Freedom of expression is wonderful, but in the context of the workplace it is not appropriate. Do you think it would be ok to wear Daisy Duke’s shorts to work or a Scarface t-shirt? How about shirts that say “stop snitching” or advocate drug use? Allowing our students to dress as they please means not preparing them for the work force.

High pregnancy rates surely must be exacerbated by the fact that some students wear clothing that borders on indecent exposure. Young men with pants hanging around their knees and young ladies leaving little to the imagination is not even beginning to be self-expression, it’s self-exploitation based on marketing. Kids watch music videos and think ahh that’s cool, they’ve got money, and those people are good looking, they get attention, and I want to be like that, so the next thing you know you’re in class and you’re looking at a bunch of music video stars.

Certainly I am no prude, but unfortunately many of our students are not raised with healthy values and it is up to those who know what is best for the student to correct a behavior that is not going to help them in a global marketplace.

When you go home, wear what you like, be naked for all I care, but when you come to school if you don’t know how to dress appropriately it is our responsibility to teach you.

I hate to see students wearing expensive shoes, a white t-shirt, and they can’t seem to afford a pen, a folder, or some paper. They manage to get their outfits to match, but they can’t get their act together.

I don’t know what you wear to work, but school is work, not a club.

Perhaps all SB members should be required to pass the 12th-grade SOLs … or, at least, pass the 8th-grade SOLs.

How you see your actions and how others see them can lead to problems being solved. Cummunications is very important to me and in order to address your concerns please call me. I will email you.

In reference to your post. This information came from me Carletta Wilson and I welcome the opportunity to talk with you because those issues have not been addressed or resolved. You were contacted about the Spanish teacher, air conditioning and several other issues. The new Spanish teacher arrived in January, four months after the old teacher left. The main air conditioner is still not working properly and there are three or four broken units in the library windows. I do not want to hash this out here but I’ve tried on several occasions to talk with you and even sent you an email on May 23rd of this year to address several security concerns with no response. Communication is everything. While I did not make the particular post the person posting is correct that you were unresponsive. You may have believed you were responsive to the needs of your constituents you have yet to communicate with me or the principal and the issues have yet to be resolved. Again I welcome the opportunity to speak with you. Carletta Wilson carlettapittman@cs.com

High school graduates are being placed in remedial English courses at VCU before moving on to English Composition 101. I don’t really know if we are better off today than we were yesterday. Our diplomas have the value of the U.S. dollar abroad.

posted by GetRealRichmond at July 2, 2008 9:35 pm :

Are you sure about gender separate classes at MLK? I know that Henderson Middle has them, but this is news that MLK has them as well.

You might double-check that. I know quite a few people at MLK and no one has ever mentioned this. Hmmmmm …..

I know the PTA president at MLK had to fight like hell to get a Spanish teacher assigned for the 8th-graders. She contacted her School Board member (Chandra Smith)and got nowhere. Fortunately, she contacted another school board member and asked for her help. Wanna guess which SB member delivered?

Time to chime in,
I would like to ask you, where you got your infomation? I was contacted regarding a spanish teacher, the air conditioning not working and other issues. I also took these issue to the Superintendent and made sure they were addressed. That was me, Chandra Smith 6th District School Board rep. Get your fact correct and remember the process must be respected by all, not just students. RPS administrators and leaders must be held to their part in correcting problems. I believe in RPS as I believe in the City of Richmond. We are better today than we were yesterday. We will continue to improve. People do what people see. I am doing something different. Working instead of talking!!!.

I had forgotten about that beautiful phrase, which sums it up so well. Those guys had incredible forethought.

Thank you.

Are you sure it’s that many? Considering the media hype and politicians’ praise, I’m surprised anybody opposes uniforms.

Individual liberties are protected from public opinion by the Bill of Rights. It’s creators talked about the “tyranny of the majority.” One’s right to life, liberty, and freedom of expression cannot be submitted to vote. The way it seems to play out in the schools is majorities take away individual rights, and the courts restore them.

