A site for Bibb County faculty, students, parents, and concerned citizens who desire to share their thoughts, feelings, and concerns regarding our current state of education in Bibb County in an uncensored, and unedited forum without fear of retaliation or retribution.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Honey Badger

A message of the utmost importance:
With this blog being less than six days old, the groundswell of public interest regarding the new administration has been enormous as evidenced by the fact that it has received over 12,000 views. The vast majority of the views shared by the contributors to this blog have been very insightful, informative and thought provoking. It is not surprising that the tactics and broad sweeping changes put forth by Dr Dallemand and his new administration have created many unanswered questions and skepticism with regards to the future success and direction of the Bibb county school system. The cornerstone of the creation of this site was to provide the avenue for uncensored and unedited views of ALL concerned citizens of this community. It is understandable that the arguably inflammatory tactics that Dr Dallemand has employed with his staff and the radical nature of his platform has elicited much emotion and even anger amongst those weighing in. We must not allow these emotions to become counter productive to our purpose at hand. We must stick to the facts, maintain credibility without injection of anger and prejudice, and form a united front. It is certainly true that everyone here on either side of the argument wants the same thing, a solid education and future for our most precious resource.....our children.
Thank you

138 comments:

  1. Honey Badger,

    I couldn't agree more, there is more than enough information available to thwart this plan without resulting to name calling. If you would like an "eye opening" look at a part of Dr. Dallemands plan just search for Glenn Singleton, the Pacific Education Group and see what happened in school districts like Evanston/Skokie, Ann Arbor and Seattle. My understanding is that we, the taxpayers of Bibb county have all ready paid this man up to $100,000 for "Diversity Training" with no Board approval.

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    1. Think employees may need to look into seeing if Mr. Singleton and his radical beliefs can be forced down our throats. He made me extremely uncomofortable when he spoke at one of the strategic planning days. I don't plan to listen to him again.

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    2. There are numerous examples of educators and administrators suing there districts for being forced to endure this training and the aftermath.....I bet the local PAGE lawyers would be willing to help.

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    3. This was just posted on MT:

      I understand that today Dallemand called a meeting with white employees at the board office. During this closed door meeting, he berated them and called them racists.

      Read more here: http://www.macon.com/2012/02/08/1896125/dallemand-discusses-overhaul-costs.html#storylink=omni_popular#storylink=cpy

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    4. That was NOT Glenn Singleton who spoke at the strategic planning day and espoused his racism, that was Dr. Mohammad who spoke. From what I have read Singleton is wayyy more racist than Dr. Mohommad was. Our community needs healing not further division between our community members. I am in the system, and have heard that sentiment expressed by EVERYONE, not just any one segment of our society.

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  2. Thank you for soliciting only the objective remarks. Some posters are so nasty andartfully do come off as racist. This is NOT about race. I resent the notion that the only reason to disagree with this plan is due to skin color.

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  3. Word is now that they are going to try and slip in a vote on Thursday to try and avoid the protests. Everyone, please come out to the Thursday meeting to show your disapproval!

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    1. We were told today that the voting is being put on hold while the BOE has a chance to process and review the plan extensively.

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  4. Thank goodness this bastion of ignorance has been quieted. This site is so full of baseless vitriol that it's obvious education is neither important nor attained by those who have posted on this blog. I find the fact that so many people are so angry over a mere proposal that they, until this afternoon, had only speculative details about utterly ridiculous. The attitude towards our superintendent was negative before the planning even began, and you'd be a moron to think that had nothing to with race (or you just haven't lived in Macon long enough). It's time for all you so called "concerned citizen's" who are actually pissed of teachers, to own up to the fact that we've failed as a whole and stop trying to blame someone else. It's our job (note the use of "we've" and "our") to educate children and people all over this country do it under worse circumstances with less support both financially and otherwise. Any teacher who knows they're doing a good job might be, but they and everyone else on this site should realize that many teachers are not. Excuses are just that, excuses. How can you fault a plan that hasn't even been proposed? How can you call for anything less than ambitious? How can all this energy be wasted on hate and negativity now and when were asked for our energy in the past, all anyone wanted to talk about was how crappy lunch was? Everyone should take a quick moment and pull their head out of their ass and realize that we have someone whose willing to take on this responsibility and weather the slings and arrows thrown by a delusional city that doesn't even have the decency to let the man tell you his ideas. After Friday, sure, propose you objections, write letters and emails, start blogs, do whatever you want, just realize that keeping things the same isn't going to work and if you've got all the answers, run for superintendent and if you don't, shut the hell up and get out of the way of those who want better education for Bibb county.

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    1. Vitriol? Head out of our ass?......Oxymoron?

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    2. I wonder if you are on the Dallemand gravy train.

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    3. If by "gravy train" you mean under employed elementary parapro, then yes...

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    4. You obviously have not been listening or you do not have children at stake.

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    5. @ JR Olive....by "underemployed", do you mean underpaid? You may be underpaid now but with the new proped "miracle" plan you are going to be unpaid and unemployed if your elementary school is one of the 12 slated to close!

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    6. I certainly don't mean under paid. I mean that I have degree and work a job that doesn't require one. I would gladly give up my job if it meant more students got a better education in Bibb County

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    7. @ JR Olive...I do believe that some of his ideas will work but there are some that I think need to be revisited. This is the same plan he tried to implement in Minnesota and maybe working on implementing a few ideas at a time would be a better idea. The main problem is this....we need to "clean house" in some schools. Some principals are ineffective and continue to let lousy teachers take home a paycheck for walking in the front door. I have been saying this needs to be done for years. There are many people who walk through the front doors of my school and cheat our students out of an education every single day. It is a disgrace that they do it and an even bigger disgrace that they are allowed to get away with it. This is a simple answer to a huge problem. Also, sending kids to middle school who can't read MUST STOP! I have seen many kids leave our elementary school and slide right into middle school reading on a second or third grade level. That is an injustice. But, until we fix the problems in elementary school and provide each child with a strong foundation, we will continue to see children fail and drop out of school. And, I do teach in one of the inner city schools, I am white, I do have classroom management and excellent test scores so I know that they can learn and MOST can/will behave.

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    8. I agree with everything you just said! I'm a little confused as to why you don't believe that Dr. Dallemand is the man for the job. 300 hundred teachers leaving and making third grade a graduation year to middle school? Sounds like you're getting what you want.

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    9. Why must we be a "moron" to think this is not about race? I am a minority and and was raised by a man who marched on washington (and several other places) with Martin Luther King Jr and not only do I not support this plan, I think of it as racist.

      Mr. Singleton, in his teachings singles out one race as being let down by public eduction. He completely ignores the fact that all races are being let down by poor teachers, poor teaching methods, poor testing policies, and poor education policies. No race is being given an advantage, they are all being sabotaged. The only kids that are succeeding are the ones getting help at home. That is why the parents who tend to put the most emphasis into their childrens education are the ones succeeding at the highest rate. What races are those??? Aisian and Asian Indian's tend to score the highest accross the board. Although "whites" do well, not per capita.

      Although race may in the end be an issue, it is not the issue for most the people in here or in the school's. It is the issue for Mr Dallemond.

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  5. This is not about race, it is about the lack of character and integrity of the leader, which is evident in SