. They tutor in the already diverse schools. They do not distinguish which children they teach to read.

These are lawyers who work gratis for some poor people in the community; doctors who have many, many Medicaid patients; contractors who have build projects for the schools; parents who get down on their hands and knees and pull weeds; parents who bring supplies for all kids. If these people were so "selfish" as some people care to say, why wouldn't they just put their time and money into their own kids' activities and college funds??

Where was the community to stand up for the SW Middle children, and yes I say CHILDREN, on the the night of 2/10/04, Black Tuesday, when the IT Plan was adopted and these CHILDREN were crying hysterically and upset. One particular person from (not of SW) smirked as kids were crying hysterically. Who is there now to speak up for these children who have given up their traditional school and their friends since kindergarden? Some things can never ever be replaced - four years of their lives if they get lotteried into a "focus" they didn't choose.

Every child in every school except for the SW parents have a traditional or neighborhood school to fall back on. Even kids in SCALES have a CHOICE. They can choose good behavior and remain at their home school.

Trust me. I have been at this too long. And you do not know the parents who choose to judge.

One final word. The icing on the cake was when a Central parent choose to include SWH students in their petition to change SWH's graduation FROM Greensboro. This is not THEIR choice to choose for SWH.

As I said on the CB.

LEAVE THE SW PARENTS ALONE.

I will not keep my mouth shut! And futhermore, there are alot of other people whot have attacked far worse, and you chose to attack me. I am not hiding my views behind satire! It is a stress release for me!! So in essence you are the one who started this, and I refuse to listen to a thing you say!!!! From now on, if I see your name on a post, I will choose to skip over it; like it doesn't exist!Your words mean nothing to me!!! So don't waist your time posting to me again!!!!

Andrew,

One question for you. If any of your students who happened to live across the street from your school was assigned by the governing body to a school 10km away to which they had to walk, would you object to that as being unreasonable or would you tell those students to shut-up and do what they are told to do? Would you tell them that they are being used as unpaid educational mercenaries to bring up the level of another school, so they should feel honored? Would you tell them that they have no rights, and they are lucky to just be able to go to any school that the central government assigns them?

Oh, by the way, it's been decided that when you return to complete your college education that you won't be assigned to that good school in Winston Salem. You've been assigned to a school in West Virginia that has a lot of poor underperforming students, and you are needed there to help raise the achievement level of those students. No, you don't have any choice about it. Just shut-up and go. The good news is that you aren't expected to walk, a bus will be provided for your convenience, but be at the bus stop by 3:00 am, it's a long ride.

Stormy,

I couldn't have said it better my self.

Liberals will be glad to know, when Dot Kearns is long gone, that Andrew will be there to take her place in the World.

Stormy-

You have my confused my brother with me. Andrew graduated from UNC-Charlotte last May. I will graduate from Wake Forest this coming May.

That being said, I do feel that he has a point - sort of. Your children are lucky to live in a country where free education is provided. That is something you/they should be happy about. I understand you don't like the choice plan. I understand that alot of you are going about trying to get it changed in constructive ways. I commend you for that. Things like the display that started this topic is NOT a constructive thing? I agree with my dad - it's disrespectful and it will not change anything. I just sincerely hope that those students that have been reassigned to other schools still try to make the best of it and don't spend their time trying to think of ways to take cheap shots of Terry Greir and create effigies of Dot Kearns. Like I said, this is not constructive.

The other point I want to make is this (and this does NOT apply to Stormy, Barbara Ann, and the other posters who have argued their points respectfully): if the choice plan is repealed, your children will be able to go to Southwest to learn about math and science and english, but where will they go to learn to behave like adults?

Kenny,

One misunderstanding-- Public school is NOT free. I pay dearly in taxes. AND if I choose a private school, then I have the luxury of STILL paying my taxes that help fund public schools. Now if the system was totally free then I would agree with you that folks should just shut up and put up....but that's not how it is.

Also, I'm guessing that many folks accused Rosa Parks of being "childish" when she refused to give up a seat that she had every right to sit in. Her butt may have been a different color, but her gut instinct was that it was no different than a white butt. God bless her for using her butt to follow her heart.

My child's butt is no different than any other child in Guilford county, yet, my child's butt is shipped across town. Worse yet, there's no shred of evidence that is has been for a worthy cause. Until ALL Guilford County Students BUTTS are in a lottery or until the "choice" plan is abandoned, I can guarentee that there will be many more words, actions, etc..that may offend you and daddy.

I never said shut up and deal with it. I said try to change it in a constructive ways. Offending my dad and myself is not constructive. Nor are displays of Terry Grier. Putting up an effigy of Dot Kearns is in no way comparable to Rosa Parks refusing to move to the back of the bus.

As for the tax issue, do people without children complain that their tax dollars go to education? No. You're right - it's not free, but sending your child to school doesn't cost you anything more than you would be paying if you had no kids. So in that aspect, your kids are luckier than kids in Tanzania, for example, because they are guarenteed an education to the high school level, even if is a few miles further away than they want to go. That was the point my brother was trying to make. I've said it all along and I'll say it again - I'm sorry that you're upset with the choice plan, but taking cheap shots at my dad is not a constructive way to change it. If you need to take cheap shots at him to relieve stress, then I feel sorry for you.

Kenny,

My apolgies for confusing you with your brother. Sorry, about that.

But, I ask you where is the justice in a discrimnatory plan that requires a select group of students from one area to be subject to being sent to another school across town in what is essentially a different community? It's easy for one who is unaffected to say that the should make the best of it, but why should they have to do so? Please, tell me why they should do so, when no students from any other school are required to do so.

Respect? Respect must be earned by one's actions and deeds, Kenny. And, the manner that the lottery was slammed in against Southwest students over the pleas or concerns of those students and their parents stripped Dot Kearns, Susan Menendhall, and Terry Grier from deserving any respect. Even now, Dot and Susan resist cessation of the plan, even though many others on the school board would like to do so. The plan has caused ill will in the community when it wasn't needed, and the plan is robbing the district of needed funds to actually educate students. There have been no definable educational benefits achieved as a result of this plan, and there will likely never be. So, why do Dot and Susan hang onto this plan like a dog with its bone?

Kenny, I spoke earlier about justice and injustice. This discrimnatory plan is unjust, and in the words of some protesters "No justice, no peace". and, in the case of Dot Kearns, Susan Mendenhall, and Terry Grier, that also means no respect. When is enough, enough, Kenny? If you saw students at Wake Forest being unfairly treated and discriminated against, would you stand by and say "Make the best of it"? I don't think so, Kenny.

I'll repeat the words of MLK, even though your father doesn't understand it or think it is a very good quote. Perhaps, you might understand and believe it. The school lottery is an injustice perpetrated on a few. When will the many, say enough?

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

Stormy -

Thanks for your insights. I am not trying to argue the merits of the choice plan. You say that students should not h

"Those who commit injustice bear the greatest burden." Hosea Ballou

"He who commits injustice is ever made more wretched than he who suffers it." Plato

"Whatever the human law may be, neither an individual nor a nation can commit the least act of injustice against the obscurest individual without having to pay the penalty for it."

Henry David Thoreau

"There are battles, there is the war, and then there is the cold war that shall never end until justice prevails for all." Anonymous

Sorry - Accidently hit the post button prematurely.

You say that students should not have to make the best of the situation, but I don't think that makes sense. Oftentimes, people are put in unfair situations. Of course they should try to make the best of it. Does that mean that they shouldn't try to change the situation in a constructive manner? No, I don't think it does. But things like the original picture this thread is based on is not a constructive way to change things. It is not making the best of a given situation, nor is it trying to change the situation. It is an attempt to get a cheap laugh at people frustrated with Greir, Kearns, and Mendenhall. So yes, I do tell these students to make the best of it.

