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Forum for Parents in Timberlane School District
A place for timberlane parents to exchange thoughts
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therents
Joined: 29 Apr 2008
Posts: 67
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 Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 6:37 am Post subject: |
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| Maybe sites like this, Speakout Danville, DanvilleDelivery, Atkinson Reporter are all making the SB aware that the public is watching them and asking questions. |
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PBealo
Site Admin
Joined: 29 Apr 2008
Posts: 112
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| Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 6:44 am Post subject: |
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My persdonal belief - and this is a belief, not data based - is that Woodworth is being put out at the end of the spear of BS to be the lightning rod. If it all falls apart, he's the fall guy. If it is implemented without too much hue-and-cry (unlikely!!), then its only due to LaSalle and Coker's great leadership.
Either way, Woodworth doesn't really win. But LaSalle and Coker's downsides are greatly reduced.
Peter B. |
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alfredtwo
Joined: 02 May 2008
Posts: 62
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| Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 11:55 am Post subject: |
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| therents wrote: |
| Maybe sites like this, Speakout Danville, DanvilleDelivery, Atkinson Reporter are all making the SB aware that the public is watching them and asking questions. |
Clearly having a lot of online discussion is going to change the way the school board, and in fact probably all local government, works in the near future. This is both progress and a return to the ways of the past in my opinion. When our towns were smaller, more people worked locally, and there were more local physicial centers of communication (think Grange, shops, and other local events) everyone kept a close eye on things and elected officials were aware of the conversations (and took more of a part in them). As our communities became "bedroom" communities that system broke down. The Internet is building it up again. I think that is a good thing - though it will be better when more of our elected officials start taking more of an active part in the conversation. |
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PBealo
Site Admin
Joined: 29 Apr 2008
Posts: 112
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| Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 1:53 pm Post subject: |
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I absolutely agree with your thinking on how these kinds of forums help bring us back together. the only thing that gives me some concern though is the anonymity many people choose. With anonymity some people (Nobdoy on this forum to date!!) on other forums start sniping and making wayyyy out there personal accusations without having to take personal responsibility for those statements. Back when we all hung out at the diner, you knew exactly who said what, and I believe it showed in the statements made.
I am NOT saying people here will not remain anonymous if they so choose - I'm just saying that I personally wish they came out into the open.
Peter Bealo |
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curt
Joined: 29 Apr 2008
Posts: 36
Location: 228 Sandown Road, North Danville
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| Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 12:12 pm Post subject: |
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(repeating this as a reminder that it is this evening Tues 5/13)
| On SpeakoutDanville, Resident wrote: |
| Resident wrote: |
From the HS PSTA Unapproved minutes:
Principal’s State of the School message – Mr. Woodworth spoke at length about what he is doing about the low state testing score “school in need of improvement”. This involves looking at block scheduling, shifting facilities, and etc. He is hiring a consultant to help the school transition to the best form of block scheduling. He invites all to an info coffee that he will be holding on these matters shortly. He is targeting mid-May for this coffee. Stay tuned for a date.
A meeting that you must attend if you are concerned about block scheduling. Spread the word and keep checking the HS website for date and time. Maybe if enough people show, we can make a difference! |
According to the webevent calendar, Coffee and Conversation with the Principal is scheduled for May 13, 6:30 PM in the HS Cafe. Here's your chance to voice your concerns! |
Quoting so everybody will see the notice about this event.
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Curt Springer
Danville |
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PBealo
Site Admin
Joined: 29 Apr 2008
Posts: 112
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| Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 10:40 pm Post subject: |
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I just returned fron Mr. Woodworth's "coffee". Its late, I'll post more tomrorrow but I need to say a few things:
1) To those who attended tonight: Well done! Showing up is 90% of success in any endeavour. The same is true for Mr. Woodworth and Tony D. who showed up from the schools.
2) I owe Mr. Woodworth an apology. I apologize. I assumed the presentation he sent me, and I attached to an early e-mail in this chain, was what he presented to the School Board. I learned tonight that it was not. It was an internal document. As such I should not have been quite so pointed in my review of it. Were my comments "incorrect" NO. Were they too pointed: YES. Had I understood that they were not released earlier, I would have asked permission prior to posting, and abided by his decison wrt posting.
