Wahoo school has begun. This year it has been announced that their will be deeper cuts. No Art, gym once a week, no library access, that is unless the classroom teacher will do it, and I would not give up a prep period, would you?
So once again we must go and beg for outside monies. Grant monies that are usually not handed out in this District. I yearn for the good old when we had a district days. When the District as a whole applied for a grant and received it.
One another note, wee one has a teacher that is brand new to the school. Looking forward to learning with her. A friend made me laugh when he said it was good for me that she is new to the school. Means she does not know my reputation. I told him oh yee of little faith. Small school=more gossip.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Monday, August 31, 2009
Joel Klein is a big fat liar....
and his pants are on fire.
With the new school year quickly approaching, I would like to reflect on the past year. The Dynamic Duo have been constantly bragging about the stellar education our children receive. They relate to us that our teachers do not teach to the test, and the press just laps it up. Not like the owners (Mikes friends) know any different, their darlings attend private and the costlier the better, plus lets not forget those great class sizes.
So back to last year. Wee one completed the third grade. I have noticed a difference in the older guys third grade curriculum and wee one's curriculum. Now this might just only be wee one's school. Where test scores matter a great deal. People riot, okay not riot over lower scores from the year before., but they do make the Principals life difficult at best over them. Wee one was taught multiplication, he increased his vocabulary and spelling skills. Science was a bit intense this year, but he studied diligently and did fine.
What he did not learn was something the other two did. Cursive handwriting and history. We did have to purchase a map at the beginning of last year. One of the United States and the World as a whole. At the beginning of the school year he did learn the continents and the oceans, hemispheres etc., but that was it. Now I am pretty sure if there was some third grade history statewide test they would learn this crap ummm I mean essential information. I am not suggesting a test, because our children are not lab rats for goodness sakes. And Joel, I swear if there is a test announced I will be in front of Tweed with all my friends and a giant pitchfork. Don't ask me put Pissed, when exactly would you like us to teach all of this, there really isn't enough time in the day. Bull$shit. There used to be time, maybe if the tests were not increased each year our children could get that stellar education.
Now I know the cursive thing can be explained away by telling me people don't write in longhand. When was the last time you sent a letter. Well I do write in long hand and I do send letters. Call me old fashioned.
I would like to know why it is up to me the parent, you know the parent without any say or education experience have to teach him cursive. He asked me to, said he wants to learn. The horror's a child who wants to learn.
With the new school year quickly approaching, I would like to reflect on the past year. The Dynamic Duo have been constantly bragging about the stellar education our children receive. They relate to us that our teachers do not teach to the test, and the press just laps it up. Not like the owners (Mikes friends) know any different, their darlings attend private and the costlier the better, plus lets not forget those great class sizes.
So back to last year. Wee one completed the third grade. I have noticed a difference in the older guys third grade curriculum and wee one's curriculum. Now this might just only be wee one's school. Where test scores matter a great deal. People riot, okay not riot over lower scores from the year before., but they do make the Principals life difficult at best over them. Wee one was taught multiplication, he increased his vocabulary and spelling skills. Science was a bit intense this year, but he studied diligently and did fine.
What he did not learn was something the other two did. Cursive handwriting and history. We did have to purchase a map at the beginning of last year. One of the United States and the World as a whole. At the beginning of the school year he did learn the continents and the oceans, hemispheres etc., but that was it. Now I am pretty sure if there was some third grade history statewide test they would learn this crap ummm I mean essential information. I am not suggesting a test, because our children are not lab rats for goodness sakes. And Joel, I swear if there is a test announced I will be in front of Tweed with all my friends and a giant pitchfork. Don't ask me put Pissed, when exactly would you like us to teach all of this, there really isn't enough time in the day. Bull$shit. There used to be time, maybe if the tests were not increased each year our children could get that stellar education.
Now I know the cursive thing can be explained away by telling me people don't write in longhand. When was the last time you sent a letter. Well I do write in long hand and I do send letters. Call me old fashioned.
I would like to know why it is up to me the parent, you know the parent without any say or education experience have to teach him cursive. He asked me to, said he wants to learn. The horror's a child who wants to learn.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Why we need our Districts back
Today I was trying to find certain information about my local school and kindergarten registration. If I give you more information I will just out myself. I am sure the people reading this who know all the phone calls I made today know who I am. Whatever.
I had to find a specific item, this item was not not on any DOE website, why should be help parents find information? Why alienate parents, I still don't get that.
Before if you had a question about registration all you did was call a well staffed district office and get an answer you had knowledge to make your decision and go in with your proof. We all know that knowledge is power, power to the parents, we can't have that. Oh wait isn't that the name of a website crap here I go off subject again.
So before when we had Districts with a Superintendent, in the District office there was always someone to help you. Meanwhile I had a simple mapping question. I went to the DOE site, the DOE brought me to the school portal. I could not find the answer there either. Clicked on parents nada, I am patient to a fault, it has to be the three sons thing, cleaning up the bathroom they use. Oops to much information. I decide to call the district in hope that the 3 people who work there could help me. Hell it could be more than 3 but truly I have not been up to the one room they have in the school, so I don't know.
