tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post8510170269372410062..comments2024-02-14T11:00:03.180-05:00Comments on Tom McLaughlin: Portland Maine Students Vote With Their FeetTom McLaughlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07691546351143209227noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-80370490830786463342019-08-26T23:03:20.675-04:002019-08-26T23:03:20.675-04:00We weren't allowed to chew gum or use profane ...We weren't allowed to chew gum or use profane or obscene words. What passes for acceptable behavior now is a result of undermining parental authority, religious authority, and organizational authority. You cannot take children for most of their waking hours and then blame parents when the kids are confused about who they should obey. You can't belittle parental religious values and humiliate kids in the classroom for being religious, and then expect that they will over time keep the morality that is the underpinning of discipline and internal self-control. Kids are not adults. They are not able to defend themselves from adults bent on destroying their modesty, values, and family. I find the "anti-bullying" campaigns as reprehensible as the SIECUS sex "ed" classes. The extent of that program is to put up posters saying they want a bully free campus. If a student complains of being abused, they ignore them and the bullies. If a victim decides to defend themselves when cornered, they expel the VICTIM! This is Orwellian training to teach our children that they will not be protected if they do not conform to evil and convinces them that resistance is futile. THAT'S A LIE.<br /><br />Nobody with any conscience should send their kids to a public school while this kind of leadership is in control. Learn to economize. Stop wasting money on trips or new cars. It's amazing how a second paycheck simply gets wasted on clothing/travel/lunches at a job outside the home instead of enriching your home.<br /><br />Get your priorities right. Your kids are your future if you don't want to wind up alone in a nursing home. Your kids are far more important than the difference between beef hot dogs ($5/lb) and chicken/pork hot dogs ($2/lb), or a night out at a fancy restaurant. You don't need another pair of high heels.<br /><br />And public schools are not your damn babysitters! If your kids aren't well behaved, YOU'RE the problem if you continue to refuse to deal with them and neglectfully push them off on the better teachers in the school system. A kid cannot have two authority figures. It's parents or teachers. And guess what? YOU'RE ALWAYS the better choice!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-7983158237473803532019-08-21T20:20:01.943-04:002019-08-21T20:20:01.943-04:00As a retired former middle school teacher, I appla...As a retired former middle school teacher, I applaud Portland High. Without discipline you've got anarchy, no reasonable teaching environment, and no learning for anyone. The disruptors ruin school for everyone. Deering is pandering to the troublemakers at everyone else's expense. Discipline was very much on the decline when I retired in 1999 and I'm aware it is much worse these days.Jared James Bristolnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-68803688193175897642019-08-21T14:23:56.391-04:002019-08-21T14:23:56.391-04:00I heard, but haven’t verified, that Deering can’t ...I heard, but haven’t verified, that Deering can’t even field 5 players for a golf team. Also heard that Portland and Deering had to combine football teams because of the lack of players. Is this what they mean by the beauty of cultural diversity?Kafirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10663195095750630774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-1869545554989206972019-08-20T14:43:59.468-04:002019-08-20T14:43:59.468-04:00I am currently “doing time” in California for my w...I am currently “doing time” in California for my work. Like most parents, we chose a city to live in here that had some of the highest school rankings. Our son is now in high school. Over the last three years this high school’s rankings have fallen dramatically. We recently received a letter from the school board that I can only term as an “apology” for this large drop in rank. The superintendent said that during this period, the demographics of the city, and this the student body, have changed dramatically.<br />They said that currently 40% of the households within the school district do not speak English as a primary language.<br />Most are not US citizens, but the school lamented that they must do their best to educate these children. <br />My son has two “dreamers” or DACA “kids” in some of his classes. He said they are both in their mid to late twenties and have children. They show up to school intermittently (because they must to remain in DACA), but they can barely communicate and their grades are extremely poor.<br />This obviously brings down the average scores significantly.<br />For the life of me, I cannot understand how this situation helps anybody concerned.<br />These kids are not being properly educated or prepared for their future, and the other students (as well as the school) are being dragged down. There are also significant discipline issues arising as well.<br />Many parallels to the Portland Schools story.<br />The problems are obvious, but the solutions don’t seem to be.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-4885688236312663912019-08-20T11:56:56.212-04:002019-08-20T11:56:56.212-04:00As you know, I taught for 36 years. My first 4 we...As you know, I taught for 36 years. My first 4 were at a parochial school an the remaining 32 were in the public sector. As a Northeastern University undergraduate, I was part of the cooperative education program. Fortunately, I was placed in public schools and completed in a summer semester in a recreation program. Why have I mentioned this background information?<br /><br />I brought this information to light because each and every supervisor throughout the cooperative education experiences expected discipline and would accept nothing less. I fully subscribe to the philosophy that to educate, discipline must first be established. Does it sound harsh? It is not; it is a necessity.<br /><br />As a result, I enjoyed my career in education. In fact, I recently had one of my early students retire from education. He was an Assistant Principal at Canton High School. The principal of Canton High School is also a former student and he has a condo in Intervale. I am on-call for him at all times concerning any events at his condo. Frankly, most students seek order and discipline. I sure wish I could post a card I received from a former student. I was invited to his retirement from the US ARMY at the Pentagon. Why? Because I coached him in track and he appreciated the strict structure.<br /><br />Now, we can easily anticipate the implosion of public education. I wonder what will become of history since there are periods that do not meet the standards of today?Uber_Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06419709528493883528noreply@blogger.com