Education & County Graduation Rate
Topic emailed today:
I'm deeply concerned about our community and it is about our children. Our graduation rate is almost 50%!!! This means about 50% of our children do not finish high school and that is a real problem. We need to focus on what is important and that is our youth. Local officials need to focus attention on this at all levels. Parents need to take a greater concern in their children's education. As a community, we need to try to emphasize the importance of education in offering life opportunities.
We seem to have a lot of concern for sports, but education needs to be our top priority!!!!
Please post this and it will hopefully bring attention to an important issue.
50% That's pathetic. Maybe the kids should actually play sports since that would give them some incentive to finish out their 4 years. I know its a twist on the topic but there's nothing fun or exciting about going to school. Apparently many have a lack of drive or just don't seem the need to finish. Teachers have too many students to make a positive impact on a struggling student, whereas a coach has a more direct opportunity to instill some life-skills...make a difference. Obviously the parents are nowhere to be heard. I vote for sports. From a drop-outs perspective though...what good is a high school degree anymore? Your not going to make above $15 an hour unless your good at something and a GED doesn't give you that. That sounds so hopeless...
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That would probably be 30 percent of the 50 percent that graduate, they've played sports or something to keep their interest for 4 years, but they can't add, subtract, or read. I don't really know what Taylor County Schools have been focusing on, no winning team in several years, graduating students that can't do basic math or read. Hiring unqualified teachers, that are not certified, keeping them on even though they can't get certified, hiring unqualified former teachers to run the district offices, because they are friends with the super, they hire their friends for the administrative positions, no qualifications are ever considered except, "What's your name, who's your Daddy." I also wonder if any of the Board Members families that work for the School System have been laid off or Fired, I know of one Board Member that has several children and they're spouses that are employed with the System, I don't know how the cutbacks have affected them, if things go as usuall they have nothing to fear, whether they can do their jobs or not.
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What happened to art and music in the schools? Why does everyone think that sports are so important. Sports can only take you so far in this world. Music lets students express themselves in other ways besides violent sports.
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Art, music, athletics--these are all important in a well-rounded education.
Unfortunately, so many kids (not just in Taylor County, but all over the U.S.) aren't mastering the basic skills that there's little time left in the day to study anything else.
One option is to move to a year-round school system, or at least to shorten the summer break--something President Obama has talked about looking into. However, this is a state decision rather than a federal one, so it would need to happen in Tallahassee rather than Washington.
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I'm sorry but I don't see extracuricular activities keeping the kids in schools now days. The root of the problem is that parents don't make their kids do anything. Ex. I have a 16 yr old who is in high school. She has always done well in school and has kept the same "click" of friends (from about 3rd grade) - all of whom we have thought highly of. As of last year several (actually 5)of these friends decided that school was boring and they didn't like their teachers. Guess what.......half of parents bowed down and let them take high school completion. Woohoo now the kids are "graduated" and bored to death because guess what ----they are too YOUNG to work anywhere. The other teenagers were allowed to quit and a year later (and minus 3 years of school) are thinking that maybe it wasn't so bad so they MIGHT go get their GED. My child TRIED us and mentioned online classes (so she didnt have to get up early and go to school), high school completion, GED, etc. THe answer was absolutley NO. Granted her grades dipped until she figured out that all that did was get her grounded so now things are back on the right track and although she now has a different group of school peers, she sees that her friends that were allowed to "quit" really have no life. Not completing school has to begin with parents who care enough to put a foot down.
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Maybe if these kids had played sports or any other after school function, maybe they would be in school today. Your first statement does not hold water.
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I disagree that sports or other "after school functions" will have anything to do with staying in shool. We have tried it (for 2 years) and all it did was run us ragged (We have 4 children at 4 different schools. It is a personal choice if that is what the family decides to do. PERSONALLY.....our kids are happier going home - true they don't like homework and chores but that is all part of growing up. After everything is completed they then have down time to go outside and be kids (the younger ones) or watch TV or talk on the phone before getting to bed at a decent hour. What WE saw with ours was tired kids that weren't getting home until 8-9:00pm then being worn out and grumpy which made it harder for them the next day which led to fights about hating school.
I'm not saying that this is the way for everyone but for us it works. For kids that WANT the sports or other functions it may be a great incentive but I just can't agree that it is what will keep these kids, TEENAGERS especially, in school. Peer pressure from kids their age who don't have to attend makes it twice as hard because they do not see the lasting effects until much later.
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Sports as well as band, ROTC, Cheerleaders, flag, twillers, academic club, student council, I could go on. All these type of functions promote a positive atmosphere and make kids well rounded. The kid has a choice if they want to participate. I played sports, and was in many extra acctivities after school, my experiences from these as well as school made me a better person. This is not for everyone. But I will say that yes is does keep some kids in school....
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I cannot believe that any parent would let their child "bow-out" and take high school completion in lieu of high school, this is the 21st century! Now I know that there are certain circumstances (medical, ecr..) that make this an option, but being bored is not one of those circumstances. Part of high school is maturing and career exploration, what the kids who "bowed out" missed. We all work and know people we do not "like", this is a part of life and the reality of the real world. The kids should have been in school and learn to deal with diversity and solving problems. I am glad you kept your child in school.
