Serious question not looking for battles

[tinymontgomery]

No name calling, no treating people like crap, looking for decent debate.

School has already missed 5 days due to snow. Two teacher work days taken so far, one Saturday for school, and another work day taken away in Feb. Still more winter coming. On the Saturday only 20% or so students show up. Week is now EOC week (end of course testing). School can not go beyond 10 Jun due to law (tourist industry passed). School board made MLK day a school day, school is about 40% African American, Attendance 95% on this day for testing and review for the next day.

Debate, possibly not making the state mandated test scores and go into that hole of being taken over for not meeting goals, not meeting goals of time in seat due to state law and getting slammed, parents slamming teachers because their child didn't pass test due to lack of review due to schedule/review change or as happened to us have the NAACP picket the county office for having school on MLK day because board is making effort trying to plan ahead.

My view, no win situation. Please no calling, raciest, crackers, dickheads etc. Just what is your view and possible solutions. By the way, school is mid-atlantic area so snow etc isn't planned for like NJ (grew up there).

[Vinnie From Indy]

1. No name calling here

I could not understand what your point or question is in the above OP. I even read it twice.

Cheers!

[tinymontgomery]

15. Sorry you didn't get the question

what would be your solution to the situation as presented above. How do you solve the weather problems with all the issues. Just looking for debate. After two glasses of wine maybe it is not the perfect way of stating it.

[ZombieHorde]

2. "School can not go beyond 10 Jun due to law (tourist industry passed)."

There is one area legislators could look into.

Another solution would be to quit having so many snow days. I live in Montana, and we have zero snow days most years. We have lots and lots of snow, but we still manage to go to work and school.

[virgogal]

5. Some areas just don't have the equipment or know-how to handle snow.

[tinymontgomery]

9. Your right

areas in NC are already running out of sand/salt etc. The buses would not even go up the gravel roads for the past two days.

[snooper2]

80. you're right, not (your right)

FYI :hi:

[tinymontgomery]

83. Thank you

for the correction. Shouldn't do this late at night.

[tinymontgomery]

7. I'm with you there, one problem

came two weeks ago. Didn't cancel school because the roads looked good (very rual area) on the way to school car with three students hit a curve with black ice, one 9th grader killed two badly hurt in the hospital. (Should have said that) has made the district very gun nervous). Should have said that earlier. I was with you at the time since I in NJ we always went to school.

[blondeatlast]

25. I spent 5 school years there; in Boulder to be specific. The single snow day we had

in the entire time was because the school bus that brought the kids from Jefferson City (15 mi. away) could not make it to Boulder.

Five years of Montana winters--I got ONE damn snow day. ONE. Hmph!

[tinymontgomery]

28. I didn't even know

people lived in Montana LOL. You folks are used to it, the south everything stops. NJ at least 40 years ago it took a blizzard to stop school.

[kag]

56. And with good reason.

I grew up in Texas. I saw maybe three snow days the whole time. Once, it began snowing after we all got to school (I was a junior in high school), so they let us out early. The parking lots began to empty out, and all these kids who barely knew how to drive ANYWAY, had to do it in the snow! It was terrifying.

I live outside Boulder, CO now. We get three or four good storms per year that have the potential for a snow day or two.

[tinymontgomery]

62. I enjoy history

But not as much as you seem to. I post daily history high lights on my face book page and make snaky comments on them. Here was todays:

Early morning: Battle of Cowpens, South Carolina, 1781 (take my students to that field every year to study the battle), Eisenhower warns of the "military-industrial complex", 1961 (wasn't wrong was he),
H-bomb lost in Spain, 1966 (whoops), NBC Television greenlights The Monkees, 1966 (Hey Hey, you continue), Benjamin Franklin 1706, Al Capone 1899, (what a contrast) Along with a bunch of other people were born today.

[virgogal]

3. Could you do makeup on spring vacation?

[tinymontgomery]

8. I've thought that to

and untimely it may come to that (if this weather keeps up, rain pellets tonight) and maybe that is what the board was thinking. The one reason I don't like it is that I have always taken students on a 4 day trip out of state but you have to give up something and the trip may be it.

[virgogal]

20. Hate to see you lose your trip but that may be necessary. Tough

for the kids,though.

