If I Ruled the Schools...A New Years Day Reflection

If I Ruled the Schools... A New Years Day Reflection

I guess it is because it is New Years Day that made me start thinking of what I would do if someone gave me a mandate to fix our schools.

My educational theory: The Golden Rule should rule. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. 

You avoid creating the bad social situations that all the social programs are developed to alleviate by simply giving our children THE VERY BEST ACADEMIC EDUCATION POSSIBLE in a safe environment. That is the mission of the school. If the schools can achieve that goal, then they have made their greatest contribution to society -- morally sound, capable students because they can read and have been given the greatest pieces of literature to read. These students have much less chance of becoming homeless, hopeless and helpless. 

Anything else is between the child and his/her parents using their own library card and imparting their own religious education (I refer to the established religion of Secular Humanism with its New Age Techniques currently in the schools), but WILL NOT COME INTO A CLASSROOM if I ruled the schools. 

The story of William Hampton Flowers would serve as inspiration to us all. You never know who might be observing and what a difference your behavior at any moment might make to the future not only of you but that of your children through many generations.

1.  I would make sure we had a good lawyer willing and capable of standing up for our children and challenging the courts that would challenge us. I can only imagine the forces that would come against us beginning with the Teachers Unions and Colleges of Education that see the schools as their own laboratory and our children as their guinea pigs.
2. Every school would pledge allegiance to the flag and sing the Star Spangled Banner along with the tape on the sound system of the school. That is the beginning of national pride and respect for authority. 
3.  I would present to those parent groups the three models I know work for all children: Hillsdale College's Barney School, Spalding Writing Road to Reading and Marva Collins Great Expectations. I would love to present the ABEKA curriculum but the ACLU would come up against us because it has a Christian background. (While they have no problem with the establishment of the Secular Humanist religion and we should be fighting back. If we can just give children a highly moral, educationally effective curriculum, parents will be encouraged to deal with their faith.)
4. I would challenge the leadership (and that includes the coaches) of those schools to shape up or ship out (another reason for good lawyers because some of them would have to be shipped out). If their grammar is so poor they cannot be an example of an educated leader, then they can improve their grammar (lifelong learning) or sacrifice leadership. If they are not willing to walk the halls and KNOW what is going on in the classroom and that it is in line with the method chosen then they should step down willingly. If they are not convicted that children can learn and teachers can teach if given the right tools, they should be reassigned. John Winston (Spalding Writing Road to Reading) found many reluctant teachers who had been brainwashed that Phonics was drill and kill who were reluctant to put everything into their teaching. He had them do it anyway and in the end, they were as sold on the program as he was. But you have years of indoctrination to overcome and it takes a STRONG LEADER to do so. Degrees in education do not make a good teacher or administrator. It takes DEDICATED TEACHERS AND STRONG LEADERSHIP to set the standard for the school. 
5.  Every school would become a charter school per se to free them from the restrictions of what the School Board has bound them to with money taken for computers and laptops, etc. to align them with COMMON CORE (selling their soul to the devil in the process to my way of thinking). 
6. Every school board member would visit the schools, eat with the children in the lunchroom, observe how the teachers dress and their demeanor, how they enforce discipline and interact with the students. 
7. I would rewrite the by-laws that bind the schools to the Goals 2000 stupidity of making instruction Thematic rather than Sequential. And so much more that I am not even aware of. (See why you need a good lawyer? Money better spent there than tying us to another stupid "innovation" to try and undo the failure of the last stupid "innovation!")
8. I would talk to the support staff on how important their conscientious efforts to make the schools shine is to the success of the school. When the bathrooms are clean and sparkling and the halls waxed and shining, a child takes pride in his school. 
9. School Council work days would indicate pride in the school and a willingness to be a handmaiden to the excellence of their children's success. An education is a gift to our children from the community, but the willingness to humble oneself to work for the school's excellence would build character. Parents need to set the example. A website is a first clue as to the attention a leader is paying to every aspect of the school he/she leads. 
10. The computer would become a tool and not a teacher. There would be NO ONLINE EDUCATION. Teachers could enhance their lessons with computer visuals, but the students would learn Math the old-fashioned way (Saxon Math, perhaps?) without calculators so when the power goes out he/she is not handicapped and embarrassed. 
11. A parent/citizen committee watch dog would read and review EVERY BOOK PROPOSED BY A TEACHER to use in a classroom. Consideration would be paid to the images the book evokes and whether it is age appropriate for the children of that class. 
12. NO MORE DARE. 
13. NO MORE DEATH EDUCATION.
14. NO MORE THERAPEUTIC CLASSROOM.
15. NO MORE SEX EDUCATION. (Biological information pure and simple in Biology class.) 
16. NO MORE MULTICULTURALISM.
17. NO MORE TRIBALISM AND NEW AGE TECHNIQUES IN THE SCHOOLS. NO MORE CONFLICT RESOLUTION BECAUSE THAT IS THE VEHICLE FOR TRIBALISM AND NEW AGE TECHNIQUES. What matters is the content of character, not race, nationality, or color of skin. 
18. NO MORE INTEGRATED CURRICULUM (Making if impossible for parents to "opt out" of offensive curriculum because it is INTEGRATED within every possible lesson
19. NO MORE VALUES CLARIFICATION. 
