Despite gains in several areas, two Lamar County schools did not meet Adequate Yearly Progress in Georgia's first round of announcements of schools meeting federally-mandated goals.
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Yea, even i dont understand why this story isnt up top with a picture so all of the people of barnesville can see this, because this is a very important issue in our community.Also the pic from last week with the blood was changed by demand but this hasnt been changed and im the 3rd person to say something about it Mrs.Sherri Ellington
Ok, well Drew you need to do something about this so it can be seen better because no one can see this and this is important information for the people in Lamar County!
FYI - The entire story was printed in Tuesday's edition of the newspaper. That edition is on sale at a number of racks throughout the county and may also be accessed through the e-Edition. Info at right.
WOW....WE have a really WELL PAID superintendant, an assistant superintendant and an Assistant to the assistant superintendant and this still happens?..... Maybe we should spend some of that money on some really motivated teachers!
Look at the bright side. The scores might be failing but we have a nice football stadium and top paid administrators putting the money where it is most important. We have baby-thugs gang style robbing good scoring kids in bathrooms, so they leave and go to other schools. Do you really wonder why it is a mess?
You hit the nail on the head, but do not forget the bell tower and a building for the administration and BOE. Remember all this the next time they want another penny sales tax renewal.
whats wrong with you?dont you know that getting an education is nothing compaired to playing football?you need to understand that being a future hamburger flipper or enrty level factory worker and jocksniffer is more important than an education.that new stadium will make every kid set aside his or her problems and want to become a famous football player, hell lamar county will be the only school to graduate a full class of pro football players .just wait and see how the grades improve because of that stadium .whats more important to you our children graduateing with a good education or a fancy football field?you need to get it together how do you expect our children to yell "go dawgs" and quote sports stat at the sprots bar drunk (because they couldn't actually compete in any sport so they try and live their dreams through someone else)if we dont have a fancy football stadium?
truth = pot = kettle. Since 'truth' can't spell, has lousy grammar and composition skills... Well, do I need to go any further in exposing your mentality. Long story short -- quit your dadgum complaining... And, instead of criticizing somebody that is trying to make a difference buy upgrading the facilities and the physical plant-- try being a part of the solution, instead of being a part of the problem with such a negative attitude. Perception is reality, and the physical plant before the upgrades was about 50 years behind schedule. Get a freaking life for the love of God.
I think Lamar County has the best group of teachers it has ever had. Go observe in one of the schools: in some classes, you will see half the students with their heads down on the desk. I have seen experienced English teachers having to read out loud to 16 year-old students because they refused to read what was assigned. Many students are not passing the tests because of their attitude, and quite frankly, many parents are absent from their children's lives.
Lamar County teachers perform extraordinarily well. The burden for becoming educated, quite frankly, is mostly on the students. Some will not even bring pencils and paper. Some will not even take notes. Some will not even try to understand what is being taught.
Hey, Big D--maybe we need some motivated students.
The only time the school is the way it is supposed 2 be is when the state is coming to observe then you see all types of stuff hapening and getting put up. This past year one teacher told me that you have to know how to play the state to keep your job. Also the individual teacher does more when they have an observer in their class
that all depends on the teacher. Not saying it doesn't happen, it does more than it doesn't. I can only answer for me, I figure the state, principal, super, or parents,anyone, should see what I do daily when they come in. I'm sure I polish up a bit too, but not really on purpose. But you are absolutely correct about a bunch of people in any profession. They only do it right when somone that can affect their position is watching.
Hey Ad,
I did not say that our teachers weren’t motivated, I said we need more of them and less Superintendents, Personally I believe that one Superintendent is more than sufficient for a school system of our size, especially when you consider how well we pay them all!
I have not intended to show any disrespect for our teachers here at all, I hope this clears up and misunderstandings.
What they didn't print is the fact that our SPECIAL ED population is the one keeping the county from making AYP. The state holds them to the SAME STANDARDS as everyone else, which makes no sense. I really wish that if they were going to print the story, they would print the whole thing, instead of printing the part that would cause school bashing on the blog (again)!
Don't knock the special education program, some circumstances made these kids special. Such as the parents not giving the kids the extra help they needed when they were in primary school years. Where were the parents when the kids needed that extra help? On the telephone gossiping,computer and watching soap operas.Look parents and grandparents take the time to help help these kids. It will make alot of difference. I know
I am not in any way knocking the special ed departement. They do the best they can. But the best is not good enough for the state. My biggest gripe is with the accountability. There is NO WAY a child who has a learning disability or some other disability is going to perform at the same level other children are on the state test. It just doesn't make any sense! In order to have a "subgroup" of students, there has to be a certain number of them in a particular school. Many of the schools that are making AYP each year, are not blessed with the number of special ed kids that are in Lamar County. LC does a tremendous job with the special ed kids and parents of special ed kids know it and bring them here.
