tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post3117311400288148845..comments2024-01-08T03:21:35.616-05:00Comments on DeKalb County School Watch: Can DeKalb Become a Classroom Centered School System?Cerebrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comBlogger103125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-12669662558293083262011-11-26T16:50:32.146-05:002011-11-26T16:50:32.146-05:00@ Anonymous 1:37
"
I am curious whether you h...@ Anonymous 1:37<br />"<br />I am curious whether you have direct knowledge of Lakeside's AP Physics class or whether you are contributing information from a web search."<br /><br />A web search. Why would the teacher have the AP assignment on her website if she wasn't teaching the class? <br /><br />You said you didn't see the AP Physics class listed. Go to the website and look on the left menu bar under categories. It clearly says AP Physics:<br />http://lakesideblogs.com/kswitzer/class-schedule.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-24694805970871056042011-11-22T12:02:46.635-05:002011-11-22T12:02:46.635-05:00"If there are not the numbers at even the lar..."If there are not the numbers at even the largest school in the county to justify robotics teams or AP Physics classes, the only way to provide these opportunities for STEM-oriented students is to offer them at a central location like Fernbank."<br /><br />Great point. Even Cross Keys HS, with its technology programs, has only one physics class section (not AP, just general) this year and it is not even full.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-79645441417741799082011-11-22T11:59:32.241-05:002011-11-22T11:59:32.241-05:00RE: AP Physics:
College Board has 2 different AP ...RE: AP Physics:<br /><br />College Board has 2 different AP Physics classes - AP Physics B, which is taught at several DCSS high schools, including Lakeside and Druid Hills, and does not utilize calculus, and AP Physics C, taught at Fernbank Science Center and Chamblee, I believe, which is calculus-based and recommended for students who want to study math, science, or engineering. The AP Physics C class has 2 separate AP exams at the end.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-89905736779788235862011-11-22T07:00:38.049-05:002011-11-22T07:00:38.049-05:00We can add some more $$$$ to those legal fees that...We can add some more $$$$ to those legal fees that DCSS is paying out.<br /><br />I saw a segment on WSBTV last night where the school system settled the race discrimination lawsuit brought against the Fernbank Science Center. Terms were not disclosed.<br /><br />Here is the background on this:<br /><br />http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/fernbank-science-center-accused-of-racial-discrimi/nFBTW/Paula Caldarellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05515215184962897541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-28450964388785675962011-11-21T13:37:25.043-05:002011-11-21T13:37:25.043-05:00@November 19, 2011 9:40 PM,
Your link doesn't ...@November 19, 2011 9:40 PM,<br />Your link doesn't work. I tried a slightly different spelling, http://lakesideblogs.com/kswitzer/class-schedule.html. That link works but doesn't show an AP Physics class on the schedule.<br /><br />I am curious whether you have direct knowledge of Lakeside's AP Physics class or whether you are contributing information from a web search. The reason I'm asking is that someone just posted a "you are wrong" comment on another thread: "Lakeside is not the only high school with counselors assigned alphabetically. I'm not sure where you got that information." They may well be right, but they should have named the other schools they knew of which had alphabetical counselor assignments.<br /><br />This blog is the only way I know of for us to share information to figure out what is going on in schools across the county, but posts are not a good format for sorting out information. If we were talking face-to-face, we could settle the question in a minute by explaining to each other where we got our information, and, if that didn't satisfy, we could go together to ask Ms. Switzer personally.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-41648854214716989162011-11-21T06:46:37.890-05:002011-11-21T06:46:37.890-05:00@November 19, 2011 9:40 PM
