I know this fits on sports, but this would be a huge story so it fits here. Duval County, with Governor Scott's budget cuts, is thinking about cutting all of its high school sports.
What an embarrassment Jacksonville would be with no high school sports teams.
Here is an article from Hays Carlyon of the T-U:
http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-03-12/story/no-money-available-duval-high-school-sports-says-board-chairman
Sadly, we deserve this. Jacksonville provided much of Scott's support during the election.
If this actually happens, the repercussions will be widespread for our community. Not just the parents and kids. I can't imagine anyone deciding to move here when we are the only city without high school sports.
My guess (and hope) is that we will find some way to keep the sports. But it won't be without a serious fight.
I hope we keep the sports too. I just hope we fund the 5th day of school first, our arts programs and career specific courses as well.
and in addition to cutting sports, music programs and other "arts" are also on the block....what a great idea!
I told my kids this morning about the cuts. They were very upset about it. And wanted to know why. I told them to call Grandma and Grandpa and ask them why their generation is too cheap to pay for anything that doesn't rhyme with social security or medicaid.
I dunno...sounds like the typical posturing that government agencies do all the time. When budgets get cut, say the most popular things are what have to go instead of making real budget decisions that might impact their little fiefdoms. Wait for the public outcry, and viola, magically there are no more budget cuts.
The posturing does not mean the problem isn't real. So you would believe it was a real problem only if Mr. Gentry had not pointed out the consequences?
It's time for me to move out of Jacksonville. Ladies and Gentlemen, Jacksonville is lame, boring and far behind. I'm starting to really dislike this city. Now no sports? I never heard this in my life where the kids can't play sports. Lock your doors and have your fiyah on you. Robbing and murder rates are finna shoot highhhhh!!!! in the sky
You know, this crap didn't just develop overnight. We have been electing and the elected have been derelict in many phases of their jobs. In spite of years of warnings from the business community and many of the workers in the trenches, locally and nationally, the definition of insanity has been proved many times over. Our progeny will excel in the bread line queues.
This isn't the first time that this has been brought up, so no need for any alarm.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/andy_staples/07/10/schools.economy/
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/preps/2009-09-02-budget_sports_cuts_N.htm
Those two articles are from '08 & '09. This has been a real issue all over the country for a few years now, I guess it's just starting to hit home.
While it's unfortunate that the budgets won't allow it, I don't see how it's much different than earlier, when your kids weren't in high-school. They played sports then and they will continue to play, but parents are going to have to pay registration fees again - just like we did when they were 8 yrs. old.
The only potential problem that I see is that the schools are probably going to try and find a way to support the football team. It's the big one, but I hate seeing them sacrifice the other sports to keep the giant going. I played football and golf in HS, and I can't imagine looking back at that and not having the latter. Football was fun, but golf helped get me to college.
Im actually sitting back laughing right. I did not vote for him for obvious reasons. And Im the Scott voter's have the boo boo face right now.
But I would hate to see high schools without sports, music, etc. I mean, what the hell is there left for them to do but get in trouble? This is very sad
Quote from: dougskiles on March 13, 2011, 05:51:24 AM
Sadly, we deserve this. Jacksonville provided much of Scott's support during the election.
If this actually happens, the repercussions will be widespread for our community. Not just the parents and kids. I can't imagine anyone deciding to move here when we are the only city without high school sports.
My guess (and hope) is that we will find some way to keep the sports. But it won't be without a serious fight.
Thank you for mentioning this once more...if this happens maybe the citizens of jacksonville will realize it is taxes alone that keep our society moving....this city and state had detaxified itself into the poor house...and i have to say...the republican party are at the head of the line when it comes to lowering taxes..which means defunding schools. We may want to be worrying about grandma and how she's going to get along with our governor doing this BS.....thanks alot guys....
sanmarcomatt, are you implying that those who are in their 60's and 70's are untouchable in the way they lived their lives and lead our country? Sure, I know people in that generation who I respect for how they lived their lives - but not more so than any generation before or after. I don't buy into the myth that any one generation has been greater than another. Each has had different issues to contend with, and all have been made of human beings who are far from perfect. As time goes by, we like to deify historical figures to make them seem larger than life and infallible. The truth is that they made just as many mistakes as we do today and that our children will make.
Quote from: Clem1029 on March 13, 2011, 10:38:37 AM
I dunno...sounds like the typical posturing that government agencies do all the time. When budgets get cut, say the most popular things are what have to go instead of making real budget decisions that might impact their little fiefdoms. Wait for the public outcry, and viola, magically there are no more budget cuts.
Even if it is posturing, the fact that it's a front page story and in everyone's conversation today isn't helpful. It's been picked up in national publications and boards/forums. I'm afraid the message and perception on this issue about Jacksonville is set, even if the outcome is eventually resolved.
And the message doesn't speak well to Jacksonville's quality of life, and isn't beneficial to attracting and retaining an educated workforce.
And people wonder why I chose to move to clay and bring my kid up in a better school system.
Duval County school system has always spent too much on too little.
Sell the school board building on the river, raise a few dollars that way. Do these part timers need to have riverfront views? Speaking of part-timers, is it wise to pay 38K or more with pension to these part time employees?
Seriously, go take a look at technologies used in the classroom, the inner city schools are neglected compared to mandarin and southside and beaches schools.
You are right but i just can't see them doing it...the school board is kind of rediculous really...as far as im concerned not one person should be sitting on a school board who has'nt spent a minimum of 10 years in a class room...period...no politicians..no nosey moms...teachers and principles should make up the board.
Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on March 13, 2011, 01:32:46 PM
This isn't the first time that this has been brought up, so no need for any alarm.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/andy_staples/07/10/schools.economy/
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/preps/2009-09-02-budget_sports_cuts_N.htm
Those two articles are from '08 & '09. This has been a real issue all over the country for a few years now, I guess it's just starting to hit home.
sure, but stimulus money helped offset the loss in state revenues....now Mr. Scott wants to cut further
Clem...$100 million is 10% of the total budget....do you see any way to reduce budget by 10% without cutting lots of jobs and/or programs?
jandar....believe me, these kinds of cuts are coming to Clay & St. Johns counties too
Quote from: Steve_Lovett on March 13, 2011, 05:58:40 PM
And the message doesn't speak well to Jacksonville's quality of life, and isn't beneficial to attracting and retaining an educated workforce.
