Ms. Nelkens- the Only Voice We Hear From?

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Auteur, Auteur....":

Can we keep this blog focused on issues that we want to work together to change?

I have never met Stephane Nelkens. If I ever do, I would imagine, like any other person in the world, there would be points of both agreement and disagreement between us. If she continues to be the only individual here with courage enough to give her name, the least we could do is respect her for that alone and not turn this blog into a "Let's talk about Stephanie" discussion, positively or negatively.

If anyone wants to discuss candidates for board positions, let us have a discussion about every candidates' qualifications for the job.

Ed's note: I invite all Candidates running for the board to post their position on the many issues now plaguing our school district. Having to wait for the one evening held to meet the candidates should not be our only opportunity to hear from them. To all candidates particularly those that we have no BOE experience with: Ms. Schulman, Ms. Nelkens and Mr. Levy, I will be happy to separately post any information you wish to convey.

How to Teach ELA and Math...

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "It Was the Good Old Days, BUT WE Could Do Math and...":

Too bad there isn't motivation to teach ELA and math like there is to load those buses so they can leave at 3:15.

Teach Pragraph Writing Everyday

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Stratford; Something About This School...":

To the parent whose child loved Stratford, How long ago was that and was your kid one of the luck few who had all the good teachers? If he had teacher X, in first grade, he got leveled reading books. If he got teacher Y, he didn't. If he got teacher X in 4th grade, he did an author study. The list goes on. As far as texts, the principal should order them and monitor what is being done in each class. How is curriculum being covered? Whatever happened to reading, writing? So many basics are NOT covered but need to be. Kids can only learn if taught. If kids were taught reading skills and writing the way we do spelling on a weekly basis, we'd be great. Teach my kid to write a good paragraph every day. Don't just wait for 1 week before ELA test. It is shocking what has come home over the past two weeks--multiple math topics being taught for first time--but should have been taught over the course of two months. It's outrageous.

Auteur, Auteur....

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "How Can We Mobilize as a Parent Group?":

Editor,
Please make this a new post

Is this blog run by Stephanie Nelkens?

Ed's note: No.

How Can We Mobilize as a Parent Group?

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "For BOE, Teachers and PCT are the Prority; Parents...":

I have been reading this blog for a few months now. And there are obviously many issues to address, but not all could ever be resolved easily or quickly. I have been wondering how parents can have a voice at the BOE meetings when individuals parents stand up against organized groups like the teachers and the BOE. But mostly I have been wondering of all the issues that are cited on this blog, what are the most urgent and critical? There are many opinions, but wouldn't it be interesting to mobilize as a parent group and communicate in organized manner to the BOE and PCT.

So, I would like to start see what parents have to say. If you were asked to prioritize the top 5 areas of required improvement, what would they be?

And how can we work more effectively with the PTA, PCT and BOE to achieve those improvements?

Ed's note: These sound like the questions that anyone presently running for the Board, should be asking and would want to have the answers to.

For BOE, Teachers and PCT are the Prority; Parents Ignored

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Parents Second Class Citizens Because They Choose ...":

I have been to BOE meetings since February and what has the BOE done ? ignored those who speak. What was the result of all those parents getting up at the BOE meetings and speaking about why we should not be giving out the raises to the teachers and why we should tell the teachers, if you are unhappy in our school then go look elsewhere for employment? those parents were ignored by the BOE . So what is the point of going to the BOE meetings to be ignored? Voting down the budget and voting out the incumbents is the only way to effectively show the disgust of the way this BOE runs the district. Either way the kids do not look like they are at the top of the priority list here . Teachers and the PCT are on the top . There is no fear and complacency here . what it really is ? well deserved apathy and disgust because it is the same political game that keeps playing over and over

Passed or Not, How Will the Budget Defer?

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Sports Is Not Important When The Academic Level Fa...":

How much lower will taxes be if the budget isn't passed?