20. NO MORE GROUP AND CO-OPERATIVE LEARNING (Where one child does the work and everyone else gets the grade.) No more modeling behavior to form socialist attitudes and beliefs.
21. NO MORE PEER TUTORING (Where one child sacrifices their opportunity to lift another. Students are not teachers. Both children lose because the one who needs the help does not need another child's help, but the teacher's!)
22. Secular Humanism WOULD NOT BE THE RELIGION OF THE SCHOOLS!
23. It is my belief that God warns of imparting the "knowledge of good and evil" and tells us to think of "whatsoever is good, whatsoever is pure, whatsoever is of good report, think on these things." Other than that and we produce the current nihilism and amorality of our schools with more suicide and drug use.
24. Only quality literature would be in the classroom, beginning with Marva Collins' list of books for every age. Community advisory committees would be called upon to review books.
25. EVERY CHILD WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN TO READ PHONETICALLY. 
26. VERY CHILD WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN TO COMPUTE WITH METHODS FREE OF POLITICS--BASED ON THE ABSOLUTES OF MATHEMATICS THAT SENT AMERICANS TO THE MOON.
27. Teacher certification would not matter. In fact, in Panama City there are many retired military who have experience that would benefit the students of our schools. You're heard the old adage: Those who can do, those who can't do teach, those who can't teach teach teachers. Retired engineers can do and some can teach. Why should they have to take education courses to certify them in methods proven NOT TO WORK TO EDUCATE CHILDREN BY TEACHERS WHO CAN'T TEACH? Have you ever looked at elementary math classes? And these people educated in those methods are supposed to know how to prepare our children for the demands of tomorrow?
28. I would love to have a school that was all female and one that was all male to give every child the opportunity to flourish in the environment that best suits the child according to the parents' choice. In the all female and the all male environment, I would encourage retired military to take the leadership in that school to give those children the role model they need and offer ROTC for a military career, should a child so desire. 
29. Leadership from the School Board and central office would be in every school. Leadership in every school would be alert to any moral impropriety or lack of supervision and correct that immediately. 
30. Cameras in every room would allow the administration of every school to observe the classrooms to make sure that discipline was enforced and moral turpitude nipped in the bud immediately. Teachers involved in such behavior would be fired immediately and not given access to children again. (Another reason for good lawyers.) Students misbehaving would be sent to an Alternative School.
31. Teachers would dress professionally and always set an example. 
32. Teachers would take turns as Bathroom/hall monitors. Principal would patrol the halls and make his/her presence known throughout the day in every area of the school.
33. Every school would have uniforms and every student would realize they represent that school wherever they go.
34. NO FUNDRAISERS WOULD BE ALLOWED IN THE SCHOOLS. 
35. After school clubs would incorporate special projects. But there would also be other clubs the Key Club, Drama Club, Spirit Club, Debate Club, Chess Club, Future Farmers Club, etc. These could have a Service Project -- but no child would get out of class for any of these. 
36. Secondary schools would have a seven period day with required subjects: English, Math (Algebra or higher as they progress in school) History (chronological not thematic), Science (Biology and physical), Foreign Language, Physical Education, Computer programming, Music, Art, Chorus or Study Hall (for extra help or homework). 
37. Everyone should be aware that like the old saying, "Why does a bank robber rob a bank? Because that is where the money is." One SADLY MUST REMEMBER "Why does a pedophile become a teacher? Because that is where the children are." It is the responsibility of Leadership to protect our children. (That includes Administrators, teachers, staff and support staff. It also includes volunteers. Each individual plays a vital role in the development of our children.)
38. I would put the finest leaders in the most "at risk" schools. I would encourage them to take those positions to recruit the very best teachers-- those committed to truly carrying through on the method chosen by the parent groups to best teach their children (of the three recommended).
39. I would then look at the results on an old standardized test (not the new attitude and belief tests geared to COMMON CORE and Bill Gates computers) administered at the first of the year and compare it to the results at the end. And I would give bonuses to teachers and ANY school that successfully brought student academic achievement up as evidenced by a valid achievement test like those of the past Not one of Jason Zimba's geared to COMMON CORE. 
40. Spelling bees would be reinstated with competition between the schools televised on the cable free channel. Math competitions would also be demonstrated encouraging competition between schools and individuals.  
41. Manners and Etiquette Class would be taught at ALL SCHOOLS. Teaching young people to respect each other and their elders is important training and will enhance job opportunities later on. No individual should feel inferior in a career because they do not know which fork to use or how to dress for an occasion. (Read the story of William James Edwards 25 years in the Black Belt.) 
42. We would NOT LIMIT ANY CHILD BY ASSUMING ANYTHING ABOUT HIS/HER FUTURE based on their socio-economic or home situation. EVERY CHILD WILL BE EQUIPPED WITH A GOOD BASIC EDUCATION TO PURSUE ANY CAREER HE/SHE CHOOSES. NOT SOME WORKFORCE BOARD!
43. Every year we would have a District Wide Talent Show for all children who want to participate, encouraging every child to develop their talents whatever they might be. The Talent show would be co-ordinated by the school councils and volunteers would work with children after school to participate. Leadership in administration would oversee all after school events. (That is part of a 12 month contract and the commitment of being a School Leader and earning the salary and respect that comes with that position.)

