Comments on: Will flex schedules work for Georgia’s schools?

By: jeani mitchell

jeani mitchell — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 18:40:50 +0000

Enter your comments here

By: jeani mitchell

jeani mitchell — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 18:40:19 +0000

good job Atlanta

By: Will Flex Schedules Work For Georgia’s Schools? | Get Schooled

Will Flex Schedules Work For Georgia’s Schools? | Get Schooled — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 03:59:25 +0000

[...] Georgia’s public schools will be able to keep students in class longer each day in exchange for a shorter school year. The State Board of Education is.Continue [...]

By: ShooShee

ShooShee — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:43:06 +0000

I think the reason the AJC won’t go after these stories about our school systems (cheating, cover-ups, low test scores, inequality, etc.) is coming from the business boosters and Central Atlanta Progress, etc. I mean, really, who would relocate their corporate headquarters here if they knew the truth about most of our metro school systems? Haven’t you noticed how many corporate transplants end up in Alpharetta and East Cobb? Realtors send them there from day one, for the schools.

Just look at the problems with crime in the new areas of downtown. Those are underreported as well. (Unless the victim is a Georgia Tech student. Crime against them doesn’t affect development.) Central Atlanta Progress is heading the campaign NOT to give money to the homeless. They call it “Give Change That Counts” and even placed an ad in the program for the Jersey Boys at the Fox. It almost looks like a sign at the zoo that reads, “Don’t Feed the Animals”. I guess they’ll all continue to ignore our homeless problem too. (Just don’t feed ‘em and they’ll go away.)

Here’s what CAP has to say about Atlanta Public Schools, “Fresh leadership within the Atlanta Public Schools has propelled the district to new heights. Strong technology initiatives coupled with more stringent hiring requirements for teachers have been instrumental in dramatically raising the district’s performance in terms of graduation rates and the number of students meeting or exceeding the state standards in specific subjects. APS was one of five finalists (out of 105 school systems) to receive the prestigious national Broad Award, often referred to as the Nobel Prize of Urban Education. Some of the district’s highest performing schools are located Downtown.”

Dysfunction metro-wide.

By: Brad

Brad — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:29:52 +0000

The simple and most logical answer to our education problem to me, is to see what state does the best in teaching their children and try and duplicate what they do. We are at or near the bottom in education stats yearly. Most of the comments I have read are great and would probably work to some degree, but they seem to fall on deaf ears when its time to implement any type of change.

By: N Ga teacher

N Ga teacher — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 15:23:07 +0000

Murray County is to be applauded for its efforts to save funds. August has sky-high AC bills, and Murray saves that plus bus fuel, administrative and lunch costs. In addition, this gives teens longer summers to work to save for college or help their families. The other baby boomers who blog have already mentioned that we all did just fine by starting after Labor Day. AND we also had study hall and physical ed all 4 years!!! The real problem is that naiive politicians have increased the required classroom time, eliminated study hall, and reduced phys ed to just ONE measley semester. School for our kids has become a 6-hour a day in-class teeth-gritting death march. Add to this the dramatic increase in socioeconomic and parenting problems, and you have discipline disaster in schools. What we really need are less required minutes, restoration of PE for 4 years, and the return of study hall to help the less well-parented kids.

By: wondering

wondering — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 01:30:52 +0000

ScienceTeacher671-You’re right…silly me! It would be crazy the think that the state has done something right for a change-must be an illusion! ; )

By: ScienceTeacher671

ScienceTeacher671 — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 23:51:35 +0000

wondering, don’t spoil a good rant with FACTS!

By: wondering

wondering — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 23:09:38 +0000

jim d—just curious–isn’t this new option a good example of the state NOT micromanaging our schools? Instead of forcing them into the age-old 180 day mold, they are instead obliged to meet a certain number of instructional hours. That sounds a whole lot more flexible and less micro-managed to me. In the case of Murray County, they are thinking outside the box, and have come up with a plan that will work for their particular community. Granted this wouldn’t work everywhere, but isn’t that your point, to let schools have more flexibility?
Also, you may want to check your numbers on administrative salaries. In Cobb, the super makes more in the neighborhood of a quarter of a mil, and the principals make around 100,000 give or take a few thousand. These salary schedules (except for the super) are available on most school system websites.

By: jodee

jodee — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 21:52:44 +0000

Year round! Year round! Year round! Or……school in session winter and summer, school’s out spring and fall! Stay inside when it is too hot or cold to go outside, and be out of school when the weather is conducive to PLAYING OUTSIDE!