Education official: Consider reducing 180-day school year
Wrapping up a morning of hearings on the state’s 2011 budget and the monster cuts that could come with it, Scott Austensen, the deputy state school superintendent for finance, touched not one, but two third-rails of Georgia politics.
First, he told lawmakers at the Capitol, the state needs to look at reducing the 180-days of instruction now required for K-12 students. Secondly, lottery money could be used to offset some technology expenditures in public schools – something lawmakers haven’t approved in years.
Afterwards, in a scrum with reporters, Austensen said that, depending on the severity of cuts to come, budget writers need to look beyond the teacher-training days now used for mandatory time off:
“Thus far, the six-day furloughs have come out of professional development days because – by law – even though the governor [declared] the furlough days, he didn’t change the requirement of 180 days or the equivalent…
“We’re suggesting looking at how deep those cuts may be. If it’s another six days, well, maybe that’s professional development. But if it’s going to be more than six days, we need to look at giving school systems the ability and flexibility to reduce some of those 180 days.”
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250 comments Add your comment
highschooler29
February 23rd, 2010
4:48 pm
and there is nothing wrong with high school sports it builds charecter howard i play football and lacrosse
Reality
February 23rd, 2010
4:48 pm
Why not? Cut teacher pay…. fulough teachers (not pay teachers at all)…. cut instruction time… Doesn’t anyone else see where this leads for education in GA? Am I the only one?
Yes, there is a budget issue in the State of GA. MUST the problem be solved by cutting education?
And, if cutting education is a MUST, why not start by cutting the administration and NOT the classroom instruction?
Am I making sense to anyone out there?
pork at the top
February 23rd, 2010
4:49 pm
Lay off the immigrants. My hispanic kids are some of the most well behaved and serious students I have. They actually have a work ethic.
Old Physics Teacher
February 23rd, 2010
4:50 pm
OK folks, catch a breath here. We don’t have “the dumbest kids in the civilized world,” and measuring minutes in classes is just as wrong. We actually have the brightest kids in the world – their yours! It’s your neighbor’s kids that are stupid
Now that I made a joke, it’s time to get over yourselves.
Our education “system” is the best in the world. If that’s not true, why are all the rest of the nations trying to get their college graduates into our graduate schools, huh? The graduate professors are the same ones teaching our kids as undergraduates. Our kids, and their parents, resist paying top dollar for grad schools. The rest of the world knows exactly how cheap our education system is and wants to attend ours BADLY and will pay whatever it takes for their kids to get a great education. So get over this idea that our kids are dumb. Great Britian, Germany, and the rest of the world restricts their high schools and colleges to only the cream of their crop. We let anyone into our high schools. Try to get into the rest of the world’s average, or low-level, high schools and examine how these kids are taught. Stop trying to compare apple with oranges!
Secondly, the amount of learning a kid retains is not a function of how many minutes (or hours) their rear-ends are in a seat in a classroom. Learning goes on when they’re running around outside, watching TV (yes, I do know how little they learn when watching the ‘boob tube’), and playing sports. Learning is something that occurs over time. We found that out with “block scheduling.” The SAT scores – nation wide – show a marked difference lower for those students who were taught on block scheduling when compared to students who were in class for 180 days. Now if you want to ADD days to the calendar, you won’t get a fight with this teacher. The only thing… bring money when you do. I don’t get paid vacation pay or holiday pay! In fact, if I’m not there, I don’t get paid. (In all honesty, I do get 2 weeks sick leave. Just like most of you.) If you want me to work extra, fine, but I don’t expect you to work for free. You shouldn’t expect me to either.
Sensible
February 23rd, 2010
4:55 pm
It would be awesome if the Public Schools are only 4 days a week for the whole year. If all State and Federal Government agencies are able to go to 4 days work week; that would not only save more money; but more quality time for families. This idea is not a new one, countries like Australia have done it to improve efficiencies and productivity.
Pennies for thoughts.
extremerightwing
February 23rd, 2010
4:58 pm
for those trashing Bush on No Child Left Behind, remember that it was written by none other than the dear departed lion of the Senate: The Dishonorable Ted Kennedy. It passed the House 384-45 and the Senate 91-8…afterall, who is going to vote against education…right??
Since enactment, Congress increased federal funding of education, from $42.2 billion in 2001 to $54.4 billion in 2007. No Child Left Behind received a 40.4% increase from $17.4 billion in 2001 to $24.4 billion. The funding for reading quadrupled from $286 million in 2001 to $1.2 billion.
