It looks like the critics of the Wake County school board majority will get in one last blast today before next week's elections.
There are 31 speakers signed up for today's public comment section on issues such as the math policy, the single-gender leadership academies and student assignment.
You've got some familiar names like Amy Womble, Anne Cooper, Charlotte Turpin, Sharon Eckard, Marguerite LeBlanc, Patty Williams, Colethia Evans, Betsy Lovejoy, Ann Campbell, Lettice Rhodes, Sharon Lee, Lynette Aytch and Amy Lee.
Comments
What's Paula Stam's story?
Wed, 10/05/2011 - 18:44 — csnowftw"... speaking up for MY kids"? Explain, please. It implies no one else's matter. Is that what you really mean?
Fair question...
Wed, 10/05/2011 - 19:40 — paulastam"csnowftw", I am a local taxpayer and have kids in WCPSS. Yes, I choose to speak-up for them and to defend neighborhood schools and the attacks made on public education by a handful of public school bashers in this forum. Ronnie M was on a private school board (Thales Academy) - a bit of a conflict of interest and he is funded and supported by people that speak, and lobby, against public schools.
I have numerous other concerns - some of which I have posted before and others that no doubt will arise in further discussion. That is my "story". I respect some posters may have their own children in WCPSS (many don't!!!) and are entiltled to their own views - of course I think I reserve the right to disagree occasionally. Now in the case of "Woodstock" (I have an inkling that you wish to defend him/her!), I am frequently shocked at the nonsense she/he posts and her/his willingess to denigrate other posters with name calling and in many respects online bullying. I simply like to point out the hypocracy of Woody's (and FSandYOU's) frequent hyperbole - with the constant caustic remarks, etc. Woody displays the very characteristics she/he alleges his "victims" have through her/his very own actions/words.
Paula, "Independent, Fair & Speaking Up for MY Kids."
No, I don't wish to defend
Wed, 10/05/2011 - 19:41 — csnowftwNo, I don't wish to defend Woody. I've gone around with that blogger a time or two while posting about SACS-CASI/AdvancED. Although I tend to lean (way) to the right on the political spectrum, I oppose condescending, hateful rhetoric no matter who it comes from. If Woody was one of my parents, I'd still despise his/her tone and style. See the comment posted below in regards to the defense mechanism projection which I've noticed many people display -- in your county and in mine.
I'm sorry I don't share your views about a "conflict of interest" regarding Ronnie M. since I realize those who send their children to private school (some of those who you say are "funding" him) are taxpayers just like everyone else. All taxpayers (yes, even those who send their children to private schools, charter schools, or home schools) should have a voice in the workings of the public school system as its product affects the future prosperity of the local region and country as a whole. Just because public school students aren't "their children" doesn't mean they don't want what's best for fellow Americans. If you'd prefer the public education system to be solely funded by the parents who send their children to public schools, then you certainly can make all the decisions. But along with their tax dollars comes their opinion. It's the old "representation with taxation" kinda thing, ya know? I still have three children in the public school system, btw; one has already graduated from a public high school.
Actually I'm quite fed up with the Public vs. Private vs. Home vs. Charter school jealousy crap to tell you the truth. I'm all about competition; let the best administrators and best teachers win so our children can actually compete globally. We are embarrassingly whipped by our international counterparts. It's about time to take Freud's quote defining insanity to heart, don't you think?
I like that you wish to be independent and fair. But I'd like to suggest that when more people begin not only using, but truly believing the motto below, the educational system may just improve:
Jane, "Independent, Fair and speaking up for ALL kids regardless of who they are."
Fair point again...
Wed, 10/05/2011 - 20:17 — paulastam"csnowftw", while I have a vested interest via taxes and MY children in WCPSS I am in total agreement that ALL taxpayers should have some say. And they will - they can vote with us on Oct 11. A BIG turnout would be great - that way we can put to rest, regardless of the outcome, the concern that a motivated minority dictated terms for the silent majority, etc. Keep in mind that the new assignment plan is costly and Tata is starting to create expensive new niche schools - draining needed resources and money from other schools and potentially hitting taxpayers' wallets down the road!!!
Regarding world class schools and global competition: We're up against it regardless of how good our private and public schools are when engineers and other professionals in many developing countries will work for less than $5 an hour, etc. That is a major barrier that would be only larger if we had more engineers, etc here in the USA. What's the solution? I'm not sure. Keep factories here in the USA and don't move them to China, India, etc? Buy more "USA made"? (If such a brand even exists anymore!)
Paula, "Independent, Fair & Speaking Up for MY Kids."