I think it accurately reflects our quality of life and if I were looking to locate a company that required an educated workforce, I most likely would not even have Jacksonville on the list. We love to talk about creating jobs and competing with the rest of the nation, but when it comes to action we do nothing but complain about how we don't want any tax increases. Our idea of jobs is swinging a hammer to build a house that nobody wants to buy. We have one of the lowest tax rates around and have the poor quality of life to show for it.
What is also sad to me is that we weren't having an outrage when art, music, drama and other electives were slowly stripped away. But now that Junior might not get his baseball scholarship - whoa - hold on Tex - that won't fly around here! For every athletic kid that might not get a chance to shine, there have probably been 4 or 5 kids talented in other ways that have long ago been robbed of an opportunity to develop their natural skills.
Quote from: tufsu1 on March 13, 2011, 07:15:38 PM
Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on March 13, 2011, 01:32:46 PM
This isn't the first time that this has been brought up, so no need for any alarm.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/andy_staples/07/10/schools.economy/
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/preps/2009-09-02-budget_sports_cuts_N.htm
Those two articles are from '08 & '09. This has been a real issue all over the country for a few years now, I guess it's just starting to hit home.
sure, but stimulus money helped offset the loss in state revenues....now Mr. Scott wants to cut further
Clem...$100 million is 10% of the total budget....do you see any way to reduce budget by 10% without cutting lots of jobs and/or programs?
jandar....believe me, these kinds of cuts are coming to Clay & St. Johns counties too
If I'm not mistaken, the current $97-million shortfall comes on the heels of recent cuts of approximately $150-million over the past couple of years. As it is, most high school sports are basically parent-funded through solicited donations, fundraisers, etc. The high school academic day has lost a class period, and measurement testing to comply with state and federal mandates result in several teaching days lost to benchmark testing. It's mostly negative progress, at this time.
There are a few bright lights in the Duval County District - but even those are compromised by these cuts. At a time when it's crucial to attract and retain an educated workforce and grow our economy, I'm afraid our school system will a major contributor to the exodus of wealth and intellectual capital to the suburbs or other cities.
If I was a young, educated worker considering a move to Jacksonville for business and I read this story, I don't know that I would make the move. I don't think the extent of this issue can be underestimated. I also worry that the current crisis is still not enough of an alarm to cause a sufficient response.
Quote from: tufsu1 on March 13, 2011, 07:15:38 PM
jandar....believe me, these kinds of cuts are coming to Clay & St. Johns counties too
Yes I know. I want to get rid of the part time school board members here in Clay as well. No need for a full time pay with pension for part time hours. Most school board members work full time jobs already.
School boards should be staffed with those who have been in the schools, principals, etc. As well as one or two outsiders with business sense. Amazing to think of the background of some of these school board members. It should be a requirement for the job to have worked in the school systems.
Sports will probably stay on, but a user fee will be added for those who wish to participate. This will include band and other extra-curricular activities.
School districts in the north implemented user fees widely in the mid-70's and they handled the funding deficits just fine. If a student couldn't pay the user fee , then some kind of on campus work effort was required to earn your fee.
Extra-curricular budgets typically fall in the same as the education budgets which cover compensation and benefits. Many districts keep their facilities and building budgets in a different area and the two don't cross.
Quote from: spuwho on March 13, 2011, 09:10:50 PM
Sports will probably stay on, but a user fee will be added for those who wish to participate. This will include band and other extra-curricular activities.
School districts in the north implemented user fees widely in the mid-70's and they handled the funding deficits just fine. If a student couldn't pay the user fee , then some kind of on campus work effort was required to earn your fee.
Extra-curricular budgets typically fall in the same as the education budgets which cover compensation and benefits. Many districts keep their facilities and building budgets in a different area and the two don't cross.
No different than playing football or baseball or soccer at the YMCA or the local athletic association.
The pay your way plan would work, businesses and people could help those who cant afford it by doing fundraisers. And this won't be on racial grounds before anyone gets that idea. Had I had to pay my own way in sports, I would have hard to beg and borrow myself, this white boy would not have gotten it from mom.
Gentry is clearly losing control of the school system. He is a very ineffective leader. No one else is out waving the pom poms that the sky is falling the degree he is doing so. The article clearly stated also that NO OTHER COUNTY was preparing to cut sports from the budget. So perhaps Gentry is just grandstanding and going over the deep end.
The budget session just started and already the end of the world is coming to Duval Schools. Gentry should be replaced by someone who works to solve problems, rather than complain about them to every news organization. This is not how our leaders should act.
Quote from: mtraininjax on March 14, 2011, 08:35:14 AM
Gentry is clearly losing control of the school system. He is a very ineffective leader. No one else is out waving the pom poms that the sky is falling the degree he is doing so. The article clearly stated also that NO OTHER COUNTY was preparing to cut sports from the budget. So perhaps Gentry is just grandstanding and going over the deep end.
The budget session just started and already the end of the world is coming to Duval Schools. Gentry should be replaced by someone who works to solve problems, rather than complain about them to every news organization. This is not how our leaders should act.
I 110% disagree with you...Gentry is bringing to light a serious issue, without fear of repercussion from in those in power in Tallahassee...that is precisely what I call leadership!
Quote from: dougskiles on March 13, 2011, 07:35:29 PM
Our idea of jobs is swinging a hammer to build a house that nobody wants to buy. We have one of the lowest tax rates around and have the poor quality of life to show for it.
What is also sad to me is that we weren't having an outrage when art, music, drama and other electives were slowly stripped away. But now that Junior might not get his baseball scholarship - whoa - hold on Tex - that won't fly around here! For every athletic kid that might not get a chance to shine, there have probably been 4 or 5 kids talented in other ways that have long ago been robbed of an opportunity to develop their natural skills.
Very, very well said, Doug! But if it takes eliminating sports to finally get parents to pay attention to the horror coming from Tallahassee then let's do it. Gentry and Pratt-Dannels are doing a good job of showing the results of electing the governor and legislators that we did. Good for them.
Quote from: mtraininjax on March 14, 2011, 08:35:14 AM
Gentry is clearly losing control of the school system. He is a very ineffective leader. No one else is out waving the pom poms that the sky is falling the degree he is doing so. The article clearly stated also that NO OTHER COUNTY was preparing to cut sports from the budget. So perhaps Gentry is just grandstanding and going over the deep end.
The budget session just started and already the end of the world is coming to Duval Schools. Gentry should be replaced by someone who works to solve problems, rather than complain about them to every news organization. This is not how our leaders should act.
