The End

Here it is, the last blog of the year. Make it good.

What have you learned in Theater Arts I this year?

What advice would you give to students who are considering taking this class?

What's the Solution?

The following is excerpted from Sherri Onorati's article, "Strike out the band: CMS considers cutting band, choir program," from the April 29, 2008, The Leader.

It's long, but make sure you read the whole thing before posting.


According to the 2007 Tennessee Department of Education Report Card which was released in Nov. 2007, Crestview Middle School did not meet the federal benchmark standard in math for students with disabilities. Even though they met the federal standards for the other subgroups, failing this area caused them to fail to meet the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) and Crestview Middle was assigned the status of a ˜target" school.

A target school is one that missed a federal benchmark in at least one area for the first year. There are no sanctions or penalties for target schools and the Department of Education offers technical assistance to help keep target schools from becoming high priority schools. Schools and school systems that do not meet the federal benchmark for two or more consecutive years in the same category are assigned the status of "High Priority."

Because of Crestview Middle School's status as a "target" school, Principal James Fields is considering various options that could help bring Crestview back into compliance and on track to ensure that all of Crestview's student needs are met. One of those options is the possibility of canceling the band and choir program at the school.

...

If the decision is made to eliminate the band and choir program at Crestview Middle, students would have the option to attend Covington Integrated Arts Academy (CIAA) since they emphasize band and choir in their curriculum. Fields acknowledges that the possibility exists that students may have to switch schools if the band program is cut and that may cause problems.

"My parents and my students have not really had a voice in the decision and that is definitely important," stated Fields. "It was an instance that presented itself, I jumped on it and although it really sounded great at the time, I am having reservations about it and I just don't feel good about it now because band is really important to the kids that we have here. We realize that switching school to be a part of the band could be detrimental to some of them and I understand that. But there comes a time when decisions still have to be made and a principal has to decide what is best for his school and for all students."

The ultimate responsibility of the school lies in educating its students and meeting the benchmark standards of the NCLB.

"If something doesn't change it's not only going to be Crestview Middle, it's going to be a lot of schools in this area and across the nation that are going to have to change the way they do things to meet the standards that's being brought down by NCLB."

...

We're not canceling the band program," stated Buddy Bibb, Tipton County Schools Director of Instruction. "Students would still be able to attend band classes at CIAA, we are just looking at possibly combining the band programs."

"Our students and their education is always our first priority," concluded Fields. "We know that band and music is extremely important and research shows that students who are in band perform better on standardized tests. My goal has been to always offer whatever we can to students, but sometimes there comes a time when we can only offer a bit of this or a bit of that and this may be one of those times.


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Keep in mind that this is JUST ONE OPTION that has been floated, and that nothing has been decided yet.

Your question today is this:

What are some other things Crestview (or any other target school) could do to increase its test scores?

Your options cannot include, "Get rid of NCLB," or anything comparable to that. Like it or not, NCLB is here, and it drives the curriculum.

If the goal of schools is to educate students, and the measure of success is determined by standardized test scores, what can schools do to make sure their students meet their (government-mandated) goals?

You should also consider that schools have to educate EVERYONE, regardless of achievement level, and that EVERYONE'S scores count. (It's beautifully illustrated in this story.)

Would your solution be affected by the fact that every student must be tested?

It's a lot to think about; since it's the second-to-last post of the year, and since so many of you indicated that school curricula have been dumbed down, I thought I'd give you a bit of a challenge.

You're welcome.

Making Changes

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What improvements would YOU make to our current educational system?

Now, I'm not talking about things like getting rid of school altogether, or making classes voluntary rather than required, etc.; I mean real possibilities for change that could actually, feasibly be enacted.

P.S. This is not a forum for you to take shots at your high school. Consider the big picture. I'm talking about education as a WHOLE.

Truth in Advertising

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Here's a question you're likely to be asked during a job interview:

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Answer the question, then explain why you chose those particular characteristics.