Your link to Ms. Switze...@November 19, 2011 9:40 PM<br />Your link to Ms. Switzer's schedule is not working. Did you mean this one, which doesn't show an AP Physics period? http://lakesideblogs.com/kswitzer/class-schedule.html<br /><br />Also curious whether you're posting from direct knowledge or from what you could gather with a web search? That's a question that could be asked about any post as we pool our knowledge to try to understand what is happening at various schools across DCSS. Unfortunately a blog format don't let us hash these things out as well as a face-to-face discussion would. (Or just asking Ms. Switzer.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-74314120468995621222011-11-20T07:01:39.711-05:002011-11-20T07:01:39.711-05:00Glad you noticed the comment about the Chamblee ro...Glad you noticed the comment about the Chamblee robotics team Anon. Also, please note that as stated above, Cross Keys, Arabia and Dunwoody all have robotics teams (Dunwoody has 3!) Cross Keys has a couple of wonderful programs in the tech school with a terrific teaching staff --- anyone can apply!Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-18509775967645218752011-11-20T06:40:51.528-05:002011-11-20T06:40:51.528-05:00AMEN! I LOVE THIS COMMENT:
Thank every teacher...AMEN! I LOVE THIS COMMENT: <br /><br />Thank every teacher you know who makes time to sponsor academic extracurriculars. Teachers are busier every year, and it is not easy to find a teacher with the energy and expertise to be an "interested and motivated" club sponsor who isn't already doing something else.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-74015090347009088392011-11-19T21:40:52.140-05:002011-11-19T21:40:52.140-05:00LHS AP Physics
The link was to the schedule. Here...LHS AP Physics<br />The link was to the schedule. Here it is again:<br />http://lakesideblogs.com/kswitzer/class-schedule.htmAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-56839901322042388172011-11-19T20:32:53.575-05:002011-11-19T20:32:53.575-05:00Very glad to hear about the existence of the Chamb...Very glad to hear about the existence of the Chamblee robotics team. I jumped to a conclusion and am very sorry for making an assertion I did not have direct knowledge about.<br /><br />I hope that activities like it will spring up or rejuvenate at more schools.<br /><br />What period is AP Physics taught at LHS? Anybody out there know someone currently taking the class?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-62193625458904127562011-11-19T18:17:49.196-05:002011-11-19T18:17:49.196-05:00The previous poster is wrong. A couple Chamblee s...The previous poster is wrong. A couple Chamblee students may be on the Fernbank Science Ctr robotics team, but Chamblee High School has a robotics team this year. My son is on it. They don't have much in the way of resources, but they have a team this year.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-63060465768531607692011-11-19T18:14:49.636-05:002011-11-19T18:14:49.636-05:00@ Anonymous 5:21 pm
"I am the parent of a Lak...@ Anonymous 5:21 pm<br />"I am the parent of a Lakeside student and I know what I'm talking about. There is no AP Physics class this year because not enough students signed up for it."<br /><br />On the Lakeside website, there is an AP Physics class listed:<br />http://lakesideblogs.com/kswitzer/class-schedule.htm<br /><br />The teacher has the syllabus online<br />http://lakesideblogs.com/kswitzer/ap-physics/syllabus/<br /><br />She also has the AP Physics assignment for this coming Monday online.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-12257313620030228192011-11-19T17:21:32.449-05:002011-11-19T17:21:32.449-05:00I am the parent of a Lakeside student and I know w...I am the parent of a Lakeside student and I know what I'm talking about. There is no AP Physics class this year because not enough students signed up for it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-82025040278475058592011-11-19T00:09:16.993-05:002011-11-19T00:09:16.993-05:00@anon11:12 - don't know who told you Lakeside ...@anon11:12 - don't know who told you Lakeside doesn't have AP Physics. They obviously don't know what they are talking about!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-66882704317263513412011-11-18T17:25:29.750-05:002011-11-18T17:25:29.750-05:00This is Anon 11:12 again.
