The Greatest Love Of All

Be The Hero for Your Children & All Children! Be the inspiration for them to have The Greatest Love of All... A Love of Themselves :)

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

The Lifeline Network answers thousands of calls from people in emotional distress. There are many reasons for their calls. Please call for any of the following reasons: 

• Suicidal thoughts
• Information on suicide
• Information on mental health/illness
• Substance abuse/addiction
• To help a friend or loved one
• Relationship problems

• Abuse/violence
• Economic problems
• Sexual orientation issues
• Physical illness
• Loneliness
• Family problems

GHS Mission Statement

GHS Mission Statement... Please read the last line.  What is your thinking or take? 


The mission of GHS is to help all students become responsible, self-directed learners capable of functioning in today’s ever-changing society. GHS is committed to helping all students develop the skills necessary to thrive in the face of life’s challenges. This will take place in a secure environment free from violence, drugs, and fear.

Its on their website check for yourself.

http://www.gordonsvillehighschool.com/Gordonsville_High_School/Welcome.html

Code of Ethics

Ever wonder what the code of ethics is for educators.  Here is a link for you.

http://aaeteachers.org/index.php/about-us/aae-code-of-ethics

Title IV - Part A

Please share your take on this.

http://www.tn.gov/education/safe_schls/safety_cntr/safe_drug_free.shtml

The Cake Is Gone

After all the Facebook posts I think I finally understand World Peace & Harmony... Thank you everyone so making it so clear. Here is how it works for those that don't know.... 1. Parents teach your children sticks & stones at home & turning the other cheek they will need it not just in life but at school too. After all "Kids will be Kids" & Its been that way for years so get over it. 2. Put God back in our schools because we want our children to learn about religion in our public schools. That way we can all be alike and have the same beliefs. 3. Bring back discipline at schools & home. Nothing like a trip to the woodshed to make things right. 4. Pray about it. Suck up those tears and bruises drop to your knees and lets pray. I admit I'm confused by this one but I was told it works and solves everything so Let's Pray. 5. The schools aren't responsible for raising our children they are there to teach. So they will be taking Title IV Grants away and everyone go back to Rule 1. OMG I think they just found grant money to put towards our nations debt.... YAY.... Let's celebrate . I'm running to SAMs to get s'mores. Someone bring firewood and we can all sit around the fire while we eat s'mores and sing "We Are The World".... As soon as I receive the dress code, music approved list and what we are allowed to talk about then I will forward it to everyone!!! PS There won't be any cake it's all gone.

I posted that to be sarcastic but I have thought a lot as I read comments that say it starts at home, pray for the situation, put God back in our schools, take responsibility for what happens in your life and my favorite of all it's not the schools, administration or teachers responsibility to raise your children.

So I ask & welcome your thoughts to help me understand.

1. It starts at home. I agree it does start at home but what if you do right in your home but Lil Johnny next door parents aren't? What if you teach your child to be kind and the sticks & stone rule but Lil Betty at school hasn't been taught any golden rules? By not being taught at home or having any kind of a home life they treat other children horrible do you say nothing since Lil Johnny or Lil Betty weren't raised right after all kids will be kids and it's been going on for ages... Right? I ask you to think about this before you answer... Would you feel the same way if Lil Johnny or Lil Betty was making your child miserable at school or making them hate school? What if Lil Johnny or Lil Betty weren't Lil at all but were adults that you sent your child to learn from?

2. Put prayer back in school... While I do believe in prayer can we pray for people and can we change a situation with prayer and prayer alone? Is prayer the answer to every problem in the world? Should we not pray about the situation but still act to help those in need? If your child came home everyday crying and had to take medicine to not threw up because just being at school stressed them out would you look at them and say pray about it?

3. Put God back in our schools. I'm sorry but I have read so many bible comments that I would have a problem with some of these narrow minded people teaching my children about God. I think religion and ones belief is a private matter and should be taught at home. As many of you have said its not a teachers responsibility to raise my child then why in the world would I want them to teach my child about religion and their beliefs? Isn't God in schools because he is walking with those that believe? My child might believe have God walking with them daily but not everyone does and then you have the spouters & hypocrites shoving their beliefs, how you should live your life and what's right vs wrong but that's a whole debate in itself. Church and school is a separate place and should remain that way unless of course it is a private school that what I believe but of course I could be wrong.