And what are we getting out of this?
nolarw
February 23rd, 2010
4:59 pm
When I went to school, We started the year after Labor Day and finished in May. I got a good education, and always had good jobs. My children also started after Labor Day and finished in May, and had time for camps, choir tours, mission trips, and family vacations during the summer. Both got great educations in public schools, and now have executive level jobs, one in New York. How did this happen ???
TW
February 23rd, 2010
5:00 pm
Ain’t Republican world great!
Really amazing how the GOP redneck white trash down here can be sooooo proud about their heritage, yet at the same time be sooooo willing to screw their kids!
Only makes sense politically, as a truly educated electorate would render the GOP obsolete.
Morons.
m
February 23rd, 2010
5:01 pm
The problem IS private schools.The private school system was devised to circumvent integration, and to a certain extent it still is.
CLEVON LITTLE
February 23rd, 2010
5:03 pm
Used to be Disgusted : Answer: OBAMA. Take everything that makes since, turn it around 180 degrees = liberal.
Bill
February 23rd, 2010
5:06 pm
I have noticed that the kids don’t do squat after they take the CRCT. Elementary and middle schools just become giant babysitting centers after April 1st.
divertium
February 23rd, 2010
5:07 pm
Bill Orvis White …
Teachers in Georgia are not unionized…..get your facts straight. It is illegal for teachers of Georgia to form a union.
Also, I teach 8th grade. You would not last until lunch. Teachers in Georgia are educated people there are many jobs they can do other than teach. The state needs to be careful….or the worst of the worst will be teaching kids because the experienced….performing teachers are not going to take this too long. Many of us are well qualified for other jobs ….have Master’s Degrees….and beyond.
Women can’t stay home and teach their kids if their spouses are not educated enough to support them. Who taught you to read…a teacher or your mom?
anonymous12
February 23rd, 2010
5:12 pm
How about we just charge teachers to come to work since the state of Georgia doesn’t seem to value them or value education?
DonBob
February 23rd, 2010
5:13 pm
Raise Taxes significantly, especially on folks that make over $250,000 per year.
Get rid of tenure for school teachers, and hire and fire teachers based on performance.
Pay the best teachers more. (and YES you can determine teaching quality).
Extend the school year by 10-20 days.
Provide Georgians one of the BEST educations in the nation, not the crap that currently exists in so many schools in the state.
Q
February 23rd, 2010
5:15 pm
Everyone benefits from a educated populace.
It’s sad that some folks don’t think that they should pay taxes for schools. Remember, you were in school once, and someone who didn’t have kids paid for you!!!!
Pay it forward!
anonymous12
February 23rd, 2010
5:16 pm
DonBob if you pay teachers based on performance no one is going to want to teach special ed or in Title 1 schools. There would be no incentive. There is only so much to do when you don’t have any support from home.
David
February 23rd, 2010
5:17 pm
When Georgia climbs out of the bottom 5% of nationally ranks states for eduction, then the option of reducing the number of school days could be examined. Until then, cut budgets anywhere else, but not educational programs and teacher’s salaries!!
MamaDawg
February 23rd, 2010
5:18 pm
This:
“Ok, here’s what we do. Move the school year start back to after Labor Day. That saves millions in cooling costs every year because you don’t meet in the HOTTEST MONTH OF THE YEAR. Next, get out at Memorial Day. Make it a true 8 to 3 schoolday, get rid of a bunch of crap like fundraiser parties, and other crap that takes away from instructional time (and I do consider art, music, computers, PE, and foreign languages as instructional time). Then we might actually save a lot of money, have kids who aren’t lagging behind everyone else, and have an actual summer.”
Jack
February 23rd, 2010
5:19 pm
Hey Realist, truth is they could cut back on all state salaries, parks and recreation and any other non significant items that they have not cut back on or enough of. EDUCATION should NEVER be on any state budget cut period!