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No parent who knew how TTI's high school completion program worked would ever let their kid go out there if they cared about their education.
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I agree
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I guess you didn't realize that last year TTI had more grads than the TCHS did not only do they earn credits but still have to pass the almighty FCAT how about doing some research or create a power point presentation the next time you decide to enter a conversation about education.
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TTI ought to be churning out grads by the truckload since students can sit in front of a computer and, in a couple of weeks, earn as many credits as would take them months to earn at TCHS.
Now, I see two possible explanations for that.
Either the kids going to TTI are absolute geniuses, or it's way too easy to earn credits out there.
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Lets see how much you know go out there earn some credits and take this High Dollar FCAT that state keeps paying for or better yet take the GED instead. And the kind of homework my kids bring home power point, making a quilt square for a math project now they probably don't sew or ask for special computerized work but they still have to pass the FCAT to receive a diploma and if they couldn't do that at the TCHS well I guess they had to go some where else.
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I went to the Florida Department of Education's web site to check on FCAT scores for TTI students (http://fcat.fldoe.org).
In 2008, so few TTI students apparently took FCAT Reading and Math that DOE doesn't even report numbers for them (the DOE's website says, "No data is reported when fewer than ten students were tested").
So if TTI students are graduating as a result of passing the FCAT, they're apparently passing it when they're at TCHS and then going out to TTI to earn credits in a hurry so they can graduate(something I notice you didn't deny is happening).
The DOE does have FCAT Writing results for TTI for 2008. It reports that 20% of TTI's 10th graders were on grade level, compared to 66% at TCHS that year. Lucky for TTI that FCAT Writing doesn't count towards graduation!
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I think school results are public go ask someone for a copy or how to pull up the right website. Maybe TTI doesn't have that many 10th graders maybe they actually get close to graduation and find out they can't get that last couple of credits and go over to TTI to finish they only report 10th grade results.
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But that's my point... TTI can't take credit for high school completion students passing the FCAT, because most of them are doing that before the go to TTI.
Once they get out there, they're graduating quickly because it's so easy to earn fast credits. Why should a kid go to TCHS for a year when he can earn the same number of credits at TTI in a couple of months?
There's NO WAY they're learning at TTI what they would've learned at TCHS. I'm sure we can all agree that this isn't what's best for the students of Taylor County, and I hope that the next person in charge of TTI puts a stop to it.
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Well....I bet if you tested (TABE or some other test) the recent graduates who went through this scenario they would not test above an eight grade level and most likely would not test high enough to enter trainiing for corrections or many other programs. It really is graduating the kids on the cheap and an all to common scam offered to students by the district. Albeit the only way some students with bad circumtances may "graduate", it is not the best way and certainly does not prepare the student for additional post-secondary training, the world of work or the military. Even in carpentry training, the student has to learn to read a tape measure, a skill that is missing from a lot of the local labor pool. I hope there is not a "next" person at TTI, if there is it will be an exisiting do-nothing crony or some flunky who was put out to TTI. TTI needs to be closed. Wasn't the Dyal plan to move some vocational classes to TCHS to enable the new coach to work anyway? If TTI cannot get a new vision and serve the community, students and business and industry it is a waste of resources.
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Well it seems you know what a TABE test is judging by your interest and attitude you didn't do so well. Why don't you join the craft committee a committee combined of business owners,top vested employees where TTI sends these so called unprepared prospective employees. How come business like Buckeye, Frucon, St. Marks, Progress Energy, Lance, RDS,and some even come from other counties. All you people who think you know you don't really you just like to say I told them what I think.
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According to the Florida Department of Education (http://www.fldoe.org/eias/eiaspubs/xls/fsir/2007-08/GR_Dist_0708.xls), Taylor County's graduation rate is 74%--1.4% below the state average.
One of the challenges faced in Taylor County is a long history of illiteracy and minimal formal education. This is a really tough cycle to break, because a huge factor in the success of students is the education level of their parents. Parents who can't read don't read to their kids, and kids who aren't read to when they're young are way behind those who are when they start school.
I've known people to not complete high school, and it absolutely astounds me. There was a time when plenty of manual-labor jobs could be had for those who didn't have an education, but such jobs are rapidly disappearing as we migrate to a 21st-century knowledge-based economy. This trend isn't going to end; the number of job opportunities for people without a college education is going to continue to shrink, and opportunities for people without a diploma with all but disappear completely.
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Well, given that a lot of folks in the county appear somewhat successful without any formal education or post-secondary education the community may appear to not value an education. I am appalled at this as well.
Be it construction (Watkins, ect..), welding or other related manufacturing jobs in the past that did not require formal education, in today's economy an formal education and a HS diploma are required, even to work at the prison.
I think another issue we have is the apathy as a community we seem to have of formal education. As an example, excluding the judiciary, school district and a few others, most in our community lack a formal education, be elected officials in the court house, county commission, city council, school board or other "leaders".
As community "leaders" these folks do not appear in the schools or any other event/venue to promote a value of education and in the case of many elected officials in the courthouse really are not involved in anything in the community to promote the betterment of the community.
