92 replies to this topic

[tessieca]

This just in . . .

The item will be changed to a discussion/action item, or so the superintendent says.

Also, the district received a last-minute opinion letter from the district's lawyer, Bob Kingsley. The bottom line is that their opinion is the district has no discretion to adopt a policy saying that kids cannot leave during school hours for "confidential medical services." That opinion continues the battle of the briefs. If you want to read a supporting brief, or get more information, take a look at Capitol Resource Institute.

I sense an attempt to railroad the board this Thursday -- last-minute information indicating that the board has no choice might cause some to waiver to the other side of the issue.

[EDF]

This is just one more stinking reason why I will never ever support public education...

I can see it now... the parents will fill the room.. a few of us will speak, but even with 3 votes in favor... I can see Benton and the other dude backing down because of a "stinking" opinion from a lawyer...

An opinion is that an opinion... what ever happened to what is right....?

[forumreader]

Unbelievable!

Sadly, I am not surprised by any last-minute legal maneuvering.

I wish more parents would speak out on this matter. Or maybe they think it is just fine that the public school system raise their children. I am going to get the word out to those who are concerned.

Another question... In what context did Sara Myers refer to parents as "evil doers?"......Bush was attacked for refering to known terrorists in such a manner. What is someone with such an opinion of parents doing sitting on a school board?

[EDF]

To my Folsom bretheren... Forumreader.. especially...

Sara Myers, god bless her heart... is what I would call an "elitist" social liberal...

Lets see if I can define it in terms that most of us can understand...

That is... Its wonderfull that you and I are "involved" with our children...

But... but... "for those parents that are not involved with their children or the parents that abuse and neglect their kids", "we have to have programs to protect them"...

"therefore, all kids in public education are required to have all the same levels of services, including rights to counseling for abortions, even prescription mind altering drugs, and yes even without the permission of their parents"..

This is for the "good of all students"...

You see folks, they (the liberals) mean well, but they are dangerious...its their "one size fits all" liberal socialist/commie ideas masquerading as "compassion" that you should be wary of....

By the way.. as an aside... Did you know that Hitler was a Socialist, Enviromentalist and an "Animal rights activist"... So he must have been a compassionate person....? anybody read a history book lately about Heir Hitler...? hmmmmm.. curious... whatever happened to him...

That my friends is ultimately how dangerous well meaning people like Sara can be if you allow them to run your lives for you.. which by the way, they think they can do better than you...

After all, they know more than you do, because they are the "professionals"....

Remember the story of the frog that is thrown into a boiling pot of water.. he jumps out right away because he knows he will die if he stays... but to kill a frog in boiling water... all you do is put the frog in the nice luke warm water, then slowly heat it up and when the frog finally realizes its too hot, its too late for him to jump out becaue he can't...!!

This is how you are going to lose your country... in the name of being compassionate...

Get a clue folks...

[tessieca]

I don't want to use demagoguery, but leaving decisions in the hands of administrators cannot be trusted -- even by those who believe that parents are often the "evil-doers." A good/bad example of this can be noted by the fact that a local teacher was arrested on several counts of child molestation. Every group of people has their share of evil-doers (parents, teachers, soccer coaches, etc.). I prefer to err on the side that parents mean well, unless and until someone finds that to be wrong and reports them to the proper authorities.

[valdossjoyce]

You're so right, tessica. Whenever I've spoken out against something detrimental the educrats were doing to our kids, it just burned me up that they think they know what's best for OUR kids. Every time some new social experiment is inflicted on students (whole language, new math every few years, sexuality in fiction masquerading as multiculturalism), the kids are the ones who are short-changed. And as the parents, we hurt for them. I seriously doubt the professionals lose sleep if my kid loses out on a job to a better educated applicant from a private school or another country. Next to the kids themselves, we the parents are the greatest stakeholders here, and the system treats us like we're idiots.

And they're not above turning and using our own kids against us. My first foray into school board meetings was my concern about a book being used in freshman advanced placement English. Sexual content was explicit, was dead-right-on-point for the adoloscent readers (narrator was herself an adolscent exploring her sexuality) and the teachers who thought we parents were just being prudes didn't have the gall to get in front of the school board to express an opinion. They sent the kids to the podium. Some 16 year olds were up there giving lectures on free speech. But when they're in the classroom with a hostage audience, they had no problem at all expressing their opinions. It was a very sad experience.


