As a parent with students at Signal Mountain I offer no excuse for the actions of staff members. They are good people who made a terrible error in judgment and it is only appropriate that there be some form of punishment. I also believe underage drinking is an issue that needs attention, but I would stop short of saying that Signal Mountain has a larger problem in that area than any other high school. It seems any negative event st Signal Mountain finds its way into this paper and usually on the front page, but there are many wonderful things that never get publicized. For example, the community of Signal Mountain and many members at Signal Mtn. Presbyterian Church have come together through a learning center funded by the Mountain Education Foundation and volunteer tutors from the church to assist No Child Left Behind students with an after school tutoring program. They paid for transportation so those students who were struggling academically could stay after school for free tutoring and still have a free ride home. The fine young man who was the center of all the football controversy over his eligibility was assisted all year so that despite his learning difficulties he was able to pass all tests necessary and complete all credits necessary to graduate from Signal Mountain and be able to accept the scholarship he earned to a junior college in California. Signal students this year were offered over 9 million dollars in scholarships due to their academic performance and besides athletics they have one of the fastest growing and best bands in the county, a fine theatre department and other great programs too numerous to name. Dr. Tom McCullough is a fine man who has had to deal with difficult situations in a very public manner. There are issues at Signal to be sure as there are in every public school in this county. I would be interested to see what would happen if every other school had all their issues turned into front page stories. I am grateful for Dr. McCullough's leadership and still proud to be part of the SMMHS family.
I am expected to submit to drug testing at my place of employment in order to be hired and keep my job. The taxes paid by my employer and by me on my earnings are directly supporting welfare recipients, so why should they not be expected to do the same?
Once again, Clay Bennett has nothing more important to editorialize than a high school football team. Seriously? If one student's eligibility issue makes all Signal Mountain football players "illegals", does the presence of Clay Bennett make everyone on the TFP staff an idiot?
The Hamilton County Dept. of Education does not appear to be interested in hiring more quality, experienced teachers. I know someone who moved here from another state with 30 years experience and a master's degree and could not even get past the rude people at the central office to get her application released to principals for any of the available jobs. HCDE staff were so unprofessional that this person ultimately wanted no part of HCDE and decided to take less money for a private school or something in a different field.
Once again the actions of a small group of thugs will cause the loss of freedom for the majority of good kids who might be in the park, especially during the spring and summer when it is daylight well past 6pm. The law abiding citizens will follow the rules and the trouble makers won't care - so they win.
Well this editorial explains why the Times Free Press has sunk so low. What started as an inappropriate cartoon bashing children has now degenerated into a juvenile article which labels Signal Mountain residents as having "a sense of entitlement and arrogance — to the point of not only looking down on the rest of us literally, but now figuratively." You were not content to slander the character of 60 young men, so you have now insulted an entire community. I hope in the coming weeks you will find that perhaps you needed the subscriptions and advertising from Signal Mountain residents.
This editorial cartoon is inappropriate. High school students make mistakes and it is our place as parents and educators to correct them and help them learn. In this case, that has been done. Surely you are not foolish enough to suggest that Signal Mountain High School is the only school that has ever had such an occurence. The incident involved a handfull of players out of 60. It is unfair to characterize the team this way. Has anyone on the TFP staff ever made a mistake and had a cartoon published singling them out?
One day all these folks are going to get the separation from God that they so desire, for eternity. It is called Hell. May God have mercy on this country.
Since you attended school whether the roads were safe or not, Exusiai, I'm surprised you still have poor grammar and need to use poorly disguised obscenities.
I hope all those who find some southerners idiotic and ignorant because they believe in God will exercise their right to go elsewhere. The dialogue here reflects the increasing depravity that is rampant in our nation since we have systematically turned our backs and raised our fists at God and those who worship Him. May God have mercy on our nation.