Kenny, your Dad will get more respect when he is thought provoking from both sides of the argument.

Kenny,

Constructive change has been tried - research, data, reason - it didn't work then - it is a political game - and some people are forever trying logic and reason. As people have said over and over again "name one thing the IT Plan has done to improve education." No one, to date has been able to answer that question, no one. All the data on the plan so far shows it failing. miserably, not including the PR nightmare. Look at Mayor Becky's recent study. The schools are failing our kids in many areas.

You say "tell these students to make the best of it"?!?!?! Until you are a parent, you will NEVER "get it". That is just how it is. Until you are a "Papa Bear" you will never understand the Mama and the Papa Bears out there. People from Envywood won't get it because they are not being asked to adjust their lives by some public edict.

Kids don't get 4 years to get this part of their lives back. Parents and students don't get these four years back that could screw up their future college pursuits. How would you like to sit through the wrong "focus" for four years by the luck of the draw because you were considered the "whitest and the brightest" and your parents were considered socioeconomically sound? How would you like to be a commodity to be traded and not a person? More important what message does this send the lower socioeconomic kids, that they have to be moved to be educated??

Life isn't a rewind video. This is it. The formative years. Those who can are leaving for private school. Others are moving. The IT Plan has created a huge divide in the City. What started as a crack has become a ravine. You can take the kid out of the school but you can't take the "school" out of the kid. The transported kids are not participating in outside activities, etc. They are just "there" and go back on the weekends to their own communities.

Bottom line is this: No one has the right to tell anyone's kids to "make the best of it". It's easy to tell others to "make the best of it" when their kids aren't the sacrificial lambs and their lives aren't being turned topsy turvy having to shuffle siblings to all ends of town and giving up family time.

Until it happens to you, you will never get it.

And as we have said before.....IF OUR KIDS HAVE TO "GET OVER IT" SO CAN THE REST OF THE COUNTY IF THIS PLAN IS SO GREAT. Bring the IT Plan to all.

Mr Produce.

you are not Mr OOPS. That is a nickname for a gentlemen called Oats who drives up from Central High Point and tears down the displays Doug is kindly showing us all here.
Talk about childish. He's just one big spoilt bloody brat!

Mr Produce.

you are not Mr OOPS. That is a nickname for a gentlemen called Oats who drives up from Central High Point and tears down the displays Doug is kindly showing us all here.
Talk about childish. He's just one big spoilt bloody brat!

OOPS.
Posted twice.

Kenny, I'm not sure you're getting it at all if you don't think the purpose of the display is not to try and change things. People have used satire like forever to make political commentary to try to effect change. Please see Ben Franklins writing circa the Revolution or look up James Thurber, Tammany Hall and Boss Tweed etc.

People use humor, satire and cartooning to try to DIFFUSE anger and hostility when they know they are screwed. It's KEEPS same people from commiting homicide or other even more violent acts, and here you are saying it is inappropriate?

Enjoy your studies. Might want to include a few more soc. or humanites courses, just a thought

Just to clarify, never once did I say the students should "get over it." I said they should make the best of it. I think this is common sense, and I would hope all sensible students are doing this. What I mean is that they should continue to study and work hard and they WILL be able to achieve the goals they have set regarding schools. I did. This is not mutually exclusive to trying to rid the system of the choice plan. I guess my point is that I hope the students that have to go somewhere other than Southwest don't use it as an excuse, but rather a motivation to do well DESPITE their hardships. Again, this does not mean they have to be happy with the choice plan and should not fight it in a constructive way. I am not trying to argue the merits of the choice plan. I am not trying to tell you to quit. I'm sorry that constructive methods have not produced the desired result, but does that mean you should move to disrespectful and shameless means of protest? Well, I certainly hope not. As for the "satiric" effigies, they simply will not provoke change. That much is obvious. Satire has been used in the past to provoke change by showing the foolishness of certain issues - this I understand. But these depictions of Grier and Kearns don't say anything about the choice plan - they just show the childishness of those creating such images. And just because I'm not a parent doesn't mean I'm not allowed to have an opinion on the subject. Sorry that I don't "get it." It looks like I never will.