4. Take responsibility for what happens in your life. I must say that comment confuses me... You can't control what happens in your life but you can control how you handle it. Am I missing something can someone control everything that happens in their life?

5. It's not the schools, teachers or administration responsibility to raise children. As a parent I agree it isn't their responsibility to raise children but it is their responsibility to make sure our children have a safe environment to learn in. Am I wrong in my thinking if so why does our schools take grant money from the Title IV program? If they aren't responsible for making sure our children are safe from bullying, being harassed or being physically assaulted then they shouldn't be responsible in babysitting children for drugs, alcohol or tobacco. Shouldn't it be the parents responsibility to raise & teach their children about drugs, alcohol and tobacco not a schools? Isn't it wrong to take grant money if your picking and choosing which part of Title IV is or isn't your responsibility? I'm sorry but if my job paid me to do ABC and I only did B do you think I would still be paid or get to keep my job?

I know I am opening my self up here but I also want to add I believe in Freedom of Speech. As posted on my blog since I started it we are all adults so please act adult when offering your take. I won't allow any name calling of any students past or present or sharing of stories unless you have proof. No he said she said. I started this blog to explain my families story and to share the how policies and laws were being broken. My fight isn't about having people arrested or lining my pockets. It's about our community opening their eyes and knowing what's going on in our schools and school system. With that being said Debate Away!

Take Responsibility

After reading posts, messages and comments on many sites regarding the recent death of a young 14 year old boy I realize no one really gets it. As a community we are so busy pointing fingers, blaming the parents, family, churches, schools, teachers, goverments and the most shocking part the victims themselves. This isn’t about blame it’s about all of us as a community taking responsibility and standing up for the children in our community. Not just one group of children but all children. Not every child that has the perfect home life, loving parents, understanding family, goes to church and gets good grades leads a charmed life just like every child troubled doesn’t come from broken homes, have bad parents, doesn’t attend church, is failing school or on drugs. I have seen troubled lonely children from the best of families to the worst of families. We as adults, parents, pastors, teachers, babysitters, coaches, administrators, counselors, neighbors, etc, etc and etc need to start showing we care and we are there for all children not just a select few that fit into the mold we all have.

IT GETS BETTER - No One Says it Better Then Kermit

For all the kids out there if your lost talk to someone... To everyone else out there if you know something going on DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT... LIVES ARE AT STAKE!!!!

Children Are Our Future

After reading all the finger pointing I posted on a site I said I never would. That was my first and last post!!!

SMITH COUNTY RESIDENTS.....WHAT ELSE HAS TO HAPPEN IN OUR COUNTY BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE????

I have never posted on this site but I have heard enough. Product of your home environment? I feel for this family & am praying for them. How heartbreaking to put their little boy to rest because he was so lost from the meanness of others.. While it is true that none of us will ever know how he felt but the words of the other kids at school as to what happened are screaming volumes to me. I had two out of three of my children that attended Gordonsville bullied, harassed, grabbed, shoved, humilited, retaliated against, locked in a room so other parents could confront them, physically abused and ridiculed. In the words of some of you... Kids will Kids right? Well guess what it wasn't kids doing it but teachers. Not all teachers just two. I went to the school, Janice Fox, Roger Lewis and the school board. I could have owned Smith County School District but felt what would that prove without change. I took the high road went through the channels, filled out the paperwork, attended meetings and talked and talked and talked. Heck I even started a blog to share my journey. Surprise surprise after two years it got me now where and the teachers responsible still walk the halls of GHS and continued to harass one of my children. Roger Lewis kept it at the school level so the board wouldn't even talk to me. So I ask all of you this... What is it going to take to change our schools? What more has to happen before people say enough is enough. Maybe instead of fighting with yourselves as to who is at fault or the reason maybe we should stand together and make some changes before this happens to another child. As for the home environment comment what do you have to say to a parent that is there for their kids? Whose kids were involved in school, set good examples, didnt get in trouble and aren't on drugs? My children aren't perfect as no one is but did they deserve this abuse by the very people that are suppose to protect them? If I was abusing them at home they would be the first to call the law... So who do the parents call? Who is responsible? Where do we go when the people we elected turn their backs because it a school problem but the school won't do anything? When I started my blog 3 board members told me to call and email which I did. Guess what not one of them called me back. Was that for public show to make everyone feel like they care? I don't know you tell me....

