Click on photo to enlarge
Note: Comments posted at the bottom of this page are not submissions for the print version of Tell Willie and are for online readers to discuss today's Tell Willie column in real time. To submit a question or comment to Willie for the print newspaper
click here or call 864-882-0903 and leave Willie a message. He checks his voice mail daily.
Willie,
I strongly disagree with the person who called in about the school board and the meeting on Wednesdays. I think a lot can be accomplished in one hour. This is a great idea. I have been in several meetings in my workplace and we get a whole lot done. I think this is a good idea and I wish the principals good luck.
Willie says:
You’re right. An hour-long meeting or work sessions run properly can accomplish more than a daylong one that’s a free for all.
Willie,
In regards to the article about the person who disagreed with what the principal wants to do, I think it’s a great idea for one and I’m a school teacher and this is a good time for us to get together and they are productive meetings. So, I agree with this and I think it is a very good idea and it should have been thought of sooner.
Willie says:
It’s thought of now. Go to it and prove the naysayers wrong.
Willie,
It is that time of year again when those of us are fortunate to have children go through the ritual of registering our children for school. Well, I need your help. Every year, I am charged a registration fee for each of my children. That fee is $20 per child. I have asked on numerous occasions what that money is for and I am charged even one cent, how is that a free education? There are 20 schools in Oconee County (per the yellow pages) and say 600 students per school. That is 12,000 students times $20 making it $240,000 per year. Now I understand that students that receive free lunch do not pay and students that receive reduced lunch pay only $10. Is the school district paid or supplemented for those students? I was told on one occasion the fee was for materials. If that is the case, why am I given a list of materials to purchase for my children each school year? Really, show me where the money goes.
Willie says:
Here you go. Director of School and Community Relations Kay Powell was glad to explain. “The School Board adopted a policy in July of 1992 (Policy JS – Student Material Fee) that permits the schools to charge the fee to offset the cost of educational materials and supplies (mostly copy paper and copier fees). The district does not deny any student an education because of failure to pay these supplementary charges. Our goal is to work with any family having financial difficulties.”
Willie,
I just had to write and say how much it meant to me and my wife when Sgt. Sanders of the Seneca Police Department called yesterday and apologized for a misunderstanding at the Time Drive Inn many months ago. I have an autistic son that sometimes has behavior problems. We were at the Time Inn when my son had a minor fit. Sgt Sanders not knowing what was going on called the police. He told us how sorry he was for not waiting just a few seconds to see what was really happening and that if he had no one would have been called. We do not have many places we can take my son out to eat and really appreciate Tommy, George and all the girls at the Time Inn for their support and understanding. Thanks again, Sgt. Sanders, from our conversation on the phone you seemed really sincere. All is forgiven!
Willie says:
It takes a big person to admit a mistake and care enough to reach out to you as parents who obviously care deeply for their son. Thanks Sgt. Sanders. The staff at the restaurant deserves our respect, also.
Willie,
This is my second attempt to respond to you regarding my e-mail to you about the same sex marriage and fires in California. My first response was by phone, so I thought maybe if I e-mailed you again, you would put my response in your column.
I am so glad others responded to you regarding your statement that the Lord said that He wouldn’t destroy the world again and about a marriage is to be between man and a woman. It is evident that you do not read the Holy Bible, because if you did you would not have made such statements and you would know the scripture in 2 Peter 3:10-13.
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire and the elements will melt in the heat.
13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
Willie says:
I’m sorry you think so harshly of me. Peter speaks of the Second Coming at the END of the world, which the wildfires in California obviously weren’t.
Willie,
If I owned a business and decided to move my business, I would look for a good community where taxes are fair, where infrastructure for my business is in place, where good people with some degree of education live, good schools where my employees children can go, homes at good prices and not inflated, shopping areas close to homes and good roads. Bottom line, I need a county government that is looking at all of the above and the future for the county. I am sorry to say Oconee County does not fit my company’s strategies. I am sure that there are many companies that bypass Oconee County when they hear and read all the hoopla that surrounds this county. County Council, you need to lead by example and get your stuff together. Your behavior reflects on Oconee’s success.
Willie says:
You pose a hypothetical situation in your own case that hits home. Businesses are always seeking attractive locations. Our County Council is entrusted with making Oconee that place for more job-producing companies, so our folks can earn decent livings and have a better quality of life.