Who are our leaders?
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High school completion is not the same as a high school diploma or a GED. A friend's daughter went to TTI for high school completion and found out she earned enough credits to graduate BUT she did not pass the FCAT, so she did not earn a diploma. When she went to apply for work at a local retail store, she was told to come back when she turned 18 because she did not "graduate" from high school. Jobs are hard enough to get when you have a degree, so young people who think they can succeed in today's work force without a high school diploma only have a chance at working seasonal work or for minimum wage.
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The way that program is run, anyone can earn enough credits to graduate--and quickly. It's as easy as shooting fish in a barrel.
Whether or not they'll have learned much in the process (say, enough to do well on the FCAT) is an entirely different story. Common sense, however, says that they won't; any program that lets students earn credits as quickly as TTI's does should immediately arouse suspicions. Unless those kids are pure geniuses, it doesn't seem likely they're learning much in such a short period of time. And let's face it... It's generally not the geniuses that go into that program.
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So is the FCAT requirement the underlying reason why the masses are quitting school? If you cant read and write then your surely not good in math...thus no chance of completing the test. "Waste of time?" Just looking for the root of the drop-out rate. What's the school have to say? Surely they have tried to address their own problem by interviewing their drop-outs or at least asking some questions and taking a look at the most common answers. I've always been amazed at stories of people who graduated but couldn't read or write. Where were you for 12 years? Where were the teachers? We all know there are derelict parents out there. Take these little third-graders and put them into a pilot program designed to get them up to speed. Curious if there is a Big Brother/Big Sister program or any type of outreach programs available in Perry.
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I think you raise a valid point about getting to the root of the dropout problem. It might be of use for the district to try to briefly interview each student when they dropout in order to get a clear picture of why he or she is doing it. Once trends are identified, efforts can be made to address the causes.
However, as Anonymous says, it largely boils down to their home life. The kids who drop out generally don't come from stable homes with two college-educated parents who actively participate in their education. Schools are fighting an uphill battle with these kids.
Still, it's a battle that must be fought. It's not the kids' fault that they come from those backgrounds. They didn't ask to be born into a family where Daddy's not around, or Mama can't read. We as a community have to work as hard as we can to help those kids get out of that mess and get a better life for themselves.
You're right about people graduating without being able to read or write decently. That's why the FCAT exists; too many kids were graduating like this, and it became apparent that the only way to put a stop to it was through standardized testing since some schools and teachers couldn't be counted on to retain these students.
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You ask where are the teachers? Well go to any school Monday thru Friday and you will find them in the classrooms, trying to teach children, reading, writing, and math. But guess what, when these children go home, a majority of them are on their own. I know you have heard of "latch-key" kids. Well, unless someone is there to make them do their homework, encourage them to do their best in school, or help them set goals that will last a lifetime, they are on a collision course with illiterate individuals. I have lived in Perry for almost 30 years and a lot of young people today are baby mamas, sperm donors, and grandparents are raising babies because no one wants to accept responsibility for poor choices. So these kids have negative attitudes toward education because of poor role models. Parents are more interested in giving their children, even elementary school age children (9, 10, 11) cell phones, PSPs, I-Pods, whatever the kids want so they don't have to parent and their kids will like them. Well parents, wake up. You are raising social misfits who are selfish and self-centered and will grow up blaming everyone else for their problems and never accept responsibility for their own actions. Many children in school are irresponsible, have no respect for those in authority, and unwilling to work hard to succeed. The Boys and Girls Club has after school programs to help youth with their school work. Parents would rather see their kids play sports than do well in school. Well the last time I checked, scouts were not coming in droves to Perry to recruit players. The days of getting by on sports ability is gone. Recruiters not only want young people who can play ball, they want those who are academically prepared for college. So please, stop blaming teachers. Blame the parents and blame the children - training begins at home!
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Very good points. Well said.
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Training begins in first grade. A teacher who knows a student is in trouble can direct that student to a counselor or request that someone steps in and takes a closer look. Who or what program does that I guess needs to be resolved. Gotta catch them when they are young to make a difference. By second or third grade you should know how to read and write. Teachers don't want to get their hands dirty. For a school to not already have answers to "Why the high numbers" shows incompetence. Athletes are not the drop-outs. Maybe some are still as dumb as the football they throw, but at least they make it through. The basic issues will always be there of teen pregnancy and drug drop-outs...but 50-70% means there are more. The issue was about the droves of kids not graduating. My guess is your going to have a hell of a drug problem in a few years in Perry. Put the FCAT on elementary to middle school transfer. You don't get to middle school unless you can read and write. Report the families to child services if they are being neglected. On week one of school a teacher should be able to tell that student E can't pass one test...can't solve one match problem...and clearly is on the wrong track. You can't just blame the parents...you have to take the kids away from the parents. Who's doing that?
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The state agrees that early intervention is necessary. In fact, students have to pass the FCAT in 3rd grade in order to be promoted to the 4th grade (although there are some exceptions to this).
