Poor Grades Equals Fired Teachers

When it comes to educating our children for success then there is nothing better in the world than a successful teacher. Thus the reverse is true for the parents of children attending high school in Central Falls, Rhode Island.

CENTRAL FALLS, R.I. -- Formal termination letters were sent
Wednesday morning to the entire teaching staff at Central Falls High School, who were fired Tuesday night by the district's Board of Trustees.

The firings are effective the last day of school in June. Just 50 percent of teachers can be rehired for the fall, under the school improvement model endorsed by the trustees and School Supt. Frances Gallo. - Providence Journal

If you were working in a manufacturing business on the production floor where 50% of the product you manufactured failed inspection before it even shipped and only 7% of it was actually made to the exact specification then you would certainly be fired. To be honest, the employee should have quit long before it became evident to the business owner that they simply could not understand how to make the product to begin with. That is what you call reality. Being fired is the first step the business owner has to take to make sure his business will survive in a competitive world.

What is the difference between the scenario above and the city of Central Falls, Rhode Island firing its high school teachers and staff? The only difference here is that the product manufactured at Central Falls High School is the children of the town’s people.

When you have that high of a failure rate and an abysmal single digit success rate then “Houston (Central Falls), we have a problem”. One cannot argue in any logical thought out process as to why the staff at Central Falls High School should remain employed if the end result is that the students will continue to be robbed of a high school education. The Board of Trustees made the right call by passing out the pink slips.

Starting fresh is not always the best possible way to go but in this case it is clearly evident by the failure rates of the students that the education system at the high school level is beyond repair and needs to be totally replaced. Now the next question that needs to be answered is if the staff and students were provided the tools necessary to succeed in educating the students to begin with and if not then whoms asses should be fired next? The root cause behind such a tragic breakdown in the educational system at this school did not just happen overnight, like an untreated wound; it has to have been festering till the only possible treatment to save the patient was amputation.

Papamoka

Biden - Palin Debate Winner

I’ll start off with just one reference from Governor Palin. Who the hell is this guy McClellan in charge of the military in Afghanistan? I think she meant to say General David McKiernan. That was a stumble on her part and one of many throughout the night and the debate. One thing was very clear was the fact that Governor Palin did not directly answer many of the questions she was asked. Biden did so with facts and figures and to some that may seem boring but this is not the television series “24”! It's politics that in this time in our nations path needs facts and figures to move forward.

Joe Biden spoke from facts and corrected many of the topics that Palin went off topic on. She was quoting voting records of Obama, Biden, and McCain and Joe Biden knew the facts behind each of the votes which Governor Palin was not privy too. Big mistake on her part on specifics.

It seemed that most of the questions coming to each of the Vice President candidates was answered more so on what the men actually running for President will do. Which is what you would expect in a VP debate. All but one, the role of Vice President and what it entails. Governor Palin sought the same stretch of executive privilege from the Bush administration where as Senator Biden stated the Constitution and the dangerous damage Cheney has morphed the Vice Presidency into.

Asked on what each of the Vice President candidates Achilles heal was, Governor Palin skipped the question entirely and offered just a stump speech of the McCain platform. Senator Biden listed several items that he is weak personally first then went on the Obama platform strengths.

All said and done, Governor Palin tried her best to hold her own but she was up against an encyclopedia of information on government and voting records. For every point she tried to make for McCain, Biden could recite several votes where McCain voted against it from health care, to taxes, to energy issues, and where she was wrong on Obama‘s votes in the Senate.

Two key phrases did come out, Bridge to Nowhere against Palin and a correction to Biden from Palin to get the phrase right? Drill baby Drill! That would be a drill here and everywhere in America point from the Governor. And of course Biden pointing out the fact that John McCain would not sit down with Spain, a NATO member becacuse he thought it was a hostile nation against America?

Biden pretty much linked McCain to Bush over and over again and that will be the mud that sticks to the wall of this debate. What also will stick to the wall is the fact that Governor Palin did not answer many of the questions thrown at her. She dodged the questions to go back to previous points that Biden had made. Gwen Eiffel had to ask the questions back to Governor Palin repeatedly.

On a scale of one to ten I would give Governor Palin a six overall and Senator Biden an eight.

Last thought, when the debate was over the two candidates families all came up on stage and stayed there for a long time interacting with one another. One of the things that warms my heart is children, Joe Biden bent almost all the way over to talk to the Palin family younger kids. Biden went beyond what is normal in a post debate format and introduced his wife, family and grandchildren to Governor Palin and her family, and talked with Governor Palin’s father for a good spell of time.