I wish you well.

[tinymontgomery]

22. Well, maybe they will let me take them

out of school. I'm a firm believer you learn just as much on the road as in the class room. I tell my students I prefer to be on trips then in the classroom. Thanks for the input.

[elleng]

4. Sorry; no ideas, but

system must be sufficiently flexible to allow for adjustments in the many areas you mention.

[tinymontgomery]

10. Yea, its

a real exercise in critical thinking rather then just do this. To often we think the one solution is it. That is why I just thought i'd see what folks here thought,

[elleng]

14. Reminds me of education issues, generally, tiny; there IS no ONE solution.

Good luck to us all.

[tinymontgomery]

19. Your right,

that is why I thought I would just ask what people on DU think, especial with all the teacher issues going on.

[EFerrari]

6. No name calling. Imho, in the current retrograde climate in this country

the NAACP is right to try to protect this day. This one day which will not change anyone's test scores and which has so much potential to heal in its observance.

[tinymontgomery]

13. I hear you, and personally I would have

rather headed over to Charlotte for the observance but the anger at teachers and how we're being beat about is another factor that should be looked at. Also attendance was better on MLK day then a Saturday. Trust me, I don't have the answer and I've enjoyed the responses, it shows how different people think and what they put as the important portion. Me, take the kids on the road and show them the country, you MLK is more important, above have lawmakers fix the problem, someone else have more stuff to fix the roads. I don't think there is one solid answer and am not looking for one.

Also thought this would get us off Palin for a while.

[EFerrari]

18. When did beating up on teachers even become an option?

This isn't the culture I grew up in and I don't like it. I'm sorry you went through that. It's unacceptable in a civil society.

[tinymontgomery]

21. The threads on here on DU

have pointed out how the various states and federal government are going after the teachers. Go to the education forum. Your right, teachers should be treated as professionals.

[phylny]

11. Many school districts in Virginia, mine included,

lengthen the school day to "bank" time for future snow days to meet the mandated 180 days of school. Last year we had many snow days, and the kids only had to make up one day, which came off of Spring Break, I think.

[tinymontgomery]

16. Now see I like that idea

how much do they extend it by, any idea?

[Toucano]

12. Federal holidays should be observed.

Extend the school day by an hour or 30 minutes to make up the time when when the kids are already there so everyone's schedule will be less impacted than having Saturday make up days.

If one day of "review" makes the difference between students passing or failing a test, there are bigger problems afoot than the calendar.

[tinymontgomery]

17. Again, I like that idea

hell, I'm here till 5 or so anyway. I also agree we shouldn't have to give the students a three hour review plus three or more hours to complete a 100 question test but that is what it is due to the high stakes testing.

[Toucano]

30. Exactly right.

The "bigger problems" I refer to is the high stakes testing and the legislature's deranged belief that the number of days spent "learning" mean than proper funding or decent curriculum.

179 days in an underfunded classroom with a crappy curriculum versus 180 days in an underfunded classroom with a crappy curriculum?

OMG! Call out the riot police.

Yeah, let's focus on DAYS...but they've been doing that CYA trick for decades.

Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?

;-)

[tinymontgomery]

37. I'm with you there, that does

go to the bigger issues that are being discussed on this board and over in the Ed forum.

[tinymontgomery]

23. Thanks for the replies, civil

and interesting.

[elleng]

24. *Rachel just had pic of class in Charlotte-Mecklenberg today!

[tinymontgomery]

29. I didn't see her but did catch the

video on DU. I know they were battling with the issue there. Not sure what the finial out come was in regard to schools. We only have one high school, one middle and four elementary not quite as contentions as Charlotte.

[pipi_k]

26. How about...

lengthening the school day by an hour each day till the time is made up.

Or holding classes on alternate Saturdays.


not popular, but what else can you do...

[tinymontgomery]

32. Extending the school day

I'm for, as others suggested. I'm a geo-bachelor so I'm not big on every other Saturday. Saying that I would do what needed to be done to help the kids.

[defendandprotect]

27. Why haven't we done the obvious thing when schools close ... make teaching availabe by video...?

on local stations --

Same should be done with every lecture and every bit of education anyone could ever

want -- video it all and get it on local TV!

