OK, we have been on this topic for days and we have heard from a lot of people. Here's the deal. TONIGHT at 7:00 PM SHARP, the BOE on Mt. Hermon Road will have a Public Meeting. PUBLIC COMMENTS are at the beginning of that meeting, so you must be there by 7:00 PM SHARP!
That being said, don't get too frustrated when they don't respond to your statements and or questions as they run this meeting similar to the City Council Meeting where they'll get back to you on an answer.
The most important thing, (IMHO) is to be heard. Now, IF you want these kind of things to continue and you're more the type who has nothing but hot air, don't go to the meeting. However, IF you want things like this to change, you need to do what we did, (the Dirty Dozen) and go to these meetings and voice your opinions FOR YOUR CHILDREN! YOU are their voice!
Let's see how many people show up tonight.
38 comments:
As a parent of a 5th grader in Wicomico County, I for one will be attending this meeting tonight. Our voices DO need to be heard on this matter, whether it falls on deaf ears will be a chance we'll have to take. I for one will not be sending my son to school on 1/20if he is 'forced' into participating in these events. While I understand this is an historic event, all inaugurations are historic events. Why should this one be treated any differently? The kids were not 'forced' to watch any others in history...why this one? Especially when they are missing valuable classroom time to do so. The subject my son will be missing is one he's struggling in and needs to stay on track to remain motivated. So, I figure if he is going to miss out on this subject anyway, he can at least do something a little more productive than watching television. I agree with the parent in an earlier post that stated they're taking a risk having our kids view this live television event anyway, on the chance that something horrific may happen (but they know what's best of OUR children...HA! so they think). Another interesting fact, is my son was also made to create a portrait of Obama for a recent Art assignment, I'm wondering if this is a typical art requirement. Please, let our kids be kids...they do not deserve to have politics and government thrown at them, they'll have a lifetime to worry about all that.
If its a new tradition that they want to start. say so. but when president gonzalez is inaugurated see if it is celebrated
we are the racists? race was never brought into anything written in that other comment. him being black has nothing to do with it..get over yourself!
can you broadast the meeting some how?
My son is wearing camoflage to school to show his support, to the new president, for the troops fighting for our freedom! The war that the new president does not support.
I've read almost all of the comments regarding this issue, and, frankly, cannot believe that this is such a big deal either way.
As a parent, I'd love to know that my child is learning all kinds of lessons every day at school, both of a textbook variety and life lessons. The swearing in of ANY United States President is a BIG DEAL, no matter what your political views are. I'm assuming that since these commenters live in America they are mostly Americans. So it's THEIR president who is being sworn into office.
I'd hope that most children in school now will grow up to have thoughts and opinions of their own. Can "being forced" to watch this event on TV or participate during one school day adversely affect them and permanently scar them? (It's highly unlikely that watching on TV is going to make as big an impression as Mommy or Daddy raising a fuss at the school board meeting over it.)
Times have changed, and things are different now than before. Kids need to be prepared to be members of the world society, and we should expose them to all kinds of ideas and maybe even some opinions of our own.
Keep your kids home instead of allowing them to experience an exhibit of what makes America better. This election process lasted more than two years, and a majority of Americans chose our new President. You're doing your children a huge disservice by not allowing...encouraging them to participate.
agreed with anon 1207. How can anything in the article or what anon1128 said was racist. I hope this is not a prelude to what this government and other people are going to belike. If I disagree with something Obama says, I ama racist??!!?? PLEASE!!!! I believe you are the racist for bringing race into this comment section. I do not want my child force fed this crap. If he wants to watch it, then by all means he can watch it. If he doesn't then he will not watch it. But i will not have him called a racist but someone who is not mature enough to realize that his choice is simply that....a choice. SOmething that a lot of people around this country forget we have. Use it!
dogg
Anon12:07 -
You act like this is the 1st post on this topic! LOL
It is ALL about race! If McBush had won and a random school wanted to have the kids wear red, white, and blue you can bet that the topic would NEVER make this site!