Parents Second Class Citizens Because They Choose To Be

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Sports Is Not Important When The Academic Level Fa...":

Vote for the budget. Voting it down only affects the kids in the end. Few if any teachers' jobs will actually be lost. Make your presence and your anger known by coming to BOE meetings. They don't like when parents are there and voice opinions because it interferes with their agendas. But that is the point, parents don't come, they don't speak up so this is what you get. If you want real change show up and speak up before a budget is adopted for public vote. Meetings have been going on since February but there were only a handle of parents there to comment amount it. So don't whine about the budget unless you made an effort to shape it before the vote. Parents are second class citizens in this district because they have allowed themselves to be. Fear and complacency have been the norm here but it doesn't have to be that way. If you want real change then be a participant and help make it happen.

Sports Is Not Important When The Academic Level Falls Short

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Vote No, Unless there is Shared Pain":

The school district falls short in so many areas. I intend to vote against the budget. Programs will be cut. Jobs will be lost. If I felt my children were on anyone's list of priorities in this district, I would be happy to vote for amenities for everyone else. Since I am the only one who prioritizes my children, I have no choice but to act in my own best interest, which means lower taxes. I cannot worry about sports scholarships when the mediocre academic won't prepare our children to compete at the college level in the first place.

Stratford; Something About This School...

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Kumon; POB's Summer School":

While I cannot speak for all schools in the district, I can say with no hesitation that Stratford Road is a very poorly run school that offers a substandard academic education which is by no means consistent with the high taxes we pay. Part of it definitely stems from its leadership, part of it the teachers.

Just a speculation here. Is it possible that the reason fewer resources go to Stratford is because much of their funding goes toward the special ed population at the expense of other necessities? This is not to say that students with special needs should not get the best of everything. I just wonder if Stratford is overcompensating one at the expense of the other.

Whatever the reasoning is for all this, there is something about this school, the principal, the lack of uniformity (a term I've seen repeated on this blog many times), the minimalist attitude toward instruction, the horribly low expectations and limited teacher accountability, the test scores, etc that seems extremely suspect to me. Curious if anyone else has noticed this.

Where Were the Principals?

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "The Voice of Plainview":

How come there were no principals at the BOE meeting Monday night? There were parents and teachers and a lot of discussion about the changes to the XR program which are very unpopular and had some parents crying. Does this mean the principals (a) support the changes to XR (b) don't care one way or another (c) have no interest to listen to what parents have to say since everyone knew a lot of parents were showing up to speak about their concerns with XR(d) don't support the teachers in their school who were obviously unhappy with the program changes and were supported by their teachers. Very dysfunctional.

It Was the Good Old Days, BUT WE Could Do Math and Write in Script

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Shorter Day the Problem? And What About Those Rais...":

I agree about the packing up so early in the day. Walkers get out of Stratford at 3:05 and the buses are all loaded before 3:15 and leave exactly at 3:15 on the dot. The lost 10 minutes a day adds up to 50 minutes a week, about 4 hours a month - which is about a day at school times 10 months - is about 2 weeks lost during the year.

I remember back in the olden days (when math had numbers not words and reading was done with books and not xeroxes with flow charts to fill in) looking at the clock and we didn't get ready to leave until the bell rang - at 3. We left at 3. Not ten minutes early.

Since I'm reminiscing...

We had homework that was about what we learned in school that day. We wrote in one notebook no matter the subject and didn't need a folder to keep track of loose papers.

We sat in desks by ourselves that gave us personal space and made it easier to concentrate. Our desks all faced in the same direction and since there was a front of a classroom we knew where to look and how find the teacher at all times.

When we learned script we were expected to use it for the next few years - it wasn't an option. Everyone did this - not just some classes. We were proud of our handwriting that separated us from the younger kids.

Teachers were never absent - we always wished they would be but they always always showed up.

I don't remember crazy projects that my parents had to give up their weekends to do for me. I don't really remember much homework either - at least not until upper grades.

And best of all,no cell phones back then so no teacher texting problems.