Let Your Voice Be Heard

Want to the help the students of Smith County School District below are the names and contact information for our school board members.

District 1 - Karen Shoulders 615-677-6136

District 2- Richard Fulton 615-735-2656

District 3 - William Barrick 615-683-4779

District 4 - Joe Taylor 615-735-2719

District 5 - Tommy Manning 615-683-6209

District 6 - Michael Collins 615-735-1101

District 7 - Sonja Hammond 615-735-1065

District 8 - Tim Maynard 615-897-2544

Want to stop the bullying and make our schools safe call your board member or call them all. The board will be interviewing for a new school director make sure your voice is heard.

Prayers & Sympathy

I haven't been on my blog for two years but I would like to say I'm very saddened to learn about the suicide of a young 14 year old boy from Gordonsville. I didn't know this little boy personally but just the same it breaks my heart to know his death was caused by bullying at school. Prayers & sympathy go out to his family.

URGENT: Director of Smith County Schools Evaluation

Parents & Residents of Smith County

Time Is Ticking

JULY 21st Is The Next SCBOE Meeting

At the June 16 Meeting the School Board agreed to fill out written evaluations on the Directors performance and turn them in by the July meeting. The appointment of the Director is one of the only things the Board has authority to do and his evaluation should be important to anyone interested in the schools. There was no discussion about allowing any public input or involvement. In fact, it appears that the members of the school board do not realize that they are public officials and should ask for your views.

As residents and parents of Smith County we all need to do three things:

1. Call or write your Board member and give your honest opinion on the Director.

2. Call or write all Board members and tell them your own opinion even if they are in a different district. They are responsible for a whole system not just their district.

3. As tax payers we need to ask them for a public hearing so anyone can have a reasonable opportunity to state his/her views before the whole Board. We need to remind the Board members that they are our representatives and they should at least be willing to listen. This is the first evaluation of the Director and is only done once a year so now is the time to have your say.

Smith County School Board Members

Scotty Yeaman
664 Ridgeway Drive Carthage, TN 37030 - Home-735-2024

Larry Taylor Wilkerson
639 Lebanon Hwy Carthage, TN 37030 - Home 735-9568


Dick Fulton
33 Morris Dr. Carthage, TN 37030 - Home- 735-2656


Tommy Manning
313 Pig Branch Rd. Brush Creek, TN 38547 - Home 683-6299


Pat Massey
7 Stonewall Hwy. Carthage, TN 37030 - Home 897-2241


Shane Campbell
233 Rural Academy Lane Brush Creek, TN 38547 - Cell 584-2874


Karen Shoulders
202 Toetown Road, Pleasant Shade, TN 37145 – Home 677-6136


Sonja Hammond
434 Hogans Creek Rd, Carthage, TN 37030 – Home 735-1065

March Board Meeting Moved Up

School Board Meeting

Tuesday March 10th, 2009

5 PM

At Smith County Board of Education

School Board Meeting

School Board Meeting
Tuesday January 20, 2009
5 PM At Smith County Board of Education

Parents, Taxpayers and Citizens of Smith County attend board meetings, you have the power to make true change in our public schools.

Link to Board Schedule & Agenda: http://boe.smithcounty.com/boe/meetings.htm

Link to Board Minutes: http://boe.smithcounty.com/Board_Minutes/Default.htm

Please Read Before You Post

I would like to apologize for the comments that were posted by others on this blog over the weekend. I have deleted the section they were posted under because they were not beneficial under any circumstances. I do understand that I have opened myself up for negative comments and I welcome them however disclosing personal and emotional private information or vulgar language about any other parties will be deleted. Please read the below before re posting.

1. No profanity will be tolerated.

2. School employees are public figures but their children and or family are not so please do not disclose information about their children or families.

3. Negative comments regarding other children will be deleted I started this blog and put my family out for criticism but I will not allow people to criticize other peoples children or disclose information I feel could be harmful to them or their reputation.

If you would like to re post please feel free just be careful what you post or disclose about others.