Go cry over 1 day... you can cry again in 8 years.
12:53
Why should I have to accept Obama as "my" President. He will never be "my" President. I think his views on abortion are deplorable. And since you obviously agree with his views on abortion, I despise you too.
All of you Obama kool-aid drinkers can gather in a big circle, hold hands and sing Cumbaya until hell freezes over, or better, a bomb is dropped on your heads.
And yes, I am an angry, fed up, white man.
An art project?! Oh, give me a break!
12:53pm....all the sugar coating in the world isnt going to make this wrong, a right. While I support and respect our democracy,and support teaching it's process in school, this certainly is not the President to start it with.
Historical? yes, in many ways...
What will you teach them about this particular inauguration?
Will you point out that this man:
received and spent more money in contributions than anyone, ever
that the media was more bias than ever
that he has the least qualifications than any canidate before
that his campaign promises were yet the biggest lies ever...appealing to the ignorant masses{ignorant in the fact that 90% of the promises from 90% of the polititions are in fact LIES}
or how about the historical fact this canidate has more radical, racial, anti-american, terriost freinds and associates than any Presidential canidate in HISTORY!
NO, no one will point these historica facts out....in fact, the only Historical fact you people want to point out is THE COLOR OF HIS SKIN!
And those of you spearheading this historical racist act, are about to be slaped with an historical LAW SUIT!!!
Teachers have NEVER been told their lesson plans about this event will need to be turned in to the principal to give to the WBOE or that Bd. personnel will coming to the classrooms to make sure teachers are spending enough time on this. Can you understand how different Bd. behavior is this time? It isn't that teachers have never watched the inauguration with their classes or anything like that.
Anon12:07 not only are you a racist you are also disrespectful to a great war hero by throwing the McBush out there. This is only about race because you want it to be. What? you afraid Affirmative Action is going to be abolished or something? let go of the hatred.
anon 12:07 you are correct, race was not stated in the 1st comment, but it sure was implied. From all I have found out, no one is being "forced" to do anything. "Watching the Inauguration" has happened in Wicomico County since the 70's (I know, I was watching it in my 4th grade class). What seems to me as the reader, is you don't want your child to watch it because of race. If that is indeed true, then that is the "implied racism"
"My son is wearing camoflage to school to show his support, to the new president, for the troops fighting for our freedom! The war that the new president does not support."
Wow... proves my point in 1 post. I would rather let my child dress up and take in some real world history, than imagine the words they hear from this parent of the year.
Get er done... wear your mossy oak to school son!
Anon1:47 - Let go of the hatred? LOL
No hate here... it starts with Joe, this site, and the hundreds of negative posts/comments about Obama.
anonymous 2:30,
Quit your bellyaching!
This is called Freedom of Speech, not hatred. Get your hgead out of your rear end and quit acting like a baby. OR, go back to school and start all over again, you need it. Then you can dress up and feel stupid for the day.
maybe I'm missing something, i see absolutely no racism, "implied" or otherwise in anything anon 11:28am said. apparently all you over analyzers need to step back and take a good look in the mirror before you point fingers. and if you think their kids are not being forced, maybe you should look up what the word mandate means. i also grew up in wicomico county schools and i've never watched an inauguration in school.
1:48
Of course the inauguration watching has occurred before and will occur again. It's the demand for teachers to turn in their lesson plans and being told that personnel from the central office will be coming to make sure they're spending enough time on this that is SO DIFFERENT.
1:46
You meant teachers have never been told to turn in lesson plans and expect central office scrutiny visits BEFORE THIS INAUGURATION. We have certainly been told it this month!
Anon 12pm:
One last time, because obviously you are a slow learner, Obama is NOT black!! No matter how bad you want that to be!!!
