tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post7823137268025571454..comments2023-10-23T09:23:22.051-04:00Comments on Your Schools: CMS race: Speed-dating, "unity" and a missing candidateUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-17438357523893125892011-10-06T19:37:51.293-04:002011-10-06T19:37:51.293-04:00Anon 7:16...
You are correct...
They are waving ...Anon 7:16...<br /><br />You are correct...<br /><br />They are waving the the right hand of anti-testing frantically while keeping their left busing hand out of sight behind their backs.<br /><br />Some of the candidates I support believe in things I don't but I try to weigh the importance of issues overall as to which ones will be more beneficial to kids overall.<br /><br />Busing to achieve some sort of pie in the sky "diversity" garbage and all of the money and fractures it will cause in the community, is more dangerous than testing in my opinion.<br /><br />So I would support a candidate against busing but for testing, because I feel testing will eventually go by the wayside if implemented. I would prefer they be against both.Wiley Coyotehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16966764080565903720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-91306424795250258152011-10-06T19:16:12.806-04:002011-10-06T19:16:12.806-04:00Ann, Of course no one should be surprised about th...Ann, Of course no one should be surprised about the Swann folks' focus, but two of the voices pushing the hardest on this issue were Meck ACTS founders. They have not been portraying themselves as busing proponents of late, but rather as the saviors of teachers and students from testing excess. I'm curious if you were at all surprised to hear how strongly they felt about diversity based assignment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-79172784651232311902011-10-06T19:06:19.696-04:002011-10-06T19:06:19.696-04:00Ann...
It's not Swann, it's the answers g...Ann...<br /><br />It's not Swann, it's the answers given and the way they are given that people need to see and understand.<br /><br />We all know Swann has been, is and will always be the status quo pushing a warped, outdated definition of "diversity" to achieve some integration utopia that will never happen.<br /><br />The new figures posted by you today show Whites are still shrinking as a percentage of the CMS student population. <br /><br />If it keeps going that way, we'll still have "diversity" but with one less ethnic group.Wiley Coyotehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16966764080565903720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-85740661536406714532011-10-06T18:23:30.954-04:002011-10-06T18:23:30.954-04:001:17, being surprised that the Swann folks feel st...1:17, being surprised that the Swann folks feel strongly about diversity would be like being shocked to hear conservative views from the John Locke Foundation. Advocacy groups advocate for their views. That's free expression. <br /><br />TROTS, I have not watched all of the Swann videos, but I watched the diversity clips and did not hear threats of any kind. Are there interviewer comments I missed?Ann Doss Helmshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03511764376105157616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-83674146521430394512011-10-06T15:00:47.164-04:002011-10-06T15:00:47.164-04:00Scott,
I saw that on her response to Swann Questi...Scott,<br /><br />I saw that on her response to Swann Question 6... She wants the city to do the social engineering so the BOE doesn't have to touch it..kinda like Bright Beginnings with the County.Wiley Coyotehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16966764080565903720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-2373925964047526582011-10-06T14:58:33.401-04:002011-10-06T14:58:33.401-04:00I know Wiley....I forgot, we can't use common ...I know Wiley....I forgot, we can't use common sense around here. <br /><br />Interesting tidbit from the BPC forum. Elyse Dashew believes that there is a role for the school board in determining how we develop housing and who should be living where in Mecklenburg County. <br /><br />WOW....and YIKES!!!!!!Scott Babbidgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11972560060909232289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-61703259475906361582011-10-06T13:17:51.474-04:002011-10-06T13:17:51.474-04:00Ann, Regarding your comment about how fascinating ...Ann, Regarding your comment about how fascinating it was when the Swann videos showed the follow up questions from the interviewers. I think we can all agree that these questions certainly cast light on the "governing philosophy" that Swann and Meck ACTS are looking for in a candidate. Were you at all surprised by what you learned about the interviewers and their focus from those questions?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-67260685933980823242011-10-06T11:40:13.227-04:002011-10-06T11:40:13.227-04:00Ann, the Swann videos were interesting because it ...Ann, the Swann videos were interesting because it showed which candidates were not "educated enough" on the issues to stand up to the badgering and threat of character assassination by Swann and MeckActs (welcomingly facilitated by the CO editorial staff).therestofthestorynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-73382692328240448102011-10-06T11:23:16.114-04:002011-10-06T11:23:16.114-04:00Scott...
Your proposal makes too much sense.