Willie,
In regards to the comment about innocent men being tricked into trying to pick up prostitutes, you know I think the Seneca Police Department is doing a great job by doing that. I’m a woman and I would never cheapen myself by selling by body, and if I were a man I sure wouldn’t want to have to buy sex from stranger with all the diseases out there. I congratulate the police department for doing that. They are doing a terrific job. You are not innocent if you are trying to buy prostitutes.
Willie says:
Willie’s on the same page as you, my friend.
Willie,
(Our pediatrician) put beautiful wallpaper on his walls trying to make it nicer, and parents just let their kids take things off the walls. He spends a lot to time making his offices nice. I don’t know why parents would let kids act this way; it’s just not right.
Willie says:
How much do you want to bet that the negligent parents, who let their kids damage the waiting room instead of reading them a book while they’re waiting or some other appropriate behavior, are the same ones that are going to criticize the doc when his offices start looking shabby.
Willie,
As a charter member of the Central/Clemson Rec, I have seen the good and bad as years have gone by. The center has been a great asset to the community encouraging families to be enrolled in activities together. Smart programs for youth and parents as they learn together, classes for all ages, special swimming help from qualified trainers. A facility available for anyone who desires to improve their quality of life through exercise. I realize this type of facility has to come under an organized government such as a city or town to be made possible. Although I am not sure the Central/Clemson councils have the same agenda as the rec center.
The council seems to want to wash their hands of the Clemson/Central Rec. I cannot imagine building this type of facility and not funding any money for upkeep and repair of equipment. Stated in a previous article having had over 1,000 members using the facility common sense tells you are going to have repairs and equipment needs to be replaced after years of use.
Also stated in the article was the issue of cleanliness and that it had been addressed, but no action has been taken.
When you have this much traffic using a facility it must be cleaned daily. The cleaning is a joke! I question whether or not any members of the board have attended the rec center and if you have, are the needs of the center not apparent? They are quite obvious. And they wonder why the rec is losing members. If you meet the needs of your members, your members will not leave and the membership should increase.
To the director, where are you? I work out three to five times a week and have seen you maybe three times. Maybe some conversation with the members would help. There seems to be no communication, no returned phone calls, e-mail, and no suggestion box. To make positive changes the board and the director must work as a team.
Willie says:
This is a good chance for you to make your concerns known. The Rec Center exists to serve its members and the public that uses it. Getting input from those groups is a must. Communication is also. Maybe some of your suggestions will effect change by those responsible for its operation and adequate funding.
Home
Discuss story 
iPod friendly version
August 26, 2008
8:55 a.m.Report inappropriate content
Willie is correct in his statement that Jesus second coming signals the end of the world. The phrase “will be laid bare” taken from 2 Pet 3:10 by the writer is incorrect. The Greek word used here is (kausoumena), meaning “with fervent heat”. It comes from the Greek word (kausoo), meaning “to set on fire” and the Greek word (kausis), meaning “the act of burning. The correct translation of 2 Pet 3:10 is “and the earth and its works will be burned up”. The fires in California are caused by too much combustible dead material in the forests because the environmentalists haven’t allowed people to keep the forests clean. This problem goes back to the Clinton years.
August 26, 2008
9:01 a.m.Report inappropriate content
IN REGARDS TO THE "JOHNS" TRYING TO BUY PROSTITUTES, JUST KNOW, YOU MIGHT GET MORE THAN YOU BARGAIN FOR! JUST SIT AND THINK ABOUT HOW MANY MEN WENT THERE BEFORE YOU, AND JUST WHAT YOU MIGHT BE TAKING HOME TO YOUR LOVED ONES, IT JUST MIGHT NOT WASH OFF. PROSTITUTION IS A CRIME, SO IF YOU ARE BUYING, YOU MIGHT JUST BE BUYING YOURSELF A LITTLE VACATION AT THE O.L.E.C. HOTEL, LOCATED IN THE BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN WALHALLA!
August 26, 2008
10:40 a.m.Report inappropriate content
Why do the middle school students have to pay $6 for an agenda? If it's required for each and every child at that school to have one, then the school should provide it. It is hard enough to provide school supplies, registration, clothes,lunch money, field trip money, yearbook money, if my children are lucky enough to get one. Oh, not to mention all these other things they come up with before the year is over.