Bothersome

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Above all else, my greatest education-relation pet peeve is this:

alot

When I see alot on a paper, I grit my teeth, clench my fists, and have mean thoughts.

Guess what ... A LOT IS ALWAYS TWO WORDS!!!!! How hard is it to remember that? AARRGH!

What pet peeves do you have?

What Makes a Good President?

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Warning: This post contains my political opinions. I share them, not with the intention of influencing your own politics, but to clarify the question you have to answer.

As you know, this year's Presidential election has made and is making history. As much as I love this evidence that our country is changing, I am still conflicted as to whom I should vote for. Here are my reasons:

1. Politically, I don't really match up with any of the candidates. I'm not tied to a certain party, so I could vote for any of them, except ... I don't really want to vote for ANY of them.

2. Likeability is very important to me. I want to LIKE the person who represents our country!

I admire John McCain for his service to America, but I don't like some of the things he's said and done in his personal life.

I do NOT like Hillary Clinton, but politically, she probably represents my views the best; that is to say, even though none of the candidates have exactly the same opinions on governmental issues that I do, she meets more of the criteria on my list than the other candidates.

I really like Barack Obama as a person, but of the three candidates, his politics are the least like my own.

3. I think a President should have experience. Clinton has been a senator for five years; that's the extent of her political experience (I do not think her previous years as a First Lady necessarily count towards her experience). McCain has the most experience, but I don't know if I want our country to continue in the same direction it's been going for the past eight years. Obama has the least experience, but his ideas are exciting and I think he could effect the most change.

As you can tell, I'm having a tough time making a decision. I have reasons why I WOULD vote for each of the candidates, but at the same time, I have reasons why I WOULDN'T vote for them.

So what things do you look for in a President? What issues are important to you? Why?

note: I don't necessarily mean that you should say who you would vote for, but you can if you want to.

Your Turn

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I'm far too busy and important to think up questions for you right now ... well, except here's one: DID YOU KNOW THE PLAY IS THIS TUESDAY????

Since I am all out of my head and fully incapable of creating a comprehensible, thought-provoking question, I am going to let you do it. That's right; rather than YOU answering a question that I ask, I will answer a question that YOU ask.

Go ahead, write a question.

Remember, it should be an open question. Furthermore, I reserve the right not to answer for one or more of the following reasons:

1. I am your teacher, not your friend.
2. I don't want to talk about what I don't want to talk about.
3. Some things are just none of your business.
4. Girl, please.

I'll answer in the comments.

Vacation: All I Ever Wanted*

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So my family was discussing our summer vacation recently (yes, we're THAT family--the annoying Brady Bunch happykins who genuinely like spending time together), and we could not agree on a destination.

I want to go to Washington, D.C., because I've never been there, and because the Smithsonian offers about a thousand hours of Nerd Heaven, and that is not even taking into account the Folger Shakespeare Institute or the Library of Congress (oh, and I guess somebody famous lives there, whatever).

My dumb sister wants to go on a cruise, because she likes being pampered and having everything her heart desires within easy reach. And she likes beaches (I have a serious problem with the ocean; you know fish POOP in that water!).

Anyway, that got me to thinking: what's YOUR dream vacation destination? Why do you want to go there? What do you see yourself doing while you're there?

As always, please remember that I do not want to be shocked by you whippersnappers, so do an old lady a favor and keep it clean.

*If you didn't immediately get this reference, you desperately need an education. Start here.

How Badly Do You Want to Drive?

Some lawmakers are proposing that students who misbehave in school or who get failing grades should lose their drivers' licenses.

Would that be an effective way to guarantee that students concentrate on their schoolwork? Why or why not?

Children, Our Future

This is the scariest thing I've heard in a long time:

Georgia Police Say 3rd-graders Plotted to Attack Teacher


And here's an article about what they were planning to use in the attack.

Your question: What do you think should happen to the students? What about the teacher?


For some interesting reading, take a look at the comments for that second article.