Ple...Scott...<br /><br />Your proposal makes too much sense.<br /><br />Please refrain from wasting good type and our time with further bursts of realism...Wiley Coyotehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16966764080565903720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-14294553913183698352011-10-06T10:52:53.174-04:002011-10-06T10:52:53.174-04:008:34, it was hard to glean a lot out of last night...8:34, it was hard to glean a lot out of last night's answers. The format was: One question would go to two or three candidates and they'd have one minute each to answer. Then another question would go to the next two or three. There were more than two dozen questions, many of them quite good, but we never heard everyone answer them and there wasn't much time to discuss complex issues.<br /><br />There were two rounds of "everyone answer yes or no" questions. One was whether they had kids in CMS, and didn't yield much to distinguish. The other was whether they'd have voted to close the predominantly black schools that the board did last year. Tim Morgan and Larry Bumgarner said yes, Jeff Wise maybe, Elyse Dashew insisted on giving a longer and more ambiguous answer and the rest said no. That may have been a prime example of tailoring an answer to the audience, and to a question that demanded a simple answer to a complex issue.<br /><br />The Swann videos are fascinating in that they do show not only extended answers from the candidates but, as many have noted, the follow-up questions from the interviewers. I'd love to see similar videos of questions being asked from a different perspective. It could be argued that seeing how candidates deal with pressure to accept a certain point of view, whatever that is, is one of the best insights voters can get.Ann Doss Helmshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03511764376105157616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-20054576022494579982011-10-06T08:56:13.630-04:002011-10-06T08:56:13.630-04:00I have proposed a simple, easy to understand, comm...I have proposed a simple, easy to understand, common sense student assignment plan that would put an end to this insanity.<br /><br />Every single residential address would have a elementary, middle and high school "primary" school assignment. That would be the school closest to the address. <br /><br />However, we know that there are instances in which overcrowding happens. So, every address would also have an "overcrowding" assignment and that would be the schools that address would go to in the case that the "primary" school was overcrowded. <br /><br />This type of common sense mentality says kids should go to the school closest to where they live, but occasionally, due to bad government planning/forecasting, there may be times when that is not logistically possible. But rather than having kids re-assigned every year or two, we fix those assignments for long periods (10+ years). <br /><br />Would some people not be happy with their assignment plan? Yes. But ultimately, moving to a well thought out, stable assignment plan is something people would get behind. And as I was out talking to people and explaining this idea, people always said to me "that makes a lot of sense". It's not always the assignment that drives people crazy, its the perception (and reality) that assignments seemingly change often and for no self-explanatory or predictable reasons that drives parents nutty.Scott Babbidgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11972560060909232289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-6223771497468103452011-10-06T08:34:03.577-04:002011-10-06T08:34:03.577-04:00Ann has asked if any of the candidates are saying ...Ann has asked if any of the candidates are saying different things for different audiences.<br /><br /> As Wiley has noted on the Swann tapes question #6 you can hear how some candidates gradually acquiesce to the interviewers' obvious pro-busing stance. Others make no bones about their desire to use assignment to create their particular vision of diversity (which I assume corresponds to Swann/Meck ACTS vision). <br /><br />You can pull up Meck Ed's candidate matrix (http://www.mecked.org/WP/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/CMS-School-Board-Candidate-Matrix3.pdf) and have that in front of you while you listen to the Swann tapes. Meck Ed's questions 1 & 5 combine to cover Swann's question 6.<br /><br />Note that nary a candidate mentions anything about assignment or busing when answering Meck Ed questions 1 and 5. Then listen to the same candidates on Swann.<br /><br /> Hans apparently is ready to clear 30% of current students out of Providence to make room for "anyone who wants to attend there"--no mention of where those displaced 30% will then be assigned. Mary makes no bones about wanting to bus. Aaron insists he will make schools diverse (and how might that be done?). Erika and Darrin also favor diversity by assignment. Lloyd is totally opposed to "segregated" schools. And Keith sticks his foot in his mouth over this one, as does Jeff Wise.<br /><br />What did the candidates have to say last night, Ann, at the Black political caucus event? Did you hear anything that you don't see in their campaign literature or on Meck Ed questionnaire?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-55056040221397879072011-10-06T01:02:59.410-04:002011-10-06T01:02:59.410-04:00Wiley,
I totally agree. Which is why I was so voc...Wiley,<br />I totally agree. Which is why I was so vocal in my call for total fiscal transparency while I was running.<br />Why would we not want to identify every expenditure as exceeding, meeting or failing to meet expectations? Then, eliminate everything not working, and fully fund all the stuff exceeding. <br /><br />Or how about hiring a superintendent who gets a base of $100K and gets incentives for shrinking the size of the kingdom?Scott Babbidgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11972560060909232289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-16302418887812079162011-10-05T23:57:25.692-04:002011-10-05T23:57:25.692-04:00Thought so but wasn't sure...
