7-year-old Identifies as a Cat???

This morning I chatted with a neighbor, who asked me about the Richland 2 school board. She told me she was not impressed.

I'm often asked if I think "this" school board is better than the last. My answer is, "Different; not better." 

Why is that? Too few trustees on the school board who think like the executives they are supposed to be.

Then this neighbor mentioned a nearby school district where a 7-year-old student identifies as a cat. And then she told me that there is a litter box in the classroom!

Was she pulling my leg? I didn't think so!

Is there any chance that such a dumb stunt could be happening right here in Richland 2?

Is this where diversity, equity and inclusion are dragging this country?

What teacher would allow that? What Principal? What Administrator? What Superintendent? What school board?

Is this happening in Richland 2?

Rare Opportunity - Ski Lift Chair

 

Once in a lifetime opportunity. FOR SALE. One used ski-lift chair. WYSIWYG. Probably the only one in Columbia; maybe even the only one in the entire State of South Carolina.

Vintage chair for two, with cushion and back rest. This is the genuine article - from the ski area in Alta, Utah. 

Comes complete with bragging rights. Let your ego run wild. 

Snow not included.

Asking the outrageous price of $500 OBO. Sharpen up your negotiating skills, but don't beat around the bush or someone else will buy it right out from under your nose.

Pick up in White Rock (north side of Lake Murray) by Halloween or near Peak (east side of I-26) on or after November 1. 

What Are You Telling Kids about Hamas vs. Israel?

Watch this PragerU video, which is a conversation between Marissa Streit and Jill Simonian. Marissa is the CEO of PragerU, and Jill is associated with PragerU Kids. 

The video is Mom-to-Mom Parenting: Israel, Education, and Resilience.

Are you wondering what to tell your kids about the war between Israel and Hamas?

What is happening right here in Richland 2 schools and in Columbia that is affecting all children?

Importantly, do you know what is being said in Richland 2 schools about this war?

To what extent is the NEA agenda being crammed down the throats of teachers and staff in Richland 2?

Diplomas out; Participation Prize, in

 FoxNews headline today:

Blue state suspends basic skills graduation requirement again, citing harm to students of color

I didn't even have to read the article. 

Can you believe this nonsense?

How will those Oregon students ever get jobs? They won't be able to read, write, add, subtract.

Didn't Washington go that way a couple of years ago?

What kind of idiots are in the State's Department of Education? And in many of the schools?

Equity grading is mentioned. Don't Richland 2 schools use that? Can a kid get a Zero on a test or a paper now?

Furor in Richland One

What's it all about?

You've read about teacher reassignments in Richland One. It's all over local news. Get the details there.

Richland One says "it made the decision based on class sizes and teacher-student ratios", according to an article on WISTV.com

Now comes Patrick Kelly, member of Palmetto State Teachers Association and Richland Two teacher, who is quoted, "Teaching is about more than just standing and delivering instruction. It’s not just putting a robot in front of someone. It’s about building deep human relationships."

While he's right, the reassignments don't have anything to do with teaching. Read again the reason given by Richland One: "it made the decision based on class sizes and teacher-student ratios".

Building "deep human relationships"? Give me a break. 

Take a look at Richland Two scores, as recently released by the SCDE. Do they reflect "deep human relationship"-building? OK, Richland Two teachers, stand up and deliver instruction.

Running a school district is a business. If management needs to move resources around, the sooner the better. 

The kids will be just fine. In fact, they might just start learning resiliency and adjusting to change.

Report Cards for Schools - Find the Paddle

Grades are out. Isn't it the day everyone waits for? "How'd I do, Mom?"

If the schools' grades had been student report cards' going home, the kids would have dropped them by the back door and lit out for the woods!

According to The State newspaper on October 12, "Every high school, elementary and middle school in the state received ratings on a 100-point scale."

Then you read that local schools in the Excellent category (13) had points ranging from 74-61, with Richland One Middle College being the outlier with 95 points.

Local "Good" schools (13) ranged from 66-51.

Local "Average" schools (39) ranged from 58-38.

Local "Below Average" schools (10) ranged from 49-31.

Local "Unsatisfactory" schools (6) ranged from 39-23.

Question: If schools are ranked by Points, how did some schools with more points end up in a lower category? Maybe somebody in the SCDE failed math? or Reading? or Sorting?

If The State had created a spreadsheet and listed schools by points, its article would have fallen apart. Why didn't The State article list the schools in descending order of points?

Were some schools graded on the curve?

Title IX: do you understand it?

Do you understand Title IX?

What is happening right here in Richland 2? Do, or will, boys compete girls' sports? Do boys use girls' changing rooms in sports?

Are there even "boys" and "girls" anymore?

What are the proposed changes in Title IX that might destroy girls' sports?

Watch this interesting five-minute video from PragerU.