Peter Bealo |
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curt
Joined: 29 Apr 2008
Posts: 36
Location: 228 Sandown Road, North Danville
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| Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 11:01 pm Post subject: |
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| PBealo wrote: |
2) I owe Mr. Woodworth an apology. I apologize. I assumed the presentation he sent me, and I attached to an early e-mail in this chain, was what he presented to the School Board. I learned tonight that it was not. It was an internal document. As such I should not have been quite so pointed in my review of it. Were my comments "incorrect" NO. Were they too pointed: YES. Had I understood that they were not released earlier, I would have asked permission prior to posting, and abided by his decison wrt posting.
Peter Bealo |
I don't think you owe him an apology. He could have asked you not to forward it (which would have covered posting), or, once he became aware of its posting, he could have emailed you privately or posted here, since he is a member of this site.
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Curt Springer
Danville |
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NWhitman
Joined: 10 May 2008
Posts: 7
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| Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 12:11 am Post subject: |
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Mr Woodworth mentioned a HS in Berwick, ME that 6 HS teachers were to investigate BS. Interesting info that I found on the internet from the Noble HS Program of Studies 2008-2009.
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Noble High School has three vertical, four-year academies, each comprised of approximately 400 students across grades 9-12.
Each vertical academy has three teams that are connected through their small learning communities as a semi-autonomous
school. Our academies have been designed to support increased academic success, as we support our students in reaching
ever-increasing federal, state and local standards. The academy experience includes fewer transitions and changes for
students. Most students will remain on vertical teams for their entire Noble career, fostering lasting, continuous and positive
relationships between students, staff and parents/guardians. Our academy structure allows each student and parent to have a
clearer line of communication, which over time supports quicker, more personalized and responsive solutions to student needs.
We believe that through these efforts we enhance each student’s leaning and success.
National studies have shown that small-personalized schools, with strong ties to their communities, do a much better job of
preparing students for meaningful and satisfying futures. School within a school models have reduced dropout rates, increased
attendance and reduced disciplinary concerns. Increased academic success along with college acceptance has also been
supported by the long-term growth associated with small school conversions of large high schools. At NHS we have seen
improvement in academic success as measured by academic tests, increased attendance, along with a reduction in disciplinary
concerns in our first three years with our academy model. Our academy structure is allowing us to make the best use of our
innovative building by creating a more personalized, more connected, more supportive educational experience for each one of
our students. |
Similiar to Timberlane Middle School???
| Quote: |
Required Course Load
All students in grades nine through eleven must carry at least six courses each semester. Seniors must carry at least five courses
each semester. |
From the Parent-Student Handbook:
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SCHOOL DAY BELL SCHEDULES
Daily Schedule
Block 1 7:40 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Silent Sustained Reading (SSR) 9:05 a.m. - 9:35 a.m.
Block 2 9:40 a.m. - 11:05 a.m.
(Announcements will be at 9:40 a.m.)
Block 3 11:10 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
A Lunch 11:10 a.m. - 11:35 a.m.
B Lunch 12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Block 4 1:05 p.m. - 2:25 p.m.
(Announcements will be at 2:20 p.m.) |
Confusion here. How do you get 5 or 6 courses per semester if you are only offering 4 courses per day?
More info from the handbook:
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CREDIT
Course credit will be granted at the end of each semester for students
with a grade of M or above, except in those cases where credit is
withheld because of attendance issues. A grade of NM (standard not
met) at the end of the semester will mean a loss of ½ credit. If the
student passes the other semester, only ½ of a credit would be earned.
Students will be required to make up any failed semesters of sequential
courses.
Promotion
All students at Noble High School must earn a minimal number of
credits in certain courses to be allowed to choose their courses for their
next year of study.
Class of 2007 or 2008 -
To become a: You must earn:
Sophomore 4 credits - 3 in core classes*
Junior 8 credits - 6 in core classes*
Senior 12 credits - 9 in core classes*
Class of 2009 or beyond -
To become a: You must earn:
Sophomore 5 credits - 3 in core classes*
Junior 10 credits - 6 in core classes*
Senior 14 credits - 10 in core classes*
* Core classes are English, Science, Mathematics & Social Studies.