Booze and consequences
As a parent with students at Signal Mountain I offer no excuse for the actions of staff members. They are good people who made a terrible error in judgment and it is only appropriate that there be some form of punishment. I also believe underage drinking is an issue that needs attention, but I would stop short of saying that Signal Mountain has a larger problem in that area than any other high school. It seems any negative event st Signal Mountain finds its way into this paper and usually on the front page, but there are many wonderful things that never get publicized. For example, the community of Signal Mountain and many members at Signal Mtn. Presbyterian Church have come together through a learning center funded by the Mountain Education Foundation and volunteer tutors from the church to assist No Child Left Behind students with an after school tutoring program. They paid for transportation so those students who were struggling academically could stay after school for free tutoring and still have a free ride home. The fine young man who was the center of all the football controversy over his eligibility was assisted all year so that despite his learning difficulties he was able to pass all tests necessary and complete all credits necessary to graduate from Signal Mountain and be able to accept the scholarship he earned to a junior college in California. Signal students this year were offered over 9 million dollars in scholarships due to their academic performance and besides athletics they have one of the fastest growing and best bands in the county, a fine theatre department and other great programs too numerous to name. Dr. Tom McCullough is a fine man who has had to deal with difficult situations in a very public manner. There are issues at Signal to be sure as there are in every public school in this county. I would be interested to see what would happen if every other school had all their issues turned into front page stories. I am grateful for Dr. McCullough's leadership and still proud to be part of the SMMHS family.
The Drug Test
I am expected to submit to drug testing at my place of employment in order to be hired and keep my job. The taxes paid by my employer and by me on my earnings are directly supporting welfare recipients, so why should they not be expected to do the same?
TSSAA Ruling
Once again, Clay Bennett has nothing more important to editorialize than a high school football team. Seriously? If one student's eligibility issue makes all Signal Mountain football players "illegals", does the presence of Clay Bennett make everyone on the TFP staff an idiot?
Hamilton County public schools lag for minority students
The Hamilton County Dept. of Education does not appear to be interested in hiring more quality, experienced teachers. I know someone who moved here from another state with 30 years experience and a master's degree and could not even get past the rude people at the central office to get her application released to principals for any of the available jobs. HCDE staff were so unprofessional that this person ultimately wanted no part of HCDE and decided to take less money for a private school or something in a different field.
Chattanooga: Council bans minors from Coolidge Park at set times
Once again the actions of a small group of thugs will cause the loss of freedom for the majority of good kids who might be in the park, especially during the spring and summer when it is daylight well past 6pm. The law abiding citizens will follow the rules and the trouble makers won't care - so they win.
Foster: Bennett cartoon hit the mark
Well this editorial explains why the Times Free Press has sunk so low. What started as an inappropriate cartoon bashing children has now degenerated into a juvenile article which labels Signal Mountain residents as having "a sense of entitlement and arrogance — to the point of not only looking down on the rest of us literally, but now figuratively." You were not content to slander the character of 60 young men, so you have now insulted an entire community. I hope in the coming weeks you will find that perhaps you needed the subscriptions and advertising from Signal Mountain residents.
The State Champs
This editorial cartoon is inappropriate. High school students make mistakes and it is our place as parents and educators to correct them and help them learn. In this case, that has been done. Surely you are not foolish enough to suggest that Signal Mountain High School is the only school that has ever had such an occurence. The incident involved a handfull of players out of 60. It is unfair to characterize the team this way. Has anyone on the TFP staff ever made a mistake and had a cartoon published singling them out?
National group demands end to prayers at Soddy-Daisy High
One day all these folks are going to get the separation from God that they so desire, for eternity. It is called Hell. May God have mercy on this country.
Chattanooga: Schools, roads closed because of inclement weather
Since you attended school whether the roads were safe or not, Exusiai, I'm surprised you still have poor grammar and need to use poorly disguised obscenities.
Rally for LFO cheerleaders draws huge crowd
I hope all those who find some southerners idiotic and ignorant because they believe in God will exercise their right to go elsewhere. The dialogue here reflects the increasing depravity that is rampant in our nation since we have systematically turned our backs and raised our fists at God and those who worship Him. May God have mercy on our nation.