tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post3583095563043497093..comments2023-12-21T15:01:42.037-05:00Comments on Aberdeener: What is our School District's Mission?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-52791444524421854612008-05-28T19:16:00.000-04:002008-05-28T19:16:00.000-04:00That post wasn't meant to be "pissy". I was just ...That post wasn't meant to be "pissy". I was just trying to enforce the fact that I do not wish to get involved in personal arguments.<BR/><BR/>I've apologized for my previous comment, it seemed to be accepted by the person I made it to, and I'm hoping that everyone can let the "grammar police" issue die and keep on with the blog's real intentions without poking me continually about it.KrisMrsBBradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14988742743150495260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-29251414967862782282008-05-28T18:58:00.000-04:002008-05-28T18:58:00.000-04:00Gee Mrsb,I thought you were going to stop pissing....Gee Mrsb,<BR/><BR/>I thought you were going to stop pissing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-34538226645082900202008-05-27T20:03:00.000-04:002008-05-27T20:03:00.000-04:00I made one comment, to one person. I have not rep...I made one comment, to one person. I have not repeatedly personally attacked anyone. I have apologized to the person I made the comment to.<BR/><BR/>From here on out, I will not be dragged into arguments of a personal nature.KrisMrsBBradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14988742743150495260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-18397155801511505192008-05-27T19:58:00.000-04:002008-05-27T19:58:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.billbradley73https://www.blogger.com/profile/16174110158411724724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-74715399364518186292008-05-27T19:26:00.000-04:002008-05-27T19:26:00.000-04:00Mrsb than stick to the topics and stop commenting ...Mrsb than stick to the topics and stop commenting on other blogger comments and/or mis-spellings.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-12143923338120739642008-05-27T13:58:00.000-04:002008-05-27T13:58:00.000-04:00It makes me want better for my child and all the c...It makes me want better for my child and all the children in the district. I take part in this blog for the same reason I do my part in the community. To try and do something to make the Matawan/Aberdeen area just a little bit better for my having lived here.<BR/><BR/>I don't know how this became a pissing contest, but you can win. I'm done addressing anything else here. I want to take part in discussions about the towns, not become embroiled in name calling or personal attacks.KrisMrsBBradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14988742743150495260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-88547046193220146632008-05-23T20:29:00.000-04:002008-05-23T20:29:00.000-04:00to mrsbDoes that make you honestly stupid?to mrsb<BR/><BR/>Does that make you honestly stupid?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-37241534997427430072008-05-21T20:34:00.000-04:002008-05-21T20:34:00.000-04:00"Between a fellow who is stupid and honest and one..."Between a fellow who is stupid and honest and one who is smart and crooked, I will take the first. I won’t get much out of him, but with that other guy I can’t keep what I’ve got."<BR/>-Gen Lewis B HersheyKrisMrsBBradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14988742743150495260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-20968221921797846882008-05-21T19:02:00.000-04:002008-05-21T19:02:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.KrisMrsBBradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14988742743150495260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-77928779684242428122008-05-21T18:44:00.000-04:002008-05-21T18:44:00.000-04:00To the last blogger- you better take a few more ed...To the last blogger- you better take a few more education classes. Even instruction in Enrichment classes needs to be differentiated.You think all kids in homogeneous classes have the same abilities? I think you still have a lot to learn.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-43665717449943588852008-05-21T06:48:00.000-04:002008-05-21T06:48:00.000-04:00A child with a disability should not be forgotten ...A child with a disability should not be forgotten when it comes to reading or writing. If the district respects their abilities enough to include them in the mainstream school population, they should work harder to assure that they are working to the best of their abilities. The kids I am talking about, who I have experience with, are children who, with the right tools, would be able to read and write -- but are not receiving services that are appropriate for<I> their particular disability.</I> This usually happens because there are not enough teachers/service providers of that particular service to go around. <B>One</B> Occupation Therapist for a school district of almost 4000 children? How can she possibly, no matter how good she is, be affective for any of those children?<BR/><BR/>I am extremely involved with all my children's schools, their activities, and the community. I vote at every election. And, quite frankly, you don't have to show up at every BOE meeting to know what is going on, you can watch it on the Huskie Channel. And I watch the BOE meetings on the Huskie channel. I stopped going to the BOE meetings during the last superintendents reign, when I figured out that most of the BOE members were stuck in his pocket (a nicer phrase than I had originally planned). I was almost excited when it looked like we might have a new super and enough new members to actually get something done, but after the last vote, it seems to be back to the same-old-same-old. We'll see.