Benny
February 23rd, 2010
5:22 pm
Wow, with some of these posts….. Unfortunately, brain development in kids starts before they go to school. Nothing at home to nurture this and the child is doomed. I was informed by a black teacher that (as a general rule) black parents do not want to buy books for their infant/young children. I countered that is also true of many white parents. There is a female complaining about cutting school and daycare – it is called parental responsibility. Again, unfortunately the government has done away with the idea of responsibility when it gives food stamps, housing, and anything else. As a basic rule of thumb, these are people that are uneducated. Politicians love these people – promise them anything and they will vote for me. The other problem is that Georgia has given up learning the ABCs for the 5Ps. The 5Ps are peanuts, pecans, pimping, pandering and prostitution. Maybe we should legalize prostitution and use the proceeds to fund public education. Maybe cutting school days/increasing school on task time is not so bad. For all you experts that do not teach – why not let a teacher set the rules for you job. Let teachers run the Bar, medical school, construction, juvenile justice, highway, police, etc. We have had noneducators try to run education for a long time and look how they have done. How badly could teachers mess up the judicial system? Oops – bad example.When was the last time any of you whiners volunteered at your child’s school? Attended a PTO meeting? Mentored? That’s right – not your job. Do you really have a clue as to the world around you? Kudos to those that know about the political ranking of schools and who gets to test. Minnesota (highly ranked) only lets the top % of students test. Utah (highly ranked) does not take any federal money.
Shortening the school year to balance budget. Terrible idea. Terrible message. | Get Schooled
February 23rd, 2010
5:24 pm
[...] From my colleague Jim Galloway over at Political Insider: [...]
Grammar Shocked
February 23rd, 2010
5:25 pm
Mr. White and Latiticia’s postings are prime examples why something drastic needs to be done in education…and cutting the time students spend in school IS NOT it! Their grammar/word usage is appalling. Actually, L.’s posting (no offense meant) shows what public schools have become: free babysitting.
Mike
February 23rd, 2010
5:25 pm
Georgia has some of the worst education in the country and you want to shorten the school year?
teacher2
February 23rd, 2010
5:30 pm
How do all of you teachers like your pay for performance plan now that you will be teaching less days to kids that determine your “test score” bonus?
Do you really think our leaders can create, manage, and fund a fair “test bonus” pay system?
English Teacher
February 23rd, 2010
5:32 pm
Six kids and can’t afford NO daycare??? What is my purpose? Watch those double negatives. Perhaps you need to audit my class and help your child pass! I’m already strapped with teenagers that are incredibly illiterate; perhaps parents could step to the plate and encourage education my modeling what an educated mind is like! Come on…give me some help!
Send the illegal immigrants home!
February 23rd, 2010
5:40 pm
Maybe we should only teach the children of parents that are legal in our country. 15% or more are illegal and don’t pay taxes yet we have to shovel out the money to pay for their health care, free school lunch and also their education. Furloughs and days cut do not solve the problem. Cut the high paying jobs in the state educational level and county level that are added to cover the “Good Ole Boys”. Teachers make it happen in the classroom where students are taught and appreciated. Show more appreciation and you have better teachers. It all goes hand in hand together. Children that can not read well become a burden on society. We all need to help educate our children of the future. If you want your child to have a good education then we all need to do our part to pay our taxes!
Bill Orvis White
February 23rd, 2010
5:46 pm
Putting yer kids in big gov’t schools is child abuse. It’s there where they learn the myth of global warming, pro-Communist propaganda, experience the alternative lifestyles curriculum and a Godless school agenda. No one is dealing in facts here. Studies have shown a serious decline in gov’t schools since God was kicked out only to be replaced by Evilution in Socialistic Science classes. Lord help us.
Concerned Teacher
February 23rd, 2010
5:51 pm
Meanwhile, back to the original topic . . . We must educate our youth. Get rid of charter schools and vouchers and fix the broken public schools, but do not put any more unnecessary burden on the teachers. They are already over-burdened! PAGE, GAE, NEA where are you now that we teachers really need a vocal advocate in Atlanta!
David
February 23rd, 2010
5:52 pm
BILL ORVIS WHITE:
You said:
“Y’all repeat after me: Competition drives innovation which makes schools better! It’s funny how you Socialists want choice when it comes to abortion, but school choice? No! Why? You libs are hypocrites.”
That is the most idiotic thing I have read in a long time.
1. You need to learn something about socialism – this has nothing to do with socialism.
2. Comparing choice of school with whether or not a medical procedure is available as a choice makes no sense. You could compare legalized abortion with legalized schools (which makes no sense since no one has outlawed schools) or you could compare choice of school with choice of abortion provider (but again thats just plain stupid since no one is even arguing the point).