Thanx for the update about the meeting.

[EDF]

Well Tessica...

don't worry about the demagoguery... I'll take care of that for you... but you must agree with me that is just one little battle in over all "culture war" that is being waged now....

People have to be told that we are in a war because they are asleep... They are like that frog I talked about earlier...

All of a sudden they will wake up and say... "Man how did this happen...?"

[dborgen]

Hello all,

Just FYI for the discussion. A local group is working to start a private school called Foothill Christian Academy. They hope to have a web site and more information by the end of February. They hope to begin classes in the Fall of 2005. Location, cost, etc., are all still being worked out. They have experience with private schools as they are associated with Valley Christian in San Jose.

Just FYI for those parents looking for a private Christian education. I wish I could post more info, but that is all they have at this point. They made a presentation this morning at the Folsom Ministers Breakfast.

Dale

[folsomBlondie]

QUOTE (dborgen @ Feb 5 2004, 09:45 AM)

Hello all, Just FYI for the discussion. A local group is working to start a private school called Foothill Christian Academy. They hope to have a web site and more information by the end of February. They hope to begin classes in the Fall of 2005. Location, cost, etc., are all still being worked out. They have experience with private schools as they are associated with Valley Christian in San Jose. Just FYI for those parents looking for a private Christian education. I wish I could post more info, but that is all they have at this point. They made a presentation this morning at the Folsom Ministers Breakfast. Dale

Thanks for the information!!!!! More please.

..... and Welcome to myfolsom.com

[forumreader]

I read that FCUSD is developing an independent study charter school (K-8), which would offer families a "middle ground" between homeschooling and traditional public education. The coordinator at the district office informed me that they are using the highly reputed Natomas Charter School Program as a model.

There is an informational meeting on March 3 at 7pm in the Theodore Judah school library.

[forumreader]

Last week I attended the Folsom Cordova Charter School information meeting, and was very impressed.

Pending Board approval, the Charter school will open to students K-8 in August. There will be public discussion of the matter at the April 1st board meeting, held at Mills Middle School, RC.

For more information, contact Gretchen Hinerman (FCUSD) 355-1111, ext. 123. Information will also be available on the web beginning March 16th. www.FCUSD.k12.ca.us/charterweb

[DalOwnerX3]

My wife was saying something about charter school but she was saying that it would be a foreign language immersion - with Chinese and French as immersion languages. Chinese I kinda understand, but French?

[tessieca]

The charter school proposal is actually a home-schooling charter. The district is researching a magnet program with foreign language immersion. Spanish would be the first choice, but the concept is still in the exploratory phase, so other languages are probably being bandied about.

San Juan has a home-schooling program now, but Folsom Cordova never has. Parents have been left on their own. This proposal would allow for kids to actually belong to a charter school where they can take care of curriculum, materials, testing, tutoring, and other needs, but still be home schooled. There's a huge need for something like this in this area.

[kbird]

I was just in the Bay area and was talking to a friend who is registering her daughter for kindergarten. She informed me that most school districts in the Bay area have FULL DAY kindergarten (8 am- 2 pm) and CLASS SIZE REDUCTION at the kindergarten level.

For those who aren't aware, Folsom has half-day kindergarten and no class size reduction at the kindergarten level. Classes typically run 30-plus students.

Personally, I'm not a believer in full-day kindergarten (I feel they're just kids! let them have time to play!!) -- but I am rather disturbed to realize that other school districts in California are offering literally DOUBLE the instruction to kindergarten kids -- with the added advantage of smaller classes, too!! I would have thought there would be state-wide parity on such a basic issue as the quantity of instructional time offered.

Why is it the Bay area can offer these benefits and Folsom cannot??

[forumreader]

I'm curious to know which school districts your friend was referencing. I know of three school districts in the Bay Area (in relatively affluent areas of the East Bay, South Bay & Marin) which do not offer FDK. These districts, not unlike FCUSD, are also dealing with budget issues requiring elimination of class size reduction and many student activities.