And so now you know why I will never "rule the schools." I would be too much like Jesus when he  upset the tables running the money changers out of the Tabernacle.

That is pretty much what my hairdresser told me when I ran for the Dothan, Alabama school board in the early 90s. This is a speech I gave at that time. The hand out I refer to in this speech is something I shared with you when I wrote about the Bigotry of Low Expectations. Things are so much worse now!

"People think you're too negative" 

I say there are enough Music Men convincing the public the "think system works." 

Enough sycophants telling the emperor how beautiful his new clothes! It is way past enough when only fifty percent of our children are proficient readers and about one out of three ninth graders drop out before they graduate. Enough of having a Superintendent boast that he is proud of those numbers. 

 They were ignored. Yes We Can urged everyone to think happy thoughts and "be supportive" and we have been supportive-- right up to the abyss--Common Core.

(I have written a lot lately because I found a notebook with a collection of articles, news clippings, etc. from that time. Before I threw up my hands, retreated to my garden and started doing genealogy and writing books. It is interesting to reflect on where we were then and where we have come in the past nearly 30 years. God help us!

I would have children consider the greatest of writers and write about the meaning of their words.

 1792-1822

Homer:             800 BC - 700 BC Greek epic poet; wrote epic poems "Iliad", "Odyssey" Ideal of Excellence

Hateful to me as the gates of Hades is that man who hides one thing in his heart and speaks another. Homer The Iliad

I too shall lie in the dust when I am dead, but now let me win noble renown. Homer, The Iliad

It is not unseemly for a man to die fighting in defense of his country.   Homer, The Iliad

The single best augury is to fight for one's country. Homer, The Iliad

Young men's minds are always changeable, but when an old man is concerned in a matter, he looks both before and after. Homer, The Iliad

May the gods grant you all things which your heart desires, and may they give you a husband and a home and gracious concord, for there is nothing greater and better than this -when a husband and wife keep a household in oneness of mind, a great woe to their enemies and joy to their friends, and win high renown.