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I can agree with you on many points, but taking children away from their parents should be the last thing one should consider doing for such a situation. Holding them accountable and being in their lives trying to turn the situation around is one thing, but ultimately society for the most part considers it the schools responsibility to teach the child, but at the same time they should feel it the parents responsibility to make sure the child does their homework and such. This situation is nationwide and did not start yesterday. Most adults under 40-45 are too obsessed with themselves and how they look to others that they both work, many times with overtime, just to look like they have a champagne budget. This type of thinking is biting many in the butt today. Parenting is I think the most important and difficult job there is and should be taken seriously to the utmost degree, but taking a child out of the home with no abuse is irretrievably traumatic to the child.
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Well said! I have a friend whom I love dearly but has a 7 yr old child who is in the first grade this year and can't pass a spelling test. Last year the recommendation was that he was held back but the parents begged to let him move on. Once again it is nothing more than a struggle and they are in the same boat this year. As it looks, even with FLOATING through and grades that are in my opinion lower than I would accept, the child is going to be promoted. It should not be a parents decision to put a child through to the next grade (especially two years in a row). As I said I love the mom to death BUT she is NOT involved with her children and staying back a grade means she MIGHT have to work at helping her child succeed or look bad in the teachers eyes. You can't expect this child to get off the bus, go play with the neighbors kids, watch TV, eat supper and go to bed and still do well in school when no homework is done because it is easier for the parent to sit on the couch and do nothing till time for the kids to go to bed and not deal with them.
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I'm sorry to say that there is no counselor at PPS. Next year they will not have art, health, P.E or Library. Classroom size will be larger and teachers will get less pay. Materials will be limited and parents will have to send in a lot of the supplies. A lot of parents will not because beer and cigs. cost too much and they have to buy what they feel is more important.Those parents will tell you they thought the teacher was suppose to get the supplies. OMG
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Send them kids to boot-camp then.
The parents aren't going to change. That's the whole point. Your not looking for an answer if you keep blaming the parents. They don't change from grade 1 to 12...Some are smoking crack..some are alcoholics...some just don't care..etc etc...its a social problem that you just aren't going to fix. If you can't change the parenting and still care about the welfare of the student...what variables does the school control? You've got the kid for 8 hours a day every day for how many weeks out of the year. You can't tell me you have no control over how that student turns out. Idea 1: Rather than a conventional teaching style of lecturing and sending homework home which you know won't get done...work while your at school...in class. Try something new... Its not my job to come up with answers but I would like to hear from someone from the school on what they are doing differently or plan to do differently in the future. That's what your paid for. "Dear Mr and Mrs Bad Parent...your child is illiterate so we are going to enroll him/her in a special program we have designed to address this alarming trend in our community. etc etc etc..."
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Ahhh boot camp, now that I agree with you totally. There are many kids that need to be taught discipline and respect, just go to Wal-mart pretty much anytime and you can see it. I also agree with your other comments and I like your direction of thinking. You are right in that blaming the parents doesn't solve the problem, although they are the problem in many cases. I too would like to hear from someone from the school with their thoughts; something different must be done. Thanks.
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Listen ya'll - teachers are overwhelmed with duties, they are required to apply discipline, be counselors, mentors, teachers, babysitters, psychologists, schedulers, parent-go-between - the list goes on and on.
The responsibility for Johnnie or Janie not being socialized or illiterate is the parents. Still the teachers are given extra duties, expected to be all things to all students. Teachers are becoming burn-outs, they didn't choose to teach for the money, they chose teaching to help society - most of the teachers are doing their part - society needs to step up and do their part.
I taught 8th grade for a while - I'd rather do 2 terms in Iraq than return to a classroom of deadbeat, disrespectful 8th grade students.
The school administrators are deadbeat as well, hardly ever backing the teachers, scared to death about a lawsuit, not wanting to upset the "parents".
Teachers are heroes right along with policemen, firefighters and others that have high risk and dangerous jobs.
Get rid of the top heavy (costly and worthless)administration staff and build a special school where all the trouble makers and slackers can be put so the teachers can teach and the students that want to learn can get down to business. Spare the rod spoil the child. No I-pods, no cell phones, no TV, no X-Box.
Rediscover the library and handle actual books, get away from heavy reliance on the Internet.
To hell with what the children want, they're children and they want the easy way out - tough cookies, work for the rewards and learn the value of knowledge and where money comes from.
In the end in the majority of cases it don't come from daddy or mommy, it comes from hardwork and study. Or as the trend suggests it comes from little Johnny holding up a liquor store with a handgun because he can't get a job - he has no skills, didn't pay attention in school and was pain in the ass and trouble to all he came into contact with. Little Janie is pregnant at 16 and dumb as a post.
Build more prisons for the coming tide of society's rejects.
Again, we have met the enemy and he is us (anon).
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Thank you on behalf of all teachers who go to work everyday not for the money but for the love of teaching.
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And there a very few of them I can count on one hand the teachers who actually care about teaching most of them saw money when they got out of college after 4 years but all you hear is the majority of them continuing their education to pad their income.
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I'm not sure it's quite that bad, but I do agree that there are many teachers who have no passion for their jobs and are just there to collect a paycheck.