3. Competition might drive some innovation but it also drives other things – some good, some bad.
4. Innovation might be “driven” by competition but there are many other means to drive innovation.
And what’s with the “Y’all repeat after me…” business – why would I repeat anything after you?
You might try thinking for yourself instead of spouting meaningless phrases from the media.
Steve
February 23rd, 2010
5:57 pm
I have read enough. Dolts make dolts. Teachers facilitate knowledge. It is a parent’s job to ensure that a child is educated. Parent’s reply I can’t do this math, why so much homework, why you so hawd on my chile? Why did it become the teacher’s job to teach values? Isn’t that a parental job? I did a survey of my classes (unscientific as it is). It was simple and part of a data collection for a science class. How often does my family eat dinner together? Where I go to get help with my homework. How many tech gadgets do I have? How often I do homework. how many minutes a day do I talk/text on my cell? It was amazing. The gifted class (thought they consider self-entitled), frequently ate dinner together, did homework every night (even if none was assigned), parents were source of help on homework, etc. The low level (yes we level classes) were opposites. Many low level were unsupervised frequently, did not do homework, etc. Everything educaotrs already know. It is not a teacher’s fault these cannot/will not learn. Besides, our country will always need dishwashers, busboys, and other uneducated/low educated jobs. Who would do these if everyone had a college degree (not mail order of course). Choices made early in life eo affect the rest of your life. There are no programs to stop this cycle as Washington has tried and failed frequently. It is up to the individual. After school programs will not do it but nearly every Title I school has one and this is millions of dollars spent foolishly. It is a glorified baby sitting service without mandatory attendance (how interesting). Start holding students accountable. Parents do your job. It will never happen so I believe the doomsdayers are correct. Too many special interests and too many lawyers making silly rules. So, teachers struggle, dolts breed and politicians manipulate. A very sorry situation indeed. I teach. I also have one parent that was laid off from his job. He blames no one but himself. He also volunteers at my school every day. His children do their homework every day and work to be successful. He know that an education is no guarantee but he also knows about burning bridges and lost opportunities. This is a program that works but no politician will ever try to institute. A very sorry situation and yes, we are doomed.
dawgonegaboy
February 23rd, 2010
5:59 pm
The reality of the situation is that days in school or even time in school during the day has absolutely nothing to do with the quality of the eduction. That requires quality, knowledge and innovation in the structure of the courses and the educator. I know my HS Education in GA was a joke EXCEPT for those few quality teachers who held the students attention and knew what they were talking about. I NEVER sent my offspring to public school for even a day yet pay school tax. I don’t think any arbitrary number of days is needed and each school district is certainly capable of determining what is needed. Either make only the folks who have kids in public school pay the school tax or issue vouchers to everyone and let each parent make the decision where to go … I will bet in a few short years the quality of the education and students would soar. Those schools who underachieve would be out of business and those who excel would have waiting lists.
Another issue is the teachers themselves. A degree in education at the secondary level is worthless unless that person has some real world experience. Lets put folks who have a background in business/industry to work teaching instead of someone who has never done anything but earn a degree in education. I would wager that if everyone out there honestly thinks about the best secondary or college teachers in their past the ones who truely stand out are those who combine education with experience.
futureGAteacher
February 23rd, 2010
6:00 pm
I’m currently in college right now and I plan to return to Georgia to teach. I’m confused on the logic that shorter days will equate to better education. I’m all for the 180 school period, it’s what I had in New York, I turned out just fine. In my opinion, there needs to be less emphasis on standardized tests and more on the quality of education our students receive. Equally important is parental involvement. Learning starts at home first. If the parents don’t value education, hard work and perseverance, their kids won’t.
David
February 23rd, 2010
6:00 pm
One important correction to statements above: ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS DO PAY TAXES!!! If you own a home, whether legal or not, you pay property taxes. If you rent a home or apartment, whether legal or illegal, you pay enough to the apartment owner so he/she can pay their property taxes. If you buy something in a store, or gas at a gas station, you pay tax on it whether legal or illegal. If you work in Fulton County your employer deducts Federal, State, and Local payroll taxes for both legal and illegal workers. The difference is that illegal workers are much more likely to overpay income taxes and then they have no way to file for a refund so that money stays in the treasury.
Blaming illegal immigrants says more about your fears, prejudices, and lack of education than it does about the problem at hand.
concerned citizen and educator
February 23rd, 2010
6:05 pm
when it starts to affect the teachers to this extent, you know the economy is really in trouble. it makes sense because we are at the top of the list for home loss and, at the end of the day, homeowners push the economy. take those away and we are in serious trouble. add to that the fact that education is always the first to suffer and we have the current situation. it is scary whether you are a new teacher or a veteran and i recently discovered that it doesnt really matter who voices their opinions about discussed changes. the powers that be will make them regardless. and no-they dont affect them so its much easier for them to make these decisions.
taking furloughs is one thing.
taking 8000 dollars from my paycheck in the coming year is another. I couldnt afford to live here. that takes bill money, food money, forget about savings. . .
this is quite a mess we are in and the current method of printing more money is not going to solve the problem. when the damn finally bursts, what will become of us?!
we are currently watching what was discussed years ago-the demise (shrinkage) of the middle class.
what side will you end up on?!
highschooler29
February 23rd, 2010
6:09 pm
Kids wont shorter school days and i bet teachers want the pay and be able to have a vacation All you people that say its wrong are probbly parents that are to lazy to spend time with ur kids
highschooler29
February 23rd, 2010
6:10 pm
Im a highschooler and im glad because who wants to sit in a boring stuffy hot class room for 8 hours a dam day not me so get over it
Concerned Teacher
February 23rd, 2010
6:12 pm
I really don’t think high school students have paid enough dues to society and the adult world to have a valid position on teachers and education.
highschooler29
February 23rd, 2010
6:15 pm
Like you have paid ur dues!!! unlesss you have been around for a hundred years or more and have leaved a perfect life without any mistakes then u havent paid ur dues NO So kick rocks!!!get over your self we want less days in school and i think we should have a say
FultonTeacher
February 23rd, 2010
6:20 pm
Am I reading this correctly? Will reducing the contract year add to the 5 furlough days that we already know about? Will we be furloughed 15 days????
Concerned Teacher
February 23rd, 2010
6:20 pm
You are having your say. I haven’t “leaved” a perfect life. If you don’t like the hot boring classroom, find yourself another daytime activity.
Back to the original topic, what are you congressmen telling the constituents in your area?
ask a Native
February 23rd, 2010
6:28 pm
It would be easier for us to DEMAND AS TAX PAYING CITIZENS that the CORRUPT POLITICIANS stop spending $ on their pork barrel projects. But it’s much easier to pit the people against one another and hope no one notices. Keep dancing, puppets.
Have you talked to your legislator lately?
Wounded Warrior
February 23rd, 2010
6:38 pm
let’s do the 4 day work week. 3 day weekends!!!!!!!
Concerned Teacher
February 23rd, 2010
6:43 pm
My legislator has not given me much information. He’s new to the Assembly. I, too, feel like a involuntary puppet as a teacher. I enjoy the classroom and teaching, but I resent the intrusion of rules and regulations that make no pedagocial sense. Now they want to take away my pay was well and continue to expect more work? I’m already paying for every piece of school supplies my students and I use in the classroom as it is. How much more can I “give” before I am like the federal government: working in the deficit.
duh
February 23rd, 2010
7:02 pm
lataticia’s is a FAKE post.
and @ future ga teacher, i hope you have at least a couple years left in school bc newly graduating teachers are going to have it ROUGH.
and at the end of the day-no matter why the parents sent the child to school-the teacher’s job is to TEACH.do that, OR STAY HOME. . .
OH, and since im here-what about getting out those teachers and administrators who are HOLDING ON but PAST RETIREMENT?!?!? they are getting much more money than if they were to go ahead and call it quits. i know times arent what they used to be but your 60 PERCENT is much better for you than someone who is being cut mercilessly for the sake of shady deals.
they say its for the budget and i believe that to be true. BUT IF THATS THE CASE, tell your pals that instead of taking money from one needy program (say, um, prek) and sending it to another one (say, um, private college scholarship money). those prek kids have to make it to college!
Parent, homeowner, taxpayer, educator - CITIZEN
February 23rd, 2010
8:11 pm
What separates societies of achievement from societies of want? Education and all that education can provide. I am the product of a combination of public and private education. My parents paid for both, through taxes and tuition respectively. We were a low to middle middle class household. I have paid, and am still paying, for my own education through a combination of loans, scholarships, and good old fashion work (sometimes as many as five jobs simultaneously). Money was not, could not, be a limiting factor in my personal growth or in my capacity to be a contributing member of society.
