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This message has been edited. Last edited by: Whitfield Teacher,

Looks like the milking process to me, here's the schedule. Question is, where's the payback, what do we gain, is the view worth the climb?

8/25/2008 - 8/28/2008 Coaching for Design Level II (Louisville, KY)

9/21/2008 - 9/23/2008 Design Team Conference (Dallas, TX)

9/28/2008 - 10/1/2008 Teacher Leader Academy (Dallas, TX)

9/28/2008 - 10/1/2008 Working on the Work Conference (Dallas, TX)

10/5/2008 - 10/8/2008 Working on the Work Conference (Tampa, FL)

10/6/2008 - 10/8/2008 Coaching for Design Level II Reunion (Tampa, FL)

10/19/2008 - 10/22/2008 Working on the Work Conference (Indianapolis, IN)

10/27/2008 - 10/30/2008 Coaching for Design Level II (Louisville, KY)

10/29/2008 - 10/31/2008 Superintendents Leadership Network Institute (Network Members Only)

11/2/2008 - 11/5/2008 Working on the Work Conference (Dallas, TX)

11/17/2008 - 11/20/2008 Coaching for Design Level II (Louisville, KY)

1/5/2009 - 1/7/2009 Central Office Conference (Austin, TX)

1/5/2009 - 1/7/2009 Design Team Conference (Austin, TX)

1/9/2009 - 1/10/2009 School Boards as Community Builders (Dallas, TX)


1/11/2009 - 1/14/2009 Teacher Leader Academy (Dallas, TX)

1/11/2009 - 1/14/2009 Working on the Work Conference (Dallas, TX)

3/1/2009 - 3/4/2009 Working on the Work Conference (Atlanta, GA)

4/5/2009 - 4/8/2009 Working on the Work Conference (Dallas, TX)

Been waiting on someone with "FACTS" to come forward. Thanks White Knight!!! And approx. 40-50 attending each one of these events.
Our students must in fact be suffering from this, since the qualified folks are out of the classrooms.

Well, I definitely thought my child had to many substitute teachers last year. It seemed like the teacher was gone every week to meetings and such. SO not necessary. I have a few friends that basically get full time work as subs for Whitfield Cty. I have even thought about doing it myself cause I know they need them.
As far as the confidentiality agreement. I am not a teacher but I know a few. There is one. Not sure if it is the same system wide. But of course there would be one. You as a teacher have so much information about your students, etc. They can't have them talking all over town.

I want our teachers to be top notch but I don't think all these seminars and such are so important. Maybe one every year or so.

Whitfield teacher, thanks for sharing with us and I hope you don't put your job in jeopardy.

Theres a lot going on in the schools that the public may not be aware of. I just learned (but maybe others already know) that the state required class size doesn't really mean anything. If the classes have more than the allowed number of students, the school system is not required to add another classroom and teacher. The system can opt to pay a fine instead. Now, I don't know how much these fines are, but I do know that the cost of adding a classroom is weighed agaist the cost of the fine. Which ever is cheapest is what is done. So, basically the schools can choose to pay instead of following the rules.

From what my wife told me she was told the school had ZERO money for class room needs other than the 100 sent by the state and that she could get all she needed with that, for the whole year. All the paper, supplies and such she needed for a year. Which is insane.

My children go to private school and will continue to do so. While it is expensive there is a level of accountability to me from the school when I am paying tuition.

Public education is lost.

quote:

Originally posted by Red1775:

My children go to private school and will continue to do so. While it is expensive there is a level of accountability to me from the school when I am paying tuition.

Public education is lost.

Red, As a teacher I was once told: "This is an academic, not a research institution."

Too much time is spent being politically correct while the student's education is being ignored. It's time for the school administration, at all levels, to get out of the office and see what goes on in the real world. A little research wouldn't hurt.

Thanks Indian Dad for taking up for educators in public schools. I agree that public education is NOT lost. I know plenty of teachers that bust their tails EVERY day to make a difference. Visit your local schools and find out what's going on before you decide its a lost cause.

Well Ashville is what a 4hr drive? At least with the charter buses there was potties. The thought of riding on a school bus that long would make me take my own car for sure!

But I see what you are saying. Even if this money is earmarked, there are better things to earmark. If this is state money then the changes need to be made there. Why earmark millions for seminars? Keep some for training and give the teachers more benefits and better pay.

Buy a few books for the schools libraries, etc. Most of all- Let the teachers have a say. Do they want to keep going out of town to motivational events or have more cash for the classrooms??

quote:

Originally posted by Red1775:
From what my wife told me she was told the school had ZERO money for class room needs other than the 100 sent by the state and that she could get all she needed with that, for the whole year. All the paper, supplies and such she needed for a year. Which is insane.

My children go to private school and will continue to do so. While it is expensive there is a level of accountability to me from the school when I am paying tuition.

Public education is lost.

If Public education is lost, our future is lost. When only those that can AFFORD school for their children get educated, wow, what a sad day that will be.

Well for once I can agree with you whitfieldugafan. If public education is lost..we go back to the dark ages! There's got to be something we can do!

quote:

Originally posted by MeandThree:
Well for once I can agree with you whitfieldugafan. If public education is lost..we go back to the dark ages! There's got to be something we can do!

MN3,
My statement that public education is lost was not saying that teachers do not work hard at their jobs. Teachers (some) work very hard for their students and often lack the support of the student’s parents and school administration.

If we look at the test scores for students in schools today, the drop out rate, America’s rank in education in the world; then I would be hard pressed to say it is anything other than lost.

Bush did nothing to help the situation with no child left behind as well. We need all of us to focus on the situation and invest in the kids and public education. We need to hold our teachers and administrators accountable and parents need to get off the sidelines and get involved.

I’m not talking about the college prep kids here, but the one’s who aren’t.

quote:

Originally posted by Red1775:

quote:

Originally posted by MeandThree:
Well for once I can agree with you whitfieldugafan. If public education is lost..we go back to the dark ages! There's got to be something we can do!

MN3,
My statement that public education is lost was not saying that teachers do not work hard at their jobs. Teachers (some) work very hard for their students and often lack the support of the student’s parents and school administration.

If we look at the test scores for students in schools today, the drop out rate, America’s rank in education in the world; then I would be hard pressed to say it is anything other than lost.

Bush did nothing to help the situation with no child left behind as well. We need all of us to focus on the situation and invest in the kids and public education. We need to hold our teachers and administrators accountable and parents need to get off the sidelines and get involved.

I’m not talking about the college prep kids here, but the one’s who aren’t.

Correct me if I'm wrong Red, but it sounds like your saying we need more local control and less Washington influence in our local education AND we need parents/teachers to be accountable for ensuring that our kids are getting the best education possible. Is that correct??? Sounds like a proposal "Liberty Matters" could buy into!!

Yes.

We need people who are serious about kids working in and for education.

I mean what is GA in the nation? 41st?

If the Vols or Dogs were 41st in the National Ranking, would we be happy about that?

Have I been to a public school recently? Yes sir I have, when I went and helped my wife set up her class room at the school she teaches at. My wife holds a doctorate in education and I listen to what she says and believe that she has a perspective that I do not have.