Homer, The Odyssey

The wine urges me on, the bewitching wine, which sets even a wise man to singing and to laughing gently and rouses him up to dance and brings forth words which were better unspoken. Homer, The Odyssey

There is a time for many words, and there is also a time for sleep. Homer, The Odyssey

So little time. So much to learn! My own granddaughter is a victim of this stupidity. And I am helpless to make a difference for her.

So frustrating!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Parents have rights Against Intrusive Surveys PROTECTION OF PUPIL RIGHTS AMENDMENT and SEL (Social Emotional Learning)

https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2018/01/parents-have-rights-against-intrusive.html

FEMINISM
https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2018/01/feminism.html

If I Ruled the Schools

https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2018/01/i-guess-it-is-because-it-is-new-years.html

THE BIGOTRY OF LOW EXPECTATIONS: PROFITS, POSITION, POWER, POLITICS PRODUCE A CIVIL WAR IN EDUCATION

https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-bigotry-of-low-expectations-profits.html 

 FREE OUR CHILDREN FROM THE OPPRESSION OF COLLEGES OF EDUCATION. CHICAGO. TWO DIFFERENT PHILOSOPHIES.  

https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/12/free-our-children-from-oppression-of.html

Common Core, Sylvia Plath, and Death Education https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/12/common-core-sylvia-plath-and-death.html Tales from the Crypt. True stories of our Dead Schools.  https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/12/tales-from-crypt-our-dead-schools.html The Truth about Phonics that will Help You Help Your Child! Whole Language: A Fraud Perpetrated upon Our Students. One of Many? https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-truth-about-phonics-that-will-help.html  The Tragedy of the Math Mess and Another Way https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-tragedy-of-math-mess-and-another-way.html MATH WARS. ONCE AGAIN INTO THE FRAY https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2014/06/math-wars-once-again-into-fray.html COMMON CORE MATH https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/11/common-core-math.html The Reality of Bay District Schools. Only Fifty Percent Read Proficiently. Is there hope?   https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-reality-of-bay-district-schools.html The Four Period Day: Students as Guinea Pigs and Professional advancement for "innovators" https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-four-period-day-students-as-guinea.html The Tale of Last Hope for Local Control https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/12/a-tale-of-last-hope-for-local-control.html DEMONIC ROOTS TO COMMON CORE? VISIT YOUR CHILD'S THERAPEUTIC CLASSROOM. https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/12/demonic-roots-to-common-core-visit-your.html THE GENEALOGY OF COMMON CORE: BILL GATES/UNESCO/ROBERT MULLER//ALICE BAILEY/LUCIS TRUST  https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-genealogy-of-common-core-bill-gates_5.html THE CHICAGO CONNECTION TO COMMON CORE https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/11/the-chicago-connection-to-common-core.html does anybody really believe anymore? does anybody really care?https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/12/does-anybody-really-believe-anymore.html Sounding the Alarm! Today's Therapeutic Classroom. What are you going to do about it? https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/12/does-anybody-really-believe-anymore.html Spalding Writing Road to Reading and John Winston of Parks Elementary Natchitoches, Louisiana https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/12/spalding-writing-road-to-reading-and.html RETARDING AMERICA THE IMPRISONMENT OF POTENTIAL https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2014/12/retarding-america-imprisonment-of.html NOTE FROM ROBERT SWEET OF THE NATIONAL RIGHT TO READ FOUNDATION https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2014/10/note-from-robert-sweet-of-national.html The DARE PROGRAM 20 years later. https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-dare-program-20-years-later-more.html Merry Christmas! Meet Alliwishus, The Elf Mother Met at the Battle of the Bulge https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/12/merry-christmas-meet-alliwishus-elf.html My Mother. My hero who won a Battle Ribbon at the Battle of the Bulge. December 16, 1944. A SCRAPBOOK LOOK FROM JEAN BRONSON GILLIS BURSON. https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/12/my-mother-my-hero-who-won-battle-ribbon.html LEONARD COHEN HALLELUJAH PROJECT AT BAY HIGH SCHOOL AND ESTABLISHMENT RELIGION, SECULAR HUMANISM, IN OUR SCHOOLS