I read the column and laughed out loud. The big boss at WTVC-9 is upset because the TFP dropped his station in favor of WRCB-3, and is now surprised that the paper gives Channel 3 more space. Now that's funny. As I recall, Channel 3's weatherman trained Channel 9's weatherman. I'll go with the teacher, every time.
ACT score of 14? And 88% of students graduate? How, exactly? And why don't schools with an ACT of 19 or 20 (like many others in the county) have a 99% graduation rate? Something doesn't add up here. Did this writer tell the whole story, or is it just PR?
That's a good point, hixsondave. I find it hard to believe that anyone chose Normal Park for "diversity." Certainly not a diverse faculty. If you want to see true diversity, both teachers and students, go to Red Bank, East Ridge, Lookout Valley, Central. But I don't think you'll see many Normal Park parents explore those options. Too much diversity.
Normal Park has carefully selected, pre-screened, mom-and-dad, well-behaved, protected diversity. Not real-world diversity. Big difference.
Also Momof3, if most of the good, involved parents in those truly diverse school zones keep escaping and fleeing for Normal Park, Silverdale and other private school options, how will those public schools ever get better? You all say you want all public schools to be great "like Normal Park." But when given an opportunity to make them great, you run in the other direction.
It reminds me of various elected officials and big money business owners (most of whom are Normal Park or private school parents). They give speeches and serve on committees to "improve public education." They just won't send their OWN kids to their zoned public school.
Ldurham's arguments look spot-on from here. I can't find anything inaccurate. It's well known that the teachers Normal Park didn't want were dumped on other schools, that Jill Levine is the only principal in the county who hasn't been transferred in the past ten years, and Normal Park has actively fought to keep poor kids in their neighborhood out of their school. None of those facts can be disputed.
meece, here's a fair question for you. Just for the sake of argument, let's say you're right. You attribute Normal Park's success to "a constructivist, developmentally appropriate curriculum and positive guidance. The active learning, the hands-on doing."
So, that's all there is too it? It's not Jill Levine? It's not the parents who won the lottery? OK then. How long has this been going on, 5-10 years? As we're often reminded by you and the rest of the Normal Park Fan Club, every school needs to be like Normal Park.
So: why haven't the rest of the county schools copied this easy formula? What's keeping them from it? If the students are not handpicked (you say even the poor children can learn, right?), if the teachers are not handpicked, if the principal is easily replaced (um, yeah, right)... if all it takes is "the groundswell of change"...why hasn't it been copied by a bunch of other schools?
If it's not the power of the principal, if it's not the money, if it's not parents with volunteer time and financial resources at their disposal, if it's not "lottery winning" students from fine neighborhoods, if it's not handpicked teachers....then why on earth aren't most county school principals on the doorstep of the Central Office begging to be "the next Normal Park?" Wouldn't that be the natural thing to do?
Okay, I hadn't paid much attention to the amateur cartoon page until about a week ago. But now I get it. Unless some local figure that Bennett doesn't like, (Example: Judge Moon)dies, he does the same cartoon over and over with a slightly different setting. No wonder he gets his jollies when a local Judge dies. It gave him something different to doodle!
To Clay Bennett's Band of Liberal Loonies: your doodle-boy has every right to express his opinions, and spew his venom, no matter how wrong-headed he is. But if he was a man instead of a mouse, he would publicly apologize to Judge Moon's family and friends for the unbelievably bad timing of this cartoon's publication. On the day of a man's funeral? Inexcusably insensitive.
Walking for Congress
Wow, the right-hand side of the editorial page rips Scottie Mayfield. Lee Anderson would be furious.
Berke opens mayoral race
What's taking you so long, Times lefty page? We know you want to endorse Berke, go ahead. It's in the bag, it's in the bank. The machine has spoken.