My child was born with disorders that we cannot correct. Until you live it ... shut the hell up about it. Those teste are FORCED on children who are not capable of passing them by the state and this is no fault of the teachers or parents involved. It is ignorance of the governing agency. Do not blame it on the special education departments when you are the one really needing an education in this area.
the thing is that when the entire population is figured we way more than meet standard. It is the breakdown. Lamar County has a very large percentage of special education kids when compared to other counties. It is out of proportion. In the break down of students, lamar county had just a couple too many special education students not make it in math. Some did notable better on the retake, but still didn't make it, so no AYP. It breaks the heart of the staff and the kids that actually did try and did improve, just not enough. Their has to be another way to measure progress for students with disabilities. They aren't dumb, they have legit disabilities that hamper learning/achievement. I feel they are punished for this under no child left behind where every student no matter what circumstance is held to the same standard.
In Texas, where this was from (I was living there while it was just cranking good) they didn't focus on dropouts, but on graduation rate. Which students that started 9th grade graduated on time (four years, not early or late). What happened was, kids that could not pass the TASS test (their CRCT) in middle school were kept back from high school. They eventually dropped out and never started high school. Guess what....grad rate went up. IS that what we really want for our kids.
The teachers can only teach a few hours a day people!!! The parents are the problem who'd rather give these kids video games, tv's, fast food and relaxed disciplined at home. There are some parents who are focussed on their children's performance in and out of school but the vast majority don't care or don't "have the time" to administor to their children.
That's the truth, and I know some pretty indifferent white folks too. They don't care where kids are, what they are doing, or if they did homework so long as the parent has beer, dope, or Internet. I'd say parents and social changes are more of a problem than the teachers or schools. Especially when there is alcohol or drugs around the home.
I dont care what ppl say. I graduated a few years back and when i was in school it was a mad house. Idiots galore. Mostly its the parents fault but the school has no back bone. This is one positive thing about private schools. If you act out or become a disruption to other students learning you can be removed. Sure the govnt schools have ISS and junk like that but the ignorant keep getting more ignorant. Just when you think it cant get any worse BAM!!!!
I dont really want to make this a racial discussion on here but does anyone have a break down of these stats by race. Just curious.
The teachers at the elementary schools are doing a good job and always have. After there it starts going down hill. Lots of the teachers there have been there since i was in school. Highschool teachers are here and gone each year. Probably not very many left since i was there about 10 years ago. The older these kids get after elementary school the more they listen to their stupid parents and not teachers. They hear all the negative talk about other races and become a part of the lazy masses that flood Barnesville Ga and everywhere else. You have heard the phrase "monkey see, monkey do" right. You can pretty much tell by just normal activity such as going to the grocery store, gas station, or eating places as to whos child is more than likely falling way short. If i was raised by these menaces to society living a life of poverty wanting a hand out for everything i would have failed too.
OOOOOO...The Elementary School only met AYP because they did not have enough of a special ed population to count... Their failure rates on the CRCT are just as bad or worse for that population. They didn't test out...they lucked out!!!
Check out the AYP reports from the State Department of Education at www.k12.ga.us, and you'll find out WHY our Middle and High Schools didn't make AYP. The Middle was held back by Students with Disabilities, and #11 hit the proverbial nail on the head. Those kids should never be expected to meet the same standards as the regular ed students. Until the parent of a Special Ed student slaps a lawsuit on the State Department for violating the laws regarding People with Disabilities, nothing will be done to change those regulations.
The High School was NOT held back by Academic Performance on the CRCT (which means the teachers ARE doing their jobs, thank you) but by the Second Indicator, which was GRADUATION RATE. Before you blame the teachers, get YOURSELF educated. Parents, don't ALLOW your students to QUIT, and don't let them settle for being statistics.
Thank you, Lamar County School System, for all you do. Keep up the GREAT WORK.
Its hard for me to believe that someone with a serious learning disablity be it down syndrome or other diseases have to meet the same standards as other students that are in general classes. I would have to hear it from the state or see the test for myself. As of now im calling bullcrap on that. Im sure there are some test that are required for them to pass but im saying that it isnt the same test as students without the disabilities.