1:46
We have been told that our lesson plans need to be turned in and that central office personnel will be CHECKING ON US that day to make sure we are giving the proper attention to Obama's inauguration. This directive is from Ms. Handy although she has nothing to do with elementary instruction; that is Ms. Malone's job.
Ok, I have done my best not to write my opinion about this inauguration and the way President ELECT Obama has been immortalized. Quite frankly I am so tired of hearing about the first "black" president of the United States. I have never heard anyone say George Washington was the first white president. Before you say something ridiculous like he was our first president and the next 43 were white just remember he was our first president. It seems to me the black community are the ones who are racist. Black people are the only race having their very own athletic competitions, beauty pageants, councils and they are allowed to have their own colleges. They are even allowed to have the Negro College Fund. If white people had any of these things we would have riots, fights and all kinds of protests. My God, Jesse Jackson would be all over it. If Black people really want the racism to stop then they should look in the mirror. As far as making a child watch the inauguration in school, that should be up to the parents. The school system has taken Christmas (Christ) out of the school system, but they can force our children to watch/support a democratic president who is a Muslim. Being a Muslim is a religion, a dangerous and violent religion and I do not support it. That being said, I did not vote for Obama, nor do I want my child to be forced to "Honor" a man that I do not respect. Yes, I said it, for the first time I do not respect the opinion of the American people. All this being said, I do believe everyone should be treated as they deserve to be treated, and respect people that deserve to be respected. I just will never understand why when "we" do not agree with something a black person does "we are automatically "racist". Who is narrow minded now?
I hope parents do question the turning in of lesson plans and the comment from Ms. Handy to vice principals that central office personnel will be visiting schools to be sure teachers are giving enough attention to Obama's inauguration. As incredible as it sounds, elementary curriculum/instruction is NOT part of Ms. Handy's job description. Ruth Malone is in charge of that. The simple truth is that no one has nerve enough to tell Ms. Handy that the Board will leave it to the teachers to conduct appropriate activities as they have done for every other inauguration.
That is because if they question Ms. Handy they will deem racist. I love the double standards we have to live by.
Judging by the hundreds of comments on this subject, I can imagine the meeting will be standing room only!
I have not heard of any child saying that he or she does not wish to participate in inauguration activities. I have only heard parents saying that they do not want their child to participate. The children in the schools seem to be eager to partake and it is the parents making a big deal over it... once again teaching children to disrespect teachers and other adults in authority. If you do not want your child to take part on 1/20, keep them home, write a note saying they missed school for personal reasons, and be done with it. If you don't like public schools and teachers, send your child to a private school, homeschool them, or shut up!I am tired of hearing teachers being blasted and disrespected. That is exactly what is wrong with today's school system- A total lack of respect. A place where what the child says is the truth and the adult is wrong. What happened to respecting our elders and adults?
Let's see if anyone is big enough on this blog to actually go to the meeting at the BOE or hide on this blog.
Joe:
If you can, please give us a count of those in attendance actually speaking about this topic tonight.
I bet it will be a few but as usual, people will share their thoughts on here since they don't have to show their face.
Let's see if people actually have the gahoonas to face the BOE in person. My thought is no!
I attended Wicomico County Schools from K-12...NEVER did I watch an inauguration!!!!! It is not about Race..but Blacks who play the race card will keep doing it till hell freezes over!
Anonymous said...
This election process lasted more than two years, and a majority of Americans chose our new President.
12:53 PM
The majority of Americans chose our new "president?" Who fed you this line? There is only a small percentage of Americans registered to vote and we have a large population of children. The only ones that voted were the ACORN registered voters from cemetaries.
Has anyone even contested the fact that numerous states had more votes than registered voters?
Tell me this election wasn't rigged.
I have a question, back when the election was happening my daughter got and a few other kids got in trouble because they were discussing who they wanted to win the presidency and were told that there was to be no talk of polictics, why now is the same school forcing the children to watch the inauguration and calling this an historic event? Sounds like a bunch of hypocrisy to me!
