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Friday, May 21, 2010
Congratulations Graduates!
Congratulations to the DeKalb County students who will receive their high school diplomas throughout this weekend.
Tonight I watched many of my former middle schoolers receive their high school diplomas. Two of "my" kids were valedictorians, another led the tassle ceremony. I went to dinner with several families afterwards, and am invited to multiple parties all weekend. After the stress of this past year, I needed this reminder tonight about why I am in this profession, and in particular why I remain in the DCSS. The pride, love, and joy that were all part of this evening will NEVER be diluted by those who are doing such a poor job of running our school system. Our students give me hope, and THAT my friends, is priceless. Heck, maybe they'll running for the board before long!
With all due respect to those who EARNED honors as val., sal., scholarship recipients, those whose successfully struggled for 4 years, and those helped to make it all happen; students, parents, and educators.......
After sitting through another glorious graduation as a faculty member, watching students walk across stage and receive their diplomas, I can't help but wonder how many of those same students were given a "gift" grade by teachers under pressure by the system, administrators, and other colleagues to "help" a chid graduate.
All too often, the grand event is diminished in the eyes of those who are on the front lines of the classroom by seeing students who undeservedly are given the opportunity to move on without the skill set or work ethic to show themselves worthy of the "help" they received.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE HONEST, INTELLIGENT, HARDWORKING LEADERS OF TOMORROW. YOU DESERVE ALL THE SUCCESS IN LIFE THAT YOUR FUTURE WILL BRING !
...to the rest of the "graduates": Wake up, real life is nothing like high school.
Perhaps when times are better, the DeKalb County Government can build a civic center that would be larger enough to use as a graduation area. Many of the schools use New Birth because of the size of its size. It or maybe First Baptist,the church that used to be pastored by Dr. Paulk, on Flat Shoals provide the most seats. If you saw the news, there were schools in Cobb and Fulton that had to turn people away once they were unable to use the out door stadiums. As far as the names on the diploma, how many of us even pay attention to that. Dr. Lewis was the superintendent until April 16, 2010. I salute all graduates. They are fortunate to be leaving our school system at this times. This has been a difficult year for our system. There is going to be a major turn over with the leadership at the top. I hope that at least there can be some stability in the leadership in the schools. The DCSS will no longer have six regions. It will be interesting to see how the schools will be organized. Pray for the students and the schools this year as they begin to feel the full weight of all the changes that have occured and will occur.
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Tonight I watched many of my former middle schoolers receive their high school diplomas. Two of "my" kids were valedictorians, another led the tassle ceremony. I went to dinner with several families afterwards, and am invited to multiple parties all weekend. After the stress of this past year, I needed this reminder tonight about why I am in this profession, and in particular why I remain in the DCSS. The pride, love, and joy that were all part of this evening will NEVER be diluted by those who are doing such a poor job of running our school system. Our students give me hope, and THAT my friends, is priceless. Heck, maybe they'll running for the board before long!
ReplyDeleteWith all due respect to those who EARNED honors as val., sal., scholarship recipients, those whose successfully struggled for 4 years, and those helped to make it all happen; students, parents, and educators.......
ReplyDeleteAfter sitting through another glorious graduation as a faculty member, watching students walk across stage and receive their diplomas, I can't help but wonder how many of those same students were given a "gift" grade by teachers under pressure by the system, administrators, and other colleagues to "help" a chid graduate.
All too often, the grand event is diminished in the eyes of those who are on the front lines of the classroom by seeing students who undeservedly are given the opportunity to move on without the skill set or work ethic to show themselves worthy of the "help" they received.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE HONEST, INTELLIGENT, HARDWORKING LEADERS OF TOMORROW. YOU DESERVE ALL THE SUCCESS IN LIFE THAT YOUR FUTURE WILL BRING !
...to the rest of the "graduates": Wake up, real life is nothing like high school.
Dr. Lewis' name is on the diplomas. I guess we should be grateful, and perhaps a bit surprised, that the system didn't order new ones.
ReplyDeletePerhaps when times are better, the DeKalb County Government can build a civic center that would be larger enough to use as a graduation area. Many of the schools use New Birth because of the size of its size. It or maybe First Baptist,the church that used to be pastored by Dr. Paulk, on Flat Shoals provide the most seats. If you saw the news, there were schools in Cobb and Fulton that had to turn people away once they were unable to use the out door stadiums.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the names on the diploma, how many of us even pay attention to that. Dr. Lewis was the superintendent until April 16, 2010. I salute all graduates. They are fortunate to be leaving our school system at this times. This has been a difficult year for our system. There is going to be a major turn over with the leadership at the top. I hope that at least there can be some stability in the leadership in the schools. The DCSS will no longer have six regions. It will be interesting to see how the schools will be organized.
Pray for the students and the schools this year as they begin to feel the full weight of all the changes that have occured and will occur.
A CT federal judge rules that graduation ceremonies can't be held in a church:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.aclu.org/religion-belief/connecticut-schools-plan-hold-graduations-church-ruled-unconstitutional