I have to admit it did help alot this year when some of the teachers agreed to a team supply list. That cut the cost quite a bit.
I know alot of teachers provide some supplies themselves, especially for kids who don't have them, but their salary limits them, too. They have families, and they should not have to pay out of pocket to begin with.
August 26, 2008
11:10 a.m.Report inappropriate content
"It isn't necessary to imagine the world ending in fire or ice. There are two other possibilities: one is paperwork, and the other is nostalgia."
~~ Francis Vincent Zappa
August 26, 2008
12:22 p.m.Report inappropriate content
RE: Oconee County Business Environment
Real Case – not hypothetical. Back when the acrimony broke out around fire protection, and the continuum of petty feuds and bickering that seem to power our local politics was in full bloom, a company was looking to relocate operations. Everything from financial avenues and access, support from our local colleges/university, and even a willingness to build a facility from a private investor were all in place. Closed deal? No. This company took its immediate twenty “high-tech” jobs and relocated to the I-285 Atlanta corridor.
When locating or relocating an operation to any location whether it’s the Pac-Rim, China, or Oconee County, government stability – a.k.a. predictability – is a go/no-go issue. The deciding factor between here and the other finalist Atlanta was that simple. With no zoning to protect their interests, and local governments having no clear direction and exhibiting tribal behavior matching that of many developing/emerging countries; without government bodies in place that can reconcile the simplest issues (e.g. fire protection) they passed us by. As an epilogue their employment has doubled since relocating to Atlanta.
It’s a big world beyond the Golden Triangle. Every community is competing for the same things we are. The local governments do have a BIG impact.
But when even the local Chambers could not agree to combine after a strong recommendation coming out of the Economic Summit a few years back, maybe we’re stuck on stupid. Maybe that’s just who we are. Maybe that’s our destiny to have sons and daughters forced to leave in search of employment. Maybe we just gave up. The vast majority here do not even come out to vote anymore.
Regardless of what we write and promote about our community, our value proposition (why choose us) is defined not by what we write or proclaim, but by the perceptions of our actions by our “customers”. It’s that simple. We are behaving badly. We all share the accountability.
August 26, 2008
12:39 p.m.Report inappropriate content
You know non sequitur, I think you are right. Paperwork will destroy us before God has a chance.
And reebop, think of it this way. We all pay property taxes, the bulk of which goes to the schools. We older folk don’t have children in school however; we are still taxed to supply a school and teachers for the folks with children. What little extra that the parents of school age children have to pay is a lot less than the amount paid in taxes by those of us who don’t have children. What’s fair is fair.
August 26, 2008
4:36 p.m.Report inappropriate content
Just wait until next year when parents will have to buy school uniforms. Yup, you heard it correctly, rumor has it that Oconee schools will be going with uniforms next year.
August 26, 2008
7:47 p.m.Report inappropriate content
Plan is for the schools to go to uniforms next year. That is correct and is being put out by some of the faculty at the Middle School. Kids having to tuck their shirts in this year, however, is RIDICULOUS. Also ridiculous is the principal requiring kids's hair not to touch their eyebrows! What's up with that? Last I heard, WMS is a public school, not a private or military school. One more thing...I think parents should consider approaching the district offices about having parents on-site in various places (hallways, classrooms, cafeteria, gym, etc) in order to maintain DECENCY and RESPECT from amongst the faculty members. There are too many incidents this year already of teachers and PRINCIPALS being overly stern and downright RUDE to the students. This is being witnessed at times by some of the parents and parents need to NOT let it go unnoticed and certainly not tolerate it. Press formal charges if you have to, but don't let teachers BULLY your kids at school! I'm not beyond issuing a restraining order myself if things keep up this way regarding my child. Parents and students have rights too. And some of the teachers need to realize that and get humble. Maybe a little time in jail can do the trick for some of them if they continue to HARRASS the children. Oh, well...glad I got this off my chest. To all the good teachers out there...THANKS. This "tirade" wasn't meant for you.
August 26, 2008
8:37 p.m.Report inappropriate content
garmin,
Are you kidding? Teachers bullying? It's called trying to maintain some discipline and order, what little there is left, which is almost impossible b/c your little "Johnny" or "Jill" never does anything wrong. That is until they are adult age and are held accountable by employers and the law, but it's too late then isn't it? From your comment I would say you are part of the problem, not the solution.