Some of our most important battles are fought in the school context: Saluting the flag, school prayer, forcing students to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, the teaching of intelligent design, discouraging the teaching of evolution, displaying the Ten Commandments, and numerous free-expression prohibitions all began as school issues. And they all had, or have, community support. The case that upheld the equality rights of African-American school students, Brown v. Board, would never have been heard if public opinion prevailed.

The right of students to express themselves is hard won, and giving it up for the sake of convenience is a mistake, in my opinion.

It is correct to say that this degree of parent participation is expected at Fox and Munford, particularly for the out of district families. Plus, I found it to be kind of a measley price, compared to the pay-off.

And, yep, it sure did keep people excited about the school that their kids were attending. There was definitely a cause/effect relationship there, without any doubt.

According to a PTA board member at Holton, we need twelve very active in the school parents to get the ball rolling. Right now, our school has maybe three.

John, could you post our PTA meeting on the calendar?

Sorry to offended you with the Whatever.

Anyway, I continue to make calls and advocate for the school. I believe McQuinn will help us here. The most important thing is to get people excited about the school. I personally think it is an excellent school and take every chance I get to let others know.

By the way, you often say, “whatever” to people and that is impolite and incredibly arrogant. It is a shoo fly shoo move towards your fellow bloggers.

Giving money is contributing to the school and I have found that I’ll do this when I can’t give time.

As you know, Bellevue is on the chopping block and if parents and the community do not organize, you and others will be holding those parent teacher conferences at Chimborazo or some other school.

I am against you claiming that it is a requirement to attend PTA meetings to be involved. I have been able to arrange things that fit my schedule and allow me to have some quality of life and I truly believe that this involvement has contributed to my children receiving a decent education.

This is parental involvement. I can contribute money to fund raisers, but very little time. This is where I am at and it in not way makes me a deliquent parent. Your implication is terribly arrogant.

Why do you have a problem with me suggesting parents work in their kids’ school?

I disagree with Goldman’s uniform policy and I don’t much care for his Carytown mall idea (I would put focus on public transportation first) but I like his stance on Echo Harbor and that the big corporate monied folk aren’t backing him. Goldman is probably the most progressive candidate on the ticket –he seems to be standing outside of the big business and political organizations.

Here I’d like to mention a couple ideas regarding public education that would cost little to nothing:

1) Just like teachers, parents should fill out exit surveys when they decide to leave a particular school or system. On the survey, the parents will be asked why they chose to leave that school. (This idea is not mine, it came from a fellow parent.)

2) This is a policy at Munford, Fox, and Holton that has built these schools up to where they are at today. It is expected that out of zone parents will participate in the school PTA and/or volunteer in the class and school activities. Our neighborhood school is predominately out of zone enrollment and only several people show up to the PTA meetings. These folk are not paying realestate taxes in this neighborhood nor are they helping in the school. And I don’t want to hear the single parent crap because I have friends who are single parents working in their children’s school. For those parents who work during school hours, they can come in on Saturday mornings and help clean up grounds or work on a school directory from the comforts of their own home.

Unqualified RPS employees can’t get away with much with parents watching and the young passionate teachers might decide to stay in our schools if they are well supported.

Uniforms crush creativity and violate our rights: 5

Uniforms might be a good idea, helping cash-strapped parents and promoting discipline: 20

I did my best to talley fairly, but the whole thread was over 60 pages in Word.

The point I want to make is, the community seems to be open to the idea of uniforms with only a few detractors. However, these detractors, even though everyone is allowed her/his own opinion, act as if they are speaking for the entire community. Of course, we all think we are right, but some commenters are really bordering on arrogance.

Hey – I don’t have to drive five miles. I just have to walk one block – one measley block. I live in Fulton, and there are gunshots here just as much as anywhere else where the crime is active. I’m hardly in my own little world.

I do know that, whatever folks income level is, we all have to eat. We all enjoy being smiled at – seriously, try it! Even the hardest gangster will speak if you say hello, male or female. There is nowhere that I am afraid to drive, in Church Hill or in any other areas of this city with the top off my Jeep and the doors unlocked. I do it every day looking at property, working. Every-single-day, and absolutely everywhere, without exception. Not in my own little world.