My child has multiple disorders and is disabled. She has always been forced to take these tests. She will also be required to take the very same test for high school graduation as the 'normal' children. She is alotted more time ... as if this is going to fix something in her brain? I have been told that is is MANDITORY for her to take them.
This is absolutely true. Only 2% of the population can be on GAA or the alternative test. This is reserved for students who are attempting to learn some kind of life skill. Any student not moderately or severely disabled must take the exact some test as others. Call bull crap all you want #15 but 15.1 is right. Students with disabilities can be read tests, given time, or even bubbled in for them, but it is the same test.
The big problem is the unnecessary and pointless burdens and targets that are imposed on teachers. The State and federal government place unrealistic regulation and curricular requirements on schools, which is not in the best interests of learning. Average to good Private schools have much greater freedom and thus have better success rates, therefore it would make sense to run public schools in the same way as private schools. I know a teacher that tells me about the ridiculous 'standards' that have to be taught. If I were a parent of a child at the school, I would worry even if the school did pass AYP because that would be no guarantee that the kids have actually learned anything of value or intellectual rigour. Previous posts are correct when they point out that this problem is not the fault of the teachers, it is the fault of the administration, the state and federal government. I couldn't believe it when I found out that the graduation test was multiple-choice questions! Where I am from, there are no multiple-choice questions on our equivalent tests. I am guessing that there different standards of education in different countries.
How many kids are there that have so-called "disabilities"? What is this, some magical "disability" capaital of the world? These so-called "disabilities" are mostly the result of poor parents and poor schools. I know a very smart student who tried to go back to Lamar and gangs of blacks would beat him up in the bathrooms and steal his money. The teachers and principal did nothing about it. Very few caring parents who have another choice wants their kids to go to that hell-hole of a system. It all looks clean and fancy and rich but it is spineless. You all get what you deserve when you don't have the backbone to get down on the disruptive trouble makers.
Do you want teachers to stand in the bathroom and monitor students? That would cause a riot in the community. "Why is there a teacher watching my child in the bathroom?" If this "actually happened," the student should have told the administration and they would have taken care of it. I bet this is either a made up story or happened a long time ago. The current administrators/ student resource officers in the schools would not allow that to happen today.
Bull. It just happened last year and it was reported. It also repeated. The lack of action speaks louder than your claims about how much action they take. This is why people who have any way possible move their kids out of Lamar schools. There is peer pressure to do poorly or leave. Also my question is why are there so many alleged disabilities? Is this actual physical disability or is it lack of parenting? Do schools get extra money or aid if they classify a student as "disabled"?
Who are these children with disabilities? Are you aware that 1 in
150 children are diagnosed with autisim nationwide? In Philadelphia where I am at now the number is closer to 1 in 125. Children are being diagnosed more accuratly nowday.
Do not blame parents for the disablities of their children. The parent can work with the child but the child still needs a good IEP and special ed plan.
I tell you why these kids can't learn you have some of the parents doing there homework for them. Then when it's time for them to take the test they don't have a clue about what the test its. I know my brothers ex-wife was doing it for her daughter. Bad thing about it she had the answers wrong!!!
# 18 I do agree with you on that!! I know someone else that was doing there homework for there for there daughter and the bad thing about it she graduate from high school!
What amazes me are people complaining who don't know words like "to" or "too" or "their" or "there" or how to use verbs. No wonder we have so many failing students.
I'm sometimes amazed also, no need to be critical though. Personally I struggled all nine years of my schooling with A.D.D. undiagnosed. I have however found perfect spelling and grammer not so important as to the importance of someone knowing what they are tring to say.
It is not the superintendent as much as it is the overpaid principles that don't know what they are doing. Also you can't produce those that aren't willing. The ones at school to just hang out and hold back those that want to move on with life and be somebody.So those that don't do their homework on the subject just love looking stupid to everyone.
I went to Lamar county schools years ago. My nieces went there and are now being home schooled. WHY you ask. Where do I need to start. Lets see my niece was being bullied and her body parts grabbed by other students. When she went to the teacher the teacher refused to do anything. Her notebooks, homework and many others items were stolen from her when she would leave her desk. Did the teacher do anything NO!! Did the principal when a conference was held. NO!! Guess what this child was 9 years old.