Students who lose credit will need to attend Meeting the Standards
School after school or in the summer to make up credit. |
Which adds to the confusion. Looks like BS is new to this HS.
From the Noble HS parent-student handbook:
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GRADING
Students are given final grades at the end of each semester. Parents and
students will receive information on course standards within the first
week of each semester.
A + 99% - 100% Distinguished - Exceeds content area standards
A 96% - 98% Distinguished - Exceeds content area standards
A - 93% - 95% Distinguished - Exceeds content area standards
B + 91% - 92% Advanced - Meets or exceeds content area standards
B 88% - 90% Advanced - Meets or exceeds content area standards
B - 85% - 87% Advanced - Meets or exceeds content area standards
C + 83% - 84% Meets - Meets content area standards
C 79% - 82% Meets - Meets content area standards
C - 75% - 78% Meets - Meets content area standards
NM 0% - 74% Does not meet – Does not meet content standards |
Tough grading system.
BTW, I heard TRHS has raised the bar for academic achievement to begin immediately. New standards were used to determine the Junior and Senior students who will be recognized next Monday night for academic excellence. No notification has been sent out regarding these changes. Raising the bar is good, not informing the students and parents is bad. |
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NH
Joined: 30 Apr 2008
Posts: 8
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| Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 5:51 pm Post subject: Re: IB |
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| curt wrote: |
So I don't join you in criticizing the program itself, but I am surprised to learn that it is being implemented in or considered for some NH public high schools. It seems like a niche program for a small affluent audience served by private schools. |
The program itself has one goal: teaching the children that world government is the better system over national government. In other words, it's to promote UN goals. It uses the kids for political pawns and thus you should be critical of it unless you feel that being under the thumb of the totalitarian socialists at the UN is better than under the Bill of Rights as our founders envisioned.
NH is a good target because we have people who actually understand this here, so they must take control. It's the same crew that is trying to wipe away your ability to curb local spending as well...and cause an income tax..
To wit...
The ‘Democrat legislature gone wild’ is at it again, passing irresponsible and unconstitutional laws.
"SB 530 is a bill that mandates kindergarten for all communities, including the 12 school districts which have voted NOT to offer public kindergarten. This bill is unconstitutional because it creates a new state mandate without fully funding it, a violation of Part I, Art. 28-a of our state constitution. It is very dangerous in that it also repeals current state law that prohibits school boards from spending any money beyond that authorized by the voters (the “no means no” statutes, RSA 32:8 and 32:11). So much for local control…
SB 539 is an education funding plan that adds $128 million dollars to create a nearly one BILLION dollar plan over the next biennium. This is in a year when we’re facing a $200 million deficit and the bill contains no means of raising the necessary funds. This bill is paving the way for new broad based taxes, most likely an income tax. The arbitrary costing formula relies on the number of “free and reduced lunch” students as well artificially inflated teacher and staff salaries (apparently an “adequate education” requires that all staff, including janitors, have at least three years of experience). The bill re-establishes 37 donor towns. The problem is, it too violates the NH state constitution’s ban on unfunded mandates (Part I, Art. 28-a).
How much more fiscally irresponsible, arbitrary, irrational, and unconstitutional can this legislature become? Perhaps we will have to rely on Governor Lynch to STOP this nonsense."
-- from www.rochestertaxpayers.org |
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NH
Joined: 30 Apr 2008
Posts: 8
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| Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 6:05 pm Post subject: Re: Woodworth/Coker presentation to School Board |
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Plain and simple 'block scheduling' is edubabble per the list above.
All this guy in the video can talk about is how the students 'feel'.
It is just part of the other components of the failed OBE system.
What it does is force the teachers not to have an original thought. They must plan together so that none of them can do what they know is right -- they have to go along with the crowd... sort of like the gulag mentality.
So if a teacher isn't of the belief that 'group learning' is of any value, they will be singled out.
This guy has NO proof that this helps reduce failure.
Block scheduling is boring, harder to plan for and does NOT increase learning. In fact, it waters it down. |
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alfredtwo
Joined: 02 May 2008
Posts: 62
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| Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 7:58 pm Post subject: Re: IB |
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| NH wrote: |
The program itself has one goal: teaching the children that world government is the better system over national government. In other words, it's to promote UN goals. It uses the kids for political pawns and thus you should be critical of it unless you feel that being under the thumb of the totalitarian socialists at the UN is better than under the Bill of Rights as our founders envisioned.