You just couldn't be more wrong. Mr. Gentry is showing some backbone that other county's have yet to do. He knows people do not want to hear about cutting sports but he is not going to prioritize them over academics. He also knows by being transparent with the real problems of the Rick Scott cuts he will get help from the community to solve those problems.
I echo the support for WC Gentry. I've seen him in action several times. Yes, he is very good at the political game and I am glad that we have someone with that skill fighting for our schools. He doesn't have anything to gain by leading the School Board. It is an act of community service. And, he is being a realist. Things are that bad. Perhaps many haven't noticed because it has a been slow degradation over the years. It is an absolute joke that our state has such low regard for it's future that we invest so little in our education system.
I don't think people want to notice. Anything to keep those greedy teachers from driving in the Bentley down to the Marina for a cruise on the yacht.
QuoteI 110% disagree with you...Gentry is bringing to light a serious issue, without fear of repercussion from in those in power in Tallahassee...that is precisely what I call leadership!
This is EXACTLY the type of leadership that you want to show the students, right? If you don't like something broadcast it to the media. Instead of looking for solutions, scare the hell out of everyone. Gentry is a tired gasbag and he and his administrators are looking to save their jobs.
The real solutions are found working with the community on a solution, not gasbagging to the local media. Things are tough all over Gentry. Get used to it!
Is it your belief that W.C. Gentry needs his school board salary? How badly do you think he has handled his money?
Ask any Duval teacher about waste in the administration. The district is mismanaged.
New Proof that Gentry is a gasbag who needs to be shown the door along with Pratt-Daniels, (seriously, these guys could not find their way out of a paper bag, and they are crying about sports programs, when their schools are FAILING????):
QuoteState Rejects District's Plan For 4 Schools
Duval Co. School Board Members Must Take 1 Of 3 Options
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Florida State Board of Education unanimously rejected a plan presented in Tallahassee on Tuesday by Duval County school officials to save four struggling schools in Northwest Jacksonville.
The Duval County School District has until May 2 to choose one of three options outlined by the state. However, if the schools show improvement this year on the FCAT, none of the options will come into play.
Superintendent Ed Pratt-Dannals was among those presenting the plan, along with several School Board members. Local school advocates also made the trip to fight for the schools that could face closures because of poor test scores.
Video: Duval School Officials Disappointed
Raines, Ribault and Andrew Jackson high schools and North Shore K-8 all remain on the state's intervene list, and their futures are at stake.
School Board members came up with a plan to split the high schools up into smaller schools and make North Shore a prekindergarten to fifth-grade school. Board members recently updated the plan by naming members to a community group, Duval Partners for Excellent Education, that would help oversee the schools.
But the district received a letter from State Education Commissioner Eric Smith in which he said that even with the community group, the district's plan just doesn't meet state requirements. The State Board of Education echoed that message Tuesday.
The commissioner has repeatedly told board members that there are only three options the board should take: Either close the schools, make them into charter schools or hire someone else to run them.
After the state rejected the proposed plan Tuesday, Pratt-Dannals immediately went up to defend the school district and said closure is not an option.
Pratt-Dannals said he was disappointed in the decision because the state board didn't give the district a lot of time to respond. He did not say which of the other two options the School Board would consider taking.
"I don't think the board has read anything that we submitted. They're just -- that's very clear," School Board Chairman W.C. Gentry said. "I thought we would have had a chance to at least talk to the board and give our side of the story."
One state board member said these schools have been in trouble for several years, and it's about time something happen.
"This has been going on since 2006," state board member Kathleen Shanahan said. "We're talking about five years of kids in school reading at 18, 19 percent reading rates."
School Board members, however, said that despite their appearances, the schools are showing improvement.
"It may appear that we are being difficult. That is not our intent," Pratt-Dannals said. "I think the biggest surprise was not having an opportunity to describe what we've done."
Leading up to Tuesday's meeting, School Board members said they were very confident in their plan and thought it would help students succeed.
Board members said the last thing they want is for students and parents to panic. They said that despite Tuesday's decision, each of those schools still have some time to show some improvement before any drastic change takes place.
Not everyone shared in the superintendent and School Board's disappointment. A group of women who traveled from Jacksonville to Tallahassee said they're relieved the state board rejected the plan.
"They keep doing the same thing but keep expecting different results," Jacksonville resident Sheila Andrews said.
"I am for asking the children. What do they want? It's got to be up to them," community activist Eunice Barnum said.
Quote from: NotNow on March 14, 2011, 09:30:00 PM
Ask any Duval teacher about waste in the administration. The district is mismanaged.
Here here...
While I agree with you about the unnecessary use of scare tactics, mtraininjax, the trouble also lies in our complacency. School issues aside, we tend to be a very reactive society. We wait until a crisis before we begin to even think about acting.
For example, take hurricanes. We don't even bother to pick up water bottles until a hurricane watch pops up in the news. Then what? Every store is swamped with people who are searching and clamoring for the scant amount of plywood and batteries.
As for the schools, it is true that we could stand to trim some more fat. This however, begs an very important question: "At what cost do we trim education-related resources while preserving high school sports?" Duval County has a long way to go when it comes to meeting the standard with FCAT scores. How can we justify full funding for sports and activities at schools like Raines and Ribault when they are in a fight for survival?
The next questions might be why we don't cut sports at only the failing schools? I already would forsee a nasty visit from the local NAACP about that.
Where does this leave us? It is up to us to let Tallahassee know what we want for our schools. The problem is that there is nothing glamorous about saving textbooks or crayons. Sports? That is a very different ball game (no pun intended).
Mtrain Four strait years of budget cuts and your take is that has nothing to do with it. I heard John Fox on NPR this morning the Duval county athletics director his career is high school sports and he said looking at the situation the budget cuts are the problem not the superintendent's proposal on how to spend the limited funds. It will be a terrible thing if sports are cut this year and the problem is in Tallahassee.
There is still a lot of fat to trim that is NON classroom related, but they do not want to end those cushy part timers who get fully funded pensions, cross walk gaurds that we must ahve because parents are too dumb to cross the street with their children safely (or too lazy to walk them theirselves). How about the crappy school lunches? How about all the buses? If you want your kid to go across town, drive them yourself. There is so much that could be cut, that parents coudl take on, and that money can be used for the children in classrooms.
Busing is a national issue and you won't win that political battle. Crossing guards you want to eliminate?
Why do we want a cheap education system?