Apathy is not our friend
Wed, 10/05/2011 - 21:34 — csnowftwIt just seems like the demon is the apathy of the "silent majority", not the motivated minority. We must never find ourselves demonizing those who take part in elections with their wallets or their votes. Instead we should find ways to wake up the sleeping giant... if it really is asleep and truly is a majority.
Waking an apathic, frustrated, sleeping giant while fighting propaganda and people without discernment: Trust me, I so feel your pain.
I'm in another county and hopeful that a great public school system can be built from the ruin. Sometimes entities (like people) have to hit rock bottom before they can be reformed and renewed.
p.s.
Be grateful you have an increased ADM, thus school funding. Some counties are looking at closings/consolidations/budget deficits/laying off 10% of the workforce. It's not fun.
Apathy is not our friend
Wed, 10/05/2011 - 21:34 — csnowftwIt just seems like the demon is the apathy of the "silent majority", not the motivated minority. We must never find ourselves demonizing those who take part in elections with their wallets or their votes. Instead we should find ways to wake up the sleeping giant... if it really is asleep and truly is a majority.
Waking an apathic, frustrated, sleeping giant while fighting propaganda and people without discernment: Trust me, I so feel your pain.
I'm in another county and hopeful that a great public school system can be built from the ruin. Sometimes entities (like people) have to hit rock bottom before they can be reformed and renewed.
p.s.
Be grateful you have an increased ADM, thus school funding. Some counties are looking at closings/consolidations/budget deficits/laying off 10% of the workforce. It's not fun.
Well...I never!
Tue, 10/04/2011 - 22:30 — louiselee44I'm out of commission (for the most part) for 6 months and am no longer a "familiar name". Keung, I am hurt to the quick! Or maybe you were just listing "critics" :^)
In all seriousness, I tried to point out at the School Board meeting tonight that the cry for changes in how students are assigned goes back at least 5 years. That's when 2,000-plus parents let it be known publicly that they opposed being forced into a school that didn't meet the needs - not preferences, but needs - of their family.
That's when a WRAL/N&O poll showed that over half of the "Black" and "Hispanic" parents who were polled were totally against the mandating of YR school attendance.
That's when I attended a meeting in SE Raleigh where minority parents were instructed to gather on stage in a show of support for the school board back then. Some parents weren't even sure why they were going up there - but it was a great photo-op, you can be sure! Parents that were considering opting out for a school more to their liking were actually told by one leader that if they did so, they were essentially choosing to return to the days of segregated schools. Yes, that actually happened.
I ended my talk tonight by saying that when I hear the word "change" negatively associated with a particular party or school board member, or with racism or any number of stereotypes, I want to ask that person where he/she was when some of us were trying our best, years ago, to stand up for those whose voices were being ignored. We didn't look at skin color or party affiliation or economic situations, either.
So - discussions and research about changing Wake County's assignment policies have been taking place for years. This isn't something, as some have claimed, that Superintendent Tata and our school board suddenly just rushed into without thought. Changes have been a long time coming. Could it be, just maybe, that these leaders are finally listening to that diverse group that rallied together years ago in an effort to ensure that they had a say-so in the education of their children? I don't have the answer to that, but I do know that this is the first group that has even come close to addressing those early concerns (although there were one or two individual members who always did listen and did try to right some wrongs).
I haven't studied the new assignment plan in enough depth to state my opinion of it. But I commend Superintendent Tata and the School Board for realizing that change was needed and for taking some action.
I left you out because you
Tue, 10/04/2011 - 22:34 — KeungHui (author)I left you out because you didn't exactly fit in with the other speakers on the list. You were basically the only one who wasn't complaining about one thing or the other.
Thanks!
Wed, 10/05/2011 - 09:52 — louiselee44I was kidding you of course - I was actually relieved to see that my name was not on that list!! :^)
Lots of questions
Tue, 10/04/2011 - 21:48 — sam123456Unfortunately this plan has a lots of open questions. In our case we are being taken out of our current feeder pattern of Brassfield to Wakefield Middle to Wakefield High school. We will now be forced to be bused to West Millbrook MS/Millbrook HS. While we have "choice", we will be lacking the gurantee that we currently have. This plan has introduced significant uncertainty for us. We need to slow down so that we can review and understand the plan in detail. What would be wrong with that??
Just another day in paradise...
Tue, 10/04/2011 - 19:37 — paulastam"AgentPierce" takes another cheap shot at Keung Hui and "Woodstock" has to post AGAIN how radical and arrogant one candidate is - in fact any candidate apparently that he feels does not agree with his extreme views. No doubt we can expect another update tomorrow from Woodstock informing us that Democrat candidates are "arrogant", "crazy", "angry", "wild", etc. Heck, I have not met Evans, but based on Woody's insistence on denigrating her in this forum on a daily basis now (is he a Ronnie M attack dog/rep?) I have conjured a mental picture of her being some native leader from an undiscovered tribe in the Amazon rainforest angry at the colonists.