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Well that is an interesting idea that I have not heard before. Can you give me some examples from the content that supports this idea? Thanks. |
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curt
Joined: 29 Apr 2008
Posts: 36
Location: 228 Sandown Road, North Danville
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| Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 8:29 pm Post subject: Re: IB |
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| alfredtwo wrote: |
| NH wrote: |
The program itself has one goal: teaching the children that world government is the better system over national government. In other words, it's to promote UN goals. It uses the kids for political pawns and thus you should be critical of it unless you feel that being under the thumb of the totalitarian socialists at the UN is better than under the Bill of Rights as our founders envisioned.
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Well that is an interesting idea that I have not heard before. Can you give me some examples from the content that supports this idea? Thanks. |
NH, Alfred, I'd like to suggest that one of you create a separate discussion thread for the International Baccalaureate (IB). It's off-topic in this discussion thread, and neither of the posts today even say that they are about IB as opposed to BS.
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Curt Springer
Danville |
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lnason
Joined: 14 May 2008
Posts: 10
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| Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 6:59 am Post subject: parent meeting |
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At the parent meeting, Woodworth mentioned something about some schools have discontinued BS returning to a traditional program. I know there are a number of schools in the area, like Methuen, Hudson, Windham when they move from Salem. I also hear Salem is reconsidering. He only said that they did not do it right. Is this an assumption on his part? Part of due- diligence is to look at these schools how they implemented the program and the reason for abandoning.
He mentioned Andover HS is having success and will be talking to them. Hopefully he is going to look at the demographics. He said AP scores increased, how many of these students have professional tutors to advance their knowledge rather than a tutor to catch up? |
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PBealo
Site Admin
Joined: 29 Apr 2008
Posts: 112
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| Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 9:01 am Post subject: |
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Just based on Mr. woodworth's comments Wed night - I would say he is grasping at any straw he can find to "justify" going to 4X4 BS. If the data doesn't support BS, it will be rejected as being "done wrong" or just simply ignored. I still have not heard any explanation, or even acknowledgement, that while the College Board states that overall AP test scores GO DOWN in BS schools our Principal says his will go up. it is called wishful thinking and shows a lack of intellectual rigor. You can't just set aside data because you don't like what it says and then substitute your own opinion.
While the SAU may only be looking at "successes", maybe the rest of us need to examine failures. I just learned that the husband of my son's reading tutor was an administrator of Hudson's school district when they decided to move back to traditional scheduling. You can bet that he and I will have a long, detailed conversation in the next few weeks!
Peter Bealo |
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PBealo
Site Admin
Joined: 29 Apr 2008
Posts: 112
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| Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 9:16 am Post subject: |
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FYI,
I attended and presented to the Timberlane Music Assoc. last night.
Prior to my discussion, Mr. Clarke, a band instructor, gave a summary of recent and upcoming concerts, music activity, etc, and closed by commenting that the music teachers strongly believe that the TMA should take no stand wrt BS today. he stated that the music teachers would look out for our kids, and that if necessary they would let us know if any position needs to be taken by the TMA.
I began by stating I totally agreed with Mr. Clarke - the TMA needs not take a stand today, but that members should listen for more news about BS, analyze what they hear, and watch or participate in this forum. I described the fundamentals of BS, what the SAU believes it buys us, and all the potential pitfalls (death of music dept, costs, lower test scores, etc.). I advised everyone not to panic and to just watch what develops. I also told them not believe anything a teacher says in public about BS, because they have been told not to oppose it. If you want a teacher's opinion - ask privately, not in writing.
Jack Paone, one of Plaistow's School Board members was present - I asked him publicly if my comments were fair - he stated they were indeed a fair assessment.
Jack then went on to state that he too had been studying BS for the last month, and he has not found an instance where implementing it did not negatively affect that school's music program. He stated that one thing TRSD "does right" is its music program, the other is the wrestling program, and that he recognizes that the music program must not be compromised and he will continue support the program and to press for getting all the open questions answered before anything happens.
All-in-all I'd say it was a good meeting.
Peter Bealo |
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