Sure, there are folks who need help with their education. And I am waiting for someone to tell me how dressing everyone the same solves that problem. It’s like putting salt in a cake and feeling sorry for yourself when it tastes terrible. Mandating uniforms is not the recipe for inferior education and less than stellar child rearing.

Why hasn’t anyone been able to state why these concepts don’t match? Because they can’t. It is just not the remedy. It’s a silly distraction, and you guys are falling for it, hook line and sinker. Military academies are there for those who need more discipline. Let the folks who earn that consequence suffer it.

In this case, go ahead and shoot the messenger. I’m not concerned with winning the popularity contest here. I rarely care about being right, and generally do not continue on about anything so relentlessly. But this stuff really matters. It’s such a much bigger topic. Sorry if some find it boring, and squirm in their chairs because it takes a few words to express that bigger through-line.

But don’t miss the point while you are pulling that trigger. Do not invite them to dumb you down, people. That’s all I am saying. If you do, it’s your own foolish consequence to suffer.

And it is also the legacy that you leave your kids. Rights surrendered are never, ever offered back willingly by the one you handed your leash to. And that’s a fact, Jack.

So make your choices deliberate.

It’s kinda of like hogging the spotlight. If this were a verbal debate, each commenter would have a time limit.

You gotta get out of your little world, and that doesn’t mean traveling to other countries. How about traveling to the poorest parts of the city if you really, really want to experience a different culture? Realize that there are enclaves within the city that don’t have skills to think critically. Good for you, but you and your family aren’t the ones that need help and attention. There is a whole ‘nother world out there, and all you have to do is drive five minutes to get to it.

And btw, writing in third-person may be a little weird, but using meaningless management buzzwords like “pro-activity” and “effective” make you look like a total droid.

Unfortunately, I saw none of that responsiveness in your second advertisement, either, posted here on CHPN. So very, very disappointing. Upon a little googling, I also noticed others commenting on the same personal aggrandizement on other blogs. Can you hear that? This method of campaigning is not going over well.

About your self-stated achievements: again, when you go for a job interview, and your prospective boss would like to speak about a topic, is it really appropriate to ask him if he is going to tell you how cute you look that day? “Aren’t ya gonna compliment me on my shoes? I did a great job of finding them at a fantastic price!” Would any of us really do that? Ludicrous, right? And so is asking for props, while still dodging a pointed series of questions regarding civil liberty infringement, a topic you – yourself – raised. It’s really kinda, well, lame.

I REALLY want to like you, Mr. Goldman. I thought you were a very pleasant fellow when we met. But the commercials, the speaking-in-the-third-person stuff, (what’s UP with that???) the attempts to elicit compliments for unrelated self-stated achievements, and the dodging of the very topic of this thread – mandated uniforms for students that attend the Richmond public school system, is just killing me. It really and truly is. It’s bizarre, at this point.

If anyone here has traveled – been exposed to other cultures – you know how the forcing-of-all-the-little-people-to-look-alike concept is viewed. Other countries are justifiably terrified of these concepts. Foreigners find this stuff downright frightening in public education. Because it is! Stripping of physical individuality is a method used by people to pave the road to brainwashing. Look alike, think alike, blend in, check out. And whatever ya do, start ‘em young!

We are so used to lazily thinking that our government is going to take care of us, that we are blind to what they see in even very under-educated, third-world countries. And I’ve been there. A lot, and recently, too. I left the U.S. three times last year alone, and had to postpone a fourth trip, around Christmastime, because of being too busy with work. I only state that to qualify myself for those folks who would question my experience with this, the topic of foreign perception.

In my travels, I have learned that we are viewed by other countries as the greatest nation in the world largely because we have these freedoms to choose. Why are we seriously talking about handing them over, especially without a lick of justification or evidence that it would do any good? It’s madness.