Why is that the goal?
I guess I might as well ask why was there original sin?
Answer to all three people are not as good as they should be.
Quote from: JeffreyS on March 16, 2011, 10:20:08 AM
Busing is a national issue and you won't win that political battle. Crossing guards you want to eliminate?
Why do we want a cheap education system?
Why is that the goal?
I guess I might as well ask why was there original sin?
Answer to all three people are not as good as they should be.
I do not want a cheap educational system- I want a smart one. We as tax payers do not need to be paying for lazy parents that can;t walk their kid to school or drive them to school or put them on a city bus. We as tax payers should not be funding part time workers pension funds. I as a parent and a tax payer am ticked off that I am funding subsidized or free lunches that are total bull puckey (and do not let my daughter eat them).
We do not care that money is being taken from actual learning to fund the above but pitch a fit if it is taken from the football team? Oh well lets just raise taxes again.
I think a good starting point is to find out what the problems with our education system are.
Is administration taking too big a cut for too little benefit? Money can be saved if this is the case.
Is there really too little money for books/buildings/PCs etc? More money can rectify this problem
Are behavioral issues preventing the school system at large from providing a learning environment? Throwing money at this problem is like pzzing in the wind.
Is there a lack of parental guidance/responsibility? Money into the school system can keep kids away from bad homes, I suppose, but is that what the school system should be in business to do?
Will teachers earning more help children learn more effectively?
Should teachers be earning more? (No diatribes needed. Some yes, others no.)
Should High School athletics be a concern to the average parents? You make the call for yourself. A career in sports is not much more likely than winning the lottery for students.
Yeah, and those same parents spend twenty bucks a week on Lotto tickets!
"My son is going to get a scholarship and make millions in the NFL and give me lots of money!"
Same mentality.
Quote from: buckethead on March 16, 2011, 06:55:17 PM
I think a good starting point is to find out what the problems with our education system are.
Is administration taking too big a cut for too little benefit? Money can be saved if this is the case.
Is there really too little money for books/buildings/PCs etc? More money can rectify this problem
Are behavioral issues preventing the school system at large from providing a learning environment? Throwing money at this problem is like pzzing in the wind.
Is there a lack of parental guidance/responsibility? Money into the school system can keep kids away from bad homes, I suppose, but is that what the school system should be in business to do?
Will teachers earning more help children learn more effectively?
Should teachers be earning more? (No diatribes needed. Some yes, others no.)
Should High School athletics be a concern to the average parents? You make the call for yourself. A career in sports is not much more likely than winning the lottery for students.
Best analysis yet, BH. And it's the School Board's job to answer those questions and then explain them to the public.
Quote from: uptowngirl on March 16, 2011, 10:04:48 AM
cross walk gaurds that we must ahve because parents are too dumb to cross the street with their children safely (or too lazy to walk them theirselves)
The reason we need crossing guards is not because of the parents (being too dumb?) - it is because of the drivers who won't look up from their phones long enough to see that a kid is trying to cross the street. My goal would be for every child to be able to walk to school - and alone once they are old enough. That would mean that we have succeeded in creating safe neighborhoods for our kids to grow up in.
And what costs less in the long run? Every parent driving their own kid to school or kids using a 'transit' system? School buses are about the only 'transit' system in Jacksonville that really works. It reduces the number of vehicle miles driven on the roads.
Quote from: buckethead on March 16, 2011, 06:55:17 PM
Should High School athletics be a concern to the average parents? You make the call for yourself. A career in sports is not much more likely than winning the lottery for students.
Teaching children the benefits of physical activity is a pretty worthwhile cause, I believe. It has nothing to do with a career in sports. Same goes with the teamwork and sportsmanship that is learned along the way.
The fact that we are debating the little things of "what can we cut from school" to get to the bare minimum is sad. The facilities and resources for our students are already below what should be considered minimum. We're doing a colossal disservice to our children, the impacts of which will affect our culture and economy negatively for a generation or more.
You invest in what you care about - period.
I am in Seattle this week. This issue has made the national news via NPR and other media outlets. When I mentioned to people today I was from Jacksonville, multiple people today commented on the sports and 4-day week issues. Decisions in Florida are making our state the laughingstock around the country - and will be counterproductive to growing business and attracting a viable, educated workforce.
Perhaps we will be like addicts who must hit rock bottom before we will do anything to help ourselves.
Enjoy Seattle, Steve - and send some pictures!
Quote from: buckethead on March 16, 2011, 06:55:17 PM
I think a good starting point is to find out what the problems with our education system are.
Is administration taking too big a cut for too little benefit? Money can be saved if this is the case.
Is there really too little money for books/buildings/PCs etc? More money can rectify this problem
Are behavioral issues preventing the school system at large from providing a learning environment? Throwing money at this problem is like pzzing in the wind.
Is there a lack of parental guidance/responsibility? Money into the school system can keep kids away from bad homes, I suppose, but is that what the school system should be in business to do?
Will teachers earning more help children learn more effectively?
Should teachers be earning more? (No diatribes needed. Some yes, others no.)
Should High School athletics be a concern to the average parents? You make the call for yourself. A career in sports is not much more likely than winning the lottery for students.
Sports in school isn't about finding a career. It's about friendships and bonding with others around a common activity or goal. Those skills aren't in a textbook - but they're the most valuable of all life skills and are critical to a good education.
Sports keep students motivated to studies. Students on the edge will work in school to remain eligible to play sports. Not everyone finds their academic passion and motivation at ages 14-18 - but sports gives many a structure to stick with their academic studies, and eventually find their path. In some sense, I was one once of the students in this category.
Sports builds community. Friendships grow between kids sharing a common interest. Their parents get to know one another and help create a supportive network for their kids, and each other. Sports is a rallying point for many schools, and a crucial point of pride and spirit.
The Arts and Music are the same. Appreciation of the intangibles of culture are so important. Our students aren't robots, and their education shouldn't resemble an assembly line. Creativity and expression are incumbent in most all successful, well rounded people - and this can be fostered through the arts.
Just another perspective for consideration.... Return On Investment in education can't be easily measured - it goes beyond Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic.
Quote from: dougskiles on March 16, 2011, 07:43:36 PM
Quote from: uptowngirl on March 16, 2011, 10:04:48 AM
cross walk gaurds that we must ahve because parents are too dumb to cross the street with their children safely (or too lazy to walk them theirselves)
The reason we need crossing guards is not because of the parents (being too dumb?) - it is because of the drivers who won't look up from their phones long enough to see that a kid is trying to cross the street. My goal would be for every child to be able to walk to school - and alone once they are old enough. That would mean that we have succeeded in creating safe neighborhoods for our kids to grow up in.