Unfortunately, the unions have made it extremely difficult for schools to get rid of bad teachers.
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I didn't go to a school on Mars...and in my school there was relative order in the classroom. Kids will take things as far as you will let them...and they will be kids. Sounds like your running some school from the Bronx. Kick the little bastards out if they are out of control. Once again I have to go back to elementary and middle school. The 8th graders that you had that didn't give a hoot and were out of control...that was a learned behavior. Detention...expulsion...etc. You probably can't do much with the class of 2009...but you can teach the younger students manners, discipline, respect, and self-worth that they clearly don't learn at home. Get tough. Let the teachers, parents, and students know with a big banner next Fall that school is going to be different...new rules...new direction. Send out fliers explaining the problems that the school is having and what proposed changes are going into effecting the Fall to help curb the trend. Explain that kids will be sent home..expelled..etc. Just an isolated example but the kids that consistently get sent home will eventually learn that going home and getting their punishment isn't as fun as going to class and doing their work.
Kids don't know what school is...they learn what it is. If they learn that it can be just a playground...then it will be just that. Teach
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That will never happen. Send kids home because they get in trouble or because have consistent behavior issues? They aren't punished at home because if they were, they wouldn't act like they do in school. They are disrespectful because they are allowed to act like that at home. Besides that, can you see Dyal suggesting that to the school board? It would never happen. Read the school discipline matrix. It's on the school district website. These children who have the most behavioral problems come to school EVERY DAY! Their parents don't want to deal with their behavior either OR parents are in total denial. Their children would NEVER behave badly in school. Like someone said earlier, just walk through Wal-Mart and see how these little angels behave. In fact, I was shopping in Wal-Mart earlier today and while I was in the grocery section, there were two children (I'd say under the age of 5) in the buggy. The youngest one was screaming while mom was pushing the buggy. Mom totally ignored the child. My solution-take the child to the restroom and swat her behind. How irritating to shop with children throwing temper tantrums? So, they go to school with the same attitude. I don't get my way, I will just misbehave, disrupt class, and act out. Send the child to in-school suspension or send them home, guess what, they miss lessons taught for the day. So if they are behind when they come to school, they fall further behind because of their bad behavior. Parents don't come to conferences, and when they do, they are on the defense. That is if you can get them to answer the phone. Caller ID is a blessing and a curse.
Farmer, have you ever volunteered in a classroom? If not, volunteer before the last day of school and then come back and tell us what your experience was like. I think you will be unpleasantly surprised.
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If you are really interested in finding out about the drop-outs, derelict parents and disrespectful high school students in this county-go to any school and sign up as a volunteer for just one day or better yet become a substitute teacher or aide. You will not believe what is happening. Teachers
are having to put up with all kinds of
problems and it will be even worse in the 2010 school year. No counselors, No aides, early morning duty,
no bathroom breaks, no planning periods,
bus duty, playground duty, no music, no art, earlier work hours, no classroom supply money and the list goes on. Meanwhile most of the parents that you are talking about do not care, will not
return calls, answer notes or come for
conference calls. All the blame is placed on the teachers who will fast be
retiring or going into other vocations.
The school board has even been rude to
teachers when they have appeared before them with questions. This is headed for
disaster in public education.
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Great comments so far, but to see how deep the idiocy runs in our community, everyone needs to look at the order on motion to suppress in case number 08-469-CT, State of Florida Vs. Sarah A. Evans. Our county judge has written a thesis on how to eat boiled p-nuts.
The case involves the prosecution of a defendant for littering by throwing out a boiled p-nut shell. The whole order is rife with errors from grammar, spelling and the most absurd is referencing Booker T Washington as the famous p-nut scientist when it was actually George Washington Carver.
I do not know what you would consider more absurd, that a deputy would cite a person for throwing out a p-nut shell, a prosecutor prosecuting such as case, a public defender defending the case and a county judge writing a five page order - all a monumental waste of taxpayer dollars in a time when we have crime of all types, budgets shrinking and people out of work. I think I will send this item to Glen Beck!
Yes we have leaders at the courthouse!
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Blog Moderator, do want a copy of this hilarious order? It has to be the funniest thing I have read this year! We are truely Mayberry without all of the charm of Andy and Goober!
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Absolutely I would like to see it. If it is public record and I am allowed, I will post it for others to see. If someone knows if I can post a public document when the copy was paid for by someone else, please enlighten me as I am lack on this subject.
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I'd like to see it. It's not available online anywhere?
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Well if we were in the 21st century at the courthouse...it may be online. I am going to email acopy to blog moderator as soon as I can scan it. I guess you could go to the clerk's office and pay the fee per page or wait and I will see if I can upload it here. it is a hoot. It is so funny it is painful! It was written/filed on April 15th. Just a sample of this smart man our county judge: (1) the definitio of litter. (2) the art of eating the boiled peanut. (3) "once the aperture reaches a satisfactory width, the hull or pod is placed between the thumb and forefinger on one hand" (4) "the teeth should be the consumer's own" (5) "modified teeth method" (6) "great historical figures in Booker T. Washington... (6) "deputy Ricketson persoanlly observed the defendant rxpel the hull from her vehicle, the infraction of littering had occurred".