Thank every teacher you...This is Anon 11:12 again.<br /><br />Thank every teacher you know who makes time to sponsor academic extracurriculars. Teachers are busier every year, and it is not easy to find a teacher with the energy and expertise to be an "interested and motivated" club sponsor who isn't already doing something else.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-78002749757627903362011-11-18T17:05:45.529-05:002011-11-18T17:05:45.529-05:00In other news...it's early admission day for T...In other news...it's early admission day for Tech and UGA. Nervous seniors everywhere!!!Paula Caldarellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05515215184962897541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-23798361898447226972011-11-18T16:58:12.307-05:002011-11-18T16:58:12.307-05:00In fact, Cross Keys 2 robotic teams did VERY well ...In fact, Cross Keys 2 robotic teams did VERY well at their first competition a few weeks ago! <br /><br />I believe that there are several other high schools that have teams as well.<br /><br />CNN ran an Education Special a few months ago that dedicated most of the show to robotics competitions in several schools across the country. A couple of the "experts" interviewed believe that Robotics Competitions are the Science Fairs of the future. <br /><br />This is actually one area where DCSS could actually be out front on. Many schools have an engineering course(s) as part of their Career Tech offering - this would fit right in.Paula Caldarellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05515215184962897541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-63297170595435209392011-11-18T16:23:42.258-05:002011-11-18T16:23:42.258-05:00Actually, it would be very sad to think that of th...Actually, it would be very sad to think that of the 21 high schools in DeKalb, the only opportunity to learn robotics would be to drive across the county for a special after school program at Fernbank. <br /><br />So glad to hear so many of our schools are doing such great things!Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-14177138793856104912011-11-18T14:11:12.551-05:002011-11-18T14:11:12.551-05:00Dunwoody has 3 robotics teams; Cross Keys has a ro...Dunwoody has 3 robotics teams; Cross Keys has a robotics team. Arabia Mountain has a robotics team. All 3 are award-winning teams at that! I believe Chamblee Middle School is trying to start a robotics program.<br /><br />It only takes one interested and motivated teacher to start a robotics program at a school. Students do not need to travel all the way to Fernbank to participate in robotics. This is another fallacy with regards to Fernbank.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-39597010970383365362011-11-18T11:12:40.895-05:002011-11-18T11:12:40.895-05:00@9:25 pm on 11/15 said "Other programs such a...@9:25 pm on 11/15 said "Other programs such as Robotics can be done at a school as well."<br /><br />They aren't. Chamblee used to have a robotics team, but now Chamblee students interested in robotics do it at FSC. Lakeside, which is now the largest high school in the county, doesn't have a robotics team either.<br /><br />9:41 points out that the advanced physics class offered at FSC is taught in only one other DCSS high school, Chamblee Magnet. Lakeside used to have a lower level AP Physics class, but this year they don't even offer that one.<br /><br />If there are not the numbers at even the largest school in the county to justify robotics teams or AP Physics classes, the only way to provide these opportunities for STEM-oriented students is to offer them at a central location like Fernbank.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-12844875065660104942011-11-15T23:42:38.141-05:002011-11-15T23:42:38.141-05:00@ 9:31 8:34 here.
I am sure that this policy i...@ 9:31 8:34 here. <br /><br />I am sure that this policy is not in writing, but I know that it is practiced. I left teaching in DCSS in May 2010, because I was tired of fighting to try and give my students an education. I realized that the good teachers were leaving, and I couldn't consider myself a good mother and bring my child to the school in which I worked, which is considered a "good" school in the system. <br /><br />Really good, smart, caring, and educated teachers are the teachers that I saw leaving. They knew that they could not stay and watch children get passed along who did not have basic skills, as they felt responsible for this. They watched principals and APs change grades, making parents happy to think that little Suzie was a straight A student, when in fact she was in first grade and simply wasn't learning.<br /><br />I tutor a child from my neighborhood school, also considered a "good" elementary school, whose mother didn't find out that the boy didn't know his alphabet or letter sounds until mid January of first grade. The boy was earning passing grades of As, Bs, and Cs. I'll never forget the mom calling me in tears. The boy obviously has a speech problem with the letter r, and the school blows that off, but is testing the boy for special education because he hasn't memorized all of his sight words. They've over looked that he has learned his letter sounds, can read short vowel words, and is now learning long vowel words. It's obvious that this school has no clue about reading and the 5 essential components, as sight words should never be used for testing a child for special education, when his original problem was not knowing the alphabet letter names and letter sounds, something that he quickly mastered with my help. <br /><br />To me, the system works against parents who want their child to understand that their actions have consequences. There are no consequences in DCSS. None. As a teacher, I was threatened by a fifth grade student that she would punch me in my pregnant stomach and wanted to kill my baby, because I did everything in my power for my students to have consequences for their actions. That child had little done to her. I could go on with stories like this. I've watched young elementary students throw chairs in the classroom, only to be able to stay in the classroom, even after the chair hit another student and the aggressive child hit the teacher. Is this what we want our children to witness and be exposed to on a daily basis.