I moved to the Savannah area and I am glad I did. My children go to a small school k-5 and we have a Large special education class. My son has speech difficulties which affect his reading and some other skills. But guess what He had teachers that worked with him and he passed those same tests that your saying your special education system can't. Granted I know some children are different. HOWEVER there are many doctors that will label a child as special needs because no one wants to teach that child. An Effingham county teacher tried to do that with my son but it didn't work. She tried saying that my child was autistic because she couldn't understand him when he spoke and because he acted like a typical 5 year old at the time. His pre-k Teacher and now his first grade teacher have not said he has any problems like that just his speech.
I remember being in High School biology with a drunk teacher. She slept more in class than her students did. Now there are students who don't want to be there and will drag things down but guess what. Teachers are to blame as well. I know an Elementary School teacher who thinks she is gods gift to teaching and managed to anger knowledgeable parents at every turn. My mom and sister are very involved in the school system even with my nieces being home schooled. My nieces have harder work at home school than they do in the class rooms of Lamar county.
Lamar County Schools are a Joke. Other Counties have just as many problems. LOOK AT the Chatham County Schools (Savannah) MANY of the schools are failing. Its not just a Lamar county problem.
ITS CALLED TEACHING FOR THE TEST!! That's one reason your test scores are awful. The children aren't learning what they need to.
Lamar County Schools are Pathetic just like many others across the state. I have watched Great teachers get run out the Lamar County School system. My favoriate teacher was one of them. She went to work in Upson County and was treated better.
The schools are a joke and instead of building new stuff and pay raises of the Central office work on making the schools better and get over yourself. Until you do something about it your test scores will never come up and the school system only has itself to blame.
Sorry Kat, my experience with LC system is 180 degrees of yours and I can't let your dogging go without defending LC system.
Have had one child graduate from LC and another still in HS. Neither had problems you describe nor do I know any of their friends that have.
The one still in HS also had speech problems when entering 4K and worked with the speech specialist for 2 or 3 years. She did an excellent job!
I've had many positive experiences working with teachers, school & system administrators and board members in several parent volunteer organization.
I also know several teachers that left LC for "greener" pastures and wish they never did. One went to Pike and one to Spalding. Also, know a few teachers that came to LC from Spalding and say experience is so much better than Spalding.
LC isn't a perfect school system but it is far from being a joke or pathetic. One of the biggest problems LC faces is the vast diversity of students both in capabilities and family support.
I quit LC schools and I am glad I did. When I got a job in Maryland I was told that if I had of had a Georgia High School Diploma they would not have hired me. I would have been Class of 96. I left in 95 and got my GED that same year. When my teacher was DRUNK IN CLASS that was the final straw for me and my family. They wouldn't get rid of the teacher because she was so close to retirement. WHAT A JOKE..
I know teachers who were literally run out and are so glad that they left.
Defend all you want but I know the system is a Joke and people who have moved out of the county and experienced a well run school system know it too. All I can say for my nieces is thank god for home school they won't have to put up with the bullying that is going on and no one wants to do anything about it. EVEN IF THERE IS A ZERO TOLERANCE ON BULLYING!! Yeah right feed me another one Lamar County. I had thought of moving back but I will stay in the Savannah area. At least the schools my children are in are passing. That's a lot better than Lamar County!
Something I forgot to mention. You said that you know Teachers who wish they hadn't left Lamar county. I know why. Its because now they have to work and meet higher standards.
There are some great teachers in Lamar county. I am related to a couple of them. But there are also some of the laziest ones there too. Cull the flock and get something done.
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Every one should be able to see this just as good as they can see the school opening day being delayed
Sherri
YOU ARE THE BEST FOR PUTING IT WHERE IT IS VISIBLE!
Lamar County teachers perform extraordinarily well. The burden for becoming educated, quite frankly, is mostly on the students. Some will not even bring pencils and paper. Some will not even take notes. Some will not even try to understand what is being taught.
Hey, Big D--maybe we need some motivated students.
I did not say that our teachers weren’t motivated, I said we need more of them and less Superintendents, Personally I believe that one Superintendent is more than sufficient for a school system of our size, especially when you consider how well we pay them all!
I have not intended to show any disrespect for our teachers here at all, I hope this clears up and misunderstandings.
In Texas, where this was from (I was living there while it was just cranking good) they didn't focus on dropouts, but on graduation rate. Which students that started 9th grade graduated on time (four years, not early or late). What happened was, kids that could not pass the TASS test (their CRCT) in middle school were kept back from high school. They eventually dropped out and never started high school. Guess what....grad rate went up. IS that what we really want for our kids.
