Well, Voltaire is a satirical dude, and since I'm a betting man, I'd say this site more than has 100 silent followers as evidenced the number of site hits.
Sometimes you have to read between the lines in life.
So you don't have 100 followers. Just 27. Now who's lying? Just as you mentioned about the many ACPS surveys that can be taken mote than once by the same person...hits don't tell you how many people...just how many times.
I think that not all those who follow actually appear at the top. My good friend just signed on today as "kiwi squeaks" but her name doesn't appear as a follower. Am I right, Voltaire?
I had a bit of trouble figuring out how to become a follower without my name and e-mail showing. I've heard the same from others, and when faced with the possibility of not being anonymous (since fear of being identified is so pervasive) they gave up. Clear instructions on how to become a "follower" would likely be very helpful. While it's hard to tell for sure, everyone I talk to, in multiple schools, knows and watches this blog. I KNOW it's many, many more than indicated by the count at the top of this blog. Thanks for keeping this going.
Yes, you are correct. i just changed by status from publicly follow to anonymously follow and my name is no longer listed above. I am sure Voltaire,since he/she is the blog originator, gets a listing of all followers that only he/she can see. Chill out!
if you do not believe Voltaire then maybe you'll believe the teachers who leave in droves and the huge number of rehires next year....this year's turnover was amazing...can't hide the truth not even behind Sherman's massive ego.
For those who can't take a joke about the numbers game here, try checking out the latest numbers game with ACPS. Don't believe me, then check for yourself. Call ACPS's Director of Communications and ask her about the filter they had in place for the Extended Calendar Proposal survey to ensure that multiple responses did not come from one respondent. Let the answer blow your mind and you decide for yourself if those numbers are truly valid.
Lies, damned lies, and statistics! Probably the same logic as was applied to the survey for the graduation venue. It's all fixed to support an undisclosed agenda. Supporters of the agenda, support the stats, period. It isn't valid, no matter who does it.
I will be among the droves leaving the sinking ship that is ACPS at the end of the year (if I can stand it that long). I don't care for dishonesty and if I wanted to be talked down to and browbeaten on a regular basis I'd have never left my ex.
I can't believe how many people I've talked to who are reading this blog--teachers, retired teachers, parents, voters in the community... It has been a huge topic of conversation and most people I know love it, and love to talk about it. Keep up the good work! It's been great to hear what other teachers are thinking about the deceptive tactics of Mr. Sherman and the Board, and what we can do about it.
Good that they love the blog, but get them to talk about the merits of the proposals set forth. Like the merit of the Pre-Labor Day proposal. For or against, what people fail to recognize is that Alexandria must meet State criteria. It is not a wish, it is the LAW.
This proposal thrown together by Mr. Sherman is a joke and comes nowhere close to meeting any "experimental" or "innovative" program criteria as laid out by the State. Mr. Sherman likes to point to the fact that for the 2010-2011 school year the state issued 70 waivers. Of those 70 waivers, only 7 were issued due to "experimental" or "innovative" programs. Of those seven, 4 were issued to school districts for implementation of year round schools (Alexandria included) and the remainder were issued to either charter schools or to schools which had blended preschool programs. Not a single waiver was issued in order "'stretch' the calendar" as Mr. Sherman states in the proposed waiver to the State. Nor was a waiver issued in order to add professional development to teachers (which wouldn't require students to start prior to Labor Day as this already takes place). The list of programs mentioned in this waiver not worth the paper it is printed upon, have already been implemented in ACPS and did not require a Pre-Labor Day start date. So how are they "innovative" or "experimental?"
Let your friends, parents, neighbors, teachers, students, etc. start pointing out the flaws in the litany of proposals rushed through the ACPS pipe. We as a community need to bring the School Board back down to reality and open their eyes to the manure which is being shoveled right and left.
If your analysis is correct, what's the problem? The state will reject the proposal and that will be that. What are you going to say if it is approved? Will you blame Mort or the good folks in Richmond? Somebody has to be wrong if it is approved, right? Maybe it's not such a bad idea?
It is a waste of our resources, time, and money. That is the problem. It is yet one more idea lacking details, one more idea lacking plan, one more idea lacking merit, one more idea lacking research, one more idea lacking support, and one more idea which does absolutely nothing to improve the learning within our schools. It is ridiculous that the School Board has not even bothered to see if this waiver holds any weight to the letter of the law. That in itself is a very bad idea.