A Resource Guide and Information Source for Parents

Informative reading and a added source.The Public School Parent's NetworkA site designed and maintained by parents of public school children to serve as an information source and reference guide for all parents of school age students. PSPN is committed to candidly addressing the educational issues that confront school age students and their parents daily and to provide a forum where opinions can be freely expressed from a parental perspective.


http://www.psparents.net

Credit Where Credit Is Due

Tennessean 2/2/09

'No direct correlation'
After years of the elected versus appointed debate resurfacing in Tennessee, the state studied it in 2003. Researchers spoke with educational analysts and university experts.

The comptroller's Office of Research and Education Accountability found that neither selection process influenced students' or schools' performance. Making a direct correlation would be statistically impossible, the agency said.

The report concluded: "Those individuals closest to the classroom have the greatest measurable impact on student performance while those farther away from the teaching and learning process have less measurable impact."

Based on the article research our teachers are the ones that should be commended for "Making the Grade". They are the closest to the classroom. It has been reported by Mrs. Fox and Mr. Lewis that Smith County is among the top four counties in Tennessee. If that is the case then why are our teachers working without contracts and no pay?

'Different kind of politics'
Sumner County Commissioner Merrol Hyde has seen both systems in operation up close. Hyde was Sumner's elected superintendent from 1988 to 1992 and its appointed school director from 1997 to 2004.

As an elected school superintendent, Hyde said, he had to answer to the entire county. As an appointed director, he was subject to the political whims of a much smaller group — a board of education with political motives of its own.

"It becomes in a certain way intensely more political. You have a lot more pressure to keep a board of education happy," Hyde said. "It's just a different kind of politics."

Hyde said residents who elect mayors are also capable of picking school superintendents — and equally capable of evaluating their performance."

Gary Anderson has been a school board member in Williamson County since before the change was made to appointed superintendents. He said a person hired by the school board can be fired just as easily if a mistake is made or the person seriously under performs. The elected official gets to wait four years until the term expires.

"I would support going with an appointed superintendent," Anderson said. "The appointed superintendent answers directly to the school board and has more accountability, whereas an elected superintendent would be answering to the general public.

Appointed or elected directors both have advantages and disadvantages. Either way it comes down to accountability. The board needs to do evaluations (true evaluations) and hold our director of schools accountable for his actions on following the directions of the board based on policies and rules.

Article Link
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009902020352

Why School Boards?

National School Board Association: http://www.nsba.org

Five Reasons for Local Control of Public Education

Are school boards necessary?

Should the present governance structure of our nation’s public schools remain in place?

The answer to both questions is, unequivocally, yes.

No one questions why planning boards, municipal governments, and state legislatures exist. And yet, some people advocate turning over control of school governance to those same bodies, saying we should let someone else take charge of the future of our children’s future.

School boards, elected or appointed by their communities, represent the community’s beliefs and values. Who better than these community representatives to shoulder the responsibility for preparing children to live productive and satisfying lives?

Consider these five reasons that the school board, which represents your community’s beliefs and values, should be the decision maker in today’s schools:

Your school board looks out for children – first and foremost. Education is not a line item in your school board’s budget – it is the only item.

1. Your school board is the advocate for your community when decisions are made about your children’s education. The school board represents the public’s voice in public education, providing citizen governance for what the public schools need and what the community wants.
   
2. Your school board sets the standard for achievement in your district, incorporating the community’s view of what students should know and be able to do at each grade level. Your school board also is responsible for working with the superintendent to establish a valid process for measuring student success and, when necessary, shifting resources to ensure that the district’s goals are achieved.
   
3. Your school board is accessible to you and accountable for the performance of the schools in your district. If the schools are not producing, it is your right as a voter to select new board members who will see to it that your students and your schools succeed.
   
4. Your school board is your community’s education watchdog, ensuring that taxpayers get the most for their tax dollars. Public education is a $423 billion business. In the majority of districts, school boards have taxing authority. That direct oversight – and responsibility – should not be given to politicians whose first priority is something other than education.