As an adult I have held many jobs and pursued many different professions, some quite lucrative, but none has fulfilled me as much as being an educator. I have taught the first through twelfth grades as well as at the college level. I have taught talented and gifted children, children with special needs, children learning English as a second (or even fourth or fifth) language, and children of all races, ethnicities, and socioeconomic status. Every single one of those children needed a quality education to play their part in the fabric of society. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I have touched our country’s future. For the children I’ve taught and the children in schools today, the only limits on their future, and ours as a society, are the artificial limits that have been and currently are being placed on our country’s most precious resource – the hearts and minds of our children. When we nickel and dime public education we sell out all of our futures’. Historically, no public education initiative, be it state or federal, has ever been fully funded but that should not be the standard.
We are all, each of us, whether we have one child, ten, or none responsible for the well being of the least among us and must prepare them to assume our roles in society. We all begin life crawling before we stumble, fall, walk, and then run on strong legs only to live that sequence in reverse as we age and return to vulnerability. The children of today will be the doctors and nurses who care for us and the lawmakers who protect our rights, along with the entire myriad other worker bees who compliment and complete our lives. If we want the opportunity to live quality lives we must prepare our children to become contributors to a quality society. Quite simply, public education is an investment in everything that makes a society desirable – healthcare, safety, security, housing, transportation, entertainment…
Not because I am a teacher, but because I know how valuable good teachers really are, we must pay teaching professionals competitive wages. Teaching should be one of the most desirable and respected professions in America. Teaching should never be a fallback, part-time, second job – it should be a career. Real teachers don’t stop working at 3 PM – unless they have to take time to go to a second or third job to support their own families. Real teachers continue to educate themselves, formally and informally and should either have the cost of their continued education paid for or be appropriately compensated for the cost. Do we pay medical doctors or professional athletes so much because we respect them or respect them because they are paid so much money? Either way, educators are not paid their worth in relation to their contribution to society nor are they respected for that contribution. Teachers are the only professionals we will all encounter in our lifetimes and the only professionals whose lives are so intricately intertwined with our own. In fact, all of the members of our society will receive some form of education, and the majority of that education will be provided in the public sector. As a whole, members of society are touched more by teachers than doctors, lawyers, or the clergy. To continue to sell teachers and education short is not only folly it could well prove to be the deaths knell of our society. There is no panacea for public education. More money is not the answer. Less money is not the answer. More time is not the answer. Less time is not the answer. Thoughtful consideration and meaningful action free of political gaming is just the beginning of returning American public education to greatness. Please, if you consider yourself a caring, contributing member of society please support teachers and public education to the fullest extent, through your time, taxes, and voice – all of our futures depend on that action.
Melinda
February 23rd, 2010
10:14 pm
I’m a working mother and if they shorten the school week to save money in their budget, it directly affects MINE! These idiots need to wake up and realize the days of the Dad working and Mom sitting home raising the 2.5 kids are gone. Oh – and we working moms VOTE, you idiot! You already screwed Cobb County parents with the “balanced calendar” – how difficult do you want to make VOTERS lives?
Do it and I’ll work tirelessly to get your sorry clueless butt out of office!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why?
February 23rd, 2010
10:39 pm
Cutting days equals cutting quality instructional time. You can add a few minutes to the end of the day or end of the period and call it instructional time if you want, but you are just fooling yourself. You are trying to rationalize cutting quality instructional time. Fatigue becomes a factor. The kids can only take so much in at a time. After they reach a saturation point, the teachers may as well be talking to a wall. The kids will get nothing out of the few extra minutes added to each period. The kids are the ones that will suffer.
We already go to school less than most industrialized nations. In the most affluent nation in the world, we can”t afford to educate our kids. This is a sad day indeed.
Used to be Disgusted
February 23rd, 2010
11:52 pm
Anybody else think this clown from Kathy Cox’s office should be fired? (I know, Cox should be fired first: that is self-evident)
teacher11
February 24th, 2010
12:52 am
When getting upset about state and global rankings we need to compare apples to apples. many times only the top students are tested when in america we test everyone. I also understand that in some states they only use their top studnet score for the comparison.