No need for a time machine, many already see the foolishness in this proposal. Read over ACPS's waiver and answer the question, "what is the experimental and/or innovative program proposed by ACPS?" That is a pretty simple question to answer.
If you take a moment to read over other Pre-Labor Day waivers submitted to the State, that question is answered within the first few sentences or paragraphs. Good luck finding it in the waiver from Mr. Sherman (who is mentioned by name in the waiver for his leadership abilities within ACPS, no other Superintendents were cited in the waivers I reviewed).
I was questioning his waiver myself when I read it, since the state is so explicit in why waivers are granted. In addition it is usually for a few schools within in a district (ex: the year round schools) versus a whole district. So, I personally believe the state will reject it, and I personally believe Mort must know that..or perhaps he believes that since many other proposals have been approved with rather vague reasoning, that the state will also approve his waiver.
I also believe we as a community need to address his push for IB when it is rather costly, and since it is somehow one of the 4 areas where a teacher can get funding for coursework, when in reality all teachers in an IB school need to be trained, via IBO. That money needs to be set aside, and funds are looked at when a school is going through the IB accredidation process (early and I am sure I spelled that wrong). Are all schools becoming IB in the district? Why is that one of 4 areas a teacher can get tuition reimbursment for?
I think the plan is for all schools to become IB in the district. I'm not really a fan of IB, but I see the push for it as a way to support higher achievement levels as well. If all the focus was on raising the achievement of students who are struggling, then the District would be accused of ignoring kids who are not.
The only reason there is need for a waiver, is to protect the profit margin of Kings Dominion. I like starting school after Labor Day, but I don't like pretending it is for grand educational reasons. I just want the last weekend of the Summer to happen before school starts.
Try again. There are many families within Alexandria tied into the August recess of Congress. If school starts before Labor Day, it cuts into their family time. That is another reason that there is a waiver. Not too many ACPS kids employed at Kings Dominion.
Starting school and then less than a week later having the kids out for a holiday is just not a good idea.
You try again, go read the law and the legislative history behind it and you will see that it is clearly tied to the economic strength of Kings Dominion. The impacts of what happens here in NOVA because of parents might work, has nothing to do with the state mandate to start school after labor day. Since when does where your parents work have anything to do when school starts. If that's the case, school should be in session on the weekends so that parents that work at night can have family time too.
Didn't quite follow that weekend/night work logic, but it is a fact that the vacations of many parents in and around Alexandria are tied into the legislative calendar for the U.S. Congress. That dictates their vacation time, hence, it dictates when their child will not be in school. The Virginia legislature has not moved forward on doing away with the Pre-Labor Day waiver business because of, yes, tourist industry lobbying, AND because of input from parents who don't want to have their vacation time impacted. Your comment was that the ONLY reason there was a waiver was due to Kings Dominion. That is part of the reason, VA Beach summer employment, local summer employment, local part-time high school employment, and vacations dictated by things like the legislative calendar are many of the OTHER reasons. Take time to stop spouting off whatever you hear via the ACPS Super and then take a little more time to do your homework.
You may it sound like working on Cap Hill dictates when school starts in VA, it doesn't. Take time to not think so highly of yourself. I don't base my opinion on the ACPS Super. Everyone who disagrees with you isn't wrong. The point you made is that Cap Hill folks want to spend family time. Non-Cap Hill folks want to spend family time too, and maybe they work on the weekend, so should we change the school calendar so they can spend time with their kids during the week? As yes I've read the legislative history, have you?
What you missed is I don't want to start before Labor either, I just don't want to pile on as if it is for some grand educational benefit. It is purely personal, has nothing to do with education. Others want to pretend their opposition is because there is some grand education purpose when it is their own personal family time that they want to protect. We probably agree, which scares me to admit cause you sound like someone I really don't want to agree with.
I'm just curious as to what math your using? I only see 27 followers at the top of the blog page.
ReplyDeleteWell, Voltaire is a satirical dude, and since I'm a betting man, I'd say this site more than has 100 silent followers as evidenced the number of site hits.
ReplyDeleteSometimes you have to read between the lines in life.
Peace.
So you don't have 100 followers. Just 27. Now who's lying? Just as you mentioned about the many ACPS surveys that can be taken mote than once by the same person...hits don't tell you how many people...just how many times.