With Global Warming, I imagine there are going to be many more missed days!!

[tinymontgomery]

33. Good idea, we get evaluated on use of technology

so I would try that. We do college course's on line and virtual high school on line here why not what you suggested.

[defendandprotect]

41. Every town pretty much has a local "town" TV station --

the idea could be interesting if a number of the towns participated --

the stations are available to every town.

The videos would be repeated throughout the day -- mixed with other programming --

i.e., snow reports and other town news they usually do.

Could be exciting to see your teacher on TV -- and what teachers in other schools

were like?


But I've long been disappointed -- over decaded -- that ALL of the knowledge of the

world hasn't come flowing through those local programming TV stations!

Great resistance to this idea of free education!!

[tinymontgomery]

44. It would be better to see some education on tv

then the crap that is there now in during the day time. Wonder if the stations would give free time to educate our children. Another great idea.

[defendandprotect]

48. The original stipulations when we gave corporations our airwaves to use were 39% education --

and the balance they could use for entertainment and sadly commercials!

That applied to the old days of radio, as well.

Of course the "local programming stations" are under local control -- and often put to

questionable use. Don't you have any in your area?

[tinymontgomery]

51. Our county

has none. They come out of VA and Greensboro etc. Unless it is a death, drug bust etc you don't hear about us. But your right, if they went back to the original intent it may be possible with some work and cooperation.

[defendandprotect]

74. No -- I don't think that still we're talking about the same thing ....

Not local news --

these are stations reserved for the communities to use -- not just county-wide

but TOWN-WIDE --

And, the High School journalism departments usually have a hand in providing programming.

Do you have no TV stations where you watch Town Hall Meetings from your town or

nearby towns? Until you find that, you won't be able to understand what I'm saying.

[tinymontgomery]

90. Now I think I know what your talking about

when I was in Gaston county I remember seeing that station. Haven't seen one on the tube here, could be I haven't looked hard enough. Thanks for the clarification.

[tinymontgomery]

61. i'm all into free

I put my note taking sheets and lectures on my web page so the students get get them any time. I wish it was like that every were. TV tells you what the lesson will be that day at 6am and then at say 6pm on all stations including FAUx.

[defendandprotect]

76. ... but you're talking about the internet ....

That's fine -- I'd like to know about what you're describing --

Is it simply text -- or is there video?

In other words, can you have a live cam in your classroom and either tape it

or play it live so your students can see and hear you?




Continuing re "free education" -- certainly it was immediately obvious 20 yeas or

more ago -- but it never really happened. Live cams in any classroom so any student

home ill could watch what was happening in their classroom any day.

[MadHound]

82. Now you want sick kids watching this programming?

Umm, they're sick, and won't be able to concentrate on the program at all:eyes:

[MadHound]

36. Two things,

First, how many parents are going to make their kids sit in front of a TV set or computer and make them learn.

Second, and more importantly, many people simply don't learn optimally in a lecture type format.

[tinymontgomery]

38. A third is many in this area (glad you mentioned this)

do not even have internet or it is dial up. Throws another wrench in the problem.
Good points: With two working parents not a lot can or will monitor the younger students ,and I need to be in a classroom with the teacher to grasp the subject especial algebra or anything higher.


Edit to answer your points.

[defendandprotect]

40. Well, internet is another alternative ... depends on the community ... if very poor no ...

bit I was talking about using "local programming TV outlets" -- every town

has it.

Teachers could prepare something suitable for various ages -- two or three

alternative tapes -- mainly for winter snow days -- and they could play on

the local station most of the day. Kids and parents could tune in when they

have the opportunity.


These would, of course, be given to the local stations AHEAD OF TIME --

and be available when needed.

[tinymontgomery]

42. Ah, understand

very good suggestion. Thought through right may be very workable. Really this is the type of education issues that should be discussed, how to work on student achievement into days world. Not cut salaries and get rid of tenure etc. Your idea could carry over to normal schooling for the right students.

[defendandprotect]

39. Let's not get carried away -- this is about ONE day .... and parents are also

snowbound at these times and often looking for something to do with children --

for younger ones, they might be excited to see a classroom used by older siblings?

Parents might very readily want to participate with the child -- nor would I

expect it to be endless hours of classroom -- perhaps just two or three hours

of the day -- with suggestions for some work to be done at home from textbooks?

