news-record.com

To keep and expand all the arts in the schools, and expand it to the elementary schools. Being in band helps students in all of their other core classes. It raises grades, improves discipline,
and makes beautiful music. Imagine parades without bands, no symphony concerts, no local rock bands. Take away music from schools and you take away music for life!

Mr. Green needs to keep his promise to communicate. My two emails have yet to be answered. Even he doesn't have time, he should forward the email to someone who will answer the question or request. Mr. Green wasn't my choice for superintendent; however, after meeting him and listening to him, my mind was changed. Too bad, though, because now I feel he is just another "talker."

To focus on being on message 24/7. Feel good things like watching the Inauguration on TV has to take a back-seat to reading and fulfilling dreams of educational excellence. Education has to become a prime motivator in our children's lives. The current system of working it in if there is not other things to do, just does not cut it. I have watched this system decline from about 28th in State to about 55th. It is our fault because we forgot structure in the classroom and that reading is more important than anything else. We can turn it around, but we can't if we don't get help from Mo and the BOE.

Mo,

Dont listen to idiots that make mountains out of molehills!

Anonymous,

Would you like for us to call you an idiot? Is the term helpful? Why do you want to posion the blog? Do you care about anything except yourself? I hope tomorrow will be a better day. We have so much to be thankful for.

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Joe,
I cant condone the above posters comments but there are too many people in this County who look at the glass half empty.
As you say, there is so much to be thankful for!

see
http://guilfordschoolwatch.blogspot.com
/2008/12/thoughts-for-2009.html

Mo Green has been on a "listening tour" since he was hired. But how much actual listening has he done? Mo Green supports two ideas that I know many, many Guilford County School parents are diametrically opposed to: mandatory school uniforms and extended the length of the school day.

Both are dreadful ideas. This is a situation that will have to be watched most carefully.

I really don't have much faith in our new superintendent. I believe he is in over his head and many bad decisions will be forthcoming.

John:

I would be very interested to know why you believe that school uniforms, or SMOD as we call it is a bad idea?

Please email me or call.

Thanks,

Paul Daniels

SMOD might create an atmosphere that makes the students look all alike, no difference in those that have and those that don't. Let's face it, that is the way of the world, some have; some do not. The real reason is that the teachers don't want to spend time correcting those that dress inappropriately (read don't follow the current policy) and that the HS students dress very risque, with low tops, midriff showins, pants hanging around the knees, oversized shirts( easy to hid weapons)

There has been little if no proof that SMOD helps education or safety for that matter. In our own schools those that have SMOD can't agree on the benefits, if any.

Some parents like it, cuts down on fights at home about appropriate dress, I see it as the parents copping out, easier to say the GCS is the bad guy than the parents being the bad guy.

Our school, Southwest implemented SMOD the year before this one. I was against it at first. Now I really like it. There have been some problems but overall I definitely recommend it. The kids look so smart going in and out of schol everyday. It certainly gives a smart look to the school and I am convinced that it must pay off in the classroom!

Dear SW parent,
do you think the kids are learning more? Are there less discipline issues? I can imagine that the 'look smart' but what are the true benefits. Is it easier to monitor the look, or are there still issues? I ask with all seriousness, I am not being cocky.

I like SMOD because it cuts down on the kids clothes bill. Not so many trips to Abercrombie and Holister. I can now get my kids SMOD from Target and Walmart instead.

There are a lot of Have's up in the Northwest region so they probably dont need SMOD.

Are there tattoo, body piercings and hair color /style
standards?

Should there be?.

so you think the pressure is less to buy the 'it' clothes? My son isn't it to that at all, so I have never had to deal with the Mall, haven't been there in over 10 years-yea!

We are at Northern now, and trust me, the have's don't dress better than the 'have-nots' many of the FRL kids have much more expensive clothing than my son. I do think that the low cut tops, the baggie pants can be a real issue. I personally hate the belts around the thighs. It is of course against our dress code, but most of the teachers are blind to it, or don't care.. not sure which is worse :) We don't have issue with hoodies/hats/etc, no head coverings allowed and the kids seem to respect that. At games etc it is much more relaxed.

I remember when I was in school, girls couldn't wear pants until I was in the 8th grade, I think. I just pesonally don't like the thought of little clones all dressing alike. If I thought it helped either safety or education I could get behind it better. If it is for social reasons, I have an issue with that. If it is to make us all alike, we aren't! The dress will not make that any less so.

The Rhino Times reported in an issue about three weeks ago that Mo Green supports actual uniforms. SMOD, as I understand it, is a Standard Mode of Dress, which fall in the category of restricting what a school kid can or cannot wear.

Uniforms, obviously, would be something like navy blue pants and white polo shirts for boys and plaid skirts and white blouses for the girls.

That is what Mo Green is in favor of for GCS.

I believe this is simply more cosmetics that do not address the real and very serious problems of classroom disruptions, student-on-teacher violence, gangs, sexual assaults and fighting. It's a feel-good, "we give a damn" band-aid approach that school administrators use to avoid tackling the tougher issues.

Another idea the Rhino Times reported that is high on Mo's to-do list is extending the school day. Again, for what purpose? Longer days do not equate to more learning. For bus riders, the day is plenty long enough. Not to mention kids who have to work part time or are involved in after-school activities (sports, band, drama, etc).

Shouldn't we expect more from this "out of the box" non-traditional superintendent than these warmed-over ideas?

Uniforms are not warmed-over ideas. Uniforms are a good idea. I mean real uniforms, not that fake "uniform" smod thing.

Many professions have uniforms. You feel professional, like a team, etc. I would totally support the idea.

I Love It,

I don't doubt your passion or sincerity, but please tell me (and I'm not being a wise guy here) how a school uniform will help a school kid learn better, behave better, retain knowledge better, and elevate his/her learning ability to at least the level of the grade he or she is in.

John,

I dont know how it helps but tell me how it will not help?

Tell me why you put on that suit to go to work everyday? Why you wear it to church?
Why do you dress up nicely to go out for dinner with your wife.
Tell me John?

Why?

I wear a suit because that is the policy of the company for whom I work.

However, the fact that I wear a suit does not determine how well I do in my job. I am measured on how well I perform, not how well I knot my tie.

If there are hard cold facts that prove school uniforms improve classwork and behavior, by all means, let's see them. That's all I am saying.

What is the reason for your Company's Policy of a suit? Are there any facts behind it?

Funny John, You dont question your Company but you do question GCS?

A lot of people also pay tuition to private schools and have their kids use a uniform but GCS cant spec one?

A suit is a dress code for his company. GCS has a dress code already. If he was required to wear a black suit, a white shirt and a black tie that would be a uniform. If he could only wear blue pants and a white, or blue, or beige shirt that would be SMOD. That is the difference in my opinion.

GCS has a dress code but often it is not followed. Some schools have gone to SMOD, what I would like to know is, what are the facts about the difference in education that the SMOD has created. Less expulsions? Better Grades? Less fighting? Less harrasment? Better reading? Can anyone tell me the facts, not opinions?

Anonymous,

Answer my question, please. Does any data exist that proves a correlation between public school uniforms and improvements in academics and behavior?

A suit is a dress code but SMOD isnt?

Whats the difference?

Does any data exist that shows a Company that makes employees wear suits performs better than a Company that doesnt?

If Companies dont have dress codes employees come to work like trash collectors. These are the same parents that complain about SMOD.

Parents are the worst when it comes to making their children conform to dress code. They do not back up the schools making enforcement a nightmare for schools.
Uniforms are the only solution.

Hands up who went to church in their dress code today?