ReplyDeleteI think that not all those who follow actually appear at the top. My good friend just signed on today as "kiwi squeaks" but her name doesn't appear as a follower. Am I right, Voltaire?
ReplyDeleteI had a bit of trouble figuring out how to become a follower without my name and e-mail showing. I've heard the same from others, and when faced with the possibility of not being anonymous (since fear of being identified is so pervasive) they gave up. Clear instructions on how to become a "follower" would likely be very helpful. While it's hard to tell for sure, everyone I talk to, in multiple schools, knows and watches this blog. I KNOW it's many, many more than indicated by the count at the top of this blog. Thanks for keeping this going.
ReplyDeleteYes, you are correct. i just changed by status from publicly follow to anonymously follow and my name is no longer listed above. I am sure Voltaire,since he/she is the blog originator, gets a listing of all followers that only he/she can see. Chill out!
ReplyDeleteAnd we should believe Voltaire, but not Sherman, right?
ReplyDeleteif you do not believe Voltaire then maybe you'll believe the teachers who leave in droves and the huge number of rehires next year....this year's turnover was amazing...can't hide the truth not even behind Sherman's massive ego.
ReplyDeleteSherman is nothing but circular speech and skewed results or no results. Again, where is the Discovery Bridge Survey???
ReplyDeleteFor those who can't take a joke about the numbers game here, try checking out the latest numbers game with ACPS. Don't believe me, then check for yourself. Call ACPS's Director of Communications and ask her about the filter they had in place for the Extended Calendar Proposal survey to ensure that multiple responses did not come from one respondent. Let the answer blow your mind and you decide for yourself if those numbers are truly valid.
ReplyDeleteLies, damned lies, and statistics! Probably the same logic as was applied to the survey for the graduation venue. It's all fixed to support an undisclosed agenda. Supporters of the agenda, support the stats, period. It isn't valid, no matter who does it.
ReplyDeleteI will be among the droves leaving the sinking ship that is ACPS at the end of the year (if I can stand it that long). I don't care for dishonesty and if I wanted to be talked down to and browbeaten on a regular basis I'd have never left my ex.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe how many people I've talked to who are reading this blog--teachers, retired teachers, parents, voters in the community... It has been a huge topic of conversation and most people I know love it, and love to talk about it. Keep up the good work! It's been great to hear what other teachers are thinking about the deceptive tactics of Mr. Sherman and the Board, and what we can do about it.
ReplyDeleteGood that they love the blog, but get them to talk about the merits of the proposals set forth. Like the merit of the Pre-Labor Day proposal. For or against, what people fail to recognize is that Alexandria must meet State criteria. It is not a wish, it is the LAW.
ReplyDeleteThis proposal thrown together by Mr. Sherman is a joke and comes nowhere close to meeting any "experimental" or "innovative" program criteria as laid out by the State. Mr. Sherman likes to point to the fact that for the 2010-2011 school year the state issued 70 waivers. Of those 70 waivers, only 7 were issued due to "experimental" or "innovative" programs. Of those seven, 4 were issued to school districts for implementation of year round schools (Alexandria included) and the remainder were issued to either charter schools or to schools which had blended preschool programs. Not a single waiver was issued in order "'stretch' the calendar" as Mr. Sherman states in the proposed waiver to the State. Nor was a waiver issued in order to add professional development to teachers (which wouldn't require students to start prior to Labor Day as this already takes place). The list of programs mentioned in this waiver not worth the paper it is printed upon, have already been implemented in ACPS and did not require a Pre-Labor Day start date. So how are they "innovative" or "experimental?"
Let your friends, parents, neighbors, teachers, students, etc. start pointing out the flaws in the litany of proposals rushed through the ACPS pipe. We as a community need to bring the School Board back down to reality and open their eyes to the manure which is being shoveled right and left.
If your analysis is correct, what's the problem? The state will reject the proposal and that will be that. What are you going to say if it is approved? Will you blame Mort or the good folks in Richmond? Somebody has to be wrong if it is approved, right? Maybe it's not such a bad idea?