I dont really want to make this a racial discussion on here but does anyone have a break down of these stats by race. Just curious.
The teachers at the elementary schools are doing a good job and always have. After there it starts going down hill. Lots of the teachers there have been there since i was in school. Highschool teachers are here and gone each year. Probably not very many left since i was there about 10 years ago. The older these kids get after elementary school the more they listen to their stupid parents and not teachers. They hear all the negative talk about other races and become a part of the lazy masses that flood Barnesville Ga and everywhere else. You have heard the phrase "monkey see, monkey do" right. You can pretty much tell by just normal activity such as going to the grocery store, gas station, or eating places as to whos child is more than likely falling way short. If i was raised by these menaces to society living a life of poverty wanting a hand out for everything i would have failed too.
The High School was NOT held back by Academic Performance on the CRCT (which means the teachers ARE doing their jobs, thank you) but by the Second Indicator, which was GRADUATION RATE. Before you blame the teachers, get YOURSELF educated. Parents, don't ALLOW your students to QUIT, and don't let them settle for being statistics.
Thank you, Lamar County School System, for all you do. Keep up the GREAT WORK.
I am sorry for your drama over an incident in a school and it does need to be addressed but it has nothing to do with our children who are diasbled.
150 children are diagnosed with autisim nationwide? In Philadelphia where I am at now the number is closer to 1 in 125. Children are being diagnosed more accuratly nowday.
Do not blame parents for the disablities of their children. The parent can work with the child but the child still needs a good IEP and special ed plan.
I moved to the Savannah area and I am glad I did. My children go to a small school k-5 and we have a Large special education class. My son has speech difficulties which affect his reading and some other skills. But guess what He had teachers that worked with him and he passed those same tests that your saying your special education system can't. Granted I know some children are different. HOWEVER there are many doctors that will label a child as special needs because no one wants to teach that child. An Effingham county teacher tried to do that with my son but it didn't work. She tried saying that my child was autistic because she couldn't understand him when he spoke and because he acted like a typical 5 year old at the time. His pre-k Teacher and now his first grade teacher have not said he has any problems like that just his speech.
I remember being in High School biology with a drunk teacher. She slept more in class than her students did. Now there are students who don't want to be there and will drag things down but guess what. Teachers are to blame as well. I know an Elementary School teacher who thinks she is gods gift to teaching and managed to anger knowledgeable parents at every turn. My mom and sister are very involved in the school system even with my nieces being home schooled. My nieces have harder work at home school than they do in the class rooms of Lamar county.
Lamar County Schools are a Joke. Other Counties have just as many problems. LOOK AT the Chatham County Schools (Savannah) MANY of the schools are failing. Its not just a Lamar county problem.
ITS CALLED TEACHING FOR THE TEST!! That's one reason your test scores are awful. The children aren't learning what they need to.
Lamar County Schools are Pathetic just like many others across the state. I have watched Great teachers get run out the Lamar County School system. My favoriate teacher was one of them. She went to work in Upson County and was treated better.
The schools are a joke and instead of building new stuff and pay raises of the Central office work on making the schools better and get over yourself. Until you do something about it your test scores will never come up and the school system only has itself to blame.
Have had one child graduate from LC and another still in HS. Neither had problems you describe nor do I know any of their friends that have.
The one still in HS also had speech problems when entering 4K and worked with the speech specialist for 2 or 3 years. She did an excellent job!
I've had many positive experiences working with teachers, school & system administrators and board members in several parent volunteer organization.
I also know several teachers that left LC for "greener" pastures and wish they never did. One went to Pike and one to Spalding. Also, know a few teachers that came to LC from Spalding and say experience is so much better than Spalding.
LC isn't a perfect school system but it is far from being a joke or pathetic. One of the biggest problems LC faces is the vast diversity of students both in capabilities and family support.
I know teachers who were literally run out and are so glad that they left.
Defend all you want but I know the system is a Joke and people who have moved out of the county and experienced a well run school system know it too. All I can say for my nieces is thank god for home school they won't have to put up with the bullying that is going on and no one wants to do anything about it. EVEN IF THERE IS A ZERO TOLERANCE ON BULLYING!! Yeah right feed me another one Lamar County. I had thought of moving back but I will stay in the Savannah area. At least the schools my children are in are passing. That's a lot better than Lamar County!
There are some great teachers in Lamar county. I am related to a couple of them. But there are also some of the laziest ones there too. Cull the flock and get something done.