Gerber: Accusations swirl after story about meteorologist
I read the column and laughed out loud. The big boss at WTVC-9 is upset because the TFP dropped his station in favor of WRCB-3, and is now surprised that the paper gives Channel 3 more space. Now that's funny. As I recall, Channel 3's weatherman trained Channel 9's weatherman. I'll go with the teacher, every time.
Cook: Sit-ins all over again
ACT score of 14? And 88% of students graduate? How, exactly? And why don't schools with an ACT of 19 or 20 (like many others in the county) have a 99% graduation rate? Something doesn't add up here. Did this writer tell the whole story, or is it just PR?
Cook: Unintended Normal Park Museum Magnet School punch to gut
That's a good point, hixsondave. I find it hard to believe that anyone chose Normal Park for "diversity." Certainly not a diverse faculty. If you want to see true diversity, both teachers and students, go to Red Bank, East Ridge, Lookout Valley, Central. But I don't think you'll see many Normal Park parents explore those options. Too much diversity.
Normal Park has carefully selected, pre-screened, mom-and-dad, well-behaved, protected diversity. Not real-world diversity. Big difference.
Also Momof3, if most of the good, involved parents in those truly diverse school zones keep escaping and fleeing for Normal Park, Silverdale and other private school options, how will those public schools ever get better? You all say you want all public schools to be great "like Normal Park." But when given an opportunity to make them great, you run in the other direction.
It reminds me of various elected officials and big money business owners (most of whom are Normal Park or private school parents). They give speeches and serve on committees to "improve public education." They just won't send their OWN kids to their zoned public school.
Cook: Unintended Normal Park Museum Magnet School punch to gut
Ldurham's arguments look spot-on from here. I can't find anything inaccurate. It's well known that the teachers Normal Park didn't want were dumped on other schools, that Jill Levine is the only principal in the county who hasn't been transferred in the past ten years, and Normal Park has actively fought to keep poor kids in their neighborhood out of their school. None of those facts can be disputed.
Hater? Not if you're just telling the truth.
Cook: Unintended Normal Park Museum Magnet School punch to gut
meece, here's a fair question for you. Just for the sake of argument, let's say you're right. You attribute Normal Park's success to "a constructivist, developmentally appropriate curriculum and positive guidance. The active learning, the hands-on doing."
So, that's all there is too it? It's not Jill Levine? It's not the parents who won the lottery? OK then. How long has this been going on, 5-10 years? As we're often reminded by you and the rest of the Normal Park Fan Club, every school needs to be like Normal Park.
So: why haven't the rest of the county schools copied this easy formula? What's keeping them from it? If the students are not handpicked (you say even the poor children can learn, right?), if the teachers are not handpicked, if the principal is easily replaced (um, yeah, right)... if all it takes is "the groundswell of change"...why hasn't it been copied by a bunch of other schools?
If it's not the power of the principal, if it's not the money, if it's not parents with volunteer time and financial resources at their disposal, if it's not "lottery winning" students from fine neighborhoods, if it's not handpicked teachers....then why on earth aren't most county school principals on the doorstep of the Central Office begging to be "the next Normal Park?" Wouldn't that be the natural thing to do?
Taking a Stand
Okay, I hadn't paid much attention to the amateur cartoon page until about a week ago. But now I get it. Unless some local figure that Bennett doesn't like, (Example: Judge Moon)dies, he does the same cartoon over and over with a slightly different setting. No wonder he gets his jollies when a local Judge dies. It gave him something different to doodle!
Bennett crosses a shameful line
Hey, happy bulb boy: give it up. You've been owned. And Clay Bennett is a ball-less wonder.
Letters to the Editor
To Clay Bennett's Band of Liberal Loonies: your doodle-boy has every right to express his opinions, and spew his venom, no matter how wrong-headed he is. But if he was a man instead of a mouse, he would publicly apologize to Judge Moon's family and friends for the unbelievably bad timing of this cartoon's publication. On the day of a man's funeral? Inexcusably insensitive.