And if folks here want to simplify the morning routine with their kids, grab the reigns for goodness sake! You have the absolute right to require your own kids to wear polos and khakis each and every day of the week, if this is the value in your family. You even have the right to make them dress up for dinner, if you want! Whose castle is it? Be a parent! If you are struggling with doing that, please don’t make it the government’s problem, or mine – for that matter. Do you seriously use the argument with your children that “Look! Everybody’s doing it!” to convince them to mind? Is this why you want everyone else to be forced to participate? Do you actually NEED that crutch in your household? I sincerely hope not.

Also, and with all due respect, if your kids are consumed with materialism, it is not the government’s issue, either. It really isn’t. This, too, is a family issue.

My son is not allowed to leave the house with holes in, or stains on his shirt, high-waters, or nasty fingernails. He doesn’t even try anymore, really, because he knows that if I have to repeatedly ask him to make himself presentable, by our family standard, I will make sure he is very uncomfortable. He has learned to pay attention to these things on his own. (Yep, they can learn!) And if he wants to argue, then he must be too young for (insert privilege here.) And those privileges will disappear, one by one, and extremely swiftly. That out of the way, my son and I have an awesome time together – and if you know me in person, you know this is true. We get along great, and he would be the first one to state that as fact. There is, generally, no struggle with this stuff. He is the subordinate, and I’m the mom. And with that out of the way, we are completely free to have lots of fun. Last night I took him to see Steel Pulse at the National, and we had an excellent time. He deserves stuff like that, and I literally learn something new every day from him.

It’s called being an authority figure in your own home. If people can pull that off, they won’t be begging for others to raise their kids – make them listen, and show self respect. It’s really not as hard as it seems. So go for it! Dress your kids in the same thing every day. Who’s stopping you? Just don’t try to make me, or everyone else, do it.

And Clay Street, nobody here is saying that kids’ expression should be unrestrained. I just don’t want Paul Goldman, or you, being the one to restrain them. I’ll go ahead and reserve that right and responsibility for us. It’s my job description, not his – or yours. The big f’n deal is the question of why it is proposed in the first place, and where it stops. It’s a concept yet to be justified by those that brought it to the table. That’s the big f’n deal.

This is particularly true in this case, since the stated value systems of this restraint, (blend in with “cultural norms,” [EEK!] be alike, don’t make waves, fail to take reasonable personal responsibility for yourself without being forced by the system,) are the very value systems that pave the way for Wal-Mart checkers and custodians. Sure, respectable ways to put food on the table. But do you really wish that your son or daughter aspire to this as a career? Do you want this to be their dream job? Because if you do, that’s cool. We are aware, though, that these folks earning potential is maxed out well below $112,500, though, right?

As for my son, I genuinely think that he is capable of something more rewarding, (mentally, spiritually, and financially,) for his life. And the vehicle for reaching those aspirations will not be societally-imposed limits, which should be reserved for prisoners and the criminally insane. (Back to the question – what precisely have these children done wrong to deserve this? What is the problem here that we are trying to address?)

The vehicle for success will be the direct result of SELF discipline, pro-activity, manners, critical thinking skills, effective communication – stuff like that. And he will learn these skills from his family and community, not from city mandates – lowering the bar because there are others who are too, mmm, let’s say “busy”, to spend enough time with their kids and teach them the basics of citizenship and valuing their fellows, as well as themselves.

There is absolutely nobody in this city, or on this forum – particularly the evasive Paul Goldman – that I would trust with that responsibility as it pertains to my son, let alone blindly beckon without thought. That responsibility belongs to me and my clan; and as a U.S. citizen, I gratefully accept it. Like I said, it is the envy of many, many others, worldwide.

Anyway, and strictly speaking for myself, if I wasn’t willing to take on that responsibility, I should not have chosen to have any children in the first place.

I recommend reading post #127.

By the way England is beginning to shed it’s uniform policy and will soon be like the rest of Europe.