August 26, 2008
11:29 p.m.Report inappropriate content
Agree, agree thinblueline! It's so sad to see parents constantly siding with their "innocent" kids. It drives me nuts when little Susie is so cute & sweet in front of mommy & daddy but the minute they aren't around she's sighing & cutting her eyes at teachers & coaches who try to command respect; then she runs crying to mommy/daddy when she doesn't get her way. I feel so sorry for these kids when they graduate & get out on their own & are shocked when the world doesn't cater to them. Parents, you aren't doing your kids any favors by over-protecting them & trying to be their friend; you're hurting them in the long run. When I was growing up I got punished for things I never even did but that made me stay just a few extra steps farther from the trouble!
August 26, 2008
11:33 p.m.Report inappropriate content
And a comment about uniforms: I'm not in favor of uniforms but something definitely needs to change in the dress code. Have you walked around a middle or high school lately, especially on a hot day? Holy toledo! Students need to put more clothes on and pull up their pants!
August 27, 2008
7:54 a.m.Report inappropriate content
garmin7979..is completly out of touch with reality. You would think a grown adult with children could use a little rational thinking. Surely this person is just kidding. The teachers & leaders have to have control of the schools & establish who is in control. Might not used to be like that but it is now.
August 27, 2008
9:15 a.m.Report inappropriate content
Yep, pull up those pants, especially if they have to tuck in shirts(which is bull). And yes, sometimes the student is right, and the adult is wrong. Dare a student to hiccup again....and yes this happened.
August 27, 2008
10:42 a.m.Report inappropriate content
People who don't have kids in school have no clue of what's actually going on. If your child talks a little too much, they want to medicate them. I think the LEADERS in the school like to call it ADD. I feel for the kids who actually have this but my child doesn't his doctor even said so. but his teachers tried to say he did and wanted me to basically sedate him while he was at school. I guess this is ok in some eyes but not mine. Is this another way of trying to have control.
odj I know what you're saying dare to sneeze either!!!!!
August 27, 2008
2:28 p.m.Report inappropriate content
It all boils down to discipline and respect. If the children don’t respect their parents they will not respect their teachers. If the parents are undisciplined in their home the children will be undisciplined in their school. If the parents don’t have enough respect for themselves to dress properly, neither will their children dress properly. If the children talk back to the teacher and expect to get away with it, in all probability they talk back to their parents and do get away with it. It would be safe to say that in most cases disrespectful and undisciplined children treat their teachers the same way that they treat their parents. This unfortunately places the teacher into the role of disciplinarian. So be it.
August 27, 2008
5:42 p.m.Report inappropriate content
You people can object to my comments all you want. You have NO idea what kind of child I have. I am sick and tired of having my child exposed to ridiculous rules and the constant ramblings and rantings of "teachers" who shouldn't be in their profession to begin with. My comments don't apply to EVERYONE and none of yours apply to ME obviously. Just because you don't have a strong, disciplined child like I do does not give you the right to think that all children are mean and spoiled at school ! I just happen to volunteer at the schools from time to time and know of other responsible parents who do the same. Many of us have come to the same conclusion: There ARE teachers out there who do NOT care for nor RESPECT the students. It's almost as if they are trying to pick fights with them over trivial matters that would be best left alone. And...a certain principal in the area needs to pick his battles a little more wisely. Having a militaristic regime for elementary and middle school children is going too far! Perhaps some of you who disagree with me are the ones with problem children yourself and WANT the schools to handle discipline. Not me. I'll handle it at home based on the feedback I do get from the school. And...if the feedback from the school is hogwash, I'll treat it like that. Into File 13. If some (not ALL, I know) of these teachers can't teach classes without constantly yelling, lying, berating the children and trying to scare them, then they need to find another job. I'm sure there are plenty of ditches that need to be dug somewhere out in the country where they can get away from children. And for those who presume to know anything at all about me from my comments yesterday...get real! You know NOTHING!