Research definitely needs to be done on this matter. When I teach my students I use data to determine how and what to teach each and everyday. Our government needs to do the same when considering law. It is to my understanding that a school in our state did cut the school week to 4 days in hopes of saving money. The results are not as great as one might think. They saved a mere $400,000.00. This may seem like a lot but in running a school district that does not even cover the fuel used in busing our kids. Continuing to cut the pay of our teachers only puts hardship and extra stress on these families. As we cut teacher pay we are cutting our teacher quality which would be due to stress, another job, etc.. I love my job and I love teaching the children. I strive to do my best daily with or without merit pay or furlough days. All the teachers I know do. truly there are very few teachers who do not do their jobs. Governor I urge you to look at statistics, think about working parents, and think about our children and their future. I ask you, what does your wife say about all this? Learn from her since she is a retired school teacher
COACH-LAST OF THE HARD
February 24th, 2010
1:28 am
THIS STATEMENT IS COMING FROM 19YRS IN ED. THE MAIN PROBLEM IN GA EDUCATION IS SELF DISCIPLINE AND GOVT. RESTRICTIONS. 80 TO 90 PERCENT OF THE STUDENTS ARE TRYING TO LEARN SOMETHING. EVERY STUDENT AS WE KNOW IS NOT OUT OF THE SAME PRESS, IMAGINE THAT. SOME ARE NOT CUT OUT TO FIX COMPUTERS. ONE OF MY CLOSEST FRIENDS DOES COMMERCIAL FLOOR WORK. HE MADE 45,000 LAST MONTH. HE WAS NOT A HIGH SCHOOL GRAD. I WILL BE WORKING FOR HIM ANY TIME OFF I HAVE. WE ARE ON A 10 MONTH PAY CHECK MINUS WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE. THANK YOU SONNY. KISS MY GRITS….. SOME ARE JUST LAZY AND DO NOT CARE. IT IS ALL ABOUT SELF ENDULGEMENT AND SOCIALIZING I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES 1 OR 2 STUDENTS DISRUPT A CLASS OF THIRTY. TIME IS TAKEN AWAY OR WASTED TRYING TO DEAL WITH CLASS BEHAVIOR. BILL COSBY SAID IT ON CNN. YOU SEE YOUR DIRTY LAUNDRY AFTER SCHOOL GETS OUT. THEY LAUGHING, JOKING, CUSSING AND CALLING EACH OTHER NAMES. THEY HAVE NO RESPECT FOR AUTHORITY OR PEOPLE OF THEIR OWN AGE. ELECTRONIC DEVICES ARE ON AND THE BOOK BAGS ARE EMPTY OF BOOKS. WHERE ARE THE PARENTS WHO KNOWS. EVERY YEAR I GET STUDENTS WHO TRANFER FROM DIFFERENT SCHOOLS WITH LITTLE OR NO CREDITS TOWARDS GRADUATION. MOST HAVE DISCIPLINE OR COURT PAPERS SAYING THEY MUST ATTEND. SEVERAL USE SPECIAL ED AS A SAVIOR TO KEEP RETURNING TO SCHOOL, AFTER BEING REMOVED FOR DISCIPLINE. THE ADMINISTRATORS ARE CONSTANTLY RUNNING AROUND TRYING TO DEAL WITH ISSUES AND PARENTS, WHO ARE WORSE THAN THE KIDS. MAYBE IT IS TIME THAT WE LOOK BACK AT HISTORY. IF YOU SCREW UP IN SCHOOL YOU ARE REMOVED FROM SCHOOL. TAKE A LOOK AT A TRUE STATEWIDE ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL. I HAD NO DOUBT THAT IF I GOT IN TROUBLE IN SCHOOL THAT MY OLD MAN WOULD GET IT STRAIGHT WHEN I GOT HOME. WHAT AN IDEA PARENT ENVOLVEMENT. I AM 45 YEARS OLD AND HE STILL WILL GIVE ME ONE IF I SCREW UP. HE HAS NOT RETIRED FROM BEING A PARENT. HE WAS EDUCATED AT THE OLD SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS. IF YOU WANT TO SAVE MONEY START SCHOOL IN SEPT AND END IT IN JUNE. TAKE A WEEK OFF AT THANKSGIVING, 2 WEEKS AT CHRISTMAS AND 1 AT SPRING BREAK. DUMP THE STAFF DEVELOPMENT DAYS. USE 1 PLANNING HOUR A MONTH. LETS GET FRIKIN REAL. ATHLETICS IS THE ONLY REAL PLACE WHERE SOME CAN LEARN SELF-DISCIPLINE, AS LONG AS THE PARENT DOESN’T ATTACK THE COACH.