To go further with the topic of conformity, I posit that those middle school students were already immersed in conformity, and that uniforms would help save them from the influences of industry. The type of clothing they wore was an exact reflection of the music videos and CD covers directed as their target market. These days, what children buy, nag for, and wear is not as reflective of personal expression as it is a compliance to a category researched and developed by an industry marketing executive. In my opinion, uniforms would act like a shield against the very real and strong influence of corporate interests tht want to separate children (and parents!) from their money.

But whatever a poster wants to say, then fire away, I can handle it.

If you have read the book When Hell Froze Over, discussing among other things my leadership work as the chief cook and bottle washer for an historic effort to change Virginia, my role as the only person in the state willing to do it got me called plenty of names on the record: so you can imagine what they said off the record.

So I have heard it all, for a generation.

So discuss away, fire away, I believe all citizens should have a say in electing their Mayor. Indeed, that is one reason I led the effort to get you the right to elect your Mayor: the other candidates were happy with the old system, where you got no say in the matter, only the power-brokers were consulted in picking the Mayor.

All that being said, however, I do believe that all those posting on this or any site do owe candidates at least this courtesy: recognition of their proven record as a leader, if they have one, in terms of having proven their willingness to work hard to bring real change and making a real difference on tough issues.

I don’t think that simple courtesy is too much ask especially when you have Senators Obama, McCain and Clinton saying that what we did here in Virginia in that fight for historic change inspired them and the country.

That is to say, Paul Goldman isn’t just someone who just talks or writes a blog: I have walked the walked, taking the hits, been called all the names, for daring to be a leader on the front lines making fundamental change.

So for anyone to suggest that somehow I have yet to prove that I have a leadership profile or that I am focusing on small things to avoid having to tackle the bigger issues, that to me is most unfair by any objective analysis.

Compared to all the other candidates running for Mayor, I am the only one who has been willing, year after year, to challenge the power-brokers, the status quo, to empower the average person.

I brought the first successful legal action of it’s kind to force the Democratic Party to change it’s rules, rules that were short-changing the votes of the men and women of Richmond, and many rural parts of the state, again taking on the political establishment.

My efforts to develop the City of the Future Plan, enacted by the City Council and praised by all my opponents, clearly demonstrates that I don’t just talk, that I actually spend the time necessary to develop detailed plans that make a difference: the work being done to fix the parks, libraries and sidewalks in many areas is being done because it was part of my plan.

Style Magazine called me the “The Man who Got Things Done” for my work in fixing potholes, modernizing schools, finding new revenues without raising taxes, and the like.

Even the RTD editorial page, which had some harsh things to say about my strategies to change Virginia in those historic contests in the 1980′s, conceded recently that was the “idea man” in the race and the “most dynamic” of the candidates at their debate.

Another book on national politics – I forgot the name, it was written by Will Saletan, who writes for one of the top websites – credited me with helping to create the strategy that showed how to win the fight for women’s rights in terms of the issue of freedom of choice.

This may not qualify me to be Mayor, or recommend my candidacy to you.

But whether or not you agree with these efforts over the years, or whether you agree with me on a particular issue this year is one thing: this is separate and apart from whether or not I am someone who has proven to be a leader for positive changes to our society.

For example, I see where Shannon said in her post that “Mayor Wilder earns well over six figures, $125,000. I would be very surprised if Mr. Goldman decides to oh-so-generously take a pay cut if he is elected to this same office.”

Despite what Shannon suggests, the fact is I was the first to promise weeks ago to take a 10% pay cut, it was part of a news story, promised at my announcement to get rid of the Mayor’s entourage and drive myself to work, to cut the salaries of the top people at City Hall, I refused a car allowance when I worked for the Mayor, didn’t think it was right, wouldn’t take one as Mayor.

Bottom line: Paul Goldman worked in public housing in Chicago and has since then tried to be a leader for real change, willing to not just talk the talk, but walk the walk, and do the grunt work.

A Difference, for a Change, is my slogan this year.

And for good and proven reason by any objective analysis.

These students have a job–to be in school.

There is WAY too much emphasis on childhood being a period of unrestrained self-expression.

The very concept of “childhood” was a 19th century invention. Rather late in the greater scheme of civilization.