And what costs less in the long run? Every parent driving their own kid to school or kids using a 'transit' system? School buses are about the only 'transit' system in Jacksonville that really works. It reduces the number of vehicle miles driven on the roads.
Quote from: buckethead on March 16, 2011, 06:55:17 PM
Should High School athletics be a concern to the average parents? You make the call for yourself. A career in sports is not much more likely than winning the lottery for students.
Teaching children the benefits of physical activity is a pretty worthwhile cause, I believe. It has nothing to do with a career in sports. Same goes with the teamwork and sportsmanship that is learned along the way.
Calling BS on this one. So the cross walk guard has some kind of internal super powers to stop stupid drivers that I don't? TOTAL WASTE OF MONEY (it used to be a volunteer position- not paid!)
It does not cost the tax payers anything for parents to drive their children to school.
Pay to play will work nicely in DCPS. Also, pay to finger paint or play an instrument. After all, they are there to get an education. I don't hire people based on the number of baskets they can score, I hire them on the ability to read and comprehend.
Priorities! Get them in order.
If the state is cutting funds it is sending the counties for education... it seems to me the state must modify it's budget priorities. Cut another area of the state budget to finance education.
Here is the proposed budget...
http://letsgettowork.state.fl.us/reports/2011-Governors-Bill.pdf
Gasbag Gentry as quoted in the Times Union today at the end of the Editorial on the left side of the page:
Quote
What really matters
As Gentry said, the school district needs to address an issue that is still not fully appreciated. "Our children simply can't read," he said.
Large proportions of students cannot read at grade level. That leaves them more likely to drop out, to graduate unable to compete in the workplace or get a college education.
Intensive reading education must underlie everything the school district does.
Until reading improves, failing scores will be commonplace.
Like I said before, who cares about kids throwing a baseball or shooting hoops when they cannot read or do simple math???? When will reading be more important than if a kid can play a sport or sing on the taxpayer's dime?
The priorities of the citizens of this city are wack!
Did anyone see the first coast news editorial this morning? I caught part of it and I thought I heard them say to cut art and music before sports? Please tell me I heard that wrong....please!
Quote from: mtraininjax on March 16, 2011, 10:57:39 PM
Pay to play will work nicely in DCPS. Also, pay to finger paint or play an instrument. After all, they are there to get an education. I don't hire people based on the number of baskets they can score, I hire them on the ability to read and comprehend.
Priorities! Get them in order.
I couldn't disagree with you more, mtrain. There is so much more to life than just reading and comprehending. The skills that comes from art, music and physical activity are equally as important in developing a healthy person as the traditional academic subjects.
We have yet to hear from Dan Hicken, TV12 Sports Director, or the others who make a living as armchair quarterbacks.
Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida, home of the Jaguars - but no high school football teams.
Is anybody on any national ball team a product of a Duval County school sports program?
Local news (TV) would shut down if they couldn't present programing of 30% weather, 30% war, super disasters, cops and robbers and 30% sports and then divvy up the remaining 10% between inane bantering, traffic reports that drivers on their way home can't watch and a smattering of other stuff.
Quote from: Steve_Lovett on March 16, 2011, 08:18:17 PM
Sports in school isn't about finding a career. It's about friendships and bonding with others around a common activity or goal. Those skills aren't in a textbook - but they're the most valuable of all life skills and are critical to a good education.
Those skills are also found in a textbook too. Not textbook but in learning new things. I have a fun time talking with a group of buddies who managed to survive school and still have a great time talking about lots of educational topics. We learn more from each other then we would have alone. I call this teamwork.
The thing is, while your in school, your yelled at (by the teacher) if you ever so dare talk to your seatmate about a problem. If you dare share anything you learned, you get an F for cheating. Teamwork in school is punished.
Imagine a coach yelling at the team for talking to each other. Have them tell each player that they aren't allowed to share anything they learned and they aren't allowed to talk to each other during practice and game day except for a very quiet time during breaks. Also, they aren't allowed to share what they learned from each other or they are kicked off the team!
The official school system should probably learn more from the sports team.
Quote from: Ralph W on March 20, 2011, 11:54:58 PM
We have yet to hear from Dan Hicken, TV12 Sports Director, or the others who make a living as armchair quarterbacks.
Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida, home of the Jaguars - but no high school football teams.
Is anybody on any national ball team a product of a Duval County school sports program?
Lauveres Coles
Tim Tebow
Leon Washington
Lito Sheppard
Jabar Gaffney
Rashean Mathis
Brian Dawkins
Thats just a current list. There have been dozens of NFL players from Jacksonville (not surrounding counties, just Jacksonville) that have played in the NFL.
Quite a few baseball stars as well, and golfers, and basketball players and even a few Olympians.
Jacksonville has a long history of athletes.
*Quite a few from surrounding counties too, but just counting the list from JAX to show.
Quote from: jandar on March 21, 2011, 12:25:55 AM
Quote from: Ralph W on March 20, 2011, 11:54:58 PM
We have yet to hear from Dan Hicken, TV12 Sports Director, or the others who make a living as armchair quarterbacks.
Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida, home of the Jaguars - but no high school football teams.
Is anybody on any national ball team a product of a Duval County school sports program?
Lauveres Coles
Tim Tebow
Leon Washington
Lito Sheppard
Jabar Gaffney
Rashean Mathis
Brian Dawkins
Thats just a current list. There have been dozens of NFL players from Jacksonville (not surrounding counties, just Jacksonville) that have played in the NFL.
Quite a few baseball stars as well, and golfers, and basketball players and even a few Olympians.
Jacksonville has a long history of athletes.
*Quite a few from surrounding counties too, but just counting the list from JAX to show.
Didn't Tebow play in St. Johns county?
QuoteI couldn't disagree with you more, mtrain. There is so much more to life than just reading and comprehending. The skills that comes from art, music and physical activity are equally as important in developing a healthy person as the traditional academic subjects.
Doug,
In our city, when you have thousands of kids who fall back a grade because they cannot stay with their classmates, we treat sports and arts as more important than basic simple education. If you need art and sports, pay to play works nicely too. Who said attending school allowed kids to play sports or play an instrument?
