" I am not sure that they can enforce anything like this. Either keep the extra period or not. When schools stated end time arrives school is out. Check the grades every 3 weeks is a good idea, but can not start a mandatory "after" school class for 3 weeks. "

" Too bad there isn't a Mr.D's or Smitty's,or Jimmies pool hall,where some of these kids could dodge the new control freaks.With no auto shop classes or home ec.whats a kid tado.I guess ROTC could possibly be a way out. Gosh at least teach the girls how to cook (realfood). "

" While I think their intentions are in the right place. How do they intend on keeping up with a couple thousand students grades? And how are they planning on enforcing these rules. Saturday School? Detention? What, walk each and every student that has a C- and below to these classes? It's been a couple of years since I attended Mattoon High, but I can say there's really no way of effectivly doing that.To me thats time taken away from the crime, drugs, and bulling going on in that school already. Having a C- in ALGEBRA was, for me doin pretty good. What a blow to these kids self esteem. Some students just struggle. Not everybody is gonna be a strait A student. Not that they shouldn't try to get a higher grade, but each and every year they raise they bar for these kids. I fear for my pre-schooler the criteria that is going to be expected of him just to get his diploma. "

" Install razor ribbon fencing,make them walk in pairs,issue good time,teach them how to make license plates,give them yard time,prepare them for the reel world. "

" I agree the intentions are good, but I believe if the teacher's would spend a little more time in class actually teaching instead of patroling the room for students who aren't sitting perfectly still like zombies then the student may comprehend more of the subject being taught. I have a child in MHS and I have heard alot of thing's from friend's of my child who by the way struggles with algebra, that if you ask the teacher for help she tells them they should of taken better notes... I cannot even begin to understand there algebra. I have spoken to an algebra teacher out there and she was not the nicest to say the least... I know the children are always wrong! I don't alway's buy that one... Just my opinion but does school really have to be this hard... I remember good times and hard work in school, but work we could actually do.. "

" C- was a mistake in the paper; it is intended for students with Ds, Fs, or incompletes. This WILL be part of the students' day; school does not end until tutorial does (unless a student has the 7th Period class) and that is still only at 3:00 p.m. There is a computer system which teachers put grades into and they will be required to enter the Ds, Fs, and incompletes only once every 3 weeks on a Wednesday. On that Friday, a new schedule will be created for those affected students and they will report to said tutorial for that next three-week cycle or receive a truancy and said discipline. Obviously, no system is perfect and, for example, students who have co-op will have some other alternative. Having all the students attend tutorial for the first couple of weeks is at least twofold: 1. create the culture for the students that tutorial ends the students day and 2. talk and demonstrate to the students the changes to the discipline system. MHS students made videos outlining the whole process that will be showed to the students during those first two weeks and they did a wonderful job with this. This initial tutorial time will also provide those students the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback to the system. This new discipline system and tutorial program is MHS's way of addressing federal laws that have to be implemented by 2011; the high school is trying to be proactive in setting those up. The new tutorial system is also in response to the fact that Mattoon did not meet AYP in state testing for math again. Please keep in mind that the ACT(the major component of state testing for NCLB) has always been a test for COLLEGE BOUND STUDENTS! Not everyone is prepared for that (especially some students with special needs) and since we don't live in Texas, the teachers are not given the test to teach to the students ahead of time to make sure they pass! Needless to say, that is still what the state requires so the district has to continue to strive for 100% of its students to pass a test on 1 day without taking ability or what is happening in the students' personal lives into consideration.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am sure that all of your concerns are appreciated, but if the high school has people in the community complaining about how it is trying to provide additional interventions to help students succeed and be prepared for the real world out there, I am sure they are going to have a hard time getting the students to buy into the program. The last thing the high school needs right now with this attempt is that! Please realize simply that MHS is trying to help students be successful, period.

By the way, the reason there is no longer auto was because the "teacher" teaching it the last 5 years or so was not doing anything in the class. When the school district tried to give the students the alternative to go to LLC to take the class some did but enrollment in that stopped when the kids realized they would actually have to do something in that class instead of sitting around in a vehicle for 50 minutes and listen to music... "

" I'm sure when the disruptive hellions from TLC come back they might quickly burn through their "ticket" supply.