You know the DOE does not have the answer to the mapping question for schools, and for goodness sake I know I am blonde and it does take me time to realize things, but crap there is no mapping answer, and elementary schools are now also open to all. Thanks Joel for m(f)ucking things up and screwing up our schools. Do your friends need another charter school tax break?
I had to find a specific item, this item was not not on any DOE website, why should be help parents find information? Why alienate parents, I still don't get that.
Before if you had a question about registration all you did was call a well staffed district office and get an answer you had knowledge to make your decision and go in with your proof. We all know that knowledge is power, power to the parents, we can't have that. Oh wait isn't that the name of a website crap here I go off subject again.
So before when we had Districts with a Superintendent, in the District office there was always someone to help you. Meanwhile I had a simple mapping question. I went to the DOE site, the DOE brought me to the school portal. I could not find the answer there either. Clicked on parents nada, I am patient to a fault, it has to be the three sons thing, cleaning up the bathroom they use. Oops to much information. I decide to call the district in hope that the 3 people who work there could help me. Hell it could be more than 3 but truly I have not been up to the one room they have in the school, so I don't know.
You know the DOE does not have the answer to the mapping question for schools, and for goodness sake I know I am blonde and it does take me time to realize things, but crap there is no mapping answer, and elementary schools are now also open to all. Thanks Joel for m(f)ucking things up and screwing up our schools. Do your friends need another charter school tax break?
CDEC elections
One more reason the DOE is out of touch with what parents want.
So they decide that they are going to hold CDEC elections to be "equitable" to all parents. I have not received one back pack flyer to inform me that their was going to be CDEC elections or what a CDEC is, or as they changed it to CEC, another way to get the District out of the DOE. I mean we do all know there is no such thing as a district no matter what the hell Joel and Mike's propaganda on the subways tell us. Oops I am going off subject again. I was never told as a parent that I could go to PowertotheParents.org ( what power, are you kidding me power my arse) and register if I wanted to be on a CDEC. But what did I get a nice back pack flyer announcing that such and such a date will be the day that I can grill ummm I mean question the candidates who want to represent me. Represent me how? What is a CEC all those questions were not answered on the flyer. Who do you think will show up at these events. Ooh I know, I know, the candidates who were told be there or you forfeit your chance to serve on a committee that is powerless at best. Yeah that is great, why don't you just strong arm the few candidates that do want to serve?
On to the next part of this, say you did decide to run as a candidate, guess what the Powertothe Parents people kind of forget to let the candidates know they are a candidate. I know this because I did an informal survey. Not scientific or with big monies like the DOE throw around, it was not even a no bid contract. Just a I am a big mouthed, I want to know how the DOE screwed up again kind of person.
So I did this informal survey. I asked a few people who I know threw their so called hat in the ring. One person told me that they had to exchange a few emails back and forth with the group, and the other told me that their application was incomplete and had to be completly filled out so that they can apply.
I also asked a few parents this: Hey do you know that their is going to be a CDEC election soon? What is a CDEC was a few responses and then what election. Straw vote, Internet only, does not count, what do you mean does not count?
I saw the flyer but how do you become a candidate?
For a group and I mean the DOE who says the are transparent, they sure a full of crap.
Transparent to those in the know only.
So they decide that they are going to hold CDEC elections to be "equitable" to all parents. I have not received one back pack flyer to inform me that their was going to be CDEC elections or what a CDEC is, or as they changed it to CEC, another way to get the District out of the DOE. I mean we do all know there is no such thing as a district no matter what the hell Joel and Mike's propaganda on the subways tell us. Oops I am going off subject again. I was never told as a parent that I could go to PowertotheParents.org ( what power, are you kidding me power my arse) and register if I wanted to be on a CDEC. But what did I get a nice back pack flyer announcing that such and such a date will be the day that I can grill ummm I mean question the candidates who want to represent me. Represent me how? What is a CEC all those questions were not answered on the flyer. Who do you think will show up at these events. Ooh I know, I know, the candidates who were told be there or you forfeit your chance to serve on a committee that is powerless at best. Yeah that is great, why don't you just strong arm the few candidates that do want to serve?
On to the next part of this, say you did decide to run as a candidate, guess what the Powertothe Parents people kind of forget to let the candidates know they are a candidate. I know this because I did an informal survey. Not scientific or with big monies like the DOE throw around, it was not even a no bid contract. Just a I am a big mouthed, I want to know how the DOE screwed up again kind of person.
So I did this informal survey. I asked a few people who I know threw their so called hat in the ring. One person told me that they had to exchange a few emails back and forth with the group, and the other told me that their application was incomplete and had to be completly filled out so that they can apply.
I also asked a few parents this: Hey do you know that their is going to be a CDEC election soon? What is a CDEC was a few responses and then what election. Straw vote, Internet only, does not count, what do you mean does not count?
I saw the flyer but how do you become a candidate?
For a group and I mean the DOE who says the are transparent, they sure a full of crap.