If children are to participate in the school system, then they need to participate in the system of the idea of school.

This means that from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, children may demonstrate their participation by wearing khakis and a polo shirt (or whatever).

Just as they show up for school wearing clothes, period–that demonstrates (for all of us, whether at work or out on the street) that one is willing to participate in cultural norms.

These children are not being asked to wear politically oriented clothing, nor are they required to demonstrate allegiance to any specific ideological dogma.

What is the big f’ing deal?

12 to 14 year olds in elementary!? Boy that is a rough school. I don’t think uniforms would entice me to send my kids there.

Ruth the schools my children have attended do not resemble the one you described whatsoever.

What’s the name of the school or where is it located?

Mayor Wilder earns well over six figures, $125,000. I would be very surprised if Mr. Goldman decides to oh-so-generously take a pay cut if he is elected to this same office.

Who here makes that much money? Yet, I bet that when someone who is a client, customer, or some other facet of person that your business serves comes in and asks you a question, you are expected to answer it, right?

One hundred twenty five thousand dollars. Add in health benefits, and a myriad of other perks – too many to spend the time brainstorming about here and now… Good job, right? Who wouldn’t like to land that gig?

From what I can see, this whole stunt is just grandstanding at work, and then retreat when the heat got turned up. Put simply, the gentleman does not seem to have thought things through prior to standing in front of an endangered school to smile pretty for the cameras. Oops.

Why should someone who is paid that much of your hard-earned tax money, or is seeking to be paid that much, be allowed to run and pretend it never happened? What happens at your job when you try to put a spin on something, or pass the buck? This doesn’t have to go on forever, but it rightfully SHOULD continue until he takes responsibility, addressing his cavalier throwing out of restriction of freedom. For a potential 125 grand? Please.

This is all I’m saying. We don’t get away with that with our employers, do we? And what was your take-home pay last week?

This period of time, these events, are Mr. Goldman’s job interview for that $125,000 job. We are his potential employers. I’m just asking if you think he is proving himself on this one, pesky little civil-liberties topic.

And these facts about earnings are nothing personal. Just math.

Think back – was making a solid impression at your last interview important to you? Did you think that your employer was mean for asking you to talk about some stuff that he wanted to hear about, particularly when it was stuff that you, yourself, placed on your resume?

Mr. Goldman raised the topic of mandated homogenization as it pertained to our school-children’s dress. He put it on his own resume/agenda as fair fodder. Why should he be under any less pressure than you were, the last time you were in the very same position?

Haven’t we been here before? Shouldn’t we, rightfully, be a bit more gun-shy after the Wilder-School Board fiasco that made us the laughing stock as a city? Shouldn’t we, rightfully, be a bit more pro-active at this point?

I have encouraged Mr. Goldman to do better – respond directly to these issues, rather than use this forum for his own aggrandizement. Maybe he will, if having a successful interview is important to him.

Not mean. Not personal. Just math, and responsible employment practices. That’s all. Because if we fail to conduct a rigorous interview, it’s our fault if we are unhappy with performance, isn’t it?
And we will have nobody to blame but ourselves.

I visited one elementary school a few times last year to do some pro bono work, and was quite thankful to see security guards in the hallways. That school was rough–and the kids were only 12 to 14 years old. Let’s face it, fears of conformity and totalitarianism are not the main problems that these kids will face as adults! Teen pregnancy, imprisonment, gangs, drug abuse, violence, and staying off welfare are the true and very real issues of this young generation. These kids should be so lucky to have the luxury to angst over the evils of conformity like we did in the ’80s (and ’50s, according to another post).

Maybe some of you need to spend a few days in a serious ‘hood school, and then revisit the question as to whether uniforms may make even a small difference. According to one parent, Queen, they do make a difference: fewer arguments in the morning and a cost savings. There you have it, there’s your proof!

Haven’t heard any “potty-mouthing” (grin) here, so I am not too sure where you are going with that, neighbor.