Parents could stagger a few hours of teaching/homework over a long day.

"Lecture type format" -- ?

I imagine teachers have sufficient imagination to make a snow day at home fun for the kids.

Imagine all kids have "learned" from Sesame Street over 40 years!

Versus what they learn from expensive standardized testing?

[tinymontgomery]

43. Possibly the parents are snow bound

what about the parents that are forced to go in or not get paid. This may give the baby sitter/older sibling a way to give them some education. I was raised with sesame street. But your idea has merit if the parents are willing to participate.

[defendandprotect]

49. Again, let's not get carried away ... it's one day we're talking about ....

Even when parents may be forced to "go in" -- often now it is impossible to do so.

We've had some very heavy snow in NJ -- two feet last outing.

Again -- it has to be made fun. As we recall from Sesame Street . . . fun and education

do mix well!!

[tinymontgomery]

52. I'm with you, fun in my day in NJ

was sledding smokey mountain (it was really a hill) but I believe, and I could be wrong, snow days were built in or requirements were not so tight. So now 40 years later how do we adapt to the issues. We didn't have a MLK day back then along with some other days off that are now national holidays (don't ask can't remember, now three glasses of wine).

[defendandprotect]

77. Smokey Mountain .... will have to look that up --

Yes -- authoritarian-ism has embedded itself in our education system with

"Leave no child behind" and Neal Bush's "COW" -- "Curriculum on Wheels" -- !!

That's the expensive recovery program when a school fails here in NJ!

Authoritarian-ism is unnatural and a tool of idiots.

IMO, we need more holidays -- not less -- and obviously, since MLK, Jr. has

been the latest added, I would suggest that it should be one of the older

holidays that should be disturbed -- but then you could rotate down the line?

And, with Global Warming think you're going to need more flexibility, anyway!

Wine? I could use some cold beer on ice in a wine glass, but right now

it's only just before 1pm here -- !! We've had very low temps here -- lots of

heat on everywhere and makes you very dry!!!

I'll try to catch up with the beer later today!! :)

[tinymontgomery]

88. Berlin NJ

Also known as "Long a Coming". Was a stage coach stop on the way somewhere. The hill was in a neighborhood called Belair.

[tinymontgomery]

60. True, but we're already up to 5 days

4 days in a row for us. Teachers were told not to come in but hell, I had nothing better to do so I did and did some work. Yea, I don't have a life.

[defendandprotect]

78. Think trying to teach kids is quite a life!!

:)

[tinymontgomery]

84. Very exciting

and changing daily.

[MadHound]

45. Most parents I know don't get snowdays off when their kids do,

They might get to go in late, or get off early, but most people I know still have to go to work even though there is a snow day. Then again, I live in an area that has the equipment and experience to deal with snowfall.

Then there is the problem of the lessons themselves. What, you going to pop in some generic filler lesson in? Unless you have a teacher tape every single lesson they do, there will be no way to have a video lesson come close to fitting within the overall sequence.

As far as lecture type format, there is a limited amount that you can do with educational tech. I imagine that the budget for one season of Sesame Street is twice what many school districts have for an entire year.

But even if you do have such a budget, there are always going to be a fairly large group of kids who simply won't be reached. Besides the obvious problems concerning kids with learning disabilities, a large group of kids don't learn well verbally. Some are visual leaners, others are kinetic learners, some are inter or intra personal learners, etc. etc.

Furthermore, as Vygotsky noted, a child's natural method of learning is through play, and that unstructured, unregulated time for play is vital to a child's development, both intellectually and emotionally. Remember when you were a kid and playing, the insights into nature, science, physics that you discovered as a child. Not through some lecture or TV lesson, but through taking a handful of snow and compacting it, squeezing moisture out of it, making it the best aerodynamically expedient missile that you possibly could. Discovering basic laws of nature hands on and mind open. You weren't learning, you were playing, but I'm willing to bet that those basic lessons about density, pressure and the like are ones that stuck with you.

One further practical consideration, in an education system already being ravaged by budget cutting, where are you going to find the money to create this educational network?