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I must have had really good teachers then because not one of them would put up with my bull****. I wasn't a good kid..but I knew my limits. It wasn't acceptable to come home with < B on a report card. It wasn't acceptable to mouth off to my parents. So I would try it at school. If I found a weak teacher then I would have my way until finally I would get sent to the principals office and be given a good harsh warning. Don't bring my parents into this..I will behave. Fear of punishment whether it be a whipping, grounding...whatever, was enough deterrent. I don't have any more answers...don't even like kids honestly. If you keep sending the kid home the parents are going to discipline..eventually. Nobody wants to be called out of work or in the broken-home case...wants to deal with the kid...so he/she is gonna learn how to act one way or the other. If I volunteered I'd just be dragging the little bastards by the ear down to the principals office...but then wait...isn't that the teachers job? If they don't pass then don't promote them...they have next year or summer school to try again.
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I think the problem with not promoting them is that after a while, you have 12 and 13 year old children in the 4th and 5th grade. Most students in those grades are 9 and 10. I imagine when they are that old in the 4th and 5th grade, they really become behavior problems--disrespecting teachers and aides, bullying younger children, etc. It's almost like a catch 22. When they learn what gets them out of class/school, they do those things, and get their way. What is the solution?
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Everybody is pointing fingers at the problems in Taylor County School but nobody with any backbone to do what is right is willing to serve on the Taylor County School Board. You would think after all the years of experience the Board members would have learned to manage the school budgets.
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Well, with all of this talk I was pleasantly surprised last evening when I attened the TCHS awards ceremony. Over $1 million in scholarships was awrded to some fine students, some was awarded from local clubs and organizations (Elks Club, Rotary, Foley, ect..), but the majority was awarded based on academic hard work. Despite the problems with our school district we do have a lot of students who have maintained high grade point averages and have made many strides as TCHS students. I was proud to see many students from our community who we all have seen grow-up. I was even more proud to see many students who have, despite great adversity in home life, also "made the grade" and recieved thousands of dollars towards college and/or the military. We do have some fine young people in our community. Principal Mike Thompson and staff did a great job in hosting and putting the event on. I think we all should congratulate TCHS and these students! Despite the absence of our local mullet wrapper a picutre was taken and I am sure an article will be written by TCHS staff for publication!
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I agree. A very nice event. The only complaint would be that only 2 School Board Members thought it important enough to show up. Cudos to Southerland and Carlton, SHAME on the others.
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You are correct. Mark seems to attend many of these events and typically is the only school board member in attendance (NHS, ect..). Kudos to Brenda as well. You would think that all would attend and show the support for the district staff and most importantly the students who are our future. There were a lot of students from Kenneth Dennis' district who received awards from various groups (Homer J. Smith Award, ect..). I am sure that the students and parents of his district would have appreciated his support.
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You are right Mark does go to most of the events when kids are involved, Brenda too. II would hope the other board members had good reasons not to be there, Dennis never shows up, it's a shame he does not.
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I have read so many people on this site that are against sports and extra extracurricular activities and I have to ask a couple of questions?
#1) What does this county offer for children to do after school? One skating rink cannot accommodate that many children and the Boys & Girls club is over filled and understaffed.
#2) It is my understanding that to play sports in school the child must to maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher. How do you maintain that without studying?
#3) If a child is committed to sports or clubs when do they find time to get in trouble?
#4) Yes, sports and other activities keep parents busy. How can parents not pay attention to the child when they are involved is these activities?
I keep hearing that Sports and other activities should be cut but I personally am against this. My child is an ACTIVE member of the middle school band and is very proud of what she is doing. She holds a 3.8 grade point average and is a member of the Junior National Honor Society. She is looking forward to becoming a member of the High School Band. I believe that her experience with the band has taken a shy quiet child and given her purpose, self-confidence and self-control that I cannot give her by myself.
Yes, I have to make time to take her to games and performances but it’s worth it to me to get to spend this time with her and watch her shine. I know where she is, what she is doing and who she is doing it with.
Yes, she has a cell phone. If she needs me, she knows she can call me any time. I can also get in touch with her if needed. She has had this phone for several months and not abused the privilege.
My child does not sit in front of the TV for hours a day after school because she has nothing to do. When she has spare time she reads (I have a good size library in my home) or plays with her DS, which has some very educational games.
I find that the training that my child has received in band has helped her to control her emotions by giving her a release in her music. When she gets upset or discouraged, she will usually go to her room and practices her music, which has a calming effect on her. Then she and I can sit down and talk about her problems calmly.
Sports, Band and extracurricular activities give kids something to do and something to strive for. If you take that away from them, you can expect more or them to quit school or get in trouble because they have too much time and too little concern.
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I think a lot of the discussion about sports and extracurricular activites that you reference have dealt with the followingt: (1) Focusing on hiring a new coach and related items when the school distirct budget is bankrupt. (2) Focusing on sports and extracurricular activities when education should be priority number one. (3) Laying off teachers and other budget reduction items in lieu of cutting costly programs, jobs vs. such programs. (4) Lack of oversight and auditing of funds associated with such programs, (5) Costs of programs to district, uniforms... (6) Taking on an additional liability of a dated stadium complex that needs tens of thousands dollars improvements and stands that have been determined to be unsafe. (7) The general politics of the programs that take away fro mthe meaningful experience from the kids. Look at the TCHS band from 50+ members to less than 15. Look at the last coach who could not please anyone...
