Monday, January 7, 2008
Republicans Likely to Nominate Bill Wellman for BOE
Attorney William J. Wellman is likely to be the Republican Party's Nominee for the BOE seat vacated by Robin Ruggiero. Bill was on the Board some years ago and has been attending the Meetings for some time. Bill is an excellent choice and would bring a much-needed, reasoned, professional and studied voice to the Board.
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17 comments:
Unfortunately, Mr. Wellman's admirable qualities conflict with the overwhelmingly illogical, amateurish and shrill voices of the board's other members. He certainly won't be welcome at the propaganda machine that is the BoE, and will probably end up leaving in disgust just like countless other "reasoned, professional and studied voices" before him.
Who are these "illogical, amateruish and shrill voices" on the BOE? If you attend or watch the meetings, then you must really be confused, as the current members are smart, well meaning people who pay attention to real issues. That's true for the remaining Republicans and Democrats. Or were you thinking of Ann Burns?
You know, the "more money equals a better education" crowd...
Although there's definitely a lot more money being spent on education, it's the lower academic standards, watered down curriculums, grade inflation and "dumbed-down" standardized test questions that give the appearance of improved student achievement. Local students haven't had a full week of school since the middle of November (1/2 days, holidays, conferences etc.). How can any child excel in a learning environment such as this? Employers and parents recognize the public schools are failing, even with all the extra money. This sad state of public education is a direct result of the lack of oversight by our "illogical, amateurish and shrill" members of the Board of Education, past and present.
The failure of the schools is also proven by the fact that there are all these external learning centers popping up (Huntington, etc).
Sheer economics runs this one....if no demand for services, no learning centers.
It is clear you people don't have kids in the NM school system. We just had our parent/teacher(s) conference at SMS, and could not have been more impressed with the teachers & cirriculum, as well as their insight into our child. If you compare what the 7th & 8th graders are learning today, as opposed to what we were taught, it is far more advanced. This is true starting in elementary school.
The kids who don't do well are generally those whose parents are not involved. That's why the $$ learning centers are popping up - because the parents are passing the buck (literally) onto others.
If you need more proof of how well the local schools are doing, look at the list of colleges NM students are getting into - amazing! How about the math team winning a number of local competitions? That's great stuff!
If you need more proof of how poorly the public schools are doing, look at the amount of remedial courses being offered to incoming freshman at most colleges and universities these days. About 40 percent of college students take at least one remedial class during their college years (according to the College Board). These remedial classes are predominantly in the “Three Rs”, or the basic elements of a primary school curriculum: reading, ’riting (writing) and ’rithmetic (arithmetic). If the public schools are doing such a fine job, why do 40% of college freshmen lack some or all of these basic skills? As troubling as that 40% figure is, it doesn’t include those high school graduates who don’t go to college.
A few exceptional students winning some math competitions in New Milford can’t mask the facts - public schools are failing a large percentage of students who graduate from high school without learning the basics... That's appalling stuff!
Kids might go to college but I would like to know how many make it through
kids/parents say kids are going to college but I'd be curious how many actually matriculate?
40% remedial classes.
College used to mean something.
Now anyone whose parents can pay can go.
And those that actually are smart sometimes can't afford it.
Those of you who don't appreciate the math team probably didn't do well at math (or other subjects). It is not just a few kids, but at least two bus loads of kids! If you paid attention to the school board meetings on Channel 17, you'd know about it.
However, since most of you on this blog are strictly complainers who have no real suggestions or quality contributions to the community, your opinions don't mean much. If you don't like what's going on, step up and change things. But at least know what you're talking about.
If your argument is the status quo is acceptable you are insane.
The kids scores on standardized testing is barely above the state average. I'm sorry but that is not acceptable.
And arguing against increases with no tie to educational results is idiotic.
I'm sorry if I expect that the teachers and administration/ BOE should be finding the best educational strategies and material to ensure our kids get a world class education, not just a average one.
When is the next exciting math "team" competition?
It's probably impossible to sit through actual, or televised, school board meetings without going insane...
To the dumb dumb who posted: "I'm sorry if I expect that the teachers and administration/ BOE should be finding the best educational strategies and material to ensure our kids get a world class education, not just a average one."
If you paid any attention to educational metrics such as "Windows on New Milford," you'd know that the status quo is not accepted. It's not just the results, but how the results are being used to attack areas of weakness - and strength.
But, since you ask for the best, but apparently don't work for it, you'll always be an excellent complainer. Why not try providing a solution??????????? Have you talked to an administrator lately, or had a parent/teacher conference?
You can talk all the Ed.D "educational metrics" BS you want, but that doesn't change the fact that public schools are failing a large percentage of students who graduate from high school without learning the basics.
... because education schools are graduating teachers who haven't mastered the basic elements of a primary school curriculum...
"because education schools are graduating teachers who haven't mastered the basic elements of a primary school curriculum..."
or maybe those are the ones the New Mildew admins hire because the really good teachers who have mastered their subject and can teach are a threat to those in charge.
BTW - Windows on New Mildew educational metrics - its all shmetrics! you educators need to stop the double speak
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