August 27, 2008
5:48 p.m.Report inappropriate content
By the way, silvbul and thinblueline.....your comments indicate that you think I am jumping to conclusions in my opinions. NOT! I'm dealing with facts here that have been witnessed by several parents. Some of the teachers have become so brazen as to insult and scream at the kids for trivial reasons even in front of parents! IT'S TIME FOR PARENTS TO TAKE THEIR KID'S RIGHTS INTO CONSIDERATION TOO. You two obviously didn't understand my comments. This is NOT complaining about "little Susie or Johnny" getting reprimanded for good reasons. NO! It's about teachers and principals setting terrible examples for the kids and treating them like scum just because they think they can and can get away with it. Don't be so quick to ASSUME things from what you read here next time. Sometimes problems are REAL. Stick that in your ear!
August 27, 2008
5:51 p.m.Report inappropriate content
Oldsouth...you need to readjust your thinking of "reality". Things have changed a lot over the past few years in schools and parent's rights and children's rights are rapidly being disregarded and taken away. Stand by and watch it happen or get educated, do a little detective work, and work for change.
August 27, 2008
6:48 p.m.Report inappropriate content
garmin...if you have enough ammunition why don't you go to the school board, along with the other parents of course, and make some noise? You'll not make this go away by sounding off here. I don't have children in school now, but when I did and there were problems that could not be resolved (and I knew we were right) by commucating with the teacher or principal I wasn't too bashful to start at the top & working my way down.
August 27, 2008
8:24 p.m.Report inappropriate content
What has happened in our schools is, the govt has imposed such severe rules on being political correct and on terrorism that the school employees are getting power hungry and going overboard knowing there will be little consequence to them. As someone mentioned earlier, rather than dealing with a child that is not necessarily a model child, they prefer to drug them to make them conform instead of taking time with them.
What has to happen is, all the disgruntled parents need to march down to the District Office and ask them how much all these $2500(?) a year children mean to them, let them know that Homeschooling is not a foreign concept to you. All I can say is, get your children out of govt indoctrinated schools as soon as possible.
August 27, 2008
10:28 p.m.Report inappropriate content
I have tried to talk with the principal at our school, he didn't have but five minutes to speak with me each time. I have also talked with someone from the school board and he couldn't even get through to anyone at the school, to discuss the situation. Then after that I couldn't get back in touch with the guy from the school board.
Someone mentioned respect and I agree respect should be in the schools. However that goes for the students and teachers/principals.
Respect is just not given it's earned. The LEADERS OF THE SCHOOL SHOULD THINK ABOUT THAT!!! As for the comment about discipline in the home. Well I do discipline my children at home. I can't go to school with them. But when they come home and say my teacher told me to shut up and some other things i'm not going to say. I get pretty upset when someone speaks to my child that way. Then the teachers wonder why the kids are so rude and have attitudes. It doesn't just come from home!!!!
August 27, 2008
10:58 p.m.Report inappropriate content
And as far as the dress code goes I don't like the loose clothes but have any of you noticed the way the girls dress????? It's terrible!!!! G-strings showing, and breast hanging out all over the place. A boy can't wear a sleeveless shirt but a girl can. Now what sense does that make????? My son never tucks his shirt in unless we are going out to eat or something like that. He will not start tucking until I see some of these little girls covering up more. Heck the girls shirts are not even long enough to touch the top of their pants let along able to tuck them.
August 28, 2008
3:42 a.m.Report inappropriate content
When I graduated in 92', the dress code went as follows: No shorts, no tank tops, no "revealing" clothes, no shirts/clothes with alcohol advertising, and absolutely no hats in the building. If caught with a cap on, it was taken and kept until the end of the school year. Bet they would have had to build another room for cellphone seizures had they been an "item" back then.
Or the student would be sent home or in ISS if they could not produce another shirt, etc. No doubt, Mr. Hamilton would make you turn your shirt inside out or get another one. Next time you would get suspended for violating the dress code. It worked for many years. Girls don't need to have their navel showing,or the upperside of their backside and Al Gaines made sure that did not happen more than once per student. He showed me self-respect when I showed up in a "mid-drift" shirt one day by explaining to me that was a place of learning, and distractions like that interfere with other students and the dress code would be inforced! Point was/is/shoud be students are there to learn. Try to convince them of that while they are pulling up their britches to keep them from falling completely off. For some reason they want others to view their "boxers". LOL. Revise the dress code. I don't think uniforms are the answer and it just will not work out with parents and students. But we will see. Reform the dress code and stick to it!