These are complex issues, but the overriding factor at this time is the financial shape of the district. I think most folks have indicated that if it cam down to laying off teachers and closing schools and educating the kids vs. keeping such programs, the programs would have to go. That is what has happended at many schools around the state and many community colleges.
Priorities have to be set with the best interest of the kids, not parents, boosters or other trying to live vicariously through the programs. Many believe that the parents should raise their kids and it is not the schools responsibilty to keep kids out of trouble. Fact is many of the kids in trouble do not have the resources to pay band fees, rental fees, ect... and the false elitism promoted does little to help these kids. There is no simple answers or solutions, but the school district does need to live within there resources and that means that programs and their return on investment of resources should be evaluated annually.
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You beat me to the punch--which is okay, because you said it better than I would've, anyway.
I've not heard from anyone who was opposed to extracurricular activities in principle. The problem is paying for them at a time when the district is broke. Academics absolutely must come first (although of course extracurricular activities and academics can be tightly interwoven).
The district clearly spent considerable time and energy searching for a new head football coach, yet apparently haven't made a move in terms of finding a new director for TTI. The current director's contract is up in two months.
Looking at that from the outside, it's easy to get the impression that finding a coach is more important than finding someone to run a school.
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Let us thank God the director of TTI contract is up. He has done little to improve or even effectively management that facility since he has been here. In fact, he is retired - double dipping and still drawing a substantial salary for doing nothing, I mean nothing. If anyone can list a least one of Olsen's accomplishments while employed by the TCSD, please do so.
This facility is under-used, unable to adapt to the 21st century and has a lack of leadership. I'm not speaking of the instructors or other staff. I'm speaking about lack of leadership at the top. Nothing is knew about this, the school system has suffered from a lack of fiscal responsibility and vision for many years. Goodbye Mr. Olsen, please be gone this time.
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Well he has kept cronies in jobs at TTI and then they somehow make to district administration office high paying jobs. Olsen was the perfect lackey for Oscar Howard and was awarded the "contract" for his efforts. I would not be surprised if the "contract" was renewed. It would be par for the course for the school board.
You are correct, little has happened at TTI since the days of Bryant Russell, Ann Cooper and Linda Wiles. TTI used to be a hub of activity for students, businesses and related grants / grant activities. Albeit Olsen is a huge failure as TTI Director, TTI has been for many years the dumping ground for bad employees, political job appointees and the last chance for students hoping to get a high school diploma. That is the school board and superintendant's fault!
There has been the ocasional fiasco with programs and state certification of such programs that have seemed to fly under the radar under Olsen's watch. If the district could recoup a small portion of the funds Olsen and cronys have spent on travel to conferences and such over the years, the district could perhaps save a few teacher jobs. (I know grants funds were used, just making a point).
The really sad part is that Olsen's apathy and ineptness has also served him well as a TCDA board member / empty chair. Yes Olsen was considered the "safe" appointee. Way to go Ken! Here is to a safe and happy retirement! At least us taxpayers hope so! One down a few more high paid fools to go at TTI.
Next up Izell Montgomery, now he and his wife, that is a case study of having your head in the public feeding trough with no performance objectives!
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Don't thank God thank the legislator for coming up with this stupid one. I don't know who Olsen is only through committee meetings and school board meetings which I have seen him at every one he knows technical and vocational schools. I'm sure the president of the instructional union had something to do with some of the comments and I KNOW who she is she has bounced from job to job before she landed this one from feeding the elderly and "trying" to meet their needs which apparently she didn't do to selling furniture. And from what I hear from teachers she's not doing a very good job at representing them if the teachers are not in it for $ why are they fighting so hard for 5%.
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The teachers in this county are one of the lowest paid teachers in the state. They are fighting not to lose 5% of their salary just like the clerks, aides, bus drivers, kitchen workers, and custodians.
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The aides,clerks,lunchroom workers,bus drivers, etc have already lost 5% on top of getting months and hours cut they are the lowest and most hardworking in the district some can't afford to keep health insurance because of the cuts but times are tough all over suck it up and do your part don't be greeding.
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Well written, but it is a 2.0 that has to be maintained, but a great post.
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Who is being greedy? What is "your part"?
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The teachers you have all these aides,clerks,bus drivers,custodians, and lunchroom workers absorbing all the hits and then when you try and cut teachers one time who at level 0 make over $30,000 and I work for the state so yes I've done my part as well.
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You haven't got a clue!
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Why don't you enlighten us all on the benefits of (1) highschool completion / ged at TTI. (2) the grade level of said students "completing" the requirements of graduation. (3) the efforts of TTI to serve everyone. (4) the next in line after double-dipper Olsen leaves in June. (5) What non-crony or throw-away district employee sent to the district purgatory-TTI will be the "next". I am sure everyone will want to know these answers/developments.