And yes you'...Thought so but wasn't sure...<br /><br />And yes you're right in that political philosophy sometimes overrides common sense.<br /><br />What usualy gets lost in the message(s) I try to push is the fact I'm willing to spend the money to fix education, but in order to fix it, people have to acknowledge the broken parts and THE ONE broken part is who are the most vulnerable kids we need to reach. No one really knows who they are.<br /><br />Until they are identified, we'll keep tossing tons of money into that big status quo pot and stirring and stirring and stirring and.....Wiley Coyotehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16966764080565903720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-83024393310332038312011-10-05T23:50:46.592-04:002011-10-05T23:50:46.592-04:00Wiley,
I meant no one wonders as a compliment.
Yet...Wiley,<br />I meant no one wonders as a compliment.<br />Yet while no one wonders, I am not sure everyone actually understands your points or why you make them....or in some cases, they know you are right but it doesn't fit their overriding political philosophy to agree with you.Scott Babbidgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11972560060909232289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-67834974472867639592011-10-05T23:48:19.881-04:002011-10-05T23:48:19.881-04:00By the way, not that it matters, but I'd have ...By the way, not that it matters, but I'd have NEVER been in support of busing. No chance, no how, no way.<br /><br />We don't need to be talking about bringing back busing, we need to be talking about how we transform our public schools into places where kids learn to think divergently and critically. Whether the result is a child who wants to be a scientist, an inventor, a carpenter, or you name it....we need to transform the way we approach education in America - and it won't be easy. We've all been taught that there is only one correct answer to every question...parents, teachers, superintendents, school board members, business owners all need to become part of the solution.....playing politics with kids only perpetuates the problems....<br />But case in point of the mess we are in....a self proclaimed "conservative" (former school board member) told me just days ago that to be "conservative" you have to be in favor of standardized testing....I'm still shaking and scratching my head over that one....Scott Babbidgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11972560060909232289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-79406582887356612522011-10-05T23:44:42.605-04:002011-10-05T23:44:42.605-04:00Scott...not sure how to take the no one wonders st...Scott...not sure how to take the no one wonders statement...Wiley Coyotehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16966764080565903720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-9124936137944646472011-10-05T23:39:41.645-04:002011-10-05T23:39:41.645-04:00Larry and the other candidates, I am sorry for the...Larry and the other candidates, I am sorry for the formats like the one discussed here. Trying to answer an important question in what is the most important Mecklenburg County election in the last 25 years is tough. The problems CMS faces, and the solutions to those problems can't be answered in a minute, or even two. Sadly, we live in a soundbite society and folks want the slick soundbite responses, instead of well thought out complex solutions to complex problems.......Scott Babbidgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11972560060909232289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-58176952219555601712011-10-05T23:36:56.022-04:002011-10-05T23:36:56.022-04:00Wiley, no one wonders why you keep hammering the t...Wiley, no one wonders why you keep hammering the topics you talk about.<br /><br />The Democrats (and the Chamber, and Tim Morgan) have become enamored with Aaron Pomis and how, all by himself, he has "closed the achievement gap". Aaron is an intelligent man, and I am not trying to attack him or the work he has done in the classroom. And while I like the KIPP program and the results that they have produced all over the country I think it equally important that people know the "secret" to their success is not that KIPP has some magical way of closing the gap but that their students and the students' parents are required to live up to a certain set of criteria - and if they don't they get kicked out!! Well if you were able to kick out the distractions and malcontents and those who are not in school to learn from the public schools, the results would also skyrocket. <br />What that tells us is setting the bar higher and requiring kids and parents to work together with the school to make sure the child goes over the bar actually works. What a shocking concept!! Yet, the public schools are forced to take and keep every kid who shows up no matter the child, the parent(s) or the approach child and parent place on education. I asked Bob Rucho last week about a NC Constitutional Amendment making free public education a privilege instead of a right....that's a real solution....but good luck getting it on the ballot anytime soon....Scott Babbidgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11972560060909232289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-76593355787723177542011-10-05T23:13:56.225-04:002011-10-05T23:13:56.225-04:00Ann...