Update 10/03/08 and must see video from Rachel Maddow...

Video Link



Papamoka

Cross Posted at Bring It On!

Related Posts...
Joe Biden Net Worth
Palin Debate Prep
1 Trillion Mortgage Bailout
Palin Debate and Issues Problem

I Once was Pro School Uniforms

Picture courtesy of Auschwitz.org

Once upon a time, I believed like many parents that having school uniforms would remove the Nike and Jordache (I’m old so shut the hell up and stop laughing) mentality that some would think inserts the power of separation of the haves and have not in the educational system. If all the kids are dressed alike then the only thing they really have to focus on is education. It’s a nice thought but in reality it still will not work.

Some cities, though going broke trying to afford the dreaded number two pencils of the required American education are now going beyond the call of duty are now providing uniforms to the children of public schools. I can not make this stuff up…

School District Has Dress Code, and Is Buying the Uniforms, Too

ELIZABETH, N.J., Aug. 30 — Many public schools are supplying their students with an ever-growing list of essentials that go far beyond textbooks to include scientific calculators, personal laptops and free breakfast.

Now they are dressing them, too.

The Elizabeth school district has spent more than $2 million since January 2006 to buy navy blazers, khaki pants, polo shirts, gym shorts and even socks as part of a new policy to put all its students in uniforms.

The district, which serves mostly poor and minority families, has outfitted more than 9,000 students — nearly half its enrollment — so far as it phases in the uniforms a few schools at a time over five years to spread out the cost.

Snip - a - doodle

Here in Elizabeth, district officials said that most of their students could not have afforded to buy the uniforms. About 80 percent of the students are poor enough to qualify for free and reduced-price lunches. Many are from immigrant families in which the parents speak limited English.

District officials said the money for the uniforms came from the district’s $400 million budget, but said that it was not taken from academics.

Snip - a - wooo

The district plans to pay for only the first set of uniforms for every student (currently 15 of the district’s 31 schools have the dress code). After that, parents and guardians become responsible for buying additional uniforms, and for making alterations or replacing lost items as needed. - New York Times

It’s the first week of school up here in New England and four out of five of my children have brought home fund raisers for their school. List’s from teachers asking for school supplies have flooded the house from pencils to rulers, tissues, paper towels, crayons, and the list goes on from one child to the next. We do what we can because we can. Not all families can do that and put a good meal on the table every night.

Just to check the facts of the story, the majority of parents in the Elizabeth, NJ school system are from poor immigrant families? Eighty percent qualify for free lunch? Did I read that right? After the first day is Mom or Dad going to wash the uniform for every single day for the rest of the school year? Two words… Nanny State!

I have a problem with this because of the rules and regulations that will be forced down the throats of LEGAL residents working hard just to put the cheapest clothes they can afford for their kids on their backs for the school year. New clothes that parents can afford, parents know what they can budget for school clothing and this along with the private company working with the city screams of a rat in the woodpile.

Some people may be cool with this idea but I frankly have seen this in the charter school system here in Mass a two sticks and the cost to outfit your children to school prison requirements became ridiculous to the point of our children being sent home because the shoes they wore did not meet the dress code. Socks had to be the code color. Have a daughter that is a little overweight and the nightmare grows as you try to find nylons to the code. Braid the hair, forget it. It can go as far as your child wears a Cross or Star of David, it will be removed from the child or the child will be sent home. It expands against the interest of the child’s education but the working of the hive and bees that don’t fit are ostracized for non compliance to whatever code they dictate.

“Here’s your child’s uniform, You vill comply with das Fuhrer’s requirements to get your education. Failure to do so is Verboten! Achtung parent?” My German is a little rusty but you get the picture.

That is the missing part of this story from the New York Times and I am frankly amazed that they glossed over this Nanny State tactic and forced feeding of an educators opinion on what the one true people of our society have decided for the masses. Was this run by the voters of Elizabeth before it was shoved down their throats? Let me put it another way, was this run by the legal residents of Elizabeth or was this just another political hack demanding a pure race society in order to hide his real motive? What is his real motive for doing this and expending tax dollars that (Wink, Wink) are not coming out of the academic budget? I smell a male cow flatuation that may have gone to the next step in the digestive process!

Now that they have the children wearing the lock step uniform, I tend to wonder if they will have the children reporting on the parents behavior at home? Don’t be too surprised that this in fact can or will happen if you have never dealt with a family services agency of your state! Reporting on parents by the children is highly encouraged by social workers, teachers, doctors and anyone else who is in direct contact with your children. Is this reminiscent of Nazi Germany pre and during World War II or what?