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Well Dan enlighten your self go take a tour go ask guestions although you seen to be FULL of answers.
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Do not shoot the messenger, read the audits and other reports. I know the truth hurts, especially when you work at TTI. I remember a few years ago there was a couple who worked at TTI, man and wife, both did nothing. The position held by the wife was deleted many years prior by DOE but kept at TTI to keep her employed. Then there was the maintenance man who clocked in and left for the day to work at his own pressure washing business. Recedntly there have been fiascos about certification and the EMT program. Grant funded jobs handed out to cronys-some now at the admin office, and many other examples.... So, TTI has a history of bad management, plain and simple. Given the current budget problems, TTI can no longer be the under performing school it has become. These things are known all over town, it is no secret. Maybe the Dyal era will be forced to clean up this mess!
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TO ALL:
Using some of the "logic" in this discussion it seems we could close the high school, have all the students attend TTI, graduate faster - maybe a class 3 times a year, improve FCAT scores and save money.
Who is this Bassett person, who chose her, what are her qualifications other than name? Has she been vetted, were others considered?
I go to the administrative complex where the Super. resides and I see a sea of gray heads sitting at desks all over the place doing NOTHING! The only one I've ever seen doing anything or work at all is Ms. Lillie Greene. What are the functions of these heads and why do we need so many?
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Great point, LOL! A lot are nothing and a couple are doing lord knows what in their respective cubby holes.
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BRING THE PADDLE BACK AND HIRE SOME ADMINISTRATORS THAT HAVE A BACKBONE!!
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Well once again you are misinformed I don't work at TTI but I do work for DOE and I am able to find out a few things concerning schools not just at TTI but all counties in the Florida area. But it sounds like you either work or use to work there you and if you are a messenger for the people whoever you know nothing. This will be my last comment one of my coworkers told me that the town I live in had this website and that websites like this are for people hiding behind the computer just to say they had a voice. I'm was from Perry and I know things get all over town but it not's all true. Maybe you'll get the right info one day have a nice uninformed life.
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One thing I would encourage you to do, CP, is to say *specifically* what information about TTI you believe is wrong. For example, do you disagree with the assertion that credits are earned very quickly out there?
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CP will not give any examples or educated opinions because he/she does not know of anything. I try to express what I am aware of personally. To quote a movie, CP "can't handle the truth". By the way, working at DOE does not mean he/she would be any more educated, experienced or dynamic. If he/she is a career DOE-educator they would not even understand the real world and how school districts are in bankruptcy status.
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To TCC I commented to Dan the Man that I would not waste my time with this website but he's trying to make mad enough and just as I thought from his quotes he spends to much time in front of the Telly and has no life. While I do disagree with credits being handed out without earning them I do not think this the case at TTI I have friends who's children received a diploma from TTI they had some credits and had not passed the FCAT before going leaving the HS some were 10th graders and 11th graders like I said in past comments if whoever looked up FCAT results on the website would understand is that the majority of the scores that are concentrated on are at the 10th grade level due to graduation requirements. And there are reasons that some kids leave the High School my friends child passed gas in their English class and while the teacher was writing the referral to send him to the deans office for disturbing class another student tried to hand in a assignment teacher said it needed to be on index cards the student yelled "man that's bull sh**" another student threw a pepsi bottle from across the room and missed the garbage can neither one of those kids was sent to the dean, another teacher would let students of another color sleep with there heads on the desk right beside her son he was sitting up in a chair and nodded she yelled for him to wake up while the other student sleep granted her son wasn't paying attention he wasn't looking at his book but sent him to the deans office for sleeping. I would be a little discussed by this point and would want to leave myself. At TTI I know he had to do book work and read because she told me he had to return for a test. Specifically I don't know how it works but I do know its not just handed to them. This will be my last comment I urge to go see and ask questions from someone who is qualified to answer them.
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TO: CP2009
Did you attend TTI? I tried to read your post but got lost with run-on sentences,no commas, no other punctuation, a few semi-colons would have been nice, disturbing syntax among other things. I'm not trying to be mean, I really want to understand your point. What color student got to sleep? Whom do you suggest at TTI is qualified to answer questions? The friend who told you that this blog site and others like it are for "people hiding behind computers" is an idiot. If your posts are any indication of the "talent" the tax paying public has hired at DOE, then we are in big trouble.
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LOL! LOL! I think you have make the correct determination aour CP. As far as this being the first and last time blogging on this site, I seem to remember someone using the same name during the election writing the same quality of dribble. Maybe CP is a TTI -GED - cosmotology graduate that turned her/his great academic knowledge into a Tallahassee DOE job. I would agree about the talent comment, but do not forget that DOE in Tallahassee needs janitors and related others as well. I stand by my comments and based on reports TTI has been in trouble for some time. TTI Director Olsen has been called an empty on this blog for both his TTI and TCDA work. Maybe when he does leave in June Dyal can somehow get TTI back on track. The cost per student ratio for TTI is still too high and likely to be a problem next budget year. The distirct would do well to push out the high-prices staff double dipping in drop, even if they have to buy-out employees.
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