https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/12/leonard-cohen-hallelujah-project-at-bay.html WHY SHOULD CONSERVATIVES, CHRISTIANS AND THE THE FAITH COMMUNITY BE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS? SUBSCRIBE TO THE PANAMA CITY NEWS HERALD AND GET WASHINGTON POST FREE http://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/12/why-should-conservatives-christians-and.html PEACE EDUCATION? CONFLICT RESOLUTION? TEACHING TOLERANCE? COMMON CORE  https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/12/peace-education-conflict-resolution.html TRADITIONAL OR PROGRESSIVE EDUCATION. DO YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE? HAS POLITICS AFFECTED YOUR CHILD'S MATH EDUCATION? https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/11/look-at-this-headline-and-now-according.html RETARDING AMERICA THE IMPRISONMENT OF POTENTIAL https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2014/12/retarding-america-imprisonment-of.html NOTE FROM ROBERT SWEET OF THE NATIONAL RIGHT TO READ FOUNDATION https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2014/10/note-from-robert-sweet-of-national.html DELPHI TECHNIQUE, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE EDUCATION ESTABLISHMENT CONVINCED A GULLIBLE PUBLIC TO BUY INTO COMMON CORE https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/11/so-what-is-thedelphi-technique-let.html COMMON CORE: PORNOGRAPHY 101 https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/11/common-core-pornography-101.html MIDDLE SCHOOL AGENDA FOR SEXUAL ORIENTATION AS A PART OF MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/09/middle-school-agenda-for-sexual.html BEHAVIOR MODELS ATTITUDES AND BELIEFS https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-protest-at-busy-intersection-near.html CULTURE WAR AND COMMON CORE https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/11/culture-war-and-common-core.html SOCIAL STUDIES AND COMMON CORE https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/11/social-studies-and-common-core.html TEACHERS AS LIBERATORS PRODUCE STUDENTS AS REVOLUTIONARIES: Whole Language Live On! https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/02/teachers-as-liberators-produce-students.html RADICAL POSSIBILITIES: YOUR CHILDREN  https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/11/radical-possibilities-your-children.html Response to AL.Com article "Alabama Superintendent Proposal to Raise Academic Standards." https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/11/response-to-alcom-article-alabama.html SECULAR HUMANISM IS NOW THE RELIGION OF OUR SCHOOLS https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/08/secular-humanism-is-now-accepted.html COMMON CORE: THE EMPEROR IS WEARING NO CLOTHES https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/11/common-core-emperor-is-wearing-no.html COMMON CORE=PETRI DISH FOR RADICALS https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/11/common-core-petri-dish-for-radicals.html REVOLUTIONARY PEDAGOGY https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2014/06/revolutionary-pedagogy-or-so-you.html Revolutionary Pedagogy: Or, so you thought reading, writing and calculating were why you sent your child to school? https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2014/06/revolutionary-pedagogy-or-so-you.html EDUCATION TODAY: Politics, Profits, Position, Power, and Prejudice published 1995 https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/02/education-today-politics-profits.html CAPSTONE EDUCATION (UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA) AND MY CONCERNS https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2015/01/capstone-educator-and-concerns.html CONFLICT RESOLUTION OR POLITICAL INDOCTRINATION? https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/02/conflict-resolution-or-political-and.html DELPHI TECHNIQUE, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND THE EDUCATION ESTABLISHMENT CONVINCED THE GULLIBLE NATION TO BUY INTO COMMON CORE https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/11/so-what-is-thedelphi-technique-let.html WHO DO WE HOLD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE FAILURE OF OUR SCHOOLS? https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/02/so-who-do-we-hold-accountable-parents.html PUBLIC EDUCATION SHOULD EMPOWER PARENTS https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/02/public-education-should-empower-parents.html CONSPIRACY THEORIES IN EDUCATION https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/02/conspiracy-theories-in-education-truth.html THE CIVIL WAR IN EDUCATION  https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/01/the-civil-war-in-education-why-we.html SOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2017/01/solve-problems-of-public-schools-hope.html TAKE A KNEE https://sharmanbursonramsey.blogspot.com/2016/12/take-knee.html