<BR/><BR/>As for my education, I am 5 credits away from a early education degree. Can you say the same, anonymous? Yes, I know all about differentiated teaching styles (which really doesn't apply to our district, does it? With it's separate enrichment program, LLD classes, and traveling resource room at MAMS).<BR/><BR/>And no, I don't blame the teachers, for the most part. I don't completely blame the CST. There are some of them that have shown, over and over, a dedication to the education of the children. I blame the administration who ties their hands. Who seemingly instructs them to work to the budget, not to the kid's needs. Who often seems to want these kids just to go away.<BR/><BR/>I blame the old guard of the district who stood up in front of the executive PTO members and gave enough information about a classified student for everyone to know who the child was and gave personal information about the fact that the child was on medication -- and the board member who stood up and said "isn't there a way that we can monitor <I>those</I> children's medications?" <BR/><BR/>If you don't personally have a child in this district with a disability, don't even <B>dare</B> speak for them or for their parents. You have <B>no</B> idea the dedication, time, effort and money we go through to guarantee our kids get even <B>half</B> a chance at a decent education. I don't care if you <B>are</B>a board member coming in and stirring the pot anonymously.KrisMrsBBradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14988742743150495260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-46164683401057992862008-05-20T23:58:00.000-04:002008-05-20T23:58:00.000-04:00One more thing, from what I did read above, it doe...One more thing, from what I did read above, it doesn't sound like the parents of the Special Ed children are happy with the education their children are receiving either. <BR/><BR/>My statements are concerning the 90% of the children in this district that are not in the category of special education. <BR/><BR/>I have too much respect for children, and their capabilities, not to hold them to higher standards.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-68737554190861511552008-05-20T23:42:00.000-04:002008-05-20T23:42:00.000-04:00No, I don't have a reading disability, just MUCH H...No, I don't have a reading disability, just MUCH HIGHER STANDARDS!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-5953926641647476232008-05-20T23:26:00.000-04:002008-05-20T23:26:00.000-04:00Read what i was talkig about. A comment talked ab...Read what i was talkig about. A comment talked about kids in the middle school who could not read or write correctly.... I wrote that some kids have disabilities which include reading and writing. THAT IS NOT AN EXCUSE !! It is an educational diagnosis with some kids..... thank God your kid does not have that problem -- would you call it an excuse then? <BR/><BR/>And my other point was that the state is to blame for a lot of problems........<BR/><BR/>Maybe you have a reading disability?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-73226575241767453972008-05-20T11:52:00.000-04:002008-05-20T11:52:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.KrisMrsBBradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14988742743150495260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-42414983629419293132008-05-20T09:02:00.000-04:002008-05-20T09:02:00.000-04:00OH PLEASE, SO NOW WE'RE TO BELIEVE THAT IF THE SC...OH PLEASE, SO NOW WE'RE TO BELIEVE THAT IF THE SCHOOL IS NOT EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN PROPERLY, IT IS CALL A "DISABILITY". NO, I CALL THAT AN EXCUSE!<BR/><BR/>Less than 10% of the kids in this school district, are categorized with disabilities. That includes ALL disabilities, NOT ONLY learning disabilities. If what you say were the truth, than why are 30% of our high school students BELOW proficient in math!<BR/><BR/>By the way, my child just received the results from this year's NJPASS. My child IS in the range called "ADVANCED PROFICIENT", MY child only received 56% of the possible points correct, and THAT is considered advanced proficient by the state of NJ. HOW PATHETIC!<BR/><BR/>And our school district can't even teach kids to achieve the level of "PROFICIENT"?<BR/><BR/>STOP THE EXCUSES!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-74433863171783407602008-05-19T22:36:00.000-04:002008-05-19T22:36:00.000-04:00I just dont understand some people who write on he...I just dont understand some people who write on here. I do agree that there are a lot of things that could be better handled by our district and i think the money question should be investigated - an itemized bill so to speak as to what is paid by our district. <BR/>But here is where I dont get some people on here - STOP WRITING AS MUCH AND GET INVOLVED !!! <BR/>1. Parents all the time argue about how their child is handled. You would be surprised how many parents say "not my child". No medication for them or NO SPEC. ED. classes= when their kids probably need it.<BR/><BR/>2. The state has a bigger say than you think as to what our Spec. Ed. Dept says and does - if their instruction plans of action are not held up - the parents can sue.