That's wrong and your view is wrong. Get back to the basics, make sure kids can read and do math before they graduate. Throwing a baseball or pounding on the drums will most likely not get kids a job to contribute to society.
It doesn't matter what you learn from sports or music or art. If you can't read well you are going to be stuck in menial jobs for the rest of your life.
Nothing is more important than reading well. It is the foundation of all other learning and the ability to keep learning after formal education is over.
If a child is not reading at grade level, then ALL other activities must take a back seat to the teaching of reading.
Quote from: mtraininjax on March 21, 2011, 08:40:31 AM
That's wrong and your view is wrong. Get back to the basics, make sure kids can read and do math before they graduate. Throwing a baseball or pounding on the drums will most likely not get kids a job to contribute to society.
A tree produces fruit that we eat. Does that mean that the rest of the tree has no value? What about the shade it provides? The re-oxygenation of the atmosphere? The stabilization of soil? Thinking that only math and reading have value is like saying that only the fruit of the tree is valuable.
I agree that kids should know how to read and do math. I also believe that the rest of their education is equally important.
Many people have gone on to do great things in life because of inspiration they gained from art or through physical activity. For me personally, I am able to solve some of my most difficult work problems (which is very math based BTW - I'm an engineer) when I am out running. I also enjoy seeing the world through the creative eyes of artists. Believe it or not, their unique perspective also helps me solve problems. In the last 20 years, rarely have I gone to a math textbook to solve some of these unique problems. Usually, I try to get outside of the 'engineering' box and look for solutions that haven't been developed yet.
Quote from: Dog Walker on March 21, 2011, 08:55:43 AM
If a child is not reading at grade level, then ALL other activities must take a back seat to the teaching of reading.
And take away every other thing that they may be good at in life as a result? That's a little extreme. It is no wonder that some of these kids give up on school. We can't force people to read any more than we can force them to eat or drink.
LOL- do you have kids?
The first thing I do with my "at times obstinate daughter" is tell no Riding lessons, no karate, no...you fill in the blank. It is a motivator. It is even used in the real grown up world- no good at work, no bonus, no job, no home. Do some still fail miserably? Sure but at least someone gave it a shot.
I don't question the intentions of those who believe that students who cannot read should be forced to forgo everything else (art, music, electives, etc.) until they can read, but I present this issue:
We have students are sit behind desks all day while their peers go to art, music and other electives. Instead of learning to read for the joy of it, the remedial reading students are stigmatized and have no release or outlet during the day. For those who think that art or music are luxuries, let's remember that reading music is a form of literacy that could easily be applied to reading classes and that artistic expression and creativity may allow students to focus better in their core classes. I know intensive reading teachers who have a tough time teaching because their remedial reading students act out so much.
I agree Jaxson. I am not stating art and music are not key components of a well rounded education, and although I was in every sport available (in school and out of school), I do think that is a luxury. There are city leagues and private leagues that can be joined, summer camps, private lessons etc.; of course that is my personal opinion. That being said, some electives are just that-electives and if you cannot pass your base education classes then that time should be spent in additional coaching to help you be successful in these bare minimums. If you really want to take them- pay for it. My child goes to an art magnant and I also pay for piano lessons, karate, and english riding lessons and also drama, science, swim, and art camp in the summer. why do I have to pay for all that? Shouldn't it be part of her education at public school? I mean a horse and upkeep is really expensive- but learning to work as one with an animal like that is excellent problem solving skills. Karate teaches discipline, respect, and good self esteem. Yet neither is available for free through our public schools. I am a little tougher apparently than others, because if she was not performing ABOVE grade level, much less at grade level- I would start removing some of these electives.
I agree that reading is important - so I suggest that everyone who is offering an opinion on this topic read John Wooden's book: "Wooden, a Lifetime of Observations and Reflections on and Off the Court"
If after reading that book you still think sports and extracurriculars aren't a crucial part of a student's life, then I don't know what to say...
This really should not be an "either / Or" issue. If a well rounded education is what we want then we should be able to fund it. Perhaps it is time for Florida to have an income tax...
WOW Bridge- my child gets an education, and a "well rounded education" because I pay for it. I work crazy hours and go without so my child can have everything I beleive she requires to have a well rounded education. Why should I pay MORE taxes for sports that someone else chooses? Will your new tax cover equestrian team sports? Most likely not- but it will pay for football which girls do not even play. Personally if it is not co-ed it should not even be funded. How about parents start putting their OWN children first, and make it happen? Not only sports, music, art, but education first. If you are not willing to put your OWN children first then you have no business having them in the first place! I am tired of working hard to provide my own children with the extras out of my own pocket, and also taking care of everyone elses! I pay the same if not more taxes than 98% of the parents at my childs school, I also consistently get requests to bring supplies for those other children too (pencils, paper, crayons, tissues, paint, etc etc) every month, along with the school fund raising. The more I have to pay for everyone elses children the less I have for my own, and to be frank I am tired of it. get rid of football and basketball I could really care less.
No income tax.
Quote from: uptowngirl on March 21, 2011, 09:18:14 AM
LOL- do you have kids?
The first thing I do with my "at times obstinate daughter" is tell no Riding lessons, no karate, no...you fill in the blank. It is a motivator. It is even used in the real grown up world- no good at work, no bonus, no job, no home. Do some still fail miserably? Sure but at least someone gave it a shot.
I have a kid in public school - and what you say here makes sense, but then a later post you turn around and say something to the effect that we don't need the motivators in the first place? To
'get rid of' them?
I truly don't think my son will ever be a sports star since he's more about drawing and dancing lately, but it's too early to tell. Right now we have soccer season going on, that's only tied to the community and we paid for it.
But my nephew IS in every sport he can get into at his school. And he KNOWS his grades have to stay high to continue them - both because of the school's policy and his own mother's threat to take him off the team.
But I agree with others on here - having sports, music, art, whatever in addition to rote learning is a tool to educational success. Sure, we all work with mundane 'fill in the blank, file the report, type this up' stuff in the real world... but we also have a life. We have character. We have many facets to our personalities, and THAT is why we need to keep these activities in the schools. Just make them work together more fluidly.
And for the record, I too buy a ton of supplies for my son's class. You know what? I'm okay with it. That's just how it is. At least I feel good for being the parent who was able to help out.
If all parents had a choice of which school their child attended and the money followed the child then schools would be competing against each other for students. Competition reduces costs and improves quality in everything we get from the free market. Why wouldn't it improve education?
