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Post by eb204 on Jan 29, 2009 7:58:15 GMT -5
We need to remember that the administration goes to the board for approval on the calendar. Not the other way around. Admin. went to teachers, they voted. Admin went back to SB, they voted. End of story. Sometimes it really is that simple. But again, more conspiracy theories about how the big bad school board is out to get everyone. That's getting old.
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Post by asmodeus on Jan 29, 2009 8:03:51 GMT -5
Just because the new schedule apparently appeals to the staff doesn't mean it is the right thing to do. Teachers would vote to wear jeans and shorten the school day to three hours if the opportunity were presented.
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Post by asmodeus on Jan 29, 2009 8:11:13 GMT -5
Yes, simple on the surface. But why put it to a vote in the first place? If you asked the teachers if they wanted to have a shorter school day, what do you think the result would be?
Without someone constantly questioning authority, you end up with people like Blagojevich.
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Post by eb204 on Jan 29, 2009 8:31:43 GMT -5
Yes, simple on the surface. But why put it to a vote in the first place? If you asked the teachers if they wanted to have a shorter school day, what do you think the result would be? Without someone constantly questioning authority, you end up with people like Blagojevich. I seriously doubt that the dedicated teachers we have in this districct would opt for a shorter school day. They want this time for learning. All Day Kindergarten is a perfect example of this. They wanted the extra time with these kids to go broader and deeper in their learning. You make it seem like teachers are a bunch of slackers who are looking for an excuse to get out of teaching. Questioning authority is one thing. Downright paranoia about the SB being out to get us is another. That's what I've seen from you and a handful of others.
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Post by asmodeus on Jan 29, 2009 8:43:00 GMT -5
I would take that bet.
According to that logic, we should have had ADK years ago -- unless you are saying those teachers were "slackers."
Paranoia is when someone questions a sound decision. I don't see that here. We are currently stuck with no a/c (due to previous SB decisions) and rather than make common sense adaptations, such as starting the school year after the hottest periods of summer, we decide to ask teachers if they wouldn't mind subjecting themselves and the kids to the heat -- but in return they get to have an earlier summer vacation.
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Post by wvhsparent on Jan 29, 2009 8:49:33 GMT -5
Personally, partly due to the lack of AC in the ES's. I'd actually go closer to Chicago Schools and start after labor day. It was always a chore for us as we has a family reunion we attended in VA over the Labor day weekend.
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Post by wvhsparent on Jan 29, 2009 8:52:36 GMT -5
Interesting thought to see what the kids want??? I read an article not too long ago re: District 203 and possibility of having to go to a late start this fall due to construction at Central. Contractors said it's not an issue (same for Metea, I would guess). The interesting part of the article was that 203 went to an early start based on feedback from the STUDENTS. Wow! I heard from a 204 teacher friend a couple weeks ago that 204 teachers were voting on the 09/10 calendar. I thought 203 had a very novel idea is asking the students what they wanted. 203=students 204=teachers Which district puts kids first? IMO students also = parents. it should be a balance of both teachers and studnets/parents.
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Post by southsidesignmaker on Jan 29, 2009 10:02:55 GMT -5
To micro manage this situation or many others imo is a waste of time. The school year starts a couple of days early or a week early by some accounts. The policy to call school if the rooms are too hot is written in stone and is affective. As for some hidden agenda on the part of the board or adm., please give me a break.
As for the silly comment about our educators working three hours a day if left to their own devices, that is indeed one of the most misinformed statements I have heard to date and not worth a rebuttal.
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Post by eb204 on Jan 29, 2009 10:16:29 GMT -5
I would take that bet. According to that logic, we should have had ADK years ago -- unless you are saying those teachers were "slackers." Paranoia is when someone questions a sound decision. I don't see that here. We are currently stuck with no a/c (due to previous SB decisions) and rather than make common sense adaptations, such as starting the school year after the hottest periods of summer, we decide to ask teachers if they wouldn't mind subjecting themselves and the kids to the heat -- but in return they get to have an earlier summer vacation. ADK was not an option before last year. And from what I understand, Howie was not in favor of ADK so it was never allowed to be presented as an option. So, no, the teachers weren't slackers because they weren't given a choice. Had the administration come to them with this proposal, it would have been favorably received, I'm certain. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ParanoiaParanoia is a thought process characterized by excessive anxiety or fear, often to the point of irrationality and delusion. Paranoid thinking typically includes persecutory beliefs concerning a perceived threat towards oneself. In the original Greek, ðáñÜíïéá (paranoia) simply means madness (para = outside; nous = mind). Historically, this characterization was used to describe any delusional state. Sometimes in common usage, the term paranoia is misused to describe a phobia. For example, a person may not want to fly out of fear the plane may crash. This does not in itself indicate paranoia, but rather a phobia. The lack of blame in this case usually points to the latter. An example of paranoia, however, would be fear that terrorists are hijacking a particular plane to crash it, with no evidence to suggest such. More recently, the clinical use of the term has been used to describe delusions where the affected person believes they are being persecuted. Specifically, they have been defined as containing two central elements: The individual thinks that harm is occurring, or is going to occur, to him or her. The individual thinks that the persecutor has the intention to cause harm.