<br /><br />As I've stated in early remarks on this post, parents are worried about the money spent on Fernbank, and in my professional opinion, that is the least of any parents true worries. I am not saying that there isn't waste there, but we have bigger and more important problems. Until these bigger problems are worked on and really addressed, you will continue to have parents like myself not put their children in DCSS schools-even Fernbank. How many good teachers have sent or are sending their children to a DCSS school? Ask around, because it's not many. The really good teachers that I know work or did work just to put their child in private school and would never consider sending them to the school that they currently work in.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-49330096675928823282011-11-15T22:15:08.337-05:002011-11-15T22:15:08.337-05:00FWIW -- Cross Keys has an awesome new robotics pro...FWIW -- Cross Keys has an awesome new robotics program in place. Kim wrote about it on the blog a while back - anyone can apply and participate!<br /><br /><a href="http://dekalbschoolwatch.blogspot.com/2011/06/ramp-comes-to-cross-keys-to-serve-area.html" rel="nofollow">RAMP Comes to Cross Keys to Serve Area High Schoolers</a><br /><br /><a href="http://dekalbschoolwatch.blogspot.com/2011/07/choice-worth-choosing-cross-keys-offers.html" rel="nofollow">A Choice Worth Choosing! Cross Keys offers some very special programs"</a><br /><br /><a href="http://dekalbschoolwatch.blogspot.com/2011/07/ck-update-here-comes-sun.html" rel="nofollow">CK Update: Here Comes the Sun</a>Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-71311409711173820862011-11-15T21:41:57.725-05:002011-11-15T21:41:57.725-05:00@anon 9:25
I encourage you to check out the after ...@anon 9:25<br />I encourage you to check out the after school classes offered by FSC and attended by high school students throughout the county. These are courses that are not offered in the schools, including an advanced level physics AP course taught only in one other school, Chamblee magnet.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-51541590569340211132011-11-15T21:31:41.399-05:002011-11-15T21:31:41.399-05:00@8:34: Thank you -- really appreciate your respon...@8:34: Thank you -- really appreciate your response. I'm 4:18, and I suppose I should have clarified that I know exactly who I could talk to at both central office and on the BOE -- but I have no expectation that anyone would own up to such a thing. The people who hear these "mandates" are the ones who really know. <br /><br />Couple of observations: I'm careful to make the distinction between 'policy' and something someone tells me in a meeting. So I certainly hope this mantra of "not allowed to fail students" is not construed as policy. Second, if this was started in 2007, do you mean to say that various leaders have carried that on for so long since then? Has this mandate been continued in communications with teachers for that long? What do the organizations who represent teachers say about this? It ties your hands, to be sure. Do you know if teachers have communicated this hamstrung position in the roundtables with the superintendent?<br /><br />And it ties MY hands. Given the chance, I could make a cogent argument that my parental rights are being violated if my child walks around school each day thinking that no matter how minimal his effort, he will not fail. <br /><br />Good thing for us that this is unlikely to happen -- in THIS family. And not because he was "passed". You may have gleaned by now that the mere atmosphere in my household decries that. But for heaven's sake -- what about all the others??Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-48499795895570423192011-11-15T21:25:07.142-05:002011-11-15T21:25:07.142-05:00@ 8:59 om
"As stated before, every single ins...@ 8:59 om<br />"As stated before, every single instructor at FSC is paid according to the same teacher pay school as every other teacher in DCSS.....Their transportation costs are incurred driving all over the county."<br /><br />No one disputes this. But if the teachers are generally out in the schools teaching, why do we need to spend millions a year on admin and support salaries and benefits? The EXACT same number of admin and support personnel is in place that Fernbank Science Center had BEFORE the push to change to more Outreach programs and less programs at the Science center. <br /><br />Close the science center and place the Fernbank instructors in schools all over the county. They can still travel to schools to do Outreach programs. What's the difference if they are based out Fernbank Science Center or if they are based out of a school? No difference to them, but a difference of millions of dollars in admin and support costs and building and grounds maintenance.<br /><br />The STT program serves only 90 students a semester so this should be worked out. Other programs such as Robotics can be done at a school as well. We can re-employ those millions to have some great labs in schools.<br /><br />Science education should not be for the lucky few. Every child deserves high quality science instruction.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com