Quote from: buckethead on March 21, 2011, 11:56:19 AM
No income tax.
Why? Most states have them. Surely we could limit the taxes to rich people.
I see what you did there^!
:o
Quote from: uptowngirl on March 21, 2011, 11:40:47 AM
WOW Bridge- my child gets an education, and a "well rounded education" because I pay for it. I work crazy hours and go without so my child can have everything I beleive she requires to have a well rounded education. Why should I pay MORE taxes for sports that someone else chooses? Will your new tax cover equestrian team sports? Most likely not- but it will pay for football which girls do not even play. Personally if it is not co-ed it should not even be funded. How about parents start putting their OWN children first, and make it happen? Not only sports, music, art, but education first. If you are not willing to put your OWN children first then you have no business having them in the first place! I am tired of working hard to provide my own children with the extras out of my own pocket, and also taking care of everyone elses! I pay the same if not more taxes than 98% of the parents at my childs school, I also consistently get requests to bring supplies for those other children too (pencils, paper, crayons, tissues, paint, etc etc) every month, along with the school fund raising. The more I have to pay for everyone elses children the less I have for my own, and to be frank I am tired of it. get rid of football and basketball I could really care less.
I understand your sentiments but I believe your child's future will be brighter if they grow up in a community that values not just their own but the education level of the community. If the standard of education in the community is raised employers who need that type of employee may choose to be here. The leadership of the community will have a more educated populace to answer to. The social environment of the community benefits from having an educated populace (imo). I believe the benefits are there even for those of us who choose private schools.
Quote from: urbanlibertarian on March 21, 2011, 12:15:14 PM
If all parents had a choice of which school their child attended and the money followed the child then schools would be competing against each other for students. Competition reduces costs and improves quality in everything we get from the free market. Why wouldn't it improve education?
I believe it could have the desired effect. I think there are more simple solutions such as some separation of boys and girls in some academic classes.
Try to remember however the current debate is not about how to raise the level of education or even what is best for our communities children. The current debate is about how to cut taxes, do less and say Obama's name as disparagingly as we can. This is political not a reasoned debate about should we cut here, spend there or change policy to improve.
QuoteI think there are more simple solutions such as some separation of boys and girls in some academic classes.
There are plenty of studies that show this is beneficial to both boys and girls.
Quote from: uptowngirl on March 21, 2011, 09:18:14 AM
LOL- do you have kids?
We have 3 kids - read some of my other posts on this forum and you'll find out all you ever wanted to know about them. I even have some photos!
You couldn't find three more unique personalities who are gifted in so many different ways - academically, athletically and artistically. Our goal is for them to develop their God given talents and succeed in ways that are most important to them. None are perfect, but all seem to be doing pretty darn well.
Just to make sure, people in this town do realize that the world's second largest publicly traded company in this planet is an "art & music" company, right? Most of you guys use their products. Do people also realize how much the NFL, NHL, FIFA, NBA, MLB, etc is worth?
Sports, Art, and Music are gigantic industries worth billions of dollars. So area areas of math and science.
The value of high school sports has nothing to do with professional sports. How to compete, how to push for a goal, individual achievement, team achievement, working with others, finding inspiration, dedication, strategy, and on and on. Academics first of course but athletics compliments academics in much the same way other activities do the fact that there is passion for it only makes it more valuable and leveragable by educators working with their students.
Quote from: JeffreyS on March 21, 2011, 03:20:04 PM
The value of high school sports has nothing to do with professional sports. How to compete, how to push for a goal, individual achievement, team achievement, working with others, finding inspiration, dedication, strategy, and on and on. Academics first of course but athletics compliments academics in much the same way other activities do the fact that there is passion for it only makes it more valuable and leveragable by educators working with their students.
I really like the way you said that. +1
Quote from: JeffreyS on March 21, 2011, 03:20:04 PM
The value of high school sports has nothing to do with professional sports. How to compete, how to push for a goal, individual achievement, team achievement, working with others, finding inspiration, dedication, strategy, and on and on. Academics first of course but athletics compliments academics in much the same way other activities do the fact that there is passion for it only makes it more valuable and leveragable by educators working with their students.
The question is not whether these things that are learned from sports, arts, etc. are important in life, but whether of not they should be in the schools. Where do you draw a line? Should fashion be taught? Personal hygiene? Household budgeting? Child rearing?
Maybe we should keep the schools to academics only and have other organizations take on sports, arts, music. Neighborhood sports teams run by Parks & Recreation? Music and art classes at the community centers?
How do the run it in other countries? Germany, England, France, Finland (home of the highest academic scores in the world), Sweden? Do they have sports teams and band?
Quote from: JeffreyS on March 21, 2011, 03:20:04 PM
The value of high school sports has nothing to do with professional sports. How to compete, how to push for a goal, individual achievement, team achievement, working with others, finding inspiration, dedication, strategy, and on and on. Academics first of course but athletics compliments academics in much the same way other activities do the fact that there is passion for it only makes it more valuable and leveragable by educators working with their students.
I would argue, sports first academics second for some kids. Not all, of course, but a sizable group. I find people who can hardly remember a single thing from their math book but can remember the stats of every single player in the NFL. They can also do math with those stats that they struggle with in academia. Reading? Don't like reading but somehow they managed to learn to read biographies of major sports stars. Also, this player centric idea of sports is a bad idea. Sports encompasses all areas from reading, math, marketing, finance, sales, strategy, coaching, etc. Kids are only allowed positions as players which I think is just as sad.
Imagine if an entire high school curriculum was based entirely on sports. A "sports" magnet school. I bet a lot more kids would be more excited about going to school to learn more about boring topics like math or science just so they can figure out how it relates to their favorite activity.
QuoteHow to compete, how to push for a goal, individual achievement, team achievement, working with others, finding inspiration, dedication, strategy, and on and on.
All this should be learned in regular school too. The problem is,
we don't allow kids to do most of this.
I read in wired magazine that games are becoming the new Psychology for production. That especially jobs with computers are more and more being designed to look and feel like games and keep score on production. I see this as very transferable to education. We do it already with grades, just up the immediate feedback.
Quote from: Dog Walker on March 21, 2011, 03:40:02 PM
Quote from: JeffreyS on March 21, 2011, 03:20:04 PM
The value of high school sports has nothing to do with professional sports. How to compete, how to push for a goal, individual achievement, team achievement, working with others, finding inspiration, dedication, strategy, and on and on. Academics first of course but athletics compliments academics in much the same way other activities do the fact that there is passion for it only makes it more valuable and leveragable by educators working with their students.