Speak up America or have this perfect society crap shoved down your throats and your children’s as well. According to this story we lost the war in Europe over Nazi Germany and we became them. We just don’t see it yet because step by step it is happening and Ve Vill be assimilated into the true society.

Papamoka

Cross posted at Bring It On! An amazing daily read...

Technorati Tags:
Auschwitz, Nuremerg, Nazi Germany, Hitler Youth, School Uniforms, Education, Education Policy, School Funds, School Budget, Academics, County Government, School Department, Educators, Liberal Agenda, Over Liberal, American Schools, New York Times, Public Schools, Catholic Schools, Private Schools, Moderate Voters, Immigration, Illegal Immigrants, Clothing School Kids, Education gone Wrong, Japan Education System, Freedom of Expression, Parents Choice on Schools, School Choice, School Board, Elizabeth NJ

HooRAHHH! Here is your Diploma...NOT!

Picture Courtesy of Galesburg High School web site

No matter how proud you are of your son or daughter for making it all the way to finally getting that diploma there is always just one more road block. Remember those two finger claps of years gone by while you attended school? Anything louder than that during your high school graduation ceremony and they pull your diploma in Galesburg, IL!

I could not make this up if I wanted too but the New York Times has this to say about it...

Diplomas Denied Over Graduation Cheers
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: June 3, 2007

GALESBURG, Ill., June 2 — A high school that had warned against undignified behavior at its graduation ceremony denied diplomas to five students after enthusiastic friends or family members cheered for them during the commencement program.

On May 27, Galesburg High School students and their parents were asked to sign a contract promising to act in dignified way. Violators were warned they could be denied their diplomas and barred from an after-graduation party.

Many schools ask spectators to hold applause and cheers until the ceremonies end but few rigidly enforce the policy.

“It was like one of the worst days of my life,” said Caisha Gayles, one of the five students, who officially graduated, but does not have her diploma to frame and hang on her wall. “You walk across the stage and then you can’t get your diploma because of other people cheering for you. It was devastating.”

The school said the five students can still get their diplomas by completing eight hours of public service, answering phones, sorting books or doing other work for the district.

School officials in Galesburg, a city of 34,000 in northwestern Illinois, said the policy was adopted after hoots, hollers and even air horns drowned out much of the ceremony in 2005 and nearly touched off fights in the audience when the unruly were asked to quiet down. - New York Times

Contrary to popular belief, not all kids have a “Disney Channel Sitcom” educational experience. Yes, some children have a very hard time and for the ones that stick it through with those D grades it makes their friends and family damn proud.

If “Buffy and Biff” who sailed through with straight A’s parents want to do the two finger clap then you go right the hell ahead. If my kid struggled all along but stuck with it then I will cheer loud and proud! My kid just completed the toughest event of their young life and getting that High School Diploma is something to be very thankful for. If this were a sporting event then my child just made the first cut and made the team.

Who the hell is that anal among parents that doesn’t see the trees for the forest? Who amongst educators does not get the happiness of this lifetime achievement? Getting that diploma is the true beginning from childhood to being a functioning adult.

Would it hurt the ceremony to pause a damn minute or two to give each of the kids the encouragement they deserve from their families and friends while accepting the award of twelve years or more of continued determination to learn and make the grade. In a society that constantly bitches about kids dropping out, these folks are screwing them over just one last time simply because they hold the piece of paper that states to our society that you made the cut.

How is the kid getting the diploma responsible for this? Well, if you think about it they are. Yup, if gramps or grams with all the arthritis and bad hips gets to excited then pull that kids diploma. Mom or Dad that worked several jobs to pay for tutors and saved for college and a better future should be silent. Parents are to be seen and not heard from.

NOT!

We are just going to put this one in the idiot box and forward it to every blog we can think of. Life is hard enough for our young adults and then you get this educational Nazi idiocy movement. I refuse to “Achtung Mine Furor” on this one.

Some people are just idiots (Terminology changed due to younger readers) because they have a position that lets them be that way. Give you a clue, there are bigger idiots (Terminology changed due to younger readers) like me that care and City Councilors that care even more. Especially, when nice folks that are not idiots (Terminolgy...you know the drill) reading and idiot blog like mine simply email the real folks in charge to complain and demand justice… Hint, hint, hint…

If this post inspired you or ticked you off, please forward this post to someone else that is an idiot...

Papamoka

GALESBURG, Illinois official municipal site... hint, hint, hint...

UPDATE: The school has given the kids their diplomas.

Cross posted at Bring It ON!