<BR/><BR/>2A. Our district must pay for any child who must be removed from the general population and placed in another alternative school. These are only extreme cases - mostly in the middle school or HS. This happens in ALL school districts in our area. The district must pay for them and transportation - it is law. These include many types of students - not throw aways.<BR/><BR/>3. I do not think the football comment is fair - our district is pretty fair to all our students - athletes, scholars, musicians, actors, etc. - maybe if you went to the HS MAMS and looked around at the accolades you might know that. We have kids going to some of the best schools in the nation - EVERY YEAR - check the records on that. Some one wrote a blog or two back about how the grades are basically made up and sugar coated - well if that was true - our district is fooling some of those major college institutions as well - so they are wrong too? WE ARE NOT BEING FAIR to our schools here......<BR/><BR/>4. How do you know how teachers instruct or to what level? Have any of us gone to college for education? or taken multi level education courses? differentiated learning styles ? How do we know what is best for out kids IN THE CLASSROOM? if we have SO little faith in our teachers and administration that EVERY move is questioned than we have much bigger problems than a MISSION STATEMENT.<BR/><BR/>5. Let us be fair again - this area is not SHANGLILAH.... many schools have THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE AND MORE!! check it out.... I mean having ALL STUDENTS take an advanced placement class is just unrealistic so is learning 2 languages for every child. Yes some children cannot read or write clearly and that COMES FROM A LOT OF SOURCES - mind, intellect, maturity, parenting, comprehension, and educators..... IT IS CALLED A DISABILITY and kids all over the U.S. have it and it has een around for centuries.... be fair.<BR/><BR/>I DO LIKE THAT MANY OF YOU ARE WRITING BUT LIKE THE ABERDEENER HAS SAID ... WHERE ARE YOU AT BOE MEETINGS OR ELECTIONS?? WHERE ARE YOU ARE TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS? WHERE ARE YOU AT PTO MEETINGS? HOW MUCH CONTACT DO YOU REALLY HAVE WITH YOUR CLILD'S TEACHER? DO YOU GO TO ALL SCHOOL EVENTS MEANT FOR PARENTS? i do not think we could say yes to all of those questions = so in reality we ALL have a way to go to make this district better - ALL PARENTS ARE NOT THE SAME as evident by our children in our schools.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-34546165951881750782008-05-16T17:15:00.000-04:002008-05-16T17:15:00.000-04:00This school district has taken away all the rights...This school district has taken away all the rights of the parents to have any say in our kids education. Yes, the mission statement should be for the "parents to be able to determine the best education for their individual child". I would also like to see a statement that includes (as mrsb suggested), "encourage students to work up to and beyond his/her potential". <BR/><BR/>I've wanted my child to be challenged much more than the current curriculum for many years, and I've been ignored by teachers, administrators, and BOE members that I've spoken to as well. Unfortunately, I don't see the current board leadership having any desire to change anything about the mission statement. It is going to take a very strong action on the part of the parents if anything is to change. After all, for how many years now has the current BOE leadership and administrators told us how great our shools are. Only in the past few years since standard test scores needed to be released and made public are people finally starting to see the true facts about this district.<BR/><BR/>Maybe there is a lesson to be learned from European countries, that far SURPASS us in PUBLIC EDUCATION. In these countries, the money (for education) followes the child. The schools know if they don't perform (to the parents expectations), they will lose the child to another school and lose the money as well. Again, these are PUBLIC schools in Europe.<BR/>The same goes on here in the US for any private school, the administrators know if they don't do their jobs, the parents will pull the students from the schools.<BR/><BR/>We as parents have to insist we have a stronger voice and role in our childerns education.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-39207467987826282152008-05-15T22:27:00.000-04:002008-05-15T22:27:00.000-04:00That would be a great mission statement! I think ...That would be a great mission statement! I think every parent should know what their child is learning, supplement that at home in ways that make it fun to learn. Too many people expect the school to be the only source of learning (or pack on too many structured learning experiences that suck the fun right out-kids learn when they are enjoying a subject!). I've actually heard parents complain that they shouldn't have to help with homework, because teaching is the teachers job, not theirs.<BR/><BR/>Parents have to be involved. Empowering them to be a part of their child's education would be an amazing step for the district.KrisMrsBBradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14988742743150495260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-32795190304233017782008-05-15T19:41:00.000-04:002008-05-15T19:41:00.000-04:00MrsB,I think you've just given me a Eureka! moment...MrsB,<BR/><BR/>I think you've just given me a Eureka! moment. <BR/><BR/>We've been completely focused on a school's responsibility to the students but its primary responsibility is to the parents. <BR/><BR/>Under law, schools are required to act "in loco parentis", in the place of the parent. Historically and culturally, schools acted as surrogates for the parents who were too busy or unable to teach their own children. Even today, everyone acknowledges that the primary obligation for educating children rests upon the parents.