Yes you will Kenny. I believe you will "get it" one day. As soon as you bring that first bundle of joy home, a light bulb will go on. I PROMISE you.

I'll NEVER forget the ride home from the hospital with my first born. Some jack-ass pulled over into our lane and we almost wrecked. THAT was the very day that my protective claws came out and they grow longer with each birthday that my child has.
Thank God everyone was okay and my now 16 year old is still here to help rectify the broken schools in High Point.

Yes Kenny, you'll know soon enough. And it's okay that you don't get it now. There's no hurry. What's sad is those adults that know better. They know better than to do to a child something that they wouldn't do to their own. I thank God everyday for the two school board reps who have been honest enough to admit that they WOULD NOT allow their own children to be involved in any "choice" plan--Darlene Garrett and Kris Cooke. I hope the holidays spark some soul searching for all the other board members.

Now Kenny, get back to your studies. I hope you have a great Holiday with your family and my prayers go out to your brother so far away.

Kris Cooke actaully voted for the plan.

I do, however, forgive her. I believe she is living pain and regret. Poor woman.

She now knows it was wrong.

All Points Bulletin:

Be on the look out for 3 Liberal Nerds in the Vicinity of Southwest Middle School.

Under Cover Police Officers have determined that these Suspects may infiltrate North High Point in order to Sabatoge the Holiday Displays near the Middle School.

Suspect #1 may be wearing horned rim glasses and also may be armed with a Lap Top and pencil protector.

Suspects #2 & 3 are college aged punks ,,,,one who may be speaking with an African Accent,,,the other could be wearing a black and gold tie dye t-shirt.

All 3 suspects could be considered dangerous when yelling from a distance or when employed as a news paper editor.

If you spot these villains, please notify the Southwest Middle School Cheerleading Squad so they can pursue, and beat the hell out of these menaces of Society.

Thank You for your Cooperation.

I think Kris has changed her mind and knows the plan is wrong. She had expressed that at a recent SB meeting. I think someone said they assumed since the two reps who made the motion for the plan lived in HP, that they knew what was best for HP. Of course, that is no excuse. But people can change their minds when they see it has failed miserably on all counts.

I still say, parents know what is best for their children.

I think at the last meeting Kris was dancing around the subject and just doesn't quite know how to "close the deal". Plus there must be a workable, "save-face" solution to undo the plan. If it is to disappear, it must be done right, once and for all. Fences must be mended and there is a lot of mending to be done. It is only right that whatever the 11 decide that they make some decision and do not keep parents hanging.

Nancy Routh had the answer. Keep the focus programs; ditch the lottery. Everyone gets a neighborhood school like Anita is trying to get worked out with the Anita Map Plan. Then students can have a TRUE CHOICE to choose a magnet program if they want, like the rest of the kids in the entire Guilford County. Nancy's Arts Magnet at P-G could work too.

If they deem that the plan should remain then it MUST go countywide. Anything you read on similar plans stress COUNTYWIDE to be workable. That is the only just thing to do.

On a totally different note, please keep all the teenagers who are on the road in your prayers this week and the families of those who have lost children in accidents this week. As you just read in the N & R today, another teen was hit and killed by a drunk driver.

They need extra prayers with the upcoming holiday traffic coming up.

With the terrible news this weekend about the egregious conditions of High Point schools and Guilford County Schools in general, why are we so concerned about displays abusing the responsible people's sensibilities? Let's stow the outrage about a little "childish" display, and show some real outrage about what the negligence of those responsible have done to the schools our children attend. Let's get our priorities straight here. Aren't Terry Grier, Dot Kearns and Susan Mendenhall directly accountable for this disaster, and what are they doing about it?

Three phrases should be among the most common in our daily usage. They are: Thank you, I am grateful and I appreciate.