Furthermore, stepping outside the test driven educational mania of our times, having the kids take a few snowdays is probably a good thing, including a good learning experience. If you want a twenty first century education system, you've got to stop funding it at nineteenth century levels.

[defendandprotect]

50. Wherever children are left -- either with grandparents -- or with childcare ....

the community "local programming networks" are available --

Don't you have them where you are?

Then there is the problem of the lessons themselves. What, you going to pop in some generic filler lesson in? Unless you have a teacher tape every single lesson they do, there will be no way to have a video lesson come close to fitting within the overall sequence.

Amazing that resistance seemds to hinder imagination -- but that's always true!

Think teachers would prepare an advance lesson -- some recap, something new -- aimed for

the snow day season. Perhaps a video of a classroom teaching session from the previous year

-- perhaps a session each from December, January, February -- which would be offered to this

year's students? Teachers usually have wonderful imaginations and imagine there would be many

ways to go.

As far as lecture type format, there is a limited amount that you can do with educational tech. I imagine that the budget for one season of Sesame Street is twice what many school districts have for an entire year.

If you're suggesting that it has to be exactly like Sesame Street or worthless, then I think you're

offering a lot of resistance for a one day program! Meanwhile, for younger kids, they probably do

as well with Sesame Street as they would in the classroom that day! One great disappointment with

the Sesame Street education is that it didn't go on to capture older students. And, again,

teachers have wonderful imaginations and think any child would be thrilled to see their teacher

on TV! And to see what other schools and other teachers were doing.

But even if you do have such a budget, there are always going to be a fairly large group of kids who simply won't be reached. Besides the obvious problems concerning kids with learning disabilities, a large group of kids don't learn well verbally. Some are visual leaners, others are kinetic learners, some are inter or intra personal learners, etc. etc.

Does "obsessed" ring a bell with you?

Meanwhile, it would also be important to have the kids go out to sled -- cross-country ski --

or for toddlers to get pulled around in an inner tube with a rope on it. That's learning!

Kids learn a great deal spending time with adults -- and Mom and Dad can be highly present on

snow days sharing the fun.

Furthermore, as Vygotsky noted, a child's natural method of learning is through play, and that unstructured, unregulated time for play is vital to a child's development, both intellectually and emotionally. Remember when you were a kid and playing, the insights into nature, science, physics that you discovered as a child. Not through some lecture or TV lesson, but through taking a handful of snow and compacting it, squeezing moisture out of it, making it the best aerodynamically expedient missile that you possibly could. Discovering basic laws of nature hands on and mind open. You weren't learning, you were playing, but I'm willing to bet that those basic lessons about density, pressure and the like are ones that stuck with you.

See above comments --

One further practical consideration, in an education system already being ravaged by budget cutting, where are you going to find the money to create this educational network?

You've missed the entire point. It's NOT an education network -- it's using available "local

programming stations" to air what the community needs! That's the purpose of the

"local programming" opportunities! It's air time available all day long and all evening long

and all night long! For years, this air time was being wasted -- the H/S Journalism class

would have air time and leave it to a couple of kids to develop programming which played for

hours and was meaningless -- usually consisting of males involved in sword fights, etal.

This went on a few years -- until we got some criticism and a bit of redirection. Lots of

things to be done with that camera -- they have a long way to go still --!

[tinymontgomery]

54. Budget is a definite issue

Also how does a teacher plan a lesson and keep on track then have the snow hit in the middle. Should they be required to have internet? Will the county pay for it. Hmm quite the dilemma to move into the 21st century teaching like we get evaluated on.

[defendandprotect]

66. What budget? Let me start from the beginning ....

Are you and anyone else reading this familiar with "local programming" outlets in

your communities? Do you understand how they work?

Why are you talking about internet?

In fact, if I may ask politely, what in the hell are you talking about?

"Will the county pay for it?" -- What are you talking about?

PLEASE go back and read the prior posts --


Also how does a teacher plan a lesson and keep on track then have the snow hit in the middle. Should they be required to have internet? Will the county pay for it. Hmm quite the dilemma to move into the 21st century teaching like we get evaluated on.

In line with the confusion expressed in this post -- let me suggest that whether by internet

or by TV, the communities could simply post a TEST for the kids -- one for each grade.

I'm sure that would be "learning" -- :eyes:


Now -- let's get back to what I'm talking about --

Find your "local programming" in your community -- there are usually a number of open stations

where town news and local community info is displayed and discussed. Sometimes your Town Hall

Meetings are covered. Usually, besides a community representative guiding what's seen on these

stations, the town's highschool JOURNALISM departments are also involved in creating programming

for the station. That's the resource I'm talking about using FOR ONE OR MORE SNOW DAYS IN A

YEAR!!

If you still don't understand what I'm saying after taking a look for your "local programming"

outlets, I can't help you any further ....

LOL

[tinymontgomery]

87. All the issues you

mention have been being discussed here. As for how local programing works, I will admit I don't know, but that is what all this discussion is about. Blasting about how we don't know anything etc really didn't add much for just discussing ideas is what I think but others my think differently. Thanks.

[MadHound]

64. A few questions for you before we continue this discussion.

First of all, have you ever taught in a classroom?

Have you ever taken any education classes, child development, or ed psych classes? Do the names Bloom, Gardener, Bandura and Vygotsky mean anything to you (please don't run to Wikipedia to find out, either you know what I'm talking about or you don't, and that determines at what level we continue this discussion)?

Do you know how much it costs to produce a television program, even a bare budget one? Yes, the public, at least nominally, owns the airwaves. That doesn't mean that producing programs are cheap. Multiply that cost for a single program by one hundred or more, depending on the number of teachers in a district. Take that number and multiply it by, oh, say, 4.3, since teachers teach multiple subjects. Take that number and multiply it by five, or if you really want to allow for max number snow days, ten.

Again, where are you going to get that money?

[defendandprotect]

67. Try to concentrate on what I'm saying ....

And answer this question first -- do you have a clue as to what "local programming"

stations are? Are you familiar with them in your area -- and if so tell me what's on?

[MadHound]

72. Yes, I know what local programming stations are.

Now then, will you answer the questions that I posed? If you continue to dodge them, I will simply assume that you're doing so for a reason, namely that you have no training as a teacher, have had no education classes, and that you have no clue as to how much it costs to produce even a bare bones television program. If that isn't the case, tell me otherwise, show me that you know who Bandura, Vygotsky, et al. are.

[defendandprotect]

73. What's on your local stations right now ... can you find two or three of them?

Tell me who's running them -- are the high school jornalism departments

involved?

[MadHound]

75. Excuse me, but can we stop playing this game.

I answered your question, now will you answer mine?

[defendandprotect]

79. We can stop right now -- you're on "ignore" -- bye!

[MadHound]

81. LOL, ask a few simple questions in order to determine where you're at, and you put me on ignore.

How very petty and childish. You demand answers of others, but can't stand it when somebody wants you to answer questions.

Well, your response answers those questions for me. It is apparent that you haven't taught in a classroom a single day in your life. You have no clue about who those people that I named are, and therefore have no clue as to how students learn, how varied their learning experience is, and how you need to approach each student in a different manner, something that can be accomplished by a real, live teacher, but which is impossible with a TV program.

You have demonstrated that you are one of those people that teachers absolutely hate, somebody who thinks that they know best how to teach kids, how to run a classroom, how to run a school, without a single bit of training on your part, just using the experience that you had when you were in school.

Bub, I've got two degrees in teaching, I know what goes on behind the curtain in the classroom. I know how kids learn because I've not only trained in the subject area, but have actually taught in a classroom. I know what works, what doesn't work. If you want me to give you an extended answer as to why such programming won't work, I can. But you don't seem to like the rational answers I gave you before, so I doubt that you can handle anymore rationality in your life now.

You've also demonstrated that you don't have a clue as to how much it costs to produce even a bare bones program. Let me fill you in. Even if the teacher is working for free, equipment costs, labor costs for the program are going to run fifty bucks minimum. No, you can't have high school kids shooting these shows, it is called child labor laws. You have to pay somebody to film, etc.

So, fifty bucks for an hour program. So, using the numbers I gave above, for a one hundred teacher school district, that winds up costing the district $107,500. Again, where are school districts going to get the money? And that's for just a small school district. Most districts, even rural ones, have two hundred plus teachers in them. And again, where are these cash strapped school districts going to get the money?