If you watch the Swann interviews, especia...Ann...<br /><br />If you watch the Swann interviews, especially Question 6, you see how some of the candidates eventually tilted their response to the position of Swann. Dashew answered the question honestly but it didn't seem to fit the position of Swann so she was pressed further and the strain showed in her response.<br /><br />As I said the other day, it was if they were "Stockholm Syndromed"...<br /><br />Bumgarner and Nelson were the only two that refused to back down on their position.Wiley Coyotehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16966764080565903720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-49645239984930636662011-10-05T22:01:39.857-04:002011-10-05T22:01:39.857-04:00Oh and the turn out for the event up in Cornelius ...Oh and the turn out for the event up in Cornelius was about the same as tonight's Black Political Caucus Event was say 45 or less folks.Larryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07977808657926308272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-13366884518555685832011-10-05T21:52:39.228-04:002011-10-05T21:52:39.228-04:00Ann to answer your question about selling the audi...Ann to answer your question about selling the audience what they want to hear.<br /><br />Absolutely.<br /><br />At this point I could only vote for about one or two people on this panel and I am not too sure about me as I not sure if I heard what they said was true or not.<br /><br />A lot of Conservative People are going to be upset this time around.<br /><br />And I am not the one to tell them, if they are so lazy to do the research then they deserve the people they get.Larryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07977808657926308272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-20951360858415040942011-10-05T21:45:58.223-04:002011-10-05T21:45:58.223-04:00Actually She did say that she was getting more inv...Actually She did say that she was getting more involved in the race and the candidates, and did not have that much time, especially when I tried to introduce Her to a retired 33 year veteran of CMS who is in the early stages of starting a Quality Charter School in one of the troubled neighborhoods.<br /><br />She promised to get back to that story later when She had more time.<br /><br />And we did get a questionnaire today. So I will be getting on that for Her tomorrow morning.<br /><br /> 1. Does the strategic plan approved by the current board provide the right general direction for CMS to move forward? If you think a change of direction is needed, including in the search for a superintendent, please explain.<br /> 2. What is the most important thing CMS should do to improve achievement and graduation rates? <br /> 3. CMS currently provides more money and staff to schools with higher need, as measured by poverty levels. Do you believe CMS should change the way it allocates resources, and if so, how?<br /> 4. What do you think CMS needs to do to attract, develop and reward good teachers? <br /> 5. Should CMS revise the way it tests students and otherwise measures their progress? If so, how? <br /> 6. Do you believe significant changes in the CMS student assignment plan are needed? If so, what? <br /> Please remember we are trying to reach a large number of readers in limited space, and hit only the high points in your answers. We will offer links to your web sites and to other online questionnaires and videos to readers who want more (if there are links I haven't posted on the Your Schools blog, please let me know). I or another reporter will also be in touch to discuss key issues for your campaign, even if they aren't part of this list.<br /> Please also send this biographical information: <br /> Date of birth <br /> Occupation <br /> Ties to CMS (children there, volunteer work, advisory boards, current or former employee, spouse employed, etc.)<br /> Political experience (other elected offices held or run for, including previous runs for school board) <br /> Education <br /> Ways for voters to contact you (website, phone, email, etc.) <br /> Key thing voters should know about you <br /> <br /> <br />So things are moving and we have the next event tomorrow night at the Alpha Kappa Alpha Political Forum 2613 Hutchison-McDonald Rd., Ivy Hall at 7PM everyone be sure to come and join us.Larryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07977808657926308272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-34264502875085152592011-10-05T21:43:26.076-04:002011-10-05T21:43:26.076-04:00I regret that I didn't know about the Corneliu...I regret that I didn't know about the Cornelius event, though several candidates said it had very small turnout. Do you think the candidates are saying completely different things depending on the audience? I'm willing to check it out if anyone knows of a suburban or otherwise different forum where candidates will talk. So far I've heard of a Saturday cookout in Ballantyne and a couple more north suburban meet-and-greets that don't involve candidate statements.Ann Doss Helmshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03511764376105157616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-13501632918276561302011-10-05T21:16:14.186-04:002011-10-05T21:16:14.186-04:00Larry, just goes to show the true colors of Ann an...Larry, just goes to show the true colors of Ann and the CO. While many of us already knew it, we need to be sure we talk it up big time so others will know.therestofthestorynoreply@blogger.com