BTW, we didn't do anything in autoshop back in the 80's either. "

" That's aginst the law. "

" g1g2 if school lets out at 2;30 for students "unless" they have a certain grade, then school is "over" at 2:30 end of conversation. Tell the teachers to stop teaching to beat the no child left behind tests, and start teaching. I think the tutorial is great, as a elective. If you talked to parents about it might help also, but mandatory sounds communist, definitely not American. I am sure glad all of mine are through HS because unless I said so they would not be doing this Hitlerism. This is school not prison. Wait and see when you start this crap more and more kids will be quitting than already do. I can see it now the kids going to the forced classes will be teased by the people going home, it will something like this word for word > Ha Ha you have to go to the retard class. And yes kids in school use the "R" word freely. That is why I used it as a example. Those are some of the things these kids will hear, and you as a teacher I am guessing, know right well thats what will happen. "

" I guess I dont understand why everyone is up in arms about this program. It seems to me that most of you complain about any program that may help a struggling student. Is it because it was not your idea? Instead of complaining and posting negativity constantly.... get off your butts and get in the schools and volunteer your time and your knowledge of EVERYTHING! But then again that would pull you away from your soap boxes. "

" g1g2, If they had an auto teacher for 5yrs that did nothing,I sounds like the schools human resource center needs monthly monitoring instead of the students.If kids want to set around for 50min. listening to music in their cars,I recomend they be given an option to learn how to properly install stereo systems,alarm systems,after all it would be a marketable skill. Who cares about who discovered America,try teaching them whos gonna blow it up.Teach them stuff they can use in life. As for daksma's soapbox comment,perhaps if the school would listen to folks that attended the scool of hard knox,they might find some of us just might have some worthwhile suggestions.Last I heard the High schools high dollar automotive paint booth was being used for storage(if it even still exist's).Other than my opinion, I 100% agree with what Hg1969 said. "

" Mattoon has had a very short school day in past years. To extend the students' day 20 minutes can hardly be called hitlerism. We must view this tutorial system as a positive. The school is finally saying, "We want to help our students achieve more!" There are too many students (and parents, too!) thinking a D or F is acceptable. To give students a specified time where they can ask for one-on-one help or to make up missed work is a Godsend! Can you honestly say you wouldn't want your child getting extra help?

BTW, tutorial is also an option for students who aren't required to be there but can come in to make up work, or simply have a question.

What if we are creating a culture where students see that the teachers are available to them, rich resources there for the asking? What if students finished their "home"work before they ever left the building? What if all of our students decided to work harder so they could "leave early"? "

" So Holli, are they going to run the Buses late for all of these kids and how much will that cost? "

" While I think their intentions are in the right place. How do they intend on keeping up with a couple thousand students grades?


Couple thousand, where have you been, MHS is well under a thousand these days. "

" What If's, What If's, simple fact it should be up to the parent to decide what is best for their child in this situation.... "

" Rohn

Sudents aren't teased anymore, just ask the ones ay Columbine.

g1g2 wrote on Aug 12, 2009 9:20 PM:

" C- was a mistake in the paper; it is intended for students with Ds, Fs, or incompletes.

Maybe Holli, or the paper should stay after class if they can't report any better than that.

HG1969

A couple of years ago, a friend of mines Grand Daughter ask if I could help her with her second grade homework, I said sure, just before I realized she was studying Spanish. "

" Medic,

Buses aren't going to pick ANY student up at the high school until 3:30 so bus riders done at 2:30 have to wait for an hour anyway, tutorial, Period 7, one or neither. "

" HG1969

"I agree the intentions are good, but I believe if the teacher's would spend a little more time in class actually teaching instead of patroling the room for students who aren't sitting perfectly still like zombies then the student may comprehend more of the subject being taught."


If you are going to preach facts, perhaps you should get yours straight before spewing generalizations. I'm pretty sure the new system isn't quite as dumb as you are doing a great job of making it sound. I'll bet this system is probably designed to nip out a lot of the problems that make the learning environment a bit harder. Furthermore, if you don't want your children in a school that hold students, teachers, administration, and parents accountable then there are city limits and you can feel free to leave them. I want my children to have all the resources they can get to be as successful as they can be.



Rohn

Tell the teachers to stop teaching to beat the no child left behind tests.


Any other buzz phrases you want to play with there? Tests are assessments on whether students have learned a set of objectives as they are aligned with the state standards. So if you've got a teacher not "teaching to the test," then I'd be concerned of what that teacher is doing in their classroom.


medic

Good question. It is my understanding that because it is built into the school day, the buses will not be affected. At least that is what my news letter said. Could anyone clarify? "

" Have they considered waterboarding yet? "

" HG1969:

What's best for the child? What's not best about:
*extra study time
*opportunity for one-on-one attention
*time set aside to ask questions
*a chance to do work before carrying it home
*5 (or so) teachers of various subjects in the same room at the same time -- available
*teachers whose only task at that moment is to aid students
*not giving up lunch time or early morning time to make up work
*not feeling like you're all alone with your questions
*creating a culture that says it is OK to work hard at school

In all honesty, a majority of parents do not/cannot support their children to that degree.