US Deprtment of Education - Protecting Students from Harassment and Hate Crime

Checklist for a Comprehensive Approach to Addressing Harassment

·Board members, district administrators, and the superintendent recognize the urgency of the problem of unlawful harassment and hate crime, identify people and agencies that can help them develop effective prevention and response strategies, and compile a library of useful materials

·School officials select personnel to work on creating an effective anti-harassment program in consultation with parents, students, and community groups

·Compliance coordinators are appointed and trained

·School personnel assess the school climate to determine the prevalence and types of harassment that may exist and the potential for hate-motivated violence

·School district adopts a written anti-harassment policy or reviews and revises existing policies for accuracy, clarity and legal compliance; the policy is clearly communicated to all members of the school community; and school personnel and students are held accountable for their actions

·School district develops a formal grievance procedure and takes steps to make sure it is working properly

·Instructional personnel use or supplement the district's curriculum and pedagogical strategies to foster respect and appreciation for diversity

·School sites institute, improve, or expand age appropriate student activities to prevent or reduce prejudice and conflict

·School district and individual school sites institute specific measures to respond immediately and effectively when harassment occurs to stop the harassment and prevent recurrence

·School officials flexibly apply response mechanisms to both the victim and the perpetrator, taking into account the parties' ages and the context of the behavior

·School personnel continually monitor the school climate and promptly address problems that could lead to harassment or violence or that indicate that harassment could be occurring

·Appropriate school officials become familiar with pertinent civil and criminal laws at the state, local, and federal levels, so that they are able to recognize possible civil rights violations, hate crimes and other criminal acts

·Schools develop guidelines and procedures for collaboration with law enforcement officials, make appropriate referrals to outside agencies, and designate liaison personnel

·Crisis intervention plans are in place to minimize the possibility of violence or disruption of the educational process

·District-level personnel and individual school sites form continuing partnerships with parents and the community to prevent hate crimes and harassing behaviors

·Staff training and professional development programs support the district's anti-harassment efforts

·All harassment incidents are carefully documented and incidents are reported to outside authorities as required

·District regularly assesses the effectiveness of its anti-harassment efforts

Source: Protecting Students from Harassment and Hate Crime, A Guide for Schools

US Dept of Ed - Harrassment

Publish at Scribd or explore others:

Due Process Clause

I found this information on another blog that I follow.

The Due Process Rights of Students
The issue: What rights to process to students in public schools have before they are punished or dismissed for disciplinary or academic reasons?

The Due Process Clause serves two basic goals. One is to produce, through the use of fair procedures, more accurate results: to prevent the wrongful deprivation of interests. The other goal is to make people feel that the government has treated them fairly by, say, listening to their side of the story.

Links:
http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/conlaw/dueprocesstudents.htm

http://www.gda.state.mn.us/resource.html?Id=3422

It's A New Year

School Board Meeting

Tuesday January 20, 2009

5 PM

Smith County Board of Education

Parents, Taxpayers and Citizens of Smith County attend board meetings, you have the power to make true change in our public schools.

I was not able to attend the December meeting but I heard that things are moving in the right direction. The overhead with the agenda was a positive improvement instead of the one page sheet that was handed out. Check out the Board of Education website under Board Meeting Schedule the agendas are now being posted. This is definitely a step in the right direction to share knowledge with the public.

Below are questions that have been asked by other parents that I would like to open up for discussion. I am new about how all of this works so I need some help with answers. Please blog to share information with all our readers.

1. Why does each school have different rules and guidelines? Does the principal write these rules and if so who approves them? Who is in charge of enforcing them?

2. If a student wants to fight a decision made by the principal they feel is unfair and Mr. Lewis has made it a school level decision that does the student turns to for appeal? I know what the policy is but based on my experience and the experience of others if Mr. Lewis states this is a school level problem then you can not approach the board.

3. Does the board work for Mr. Lewis?

4. Why are some classes offered at one school but not the other school in our county? I think they are talking about the high schools having different classes offered.

5. Who bases the salary levels our teachers are paid? Why does our county pay the lowest salaries when our scores are higher then most as reported by the BOE?

6. Why do all of our policies have the disclosure "The principal of the respective school shall have final determination". Of course this has different wording but in some form this line is always added. A rule is either a rule for all or it isn't a rule at all. How do you feel about this line?

These were just a few questions that were emailed to me. I would like everyone to use this blog for questions, answers or to share their stories. I know a lot of you are wondering what is happening with our situation and all I can say right now is I plan to continue to try to help our community with the change our school systems need. We need to work as a community to keep the good teachers we have, weed out the bad and bring in the new to improve the education of our children.