Paula, "Independent, Fair & Speaking Up for MY Kids."
I think maybe you do know
Tue, 10/04/2011 - 19:45 — woodstockI think maybe you do know Evans; you used the word "crazy" and that did not come from me. It's accurate, but you came up with it all on your own.
Woody and Ronnie
Tue, 10/04/2011 - 20:15 — paulastamActually Woody, a quick search of previous threads shows Woodstock (as you do on a daily basis now on Ronnie M's behalf it seems) posting the following in relation to Evans: "hateful rhetoric", "outrageously polarizing", "caustic and insulting". Ironically, it's almost like you are describing your own behavior and postings in this forum yet deflecting it all on some woman that happens to be running against your buddy (Ronnie M). You should be more concerned about: Ronnie M's flip-flopping; being a member on Thales Academy's board (private school); his selecting a superintendent (a military general no less) without allowing any public input; allowing the board to vote 50 plus times (in the same meeting) to ensure Tedesco became the vice-chair; making and posting a Superhero video on YouTube (no joke); voting to drop Blue Diamond - a critical instructional/assessment tool for teachers (without having a replacement ready!!); creating more segregated schools; supporting a new and rushed student assignment plan that is VERY costly (does not make sense during lean times!), and so on. Woody my friend, open your mind, Evans should not be the focus of your caustic remarks!
Paula, "Independent, Fair & Speaking Up for MY Kids."
Hmm, I never had a groupie
Tue, 10/04/2011 - 20:26 — woodstockHmm, I never had a groupie before... kinda creepy.
Charles Manson had groupies
Tue, 10/04/2011 - 20:29 — CaryCurmudgeonCharles Manson had groupies too, don't get flattered.
On the subject of groupies...
Tue, 10/04/2011 - 20:36 — paulastamwannabe GOP candidate Jenn Mansfield has you "CaryC"! :)
Paula, "Independent, Fair & Speaking Up for MY Kids."
I'm not flattered... thus
Tue, 10/04/2011 - 20:32 — woodstockI'm not flattered... thus the "creepy" comment.
Woody and Projection
Wed, 10/05/2011 - 18:41 — csnowftw"Projection is defined as “Attributing one’s own thoughts, feelings, or motives to another.” This characteristic is not uncommon, and we have probably all witnessed it. An angry man might accuse others of being hostile and antagonistic. Another example might be a con-artist might be under the impression that everyone else is trying to con him or her."
From:
Top 7 Psychological Defense Mechanisms.... Projection is #4.
LOL You aren't a Dr., but
Wed, 10/05/2011 - 19:28 — woodstockLOL You aren't a Dr., but you play one on discussion boards. I get it it. Funny!
Just calling 'um
Wed, 10/05/2011 - 19:43 — csnowftw... like I see 'um, Woody.
Review Flies/honey/vinegar thing.
And remember: mean people suck.
Are you .....
Tue, 10/04/2011 - 19:08 — AgentPierceAre you on all their "Holiday card" mailing lists TK? I bet you are their favorite "registered unaffiliated" N&O writer.
Is Lettice Rhodes related to
Tue, 10/04/2011 - 19:11 — woodstockIs Lettice Rhodes related to Susans Evans? Just wondering, I detect a similar arrogant and insulting tone steeped in left-wing radicalism.
UPDATE Wow! It is not just Lettice... virtually all of the speakers share the same contemptuous attitude. AND, they can barely hide the anger that stems from their growing awareness that their far left-wing ideology is not shared by the board majority or the voting public.
...
Tue, 10/04/2011 - 19:19 — SideburnsInterestingly, Karen Rindge (who just spoke) was one of the co-hosts of the LWV/WakeUp "nonpartisan" candidate forums. She joined the others in their criticism of Tata and the Board.
Yes, that is indeed
Tue, 10/04/2011 - 19:29 — woodstockYes, that is indeed interesting. I thought I understood the term "nonpartisan," perhaps I need to confirm its meaning... or maybe it is others who need to do that.
Or...
Tue, 10/04/2011 - 19:41 — paulastammaybe the questionable decision making that we have seen by Ronnie M, General Tata, Tedesco, etc is forcing "non-partisans" to become partisan as even they're fed up now!
Paula, "Independent, Fair & Speaking Up for MY Kids."
There Are Very Few People That Are Non-Partisan
Wed, 10/05/2011 - 07:50 — KevPerduein this fight and your claim that you and your side are not partisan is laughable!