The question is not whether these things that are learned from sports, arts, etc. are important in life, but whether of not they should be in the schools. Where do you draw a line? Should fashion be taught? Personal hygiene? Household budgeting? Child rearing?
Hygiene USED to be part of Life Skills/Health or whatever the H they called it then. And Household Budgeting SHOULD be taught anyway. It may have prevented quite a few tragedies in today's economy.
And if you put these activities onto the community centers... on who's dime? The city-run ones? Or the privately run "we can exclude anyone we wish" ones? Please don't even mention church-funded locations.
Quote from: Dog Walker on March 21, 2011, 03:40:02 PM
Quote from: JeffreyS on March 21, 2011, 03:20:04 PM
The value of high school sports has nothing to do with professional sports. How to compete, how to push for a goal, individual achievement, team achievement, working with others, finding inspiration, dedication, strategy, and on and on. Academics first of course but athletics compliments academics in much the same way other activities do the fact that there is passion for it only makes it more valuable and leveragable by educators working with their students.
The question is not whether these things that are learned from sports, arts, etc. are important in life, but whether of not they should be in the schools. Where do you draw a line? Should fashion be taught? Personal hygiene? Household budgeting? Child rearing?
Maybe we should keep the schools to academics only and have other organizations take on sports, arts, music. Neighborhood sports teams run by Parks & Recreation? Music and art classes at the community centers?
I like the idea of schools including these things the Art room in the catholic school we chose for our son was the final selling point for my wife. I see your point there will always be one more worthy endeavor.
The real debate going on in our country right now however is a political one that has little to do with how do we make education better.
QuoteThe real debate going on in our country right now however is a political one that has little to do with how do we make education better.
Quote
Ain't that the truth!
Don't we all wish that our public schools could be like universities with a whole catalog of educational offerings.
I still resent it that the only music available when I was in high school was for the band members who could already play an instrument. I never learned to read music or play and instrument and feel not fully educated as a result. Maybe it's not too late and I should try.
QuoteThe value of high school sports has nothing to do with professional sports. How to compete, how to push for a goal, individual achievement, team achievement, working with others, finding inspiration, dedication, strategy, and on and on
There is a reason that the military conducts basic training in a team setting centered around the candidate realizing how his/her role affects the success of an entire organization.
Companies spend billions of dollars annually teaching many of the same lessons learned in high school athletics.
I know for myself, I didn't really take to school until my junior year of high school. I really excelled in college once I found what my passion was for learning. My freshman and sophomore years in high school, probably would have resulted in much poorer grades if it wasn't for the academic requirements to play sports. It provided me just enough motivation to keep my grades above water until I found subjects that sparked my true passions in life.
Many of my friends at the time, didn't have that motivation to keep their head above water, never knew what it took to become a leader/self-motivator and never found that inspiration in learning... I don't have to tell you how far those people went in their chosen occupations post high school.
There are academic clubs and competitions that can provide the exact same experiences to our children. Are we really saying American Children are so lazy and unmotivated that they need to be allowed to dress up in padding and beat on each other to make it through life? Really?
That American parents are too lazy or too selfish or too cheap to pay to play such activities?
Sad, just sad.
I am coming and bringing my tiny stitch bitch with me :-)
I think Mark Woods summed it up very well in his blog yesterday:
http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/401820/mark-woods/2011-03-20/mark-woods-don%E2%80%99t-let-music-die-schools (http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/401820/mark-woods/2011-03-20/mark-woods-don%E2%80%99t-let-music-die-schools)
QuoteMark Woods: Don’t let music die in schools
Submitted by Mark Woods on March 20, 2011 - 2:38am
Mark Woods' Blog
I have “Hot Cross Buns†stuck in my head. And I know I’m not alone.
Many parents of third-graders at Hendricks Avenue Elementary have been hearing this played on a recorder, over and over and over.
Perhaps you remember the recorder, a cheap wind instrument that when played just right produces a smooth sound â€" and when played not quite right produces a high-pitched whistle capable of making dogs howl.
Few things this school year have gotten Mia as excited as the recorder. For months, she awaited the arrival of the $6 instrument and the chance to earn the different colored belts that Mrs. Prisby awards for successfully playing songs.
I’ve decided Mrs. Prisby is a saint. She doesn’t just teach the recorder to dozens of kids at a time. She does it in the school auditorium, a place that has an uncanny ability to make sound echo.
These days, that cacophony sounds beautiful.
Not only are public schools facing major cuts in the near future, but the first bill of this legislative session â€" passed by our fiscally conservative legislators and headed to the desk of our fiscally conservative governor â€" will require big bucks and bureaucracy in years to come.
The state already spends about $12 for each FCAT exam, a $40 million annual tab. And new student tests, to help evaluate every teacher, will cost more money. Much more. Federal funds will cover some of the initial cost. But after that?
Unless we increase spending for education, which seems unlikely, something will have to go. And my fear is that it will be something like the cacophony in the auditorium. Never mind all the studies that show how music and arts help little minds with things like math and reading.
It was hard not to think about this when we went to “Family Music and Arts Evening†at Mia’s school Thursday night.
In the cafeteria, kids did art projects with Ms. Harris. In a hallway, winning entries in the Art & Literature contest were displayed. In the courtyard, kids were given chalk and the permission to cover sidewalks with graffiti. (I especially liked how some created an elaborate road system, complete with signs and arrows leading to “Recess Parkway.â€)
And in the auditorium, after Mrs. Pena led the Melody Makers in song, Mrs. Prisby announced it was time for the famous broom dance.
“How many of you would like to get rid of computers and video games and go back to old times?†she asked after the dancing.
Parents all over the room raised their hands.
I worry that this is old times, that we’ll soon be reminiscing scenes like this. Some schools already are. I know we’re lucky at Hendricks. Strong parental and neighborhood involvement help make events like this possible. Still, at every school there’s reason to wonder whether Recess Parkway and other nearby roads will be closed due to budget cuts.
For now, I just know that I have “Hot Cross Buns†stuck in my head. And every note, even the shrill ones, sounds beautiful.
BTW, 'Recess Parkway' was the creation of my 11-year old son, Sam. I know, I shouldn't be so proud of his efforts to deface school property...
QuoteI think Mark Woods summed it up very well in his blog yesterday:
More people voted in the elections, than actually read Mark Woods columns. :P