ReplyDeleteIt is a waste of our resources, time, and money. That is the problem. It is yet one more idea lacking details, one more idea lacking plan, one more idea lacking merit, one more idea lacking research, one more idea lacking support, and one more idea which does absolutely nothing to improve the learning within our schools. It is ridiculous that the School Board has not even bothered to see if this waiver holds any weight to the letter of the law. That in itself is a very bad idea.
ReplyDeleteWe'll soon see.
ReplyDeleteNo need for a time machine, many already see the foolishness in this proposal. Read over ACPS's waiver and answer the question, "what is the experimental and/or innovative program proposed by ACPS?" That is a pretty simple question to answer.
ReplyDeleteIf you take a moment to read over other Pre-Labor Day waivers submitted to the State, that question is answered within the first few sentences or paragraphs. Good luck finding it in the waiver from Mr. Sherman (who is mentioned by name in the waiver for his leadership abilities within ACPS, no other Superintendents were cited in the waivers I reviewed).
I was questioning his waiver myself when I read it, since the state is so explicit in why waivers are granted. In addition it is usually for a few schools within in a district (ex: the year round schools) versus a whole district. So, I personally believe the state will reject it, and I personally believe Mort must know that..or perhaps he believes that since many other proposals have been approved with rather vague reasoning, that the state will also approve his waiver.
ReplyDeleteI also believe we as a community need to address his push for IB when it is rather costly, and since it is somehow one of the 4 areas where a teacher can get funding for coursework, when in reality all teachers in an IB school need to be trained, via IBO. That money needs to be set aside, and funds are looked at when a school is going through the IB accredidation process (early and I am sure I spelled that wrong). Are all schools becoming IB in the district? Why is that one of 4 areas a teacher can get tuition reimbursment for?
I think the plan is for all schools to become IB in the district. I'm not really a fan of IB, but I see the push for it as a way to support higher achievement levels as well. If all the focus was on raising the achievement of students who are struggling, then the District would be accused of ignoring kids who are not.
ReplyDeleteThe only reason there is need for a waiver, is to protect the profit margin of Kings Dominion. I like starting school after Labor Day, but I don't like pretending it is for grand educational reasons. I just want the last weekend of the Summer to happen before school starts.
ReplyDeleteTry again. There are many families within Alexandria tied into the August recess of Congress. If school starts before Labor Day, it cuts into their family time. That is another reason that there is a waiver. Not too many ACPS kids employed at Kings Dominion.
ReplyDeleteStarting school and then less than a week later having the kids out for a holiday is just not a good idea.
You try again, go read the law and the legislative history behind it and you will see that it is clearly tied to the economic strength of Kings Dominion. The impacts of what happens here in NOVA because of parents might work, has nothing to do with the state mandate to start school after labor day. Since when does where your parents work have anything to do when school starts. If that's the case, school should be in session on the weekends so that parents that work at night can have family time too.
ReplyDeleteDidn't quite follow that weekend/night work logic, but it is a fact that the vacations of many parents in and around Alexandria are tied into the legislative calendar for the U.S. Congress. That dictates their vacation time, hence, it dictates when their child will not be in school. The Virginia legislature has not moved forward on doing away with the Pre-Labor Day waiver business because of, yes, tourist industry lobbying, AND because of input from parents who don't want to have their vacation time impacted. Your comment was that the ONLY reason there was a waiver was due to Kings Dominion. That is part of the reason, VA Beach summer employment, local summer employment, local part-time high school employment, and vacations dictated by things like the legislative calendar are many of the OTHER reasons. Take time to stop spouting off whatever you hear via the ACPS Super and then take a little more time to do your homework.
ReplyDeleteYou may it sound like working on Cap Hill dictates when school starts in VA, it doesn't. Take time to not think so highly of yourself. I don't base my opinion on the ACPS Super. Everyone who disagrees with you isn't wrong. The point you made is that Cap Hill folks want to spend family time. Non-Cap Hill folks want to spend family time too, and maybe they work on the weekend, so should we change the school calendar so they can spend time with their kids during the week? As yes I've read the legislative history, have you?
ReplyDeleteWhat you missed is I don't want to start before Labor either, I just don't want to pile on as if it is for some grand educational benefit. It is purely personal, has nothing to do with education. Others want to pretend their opposition is because there is some grand education purpose when it is their own personal family time that they want to protect. We probably agree, which scares me to admit cause you sound like someone I really don't want to agree with.
ReplyDeleteScary how that happens.
ReplyDelete