<BR/><BR/>Therefore, I would argue that a school's mission is to empower the parents to properly educate their children.<BR/><BR/>How about this for a mission statement: To empower parents to determine the best education for their children.<BR/><BR/>I like it. I really, really, like it.Aberdeenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14593197510549429078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-10241082388346650082008-05-15T19:39:00.000-04:002008-05-15T19:39:00.000-04:00While I do not have any kids categorized as specia...While I do not have any kids categorized as special ed, and I can not comment on that section of the population; believe me when I say it is not only the 10% of special ed kids that are not getting a proper education. <BR/><BR/>My child takes both honors, merit and regular classes. There is a major difference in the way teachers approach a class depending on the level. Kids in honors are taught the way ALL kids should be taught. TEACH WELL AND EXPECT A HIGH LEVEL OF WORK FROM THE KIDS. But once a teacher goes to teach a regular class, or merit class for that matter, the standards are dropped tremendously.<BR/>My child has friends in all levels of education, and sometimes the same teacher. They themselves see such a difference in the level of work and LEVEL OF EXPECTATION. <BR/><BR/>This school district expects the children in the regular classes to be "dumb", and that is so wrong. It is my experience and opinion, that when a child is capable to take some honors classes it is usually because they enjoy the subject, and they certainly proved they have the capabilities. So why are we lowering the standards so much for the same child in their merit or regular classes? We know the same child's capabilities can't vary that much from subject to subject, it's probably more a preference of subject matter.<BR/><BR/>Why aren't we pushing the kids harder in all classes to raise them to the next level? Why are we only pushing the kids in the honors classes to achieve?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-16521597108373275022008-05-15T18:52:00.000-04:002008-05-15T18:52:00.000-04:00Believe me when I say that parent training is not,...Believe me when I say that parent training is not, generally a problem. I'm as well versed in programs, assistive technology, differentiated learning as most mainstream teachers. I believe the majority of the special ed community is. More likely to be assigned to home visits are the Child Study Team members. Believe me again when I say that few parents are going to be willing to let these people in their homes.<BR/><BR/>Newer, more appropriate technology would be an incredible addition to the special ed area. Unfortunately, this 10% of the school population is not high on the list for "extras" spending. Now if one of the kids played football....KrisMrsBBradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14988742743150495260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-88307080317410829762008-05-15T12:29:00.000-04:002008-05-15T12:29:00.000-04:00Putting finances aside, for the moment, what do we...Putting finances aside, for the moment, what do we want after thirteen years of education?<BR/><BR/>I would like to require graduating students to have passed at least one advanced class in each of the following: English, Math, Science, Foreign Language, and Music/Art. Additionally, I would like a "masterpiece" project, which could be virtually anything that displays academic achievement. <BR/><BR/>Regarding Special Education, I'm not well-versed in the subject but I wonder if we could use technology and parental training as the foundation and then supplement that with home visits by the teachers. Wouldn't work for everybody but I believe it would work for many.<BR/><BR/>Lastly, we still need to define the school's role before we lambaste the staff for not doing their jobs.Aberdeenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14593197510549429078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-13070464166786471232008-05-15T10:31:00.000-04:002008-05-15T10:31:00.000-04:00Taking chemistry is not an option; when I went to ...Taking chemistry is not an option; when I went to school it was a requirement. So in my opinion standards must be rock bottom if it's not a core subject. This school district is highly reminiscent of Heller's "Catch 22". There are nonsensical excuses to why we can't have perfectly reasonable things peppered with "No child left behind" & "zero tolerance". <BR/><BR/>In other countries children are taught 2 languages - and it is a natural ability that is nurtured at a young age. Unlike here where our district's idea of teaching a foreign laguage is sticking a kid in front of a television. Don't even get me started on music. My kid watched the same Beethoven documentary THREE times in one year. Don't see how that is going to help the kids learn music theory - but hey, it keeps them quiet right?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-4128606402559547352008-05-15T10:28:00.000-04:002008-05-15T10:28:00.000-04:00Who is "She who must not be named?" Please let us ...Who is "She who must not be named?" Please let us know. At least with correct information as to what is going on, we might begin to fight and make changes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com