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Post by eb204 on Jan 29, 2009 10:21:56 GMT -5
To micro manage this situation or many others imo is a waste of time. The school year starts a couple of days early or a week early by some accounts. The policy to call school if the rooms are too hot is written in stone and is affective. As for some hidden agenda on the part of the board or adm., please give me a break. As for the silly comment about our educators working three hours a day if left to their own devices, that is indeed one of the most misinformed statements I have heard to date and not worth a rebuttal. Well said SSSM. I should heed your advise in regards to this poster.
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Post by title1parent on Jan 29, 2009 10:26:19 GMT -5
I doubt that. I believe most teachers can barely get through the content they would like to in the present class period. We even have had some classes extended ...."BLOCK CLASSES" to allow for those extra minutes for some subject areas. Try to get through a Lab in 49 minutes after taking attendance and getting your class settled. By that time you are already 5 minutes off schedule. Plus, clean up time at the end.
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Post by asmodeus on Jan 29, 2009 10:36:03 GMT -5
Perhaps the analogy didn't sink in. I didn't say teachers are pushing for 3-hr. workdays. The point was that it is human nature to choose the more personally favorable option. I'd love to pay less taxes and work fewer hours -- but those options are not being offered to me.
Call it paranoia, phobia, whatever. But as I said, the decision to move the start date forward instead of backward represents irrational behavior (on one level) given the a/c situation. Of course, on other levels (teacher and even student preference to get out earlier in the summer) the decision can be described as rational. But I'm not dismissing another possible motives.
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Post by asmodeus on Jan 29, 2009 10:46:22 GMT -5
By the way, I believe year-round schooling is both an inevitability and a benefit (if done properly, with the right number of breaks), yet I think the unions will fight that with all their might. Does that make them bad people? No -- it just means in their view they would be giving up something, despite the greater good.
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Arwen
Master Member
Posts: 933
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Post by Arwen on Jan 29, 2009 11:39:21 GMT -5
How many teachers do we have in buildings with a/c - high school, middle school, elementary, preschool? How did those teachers vote vs. the teachers in the non-a/c elementary schools? Did the office staff vote? They are in offices with a/c.
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Post by sportsmom on Jan 31, 2009 11:37:02 GMT -5
Who is stretching now?? Please read the SUBJECT line. I was only referring to the New School Calendar. Thanks for putting words in my mouth. didn't put any word in your mouth: Interesting thought to see what the kids want??? I read an article not too long ago re: District 203 and possibility of having to go to a late start this fall due to construction at Central. Contractors said it's not an issue (same for Metea, I would guess). The interesting part of the article was that 203 went to an early start based on feedback from the STUDENTS. Wow! I heard from a 204 teacher friend a couple weeks ago that 204 teachers were voting on the 09/10 calendar. I thought 203 had a very novel idea is asking the students what they wanted. 203=students 204=teachers Which district puts kids first? Are you saying that the calendar decision, alone, demonstrates that 203 "puts kids first"? That is a S T R E T C H, IMO. A few days earlier, with an ability to finish the semester before winter break - that's a BIG deal, and all of a sudden 204 doesnt "put kids first"? That is a S T R E T C H, IMO. What I was merely saying (before you added your own words) was that 203 took the kids'opinoins into consideration on the calendar start/end dates. 204 only addressed teachers. So, in this case it is very clear that 203 put it's kids first on the Calendar issue while 204 opted to go with it's teachers. Both districts would be fools to go to the parents, becasue the most vocal parents put their personal needs first and not what is best for the kids. Having a high schooler, I totally agree with you that it is a big deal to end the first semester before winter break. I agree with you. Why didn't it happen sooner??? Perhaps if 204 had asked the kids it would have been changed a long time ago. But, then Howie wouldn't have done that. Do you know what the phrase is that my elementary principal sigs off all her letters with? "Kids First". I think that phrase all the time.
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