So you're putting me on ignore, that's fine with me. It amuses me that some simple questions on my part caused you to, essentially, stick your fingers in your ears and scream LALALALA I CAN'T HEAR YOU! Geez, you just must absolutely freak when somebody dares to question you in real life. But hey, keep me on ignore, I don't care. However I won't be putting you on ignore, because I believe that every post here has value, if only comedic value.

Psst, don't forget to log back on when you're done reading this post.

[tinymontgomery]

53. Great points

and I didn't learn physics by making a snow ball. We packedmm, rackedem, and throw them against the team that built the fort. Ah to be a young 8th grader again in the early 70's

[defendandprotect]

68. There are many lessons in life to be learned -- and lots of ways to learn them....

that's why diversity is so important -- and TESTS as "learning" such fakery!

But tell me ... are you familiar with the "local programming" stations I'm talking about --

and if so, what's playing now on one or two of those local stations in your area?

[tinymontgomery]

89. No local

stations come out of VA, or Durham/Burlington area of NC. We are really in the middle of no where. But if the various school systems would learn to work together it sounds very interesting.

[seabeyond]

31. sounds to me like school is trying to do everything right... and it snowed. would tell all to buck

up.... and get on with life. my kids would be hitting that saturday adn MLK day and all the whines would be ah well, got it off when it snowed.

[tinymontgomery]

34. Well that was my first thought

since I came from up north. When that student died I (don't mean to be cold hearted) still felt that way. Then I found out that one half of the county was related or close to the child and then realized I wasn't in NJ were things like that didn't affect those (or me) us from bigger communities.

[tinymontgomery]

35. Loving the discourse, lots of views

and all very thoughtful thanks. Kinda makes you think outside the box I hope.

[defendandprotect]

46. Another fun idea using local TV stations is to run the nearby sledding hill ....

Our kids are grown, but this past week we've visited a few --

One in a park which we go thru on the way home -- it's a wonderful "hill" --

very wide area -- off to the side one area for toddlers, as well.


And they put hay bales up to protect the kids as they come down to a corral fence.

And, made hay bales available for those who want to build a little "jump."

Good thing about this area is there is no waiting at the top -- any time you get up

there you can be ready to go! Not too long a walk up either -- and as you come down

there is a decline and then a second smaller hill as you end your ride.


All the new sleds are wonderful to see now -- the Flexible Flyer can still be seen --

about one on every hill. But plastic wins the day now on the snow hills.

Plastic in every color -- round discs -- discs for two -- and the more exciting ones

are rather like pool inner tubes! Great big ones where a child and parent can ride

down the hill together in one. Some kids actually just had inner tubes!


At the shore, we came about a man-made 35 foot hill!! It had been engineered for the

kids -- a much steeper ride, but a very long walk up the hill. And, lots of waiting

at the top cause cause it was fairly narrow -- maybe two kids at atime going off.


We also saw a great sledding area at a wonderful park in NJ later yesterday --

but we got distracted by the huge barn like structure with a great big fireplace and

didn't venture out so much to watch the skiing!!



:)

[tinymontgomery]

55. Were are you in NJ

North, middle, south, coast? I grew up 45 min outside Atlantic city before gambling took over. When I lived in VA and wish I knew where to take my son sledding. Great idea.

[defendandprotect]

70. Central NJ --

And getting back to the concept of the "local programming" TV station for

community use -- frequently on a big snow day, they'd go out with a live

camera -- if other "news" was slow -- and film what was going on.

There's lots of time on these local stations to be filled.

It's ideas that they're short of -- that is if you don't want to see them

taken over by the local Chamber of Commerce!!


:nuke:

Let me know if you find your stations and what's playing!

[tinymontgomery]

86. Haven't looked them up

yet, will get back to you, maybe.

[dsc]

47. I can you what my district has done

we have had two snow days this year. One occurred the week before winter break and we converted 3 January into a regular school day, instead of the workday it was supposed to be. The second will be made up by converting 22 feb into a school day. If we need one more that will be 21 feb and any more will come from spring break.