ATTENTION

Your comments are now moderated. That means that when you hit SEND, your comment comes to me, and I have to approve it before it actually posts to this site. (This is in keeping with the conditions set by our technology coordinator.)

So don't freak out when you don't see your comment; I'll approve it as soon as I can, and you WILL get credit for it.

Stranger than Fiction

Okay, guys, have you heard about this one?

Woman Stuck to Toilet Seat for Two Years

At first I thought it was a joke, but it's totally a true story.

The News reported the incredibly bizarre case of a woman in Ness City, Kan., who sat on her boyfriend's toilet for two years -- becoming stuck to the seat as her skin literally grew around it.

For all that time, the boyfriend, whom authorities would not identify, took her food and water, and, he told Ness County Sheriff's officers, begged her to come out. But he apparently never thought to call for help until Feb. 27.

The sheriff suggested that the boyfriend should be charged "for mistreatment of a dependent adult."

And he was.

Here's your question: Were the police right to charge the boyfriend? Why or why not?

Note: You definitely want to read the linked stories before posting; remember that part of being participant in a discussion is PREPARATION (knowing what you're talking about).

Guilt by Association?

Recently, Presidential candidate Barack Obama has come under fire because of his friendship with Rev. Jeremiah Wright, a former pastor at the church Obama has attended for twenty years. Wright has made some statements that some might consider to be inflammatory, and there are those who think that Obama should renounce the pastor because of his views.

Yesterday, Obama gave a speech in which he disavowed Rev. Wright's statements, but he refused to sever his friendship with Wright.

Read this article to find out just what has made people so mad, and read the text of Obama's speech here.

Now that you know more of the context, here are your questions:

Should Barack Obama cut ties with Rev. Jeremiah Wright? Does Wright hurt Obama's campaign? Are Wright's views reflected in Obama's beliefs?

Explain your answer.

Rewards

By now, you've probably heard of the Lester Street Murders.

During the week in which the police were searching for the murderer, the governor of Tennessee, the Memphis City Council, and many local businesses put up around $81,000 as a reward for information leading to the identification and capture of a suspect.

The killer was identified by one of the victims, a nine-year-old boy who was recovering in the hospital. It is through his information that the murderer was apprehended.

According to Larry Godwin, the Memphis police chief, the reward will not be given to this child because the information did not come through Crime Stoppers. The $81,000 will be returned to the agencies and businesses who offered it.

Question: Should the reward money go to the hospitalized victim? Why or why not?

Make sure you give evidence for your opinion.

Try This One

Since you guys convinced the governor of New York to resign, maybe you can help the city of Memphis make a tough decision.

For several years, the Pyramid has been empty. One day we hear that Bass Pro is going to buy it, and the next day an entertainment company is going to build a theme park inside it.

Of these two options, which would you choose, and why?

Make sure you take a look at these articles. The Pyramid won't JUST be a store or JUST be a theme park; they're planning some other stuff too.

Here's the proposal from Bass Pro.

Here's some information on the plan from Greg Ericson, the guy who wants to make the Pyramid and the surrounding area into a resort (including a theme park).




Personally, I feel the Pyramid should be made into a mummy museum. It's the perfect solution.

Current Affairs

New York Governor Eliot Spitzer was exposed this week as a regular customer of a prostitution ring. Some reports say he spent up to $80,000 over the last 4-6 years.

Question: Should Governor Spitzer resign? What's your reasoning?

Changing the School Week

Which would you rather have: a four-day school week with more hours per day, or a five-day school week with the hours you have now?

Persuade me that your choice is best.

YOU MUST TAKE A STAND!!!!
I do not want answers that say, "Well, I can see why X is good, but I can also see why Y is okay."
JUST PICK ONE AND DEFEND IT.

Influential People

Some people are linking the rising number of eating disorders among teenage girls to celebrities who have dieted themselves to a size 00.

Do you think Hollywood is to blame for this? Explain your answer.