Homogenizing will NEVER teach respect. That is faulty reasoning. Learning that everyone does not have to be exactly like me in order to be worthy of my basic human consideration is what will teach respect. Where is the curriculum for that? I’d love to see it.

Seven Hills spells it out in black and white. I can show it to you, via handbook, strictly enforced policies, and lively, active discussion among the boys. The curriculum for honoring your fellows is clearly spelled out, enforced, and kept in the forefront. And it is effective. I can tell you that from personal experience.

Homogenizing is a band-aid that fails to address the root of the problem – just like those proposing this policy have. And if some people think I am being a mean little girl for continuing to spotlight that fact, that’s the breaks.

Lots of times the truth hurts. I’m sure that England’s feelings were hurt when the US first started asking them to stop trying to control us over here. In fact, there was a big fight. Wow. And then they wrote all about it in books, and made us learn what happened. People are still talking about that argument today, in fact. I guess it proved to be kind of important.

Conflict avoidance has no place in Government. It is weak and fearful, and shows a lack of character. It is the main aspect of “politics” that makes thinking people cringe. Really, Government and Politics should not be interchangeable words. And that is not a personal attack. It’s just my personal belief about those who duck disagreement because it might be a little uncomfortable.

Also, there is a big difference between asking for improvement, and deliberately being hurtful. And if Mr. West and Mr. Goldman can’t answer the tough questions that keep appearing here, not just posed by me, but by a few vocal others, I humbly suggest that they excuse themselves from the big-boy’s ring.

Sure takes the pressure off not being in a position where I am a public figure, trying to run other peoples’ lives. Just a regular civilian, attempting to stop others from trying to run mine. It’s funny how touchy people tend to get when you resist their urge to control you.

PS – Just pasted that in a word doc, and you were right. I am a lousy typist, and should probably employ that method more. It would also tell me if my subject and predicate failed to agree. But hopefully I would be able to recognize that from grammar school.

I’m sorry, but novellette-length rants about the terrors of uniforms ARE hysterical.

And Edg – let’s get real with the usage of the word “hysterical” shall we? If you can’t fit in a meeting about your own kid’s education, might I suggest that you get a bit more hysterical about organizing your time, before you go after someone else, eh?

Typos and careless mistakes, coming from those who would like to have some control in my family’s life, are simply unacceptable. It’s easy to write in a word doc, if you are not sure about spelling and grammatical usages, and do a check. The point is that, if you are representin’, take the time. Is this not what we are asking of children regarding their style of dress? Take the time to present yourself in a manner that reflects well on you and your family, and thus gives credence to your stance – instilling confidence from others in your value as a person. Show a little self-respect, right? Take the time. If you have a desire to be a public servant, show us why we should endorse you, and hand over our decision-making to you. Why should we have confidence? Neither of these folks has shown me anything but the fact that we are fools if we do. Take the time. If you want to participate in Education, Academia, and discussions surrounding these topics, take the time to be mindful of appearing suitably educated yourself. Seems to me that this should be a given.

Maybe we should put the answers in multiple choice format for them, huh?

We want to investigate the concept of mandated school uniforms at RPS because:

A – Too many midriffs showing
B – The “sagging” look
C – An abundance of Wal-Mart t-shirts with smart alec/disrespectful sayings and slogans plastered across them
D – Skirts are too short
E – Heels are too high
F – Tights are too sexy
G – Earrings are too long
H – Hair is too wild
I – Too much glitter
J – Grills
K – Improper undergarments
L – A, C, and E
M – All of the above…

How is that? If we give you some multiple choice options, similar to the SOL’s, do you, Mr. West and Mr. Goldman, think that you could choose from the potential issues? If we place some reasons in your mouth for the speaking, will you try it? Will you take advantage of what is placed on a silver platter for you, ripe for the taking so that you don’t have to bother yourselves with thought? Or are you still so afraid of appearing politically incorrect that you will refrain.

Be careful, people, as to whom you hand over your power. Do not mindlessly toss away your liberties without thought. This is all I am saying. It is a major, major deal to have someone tell you how to Be, when they can’t tell you why they want you to be that way. I’ll be damned if it is going to happen to me, let alone my kid.