Thank you MHS for making steps to reach our children!! "

" Seriously Medic57? This is all you got from my opinion?

While I think their intentions are in the right place. How do they intend on keeping up with a couple thousand students grades?


Couple thousand, where have you been, MHS is well under a thousand these days. " "

" "Explorer

If you would have read my earlier post I stated the intentions were good, but it is still the parent's choice. You can spew all you want but there is no doubt that if we had more teaching in regular class rooms like we did when I was a child, there would be fewer children failing. This is only going to lead to discipline problems and more problems with teacher parent interactions. Maybe the small minded people who cannot see the logical outcome should be the ones to pack up and leave. Need any help packing? If buses are not going to run til 3:30 and the kid's that ride buses home that don't have to stay decide not stay in the school studying then what will they be doing? Possibly running the streets? That isn't a good solution is it. "

" Who does the school think they are?
"And for the first two weeks of school, every student must stay for the tutorial sessions, which will be facilitated by teachers.

That way, everyone gets started off on a good foot, said Holli Gromelski, Student Council vice president."

So in other words if you are done with school at 2:30, so you can get to your job on time. Sorry the first two weeks of school you can't be there because the mighty school is going to make you stay to show you how you will be punished. Even though you have done nothing to deserve to be. What gives the school the right? "

" With this new concept, how many students will just quit school? "

" We are a society of entitlement. Jrhendren said, "you are done with school at 2:30, so you can get to your job on time". That's backward. The truth is students could start working early because we dismissed at 2:30. Now that the school day ends at 3:00, work will have to start after that. Most students' jobs will not be affected, they just won't have as much down time before work. A student could easily get 6-7 hours of work in if needed. "

" Good One HP. "

" One hour wait on the bus by school age people = What???
Thats right it will be a "what" for sure. So how many teachers will be just used as monitors for all that are waiting the hour??
Explorer says > "Any other buzz phrases you want to play with there?"
----------------------------
Buzz phrase my azz this has been happening for a while, everyone in here knows it. There have been many conversations about it. So you can just stay over at the school and spew the crap you want to. "Teach the kids" Why is it when I was in school teachers had time to answer questions and help students??? Was it 1 they were better teachers?? 2 Knew what they was doing?? 3 Cared about the children more?? 4 Wasn't teaching just to pass a test?? or 5 All of the above?? I myself am leaning to number 5 as the answer.
Harry Potter I believe you was in the teaching some how. What is your answer on this?? "

" They probably was Harry until it was out lawed. "

" ladybuggy wrote on Aug 14, 2009 6:47 AM:
" We are a society of entitlement. Jrhendren said, "you are done with school at 2:30, so you can get to your job on time". That's backward. The truth is students could start working early because we dismissed at 2:30. Now that the school day ends at 3:00, work will have to start after that. Most students' jobs will not be affected, they just won't have as much down time before work. A student could easily get 6-7 hours of work in if needed. "

That is why many students took early class. Also entitlement, what are you talking about. Why are they working because they are learning the world. They are paying for their car, their insurance, and other things they want. Last time I checked earning your way is not entitlement. As for the down time, when are they to do homework? If they have down time they can do their homework, and go to their job with no problems. That is what me and several of my friends did, because we were learning responsibility for when we left the house for good. Who bought your car, and paid your way? "

" I don't know why so many are leaving negative comments I think this program sounds great and I wish my high school would have had something like this when I attened 16 years ago. Its not a "knock to kids" with C- or lower grades its a way to keep those children from having grades go below averager C- is a bit below average a C is average. We should want our kids to work hard at their studies we should want our kids to graduate high school being capapble to go out into the real world be that college, the military or a job. How sad is it that the United States falls so far behind other countries in terms of our high school graduate's abilities. The U.S. falls behind other countries in Math, Reading and Writing more often than people realize. This program is good for our kids. "

" Someone please answer this one question for me. > If the teachers do not have time to teach and answer questions with only approximately 20 students at a time in the classroom how will they teach and answer with, I am betting will be many more than 20 in these late "classes"?? "

" No mention of how this plays out with extra curricular activities. Anyone think 1 D, is going to keep a 3 sport star out of practice?

Then it will be certain kids parents want them excluded. Others get excused to get to their after school jobs. Then groups get combined so teachers can not do it every day if at all either. Before long this is unsupervised detention. Much like the superintendant used to monitor 20 years ago when he was a sub.