[tinymontgomery]

57. Sounds like a good plan

We have 3 more work days (I don't mind hell I get paid either way). The problem I see with spring break days is the students don't come anyway. The parents have vacations planed. How do we break the cycle that school is more important then disney land? Here you go : I have a student that we took on three school day trips, student was also suspended twice (4 days total) didn't come in on the Saturday school day, mother is a counselor at the school. She blamed my program for her child doing poorly in her classes. Now, I'm the only program that requires all teachers to sign off on by all teachers that the student can miss the class because of grades or attitude plus parent gave permission. The mother blamed us for the kid missing days and getting poor grades. Veeeeeery interesting.

[darkstar3]

58. This is a NATIONALLY recognized method for making up missed school days

and it has been in practice for decades. Having been involved in this type of planning before, I can tell you:

1. School districts, especially in areas with snow-day history, pad their years with a few days just in case.
2. Snow days are called as late as possible in order to ensure that the district stays in schedule. Administrators rise early or sometimes stay up all night keeping in touch with each other and local weather watchers to check safety conditions up until the last possible moment.
3. When a snow day has to be made up, standard school holidays and teacher in-service days are sacrificed. Teachers end up coming in to work on weekends in order to attend their mandated in-service sessions.

This is the way it's done. One year when I was in high school, in a town that was basically a housing development for a military base, we attended school on Veteran's Day, Dr. King's birthday, and President's day. In fact, I happen to know that MANY school districts around the country have planned to attend class on President's day this year, but no one's complaining about that one.

So what's my advice for winning this no win situation? Well, I would have the school board issue a press release stating the above policy (or whatever is in place), and suggesting that the NAACP might want to more carefully pick its battles. There are plenty of instances of institutionalized racism in this country, and there is absolutely no reason to manufacture controversy over a policy that was carefully arrived at and equitably applied.

(I really wish I could find a video clip from The West Wing. John Amos as Percy Fitzwallace saying "I have some real, honest to God battles to fight Leo. I don't have time for the cosmetic ones.")

[tinymontgomery]

59. Like the ideas but

1: South doesn't plan snow days in terms of extra day. They take planning day etc (okay with me)
2. They do call late around here, 6 in the morning lately, until the death, now very scared to have students come in.


I think one of the differences is only seniors could drive to school in 72 but now anyone at 15 or 16 can drive and they don't have the experience for bad weather.

Of course I could be totally off the mark!

[defendandprotect]

71. As far as I can see ....

we're going to have a lot more disruptive weather as Global Warming progresses --

and I think keeping kids and parents safe when driving conditions are poor should

be primary. Obviously, more flexibility is needed when "weather" exceeds normal

expectations.

Authoritarian rule isn't a sign of sanity!

[tinymontgomery]

85. Yep, had today off again

moving into spring break and extending the school year. Okay with me I'm a twelve month employee.

[tinymontgomery]

63. Thanks to everyone for the discussion

It was nice hearing other points of views and ideas ( I have no input to the decision making process) with out the pounding on each other. Well till tomorrow when we'll probable be at each other again.I Hope all the inputs made us think outside of the box a little. (I know outside the box is a overused term) now 4 glasses of wine I can't think of anything else.

[tinymontgomery]

65. Well after last nights discussion

we have off today due to ice on roads, and will have school on Saturday.

[WinkyDink]

69. Easy-peasy: Lengthen a percentage of remaining school days. Oh, but heaven forfend it affect SPORTS!

[Shagbark Hickory]

91. Start earlier then. Oh rats... interferes with sleep.

[ladyVet]

92. are you in Montgomery county?

I'm here in Alamance county, the northern rural part, and this weather has been crazy. The young man you mentioned that was killed recently lived not far from my area--I'm pretty close to Yanceyville.

The schools are limited by law on when and how long to hold classes, but I think it would be simple to allow extra days at the end of the term for make up days, rather that remove holidays, workdays, etc., or risk lives driving on icy roads. We used to have snow/weather days built in, not sure why the school year was restricted so much.

In response to some suggestions about using the local access channels, here are the only ones I could find in a short search:

Burlington/Alamance County--channel 5 on the local Time-Warner cable service, which does many of us here no good, as they don't run cable very far outside city limits.

Asheville--URTV

Chapel Hill--The Peoples Channel

Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Access Corporation CMPAC

Raleigh Television Network--(RTN), four channels

I don't know anything about the others listed, as I can't receive the stations.