Transparent to those in the know only.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Velcro Handcuffs
It just gets better and better doesn't it? I am wondering why in the world we need to use handcuffs on "unruly" children. The Daily News has reported that the NYPD has approved usage to velcro handcuffs on children 16 and under who are unruly. It does say if they become a danger to themselves. But who is to protect the children from the unruly safety officers who have been misusing their power of authority? Maybe we should start giving children velcro handcuffs as well. Yeah go attack me and ask me but what would you like us to do. You don't know what it is like. What parent groups were asked if this was a good idea. I know there has to be some parent group the DOE is going to say they asked. Don't they always?
Like the parent groups for the SLT's, the parent groups for the new CDEC's elections. Who are these parents I want to talk to them.
It is fine lets keep the handcuff's and mayoral control it has just run fine as it is.
By the way I have some blood for sale I need to send my kid to private school.
Like the parent groups for the SLT's, the parent groups for the new CDEC's elections. Who are these parents I want to talk to them.
It is fine lets keep the handcuff's and mayoral control it has just run fine as it is.
By the way I have some blood for sale I need to send my kid to private school.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Watch out we are about to blow
the enrollment rates of our incoming kindergarten classes. Slash the budget some more please. A few posts down I mentioned how our local catholic schools are closing. Some are closing some are reinventing themselves. Kind of like the DOE reinvents themselves.
The "unofficial" kindergarten enrollment rate in wee one's school is at 45 already. 45 LOCAL ZONED KIDS. Not sure where we are going to find the room for them or the more that might register with the open enrollment. Thanks Mike you are doing a top notch job. I am sure you are the posters on the subway tell me you are, and of course I believe them.
The "unofficial" kindergarten enrollment rate in wee one's school is at 45 already. 45 LOCAL ZONED KIDS. Not sure where we are going to find the room for them or the more that might register with the open enrollment. Thanks Mike you are doing a top notch job. I am sure you are the posters on the subway tell me you are, and of course I believe them.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Somebody told me....
I have been to quiet lately. Well with something big behind me I think I can start posting again. There is plenty of material out there.
15,000 teachers
getting the nice ole pink slip next year. That is great for class size, the class size that continues to grow each year.
Last week I had a conversation with another involved mom, we were discussing how a number of Catholic Schools in the surrounding area announced that they were closing in September. Where are those children going? I am sure the DOE has the demographics all ready so they don't get rid of teachers in that area. Oops I give them to much credit. The other thing we mentioned was with lay-offs growing and the increasing costs of Private Education if parents need to cut costs they would probably forgo private for public. Wonder if those numbers have been crunched yet? Oops the credit thing again.
So yes the economy is bad, cuts need to be made, but why is it always at the expense of education. We do need to educate the masses after all the children of today are the policy makers of tomorrow.
Last week I had a conversation with another involved mom, we were discussing how a number of Catholic Schools in the surrounding area announced that they were closing in September. Where are those children going? I am sure the DOE has the demographics all ready so they don't get rid of teachers in that area. Oops I give them to much credit. The other thing we mentioned was with lay-offs growing and the increasing costs of Private Education if parents need to cut costs they would probably forgo private for public. Wonder if those numbers have been crunched yet? Oops the credit thing again.
So yes the economy is bad, cuts need to be made, but why is it always at the expense of education. We do need to educate the masses after all the children of today are the policy makers of tomorrow.
This makes sense
In an effort to cut costs the DOE in there infinite wisdom decided that teachers need to grade the ELA during school hours and Principals are forced to hire subs in the place of classroom teachers. Okay so we don't want to pay the classroom teacher more money but does it not cost money to hire a sub? I know my Principal told me it is costing her $46,000 out of her meager budget. So it still costs money now doesn't it?
Wee one's teacher is one of those who is out grading tests. She equated it to jury duty. I get her point. She rather be in the classroom with HER kids. Wee One has another test coming up, the little note came home in his folder telling us 3rd grade parents what the children need to study. Last week he had two tests and a report to do. When I picked him up last week his teacher would give me a little report on how he is doing, that his social studies book was in his backpack keep it home etc. Yesterday he came out of extended day. Yes I put him back in extended day. He likes it for some unexplainable reason. Just running out of the building, I noticed the sub. The sub who has no invested interest in the children or the classroom. Yes she will do the lesson plan, but she does not have a stake now, does she? So my child will be taking this new test this weeek with no one to remind him or gently guide him that his book needs to be with him.
Children First my ass.
Wee one's teacher is one of those who is out grading tests. She equated it to jury duty. I get her point. She rather be in the classroom with HER kids. Wee One has another test coming up, the little note came home in his folder telling us 3rd grade parents what the children need to study. Last week he had two tests and a report to do. When I picked him up last week his teacher would give me a little report on how he is doing, that his social studies book was in his backpack keep it home etc. Yesterday he came out of extended day. Yes I put him back in extended day. He likes it for some unexplainable reason. Just running out of the building, I noticed the sub. The sub who has no invested interest in the children or the classroom. Yes she will do the lesson plan, but she does not have a stake now, does she? So my child will be taking this new test this weeek with no one to remind him or gently guide him that his book needs to be with him.
Children First my ass.
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