And I, for one, would really LOVE to talk about something else. For example, school lunches are nutritionally horrifying, and the amount of styrofoam that each public school ships to the landfill each day is downright criminal. To me, that is a weighty and worthy topic. And the problem, summed up succinctly, makes it quite simple to address – whether you agree or not. See?

Too bad that Mr. West and Mr. Goldman can’t seem to accomplish the same with the very simple topic of Child Fashion As It Pertains To Public Education. Maybe now that they see how it is done with the lunch concept, as well as have some options to choose from, they will get a little jump start. Then they can begin the process of letting us know how and why they think that they are qualified to give fashion advice.

Having met them both, and at the risk of seeming mean – which I really am not trying to do, they both dress like society-soaked robots. Neither inspire me, at all, to believe that they would propose to place my son in anything but clothing that is equally robotic. And yeah. That is the very definition of stripping away the liberty of self expression.

There is no way that I am going to tell my kid that he has to stand for that in the name of being a “good boy.”

Re RPS corruption: Much has been pointed out on various threads. And administration can’t blame parents on the scathing audit report, missing money, no ramps for the disabled, prayers in school, untrained teachers, no books, poorly written tests, inept leaders giving positions to their inept unqualified friends, etc.

To have healthy public schools we need both a qualified and honest administration and parent/community support.

And how exactly is this the RPS fault? How about place the blame for bad students on the actual cause which is bad parent(s).

edg, have you seen any of George Carlin’s bits on public education? He gives a far more scathing review of it than anyone on this thread.

I’m not against choosing a school with uniforms, I’m against government mandating uniforms.

I cannot fit in a PTA meeting at anytime. My life is just too full right now. I am glad that those of us who have more free time can attend and advocate for the school. I contribute as I can.

So, are there any new view points on this subject? Or has it finally been beat to death?

Hey if the meeting times are bad for you, name a good time and I’ll talk to the president about it. We are desperate for parent and community participation at Bellevue. At the last two meetings only three people showed up. We don’t even have enough folk participating to elect anyone to PTA board.

As always, I ask that we look at the situation a little bit less hysterically.

From what I’ve seen in elementary RPS, the problems have come from in house and downtown administrations. Keith’s list of RPS problems also points to administration, not students. The students are fine; at most, they are guilty of acting like children.

Given the posts on this thread -the reality of RPS and what any leader will actually do, here is my summary of RPS and advice:

RPS administration is corrupt. There are wealthy good schools and pitiful poor schools. Children receive more opportunities and a better education in the wealthier schools, therefore, get on their waiting lists, otherwise, your child will be stuck in a uniform in a crappy school being treated like a tire tread while our leaders wait for perceptions of RPS to change.

*note – A wealthy school has more than just money, it has great parent and community support too, so I would like to see some folk at this PTA meeting at Bellevue, Monday, July 14th, 5:30pm. Here is the agenda from our president, Jackie Hewitt –

“During the first PTA meeting for the summer we will need to:
1. Elect officers
-President
-Treasurer
-Secretary
Committee heads for the following:
2. Recruiting parents,teachers and community members for participation
3. Fundraisers and Corporate Sponsorship
4. Building and updating the Website for better communication between teacher/school and parents

Please bring a lot of ideas,parents and community members to the meeting.”

As for West, I simply do not support him or his stances. He was a terrible representive. But, I am pretty sure the sentence with the poor verb agreement was merely a typo, so come on.

When you can listen and answer a question, i.e. communicate – as well as make the subject and verb agree gramattically in a sentence, I might give ya a bit of power. Until then, you are not qualified to babysit my son, let alone tell him what to wear in the morning. Bottom line.

Speaking for myself – I’m not worked up. I’m just not interessted in giving personal control to folks who can’t seem to justify where they are/would be going with it.

For me, the further it goes, the more ridiculous the idea becomes. And as a metaphor for the way elected officials are/have/will behave around any topic, I find this a fascinatingly revealing discussion.

That’s all.