August 28, 2008
9:26 a.m.Report inappropriate content
I grew up in the 60's, the era of the mini skirts, t-shirts were undershirts, girls could not wear pants, their skirts had to be a certain length and students had a smoking area. In high school we had a female teacher who used to walk the halls with a ruler to measure skirts, if your skirt did not come to 2" below your kneecap you were sent home to change, this resulted in the invention of the granny dress since, just to be obstinate, the girls wearing mini's would come back to school going to the other extreme. For those who don't know, a granny dress is a dress that comes to your ankles, both the granny dress and mini skirt are still popular today, 40+ years later. Incidentally, you can dress your kids appropriately to go to school but they do what they want when they get out of your sight. We wore the correct length skirt when we left the house but rolled them up at the waist as soon as we were out of our parents sight so it's not always the parents fault. They start with school uniforms, where does it end, with children marching like the Chinese kids?
August 28, 2008
9:50 a.m.Report inappropriate content
Garmin7979 you have a lot to say about school children’s rights. O.K. lets talk about school children’s rights. School children have the right to be educated in a manner that prepares them for life’s problems once they leave school. While in school they have the right to a quiet, disciplined classroom where they can learn without distractions from unruly students. They have the right to ware clothing becoming to a young lady or gentleman of their age. And on that same note they have the right not to have to sit next to a girl with ill-fitting underclothes or a boy looking like a bag of rags. They have the right to sit down, shut up and listen to the teacher expound on the days lesson, without interruption. When they act in a proper, disciplined manner they have the right to expect the teacher to respect that behavior. When they persist in acting in an undisciplined or unruly manner so as to infringe on other students right to learn, they have the right to be punished appropriately. One thing they do not have the right to do; they do not have the right to usurp the teacher’s authority in the classroom. If teachers scream and holler in their attempt to maintain an orderly classroom, they either are too young and inexperienced for that age group of student or they flunked Teaching Psychology 101. However, all that being said, if the teacher sees the need to discipline the class (rightly or wrongly) it is because the class probably needs it. And that brings us full circle to the old adage that undisciplined parents will breed undisciplined children. Oh, and one last thing; children have the right to be taught correct behavior by the example set by their parents and the right to be punished or disciplined when they do not.
Sparrow, you mentioned the government imposition of severe rules on being political correct. Political correctness is probably the worse detriment to education that the Fed has burdened our young minds with. Shame on us. That’s U.S. in capitals.
August 28, 2008
11:26 a.m.Report inappropriate content
Garmin, I don't doubt you correctively discipline your child when needed. But I have met too many parents who honestly believe their child would never do anything wrong; they're completely fooled. You say you have volunteered in the schools. Well, I work in one & I'm associated with 4 others so I come across many different children as well as adults. I can't say I've seen it all but I've seen a lot. A principle, teacher or coach will say something to a child & that child will go crying to their parents totally changing the tone or words of the employee. Then the parent gets mad & instead of getting the story straight, they come marching into the school demanding an explanation & threatening employees. I have personally had a parent stick their finger in my face & threaten my job. And they did this in front of other students & other employees. I've also had parents threaten me with false meetings with my supervisors just to try to intimidate me. I'm not implying every child is guilty & every school employee is innocent but I'm looking at the picture as a whole & I'd have to side with the school. I'm old enough now to have my own kids but not too old to remember when I was in school. The dress code has changed to bascially wear what you want & dicipline has changed to a slap on the wrist (and you can't even do that anymore!). I agree with oldsouth; if you have enough proof & ammo then you need to talk with some "higher ups". If they don't listen then go higher!
August 28, 2008
1:41 p.m.Report inappropriate content
silvbul, I disagree with you. Today these schools will kick a child out over talking too much or a cell phone. I get so tired of blaming the parents for what goes on in the schools. I do my part at home. Maybe it's time the teachers started doing theirs and if they can't handle it then maybe it's time to find another job. The are kids. Kids talk too much, kids act up sometimes. Deal with it!!!!!
August 28, 2008
3:58 p.m.Report inappropriate content
Deuteronomy 21:18-21 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
A Rebellious Son
18 If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and will not listen to them when they discipline him, 19 his father and mother shall take hold of him and bring him to the elders at the gate of his town. 20 They shall say to the elders, "This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey us. He is a profligate and a drunkard." 21 Then all the men of his town shall stone him to death. You must purge the evil from among you. All Israel will hear of it and be afraid.