Out of touch doesn't begin to describe these folks who failed to make the grade in math last year themselves. "

" Most of the negative comments are coming from people who have no idea how the education system works, devilishangel. Just like most of the comments criticising the legal system have no idea how it works either. Personally, I'm happy to see the local schools taking a proactive stance with our kids. It sounds like a winner to me too. "

" I believe kids are alot smarter then what they get credit for. "

" If this is their response to not making the grade in math as a district, I think its the school district that doesn't get it.

Learning needs to be encouraged and nurtured, the more its a brow beating session, treated like a punishment, or otherwise demonized, the less likely it is to being a two way partnership between educators and students. We don't need to do like some have started, and buy grades, but this is the polar opposite of that. Compromise that actually works needs to be found.

Some of the issues may rest with the teachers, not just some students. Sinclair was a great geometry teacher. I wished she would have also been doing more advaced math classes, and the ones that were doing them should have been pastured or teaching the less mundane and complicated classes. Teaching assignments were evidently assigned by length of service, and not any actual passion or ability to have teaching and learning coincide. If that is still the case, I don't know, but there were a lot of teachers going through the motions inmany subjects, absolutely no desire to inspire, and no passion for their subjects. Many of those classes might as well have been books on tape, rather than an actual monotone lump in front of the class. Sinclair was early in her career, some of the more experienced teachers that still had passion and drive and still stand out, were Mr. Willison, Mrs Ropiequet, and both foreign language teachers.

Early start used to be mostly college prep courses, for those wishing to get physics or some other class into their full schedules. Ending that hurts the potential of several students.

Back then, from 10th grade to graduation, total grade class population dropped by about 100. Some probably graduated early, some probably moved, many didn't do either, and just didn't graduate. Seems like at least 1/6th of the total size in 10th grade, were the latter, by graduation. Is that different now?

NCLBH has many issues, few disagree with that. The intent of the program is important, and just keeping up with the standards, is still leaving kids behind. Public education is a 13 year journey. If sound foundations aren't built at every grade and step of the process, playing catch up is a daunting nearly impossible task. Curriculum needs to focus on building up sound foundations. Many of the various issues begin long before reaching MHS. Adolesecence and life issues often compounds any poor grasp of learning skills as kids progress in school. If kids are progresed at any grade level when they don't have the basic skills, each time they are, compounds the issues and potential for falling further and further behind.

Instead of focusing on strengthening the entire K-12 process, this district has opted to barely comply with NCLBH and focus on it instead of adapting their methods and teaching to build the foundations that virtually guarantee compliance and surpassing the benchmarks. Every year they delay comprehensive refocusing of K-12, it will still be up to 13 years before the process sees tangable results. Focus at the top end, still leaves the same old issues to regularly contend with. Improper focus on anything anywhere, leaves the issues compounded and results tepid. Before you can solve any problem, the problem and most if not all variables need identified, as well as the solution you are seeking. Some will actually need defined, to have any chance at defining any of the rest accurately. Some solutions to issues, actually create new bigger ones, if context reality and proper recognition and defining aren't a key integral part of the process.

Many local leaders not only fail to teach or apply sound basic fundamental skills in their duties, they fail to even consider them in basic to complex issues they decide. Concils, boards, and committees, from public schools to zoning, public works, and college, need to get off their high horses, get back to basics, and stable the foundations of the process they impact, before trying to build more of anything on them. Decades of ignoring reality and self gratifying pompus decision making have led us were we are. Until sound fundamentals become the basis frame work of deciding issues, and every one else is doing it becomes less of a driving factor, stagnation, decline, instability and compounded deeper issues are the reality they perpetuate. Each front contributes to the success or failure of many others. Business as usual needs to change on every front, or achieving less with less and less to work with, is the future of every one of them. "

" As a graduate long ago, our teachers taught and we did learn how to read, write, and spell and this day and age am appalled at the ones just out of high school who can do none. We learned to spell as wrote each spelling word 10 times and if flubbed up at the pre-test we wrote 10 more. WE spelled correctly THEN. In math the teacher gave us some good in-class quizzes and we soon learned the equations. Reading was fun, we were read to by teacher at end of the class. We had one teacher who made the stories exciting. Had her when had both grade 4 and 5 together,
I listened to when on grade 5 and when in grade 5 it was a lot easier. We had many double classrooms,,,,,teacher never said she was overworked. I did run the duplicating machine for the art work we did in same class. SHE taught all the subjects. We helped cleaning chalkboard and erasers, and graded papers after the tests and helped her but she had a total of 50 students. AND amazing, how had time for some extra help on subjects. Ones needing help would go to back at the small tables and chairs and smarter kids help them also, not just the teacher. THE GOOD OLE DAYS. "