Stop Worrying About the School Supplies and Start Focusing on the School Budget

Have you ever wondered why there are so few fiscal conservatives on the local School Board?  It simply is not easy to be the voice of reason among people who want to spend every taxpayer dollar they can put their hands on.  The person who has the intestinal fortitude to

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hemipode on The Origin of Nursery Rhymes: Mary Had A Little Lamb on 12th, Sep 2009

That there is controversy around the origins of this classic does not surprise me. Many of the most well known rhymes are based on long forgotten star pictures, this I have discovered for myself through years of star watching. I suspect the pictures were wiped from the common consciousness in an era - spanning centuries - when free speech was not allowed, ie by the blasphemy and heresy laws. Knowing this I think it fairly safe to say that the Mary in question 'lived' about 2000 yrs ago and her little Lamb was/is of heavenly origins. You can see it later in the winter in the Taurus/Orion area. If you would like more details try www.realstarpictures.com

UmiNoor on The Origin of Nursery Rhymes: Mary Had A Little Lamb on 9th, Aug 2009

Interesting story. I like to know the history of the most ordinary stuffs like nursery rhymes and fairy tales.

UponRequest on Stop Worrying About the School Supplies and Start Focusing on the School Budget on 16th, Jul 2009

Excellent article - the amount of money that has been taken out of the public school system is deplorable.

6617 on Using household materials as math manipulatives on 25th, Jun 2009

This was a fine article. If I had been taught math that way I think I could have gotten past the multiplication tables. That hung me up and I still don't know them.

6617 on The Origin of Nursery Rhymes: Mary Had A Little Lamb on 25th, Jun 2009

i was always interested in the orgins of nursery rhymes and fairy tales. This was one I had not heard. Thank you.

ilivetoteach on Kimball Farm, Westford, Massachusetts: An Entertaining, Relaxing, and Affordable Place to Bring Your Family on 18th, Jun 2009

Sounds like a great place for a vacation.

for Secrets To Getting Your Articles Read on 9th, Aug 2009

The points about keeping it short and to the point are important. While many of us do not use bullet points, more sites are requesting articles be broken down into subject headings which accomplishes much the same thing. Shorter paragraphs, targeted topics, and targeting short attention spans. There are places for longer articles, deeper, more technical articles. So far most content sites have not been seeking that format.

for Should teachers be held accountable for low student test scores? on 14th, Jul 2009

I would agree with you if parents were held accountable as well. Parents who pull their students out for vacations in the middle of the school year. Students who have varied attendence records. Those who refuse additional Special Education services, no I am not discussing drugs, and decide not to seek alternative options for helping their children make adequate progress. I'm all for being held accountable for the things I can control. However, parents do have considerable accountability in student achievement as well and there is currently no move to hold their salaries accountable. If you remove any child from the equation who fails to meet basic attendence I'm for it. If I can prove that the school has failed to meet the IEP requirements and a child fails then I'm also for it. I will take responsibility for my failure and my success. I'm just not going to carry the burden to make others feel better.

for The Advantages of a Traditional Classroom on 14th, Jul 2009

You have to do what works for you. 5*

for Is the Use of Laptops in the Classroom Beneficial or a Distraction? on 14th, Jul 2009

Good presentation of the pros and some of the draw backs of using laptops. We still have an issue in our state where all testing is hand written. Those districts that have gone soley to laptops are struggling with test scores. It is an interesting problem. 5*

for Obama is wrong on 14th, Jul 2009

Who really is suprised? 5*

for Developing reading skills - part 1 on 14th, Jul 2009

Great article. You were specific and detailed which can be hard with the shorter format here. 5*

for How to develop a reading habit in Schools on 14th, Jul 2009

Good strategies. Making time during the day is often the most important and the most challenging with the ever increasing demands. It takes time for children to engage in a book and we often wonder why they do not develop the habit when we do not give them the time to create it. Great article. 5*

for Back to School Supplies - Necessity or No No? on 14th, Jul 2009

Sorry that should say taxpayer because the school system has no money without the taxpayer. There is no edit button for the comments. I'm sure most teachers would be thrilled if the school provided tissues and soap. However, why would you possibly expect your child's teacher to pay so your child can have these items if the school system is failing to provide them? As for sharing in most cases it is not practical for each child to have their own box of tissues or soap bottle. One positioned at the sink or central area and replaced as needed is a more practical choice. Do you use separate soap bottles for each individual person in your home?

for Back to School Supplies - Necessity or No No? on 14th, Jul 2009

So who would you suggest buy the school supplies? Free education is never free. It is supposed to be paid for by the school system. If your system is not spending the dollars appropriatly to give your children a "free" education that gives the teachers white board markers perhaps the time has come to become involved as a school board member? It should never be the teacher's job to provide the white board markers either.

for The Pros and Cons of Sending Your Children to a Catholic School on 14th, Jul 2009

Detailed article about what to consider when deciding on Catholic School enrollment. 5*