Anonymous said...
anon 12:07 you are correct, race was not stated in the 1st comment, but it sure was implied. From all I have found out, no one is being "forced" to do anything. "Watching the Inauguration" has happened in Wicomico County since the 70's (I know, I was watching it in my 4th grade class). What seems to me as the reader, is you don't want your child to watch it because of race. If that is indeed true, then that is the "implied racism"
1:48 PM
This has got to be the stupidest comment I have ever seen on this blog. The moron agrees that Anon 12:07's comment did not state race, but it was implied. How did this idiot formulate that stupid reply?
I also find it interesting that this moron says he knows for a fact that Wicomico County schools have been watching the inauguration since the 1970's because he watched it in the 4th grade. What happened to the other 11 grades. He is definitely a product of the Wicomico County School System. What a joke of an example he is.
I was in attendance. No one said a thing except for me. I was there for an indirect issue, but was aware of all of the discussions over these issues, so I asked.I was there basically asking about WCBOE's long term goals of cleaning up the county dress code for other reasons. The Board asked if anyone had questions in reference to the inauguration issues. I have never been to one and may have missed the part where I was suppose to fill out a form so they know in advance that someone will want the floor. I did get there in time to hear the President say that no one had requested to have the floor or speak. I didn't know that was part of the process, now I know. Anyway, they asked if anyone had questions about it so I asked if the classroom assigments and dress codes were direct mandates from the Board and they did reply "no". They said that the dress codes and classroom assigments were solely school and individual teachers choices to do so. I find this a little on the false side. What the Superintendant did say was the following "there will be alternate assignments for those who do not wish to participate in inauguration activities as we respect their wishes" He did say that they have to do something and doing nothing will have an adverse or negative effect on their grade. I would suggest that any parent that doesn't agree with any of the issues with the inauguration to send a letter or conact your childs teacher(s) and asked if they will have alternate assigments on the 20th. If they do maybe you can opt to have your child do that,If the teacher says no they wont have alternate assigments I believe someone, somewhere is lying. Is the Board afraid to admit that someone at the board has mandated? or are teachers making this crap up? There have been a few teachers post or comment today, so read up and you will get your answer. I smell a rat. Guess who was not present (M. Handy), maybe she isn't important enough to be there anyway, I have no idea, again I was really there for an indirect issue. Well there you have it.
Joe can you make the 9:34 comment a post, it is kind of hidden here
9:34
Thank you for attending and sharing the information. Like I suggested in an earlier post, most people hide behind their computer screen and won't confront the issues.
What you heard from Dr. Fredericksen is what I was told by others. This is a school issue and not a directive by the BOE. If there are issues, certain principals should be called on the carpet. Not all schools are doing these activities.
I truly find merit in your comments that most of this has been a reaction by teachers. Seems like they will belly ache about anything and have blown this issue out of perspective.
Folks, if you are unhappy, please make an appt. or call your child's principal to find out what they are doing that day. Then you will know for sure. I did.
Joe...
What do you say now...no one showed up...in my mind, the issue is MUTE...your readers hide behind their computers and don't have the guts to speak in public.
All this has been is a glorified Grapevine!
Wonder is you will actually post this...truth hurts...
Notice, I have the stones to publish my name!
OK, now I understand the whole thing. If my child attends a school with a black principal and or my child has a black teacher, they can make my white child act black,do black activities, think like a black and dress like blacks. The BOE say they have nothing to do with this whole mess. It is up to each individual school to run it like they please, Why have a BOE and a central office??I hope a bus will carry my child tomorrow to a school with a white principal and have Billy placed in a white teacher's classroom.Who is the bus supervisor? What is my next step?
Ask a vice principal what Ms. Handy said at their meeting. She told them about collecting lesson plans and that Bd. personnel would be checking on teachers. That is not an individual school thing, that came from her.
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