August 28, 2008
4:25 p.m.Report inappropriate content
Good news, I just found out the tucking in the shirts rule is no longer at least at Walhalla Middle.
August 28, 2008
5:43 p.m.Report inappropriate content
Hay Non Sequitur, stoning might be a little harsh, BUT what the heck, anything that works.
August 28, 2008
6:02 p.m.Report inappropriate content
Superduper, that's fine you disagree with me. I mostly speak from experience & not from others opinions so it's just what I see. As far as cell phones & students go, they should be left in student's cars & not allowed in the schools. They have phones in the offices, in about 1/3 of classes, in the gyms, the cafeteria & other places throughout the school. I can remember having to actually ask for permission to walk all the way to the office to call my mom & tell her I was sick or forgot homework or whatever. What it boils down to is we all have opinions on the subject & it's nice we are free to express them here. It would be a reality check if all the teachers who tried to maintain order in the classroom, raised their voices, tried to follow rules/regulations, etc. etc. quit their jobs; there would be no one left to teach. I also challenge anyone who hasn't to try substitute teaching, volunteer in a classroom or drive a bus; and do it for a year. It may change some minds & it may not.
August 28, 2008
6:30 p.m.Report inappropriate content
NonSequitur...how the heck did you turn this whole thing around into a Biblical statement, from the OLD Testament nonetheless, on how to deal with a rebellious son, one who is also a "drunkard"??
The Old Testament ALSO teaches that a father "not provoke" his son to "wrath". Same can be said of teachers.
My initial comments and complaints have totally been misunderstood and ignorantly interpreted by quite a few people. Oh, well...Guess you just have to be there, as the saying goes.
Next time you decide to read your Bible, do a little research and find something along the lines of asking for wisdom before you speak. You're not the only Bible reader in town, ya know.
August 28, 2008
11:42 p.m.Report inappropriate content
silvbul, my child doesn't have a car and the children are allowed to have cell phones in school. Which is a good thing considering I can't get in touch with my child because the people who are paid to answer the phone are not answering the phone. Is a matter of fact yesterday I tried calling and still noone answered the phone. Oh yea, when I went to visit my daughter during her recess, while the kids were fighting and being rough the teachers were all huddled up talking while this was going on. None of them even noticed this was going on.
and as for the teachers finding another job, well I'm talking about the ones who have no business teaching in the first place. I never meant all teachers!!!!!Mabe if they kept the kids interested in the classroom they woudn't have to worry about having control. And by the way I have volunteered, and i never had any problems with the kids. i tried to understand them and keep in mind they are still kids not adults. Yes this is for opinions and that's a good thing and this is just my experience and my opinion.
August 29, 2008
1:27 a.m.Report inappropriate content
I just want everyone to know that the vast majority of teachers would never think of telling a kid to shut up or say other similar things in the classroom. We know that some do, unfortunately. Let the principal know what your child said (you can always email them if you can't get them on the phone) so they can deal with the situation. Teachers are told repeatedly to never insinuate that a child has ADD/ADHD or any other type of disorder, because the school system could be held liable for testing. You should report to the principal or guidance the teacher that said that to your child.
It is difficult to appeal to everyone, and most teachers do their utmost to keep everyone interested in the material, because when everyone is interested, there are fewer discipline problems. Some of it is just downright boring.
Please rest assured that the bad experiences you and your child have had with some teachers are the exception, not the norm. Your best bet is to communicate with the principal about those experiences because teachers shouldn't (and most wouldn't) behave in the way that you said your child's did. I'm sorry they had to go through that. Please don't lose your faith in all of education because of a few bad seeds.
September 11, 2008
11:42 a.m.Report inappropriate content
My children are long grown and gone, but I have grandchildren, and I still think that they should dress appropriately for school, as for church, and it is up to the parents to assure that they do this, as it is also the parents responsibility to make sure that their children know what discipline and respect are. Common sense is so far removed from our society. Cover it up, pull it up, shut it up. You are there to learn, not socialize or impress. There is enough time for that after school. I won't say, back when I was in school, or even, back when I was raising my boys, but some rules will always apply. Love the Lord, Respect your parents, teachers, and be good boys and girls, and you will grow up to be fine men and women.