Vote No, Unless there is Shared Pain

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "The Voice of Plainview":

The New jersey Governor has a good suggestion that he has given his Taxpayers "VOTE NO ON SCHOOL BUDGETS WHERE THERE IS NO SHARED SACRIFICE". If our teachers do not want to share in the economic hardships and sacrifices that we the taxpayers have endured then the budget should be voted down and the incumbents voted out.

BOE Also Not In Touch With Reality

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Teachers Are Not In Touch With Real World Economic...":

I believe the BOE shares the same stage with the teachers. They too are out of of touch with real world economics. I was at a few of the board meetings when they discussed the teachers contracts and watched parent after parent get up and speak to the board about real world economics such as high taxes, layoffs ,foreclosures, etc. The BOE looked like they could care less. I know of at least one board member who owns their own business. Would they pay their employees like we pay ours? probably not because the money is coming out of their pocket. The teachers and the BOE need to take classes on real world economics. Hopefully they will learn some lessons on voting in May when they attempt to get a budget passed while trying to get re-elected to the board

The Voice of Plainview

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Business Vs School- Reality Check":

"Lets not blast the education profession"?

I don't' maintain this blog but thank goodness its here or Plainview would have no voice at all.

The education profession, while noble has departed from reasonableness. I am not bashing education. Quite the contrary, I am speaking in defense of other professions which earn far less but are still expected to generate an income which pays for education (through real estate taxes).

The picketing, empty class walls and buttons were a turning point for me and others. Do you honestly think that any community would respond favorably to that kind of unprofessional-ism?

Problems in the Schools, the PCT and the BOE

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "The Teachers are There,-Where is Parental Concern?...":

Have you checked your tax bill lately? Now that we have a teachers prospective I will give you a parents prospective, with no disrespect intended. This is the way I see it as a parent, and many parents I spoke with agree. The teachers give hours and hours of H.W. every day which leads to question why is the homework new material for them to learn and not going over what they have been taught or already introduced. We do have a lot of good teachers but if your child is stuck with a bad one the administrators do nothing. We have complained about teachers and the complaints are ignored. Some teachers are moved from school to school because of the complaints. Does this solve the problem? no, then there is the contract issue. Do you as a teaching professional think it was right to parade around the school with "contract now" buttons in front of our children? very disrespectful as far as the parents are concerned. And how about demanding more money in these economic times? this only portrays the teachers as greedy and only caring about the almighty $$$. You may very well be a really good teacher that is led by a misguided union leader who only fuels the fire of contempt for the PCT by parents who feel they have been cornered and shafted. But the PCT is not the only one to blame . The BOE is also a group of misguided individuals who may be nice and respectful people of our community who just have no clue about the realities of the real world. The view is that for the PCT and the BOE this is nothing personal just business as usual. I hope the the Budget does get voted down and members do get voted off the BOE because POBCSD needs change now

Shorter Day the Problem? And What About Those Raises?

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "I Home School Too! -Who Else?":

Why do the children need to attend EXTRA review sessions to meet MINIMUM state based ELA requirements?

Why aren't the education requirements being met during class time? Aren't they learning what they need in class? If not, shouldn't we be addressing that issue?

Does anyone remember having to attend extra classes to meet state standards when they were children?

Is it because our district has a shorter day than the standard for schools in our region (only 6 hours vs. 6.5 everywhere else)?

And if so, shouldn't our teachers only be receiving 92% of the comparable pay (6.0/6.5)?

We're Screwed Again

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Running for the Board Are.........":

REPORT: NY TEACHER PENSIONS SHARE U.S. UNDER-FUNDING WOES
New York—face pension obligations far greater than they admit, according to a
newly issued study from the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research including a funding gap of
more than $60 billion in the two New York systems.
The study, entitled “Underfunded Teacher Pension Plans: It’s Worse Than You Think,” says
current government accounting standards have allowed teacher pension funds across the country to
overstate their ability to make good on pension promises to active and retired teachers.
“The funds aggressively ‘discount’ the cost of paying benefits in the future because they
assume that stocks’ values will be much higher by the time the funds have to pay out those
benefits,” the study says. “This assumption permits public officials to contribute fewer dollars
toward satisfying these plans’ obligations, and thus to avoid taking the cautious but unpopular step
of raising taxes or cutting services.”
The study’s authors are Josh Barro, Manhattan Institute’s Wriston Fellow for state and local
fiscal policy, and Stuart Buck, a lawyer and doctoral candidate at the University at Arkansas
Department of Education Reform. Barro and Buck developed a table presenting the official estimate
of “funded status” for every state . Their findings included the following:

• The New York State Teachers Retirement System (NYSTRS), which officially estimates its
funded status at 107% of needed assets, is actually $24.8 billion short of what it needs to
meet its obligations
Growing teacher pension obligations mean that “schools unfortunately will have to compete
with retirees for scarce dollars” in the future, Barro and Buck write, adding: “This competition is
uneven, because retirees have a legal claim on promised pension benefits that supersedes schools’
budgetary needs. Consequently, Americans can look forward to higher taxes and cuts in services,
resulting in fewer teachers, bigger classes, and facilities that are allowed to deteriorate.” FOR MORE INFO:

http://www.manhattan-institute.org/html/cr_61.htm

Check List for Voting

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Make Your Voice Heard- Vote":

What needs to be pointed out to all who are running for the board is this
We(residents and Parents)need:
1:The board to renegotiate the labor contract
2:educational parity with all schools
3:Accountability from Administrators and teachers about the misfortunes that occur in our children's classroom
4:Fiscal responsibility in our budget
5:and end to the games that the board plays in the BOE meeting with regard to public participation. By this I mean not delaying the important issues to be discussed by planning long debates on less pressing issues and then taking a break at 10:30pm like what happened a few weeks ago.
It is very unlikely that the incumbents would agree to this . That is why they should be voted out

Budget Referendum?.....

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Make Your Voice Heard- Vote":

there are other items to be voted on at election time . a referendum to put 5 million dollars into a fund for capital improvements. The Super was quoted as aying he would prefer to put 10 million in there. Where in the world would we get this money from? another crazy idea. While we do need capital improvements , are our taxes high enough? this is another idea that should be voted down

Kumon; POB's Summer School

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "BOE Needs to Hear - Pacing Maps & Math Books Not C...":

All the superintendent, math chair, etc has to do is read this blog (which I hope they do)and wake up to reality of what is going on. Of course we're in Stratford Road. Uniformity? See you in Kumon this summer.

You Voted and POB/JFK Wins Vans Sneaker Contest

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Help POB High Win $10,000-Just Vote OnLine.......":

VANS CUSTOM CULTURE TOP 4 WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Congrats to these schools; Rio Rancho High School, NM, Franklin Pierce High School, WA, Plainview-Old Bethpage/JFK High School, NY and Eastern High School, KY as the Top Four teams in the Vans Custom Culture program! They will take part in expenses-paid trip to Orange County in May for the final event at the Orange County Museum of Art. Vans will award the final winner a grand prize pack for their class including Vans products, tickets to the Vans Warped Tour in their area and a $10,000 donation to their school's art program

How to Approach a Teacher and Why are There Phones Ringing?

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "BOE- This Needs Your Attention":

You need to speak to this teacher. Explain to her your child's perception and his fear about bringing it up to her. I might say it like this.

"You might not realize how worried my son is in your class. His concentration is easily thrown by cellphones ringing and texting going on in the classroom. I imagine that must be terribly difficult to monitor. If there's anything you can do to alleviate this distraction, I would so appreciate it. Also, for some reason my son is terrified to talk to you about this. He's afraid you're going to get angry at him. I assured him that no teacher will ever be upset by a student trying to concentrate, especially when it comes to something that nobody should be doing during instructional time like texting."

If things don't change after this conversation, then you should contact the principal.

Ed's note: While I appreciatethe sentiment and voice of this response, why must a parent or student have to broach this subject at all? There should be no ringing of cell phones in a classroom. There is a time and a place for everything. This should be mandated to all teachers and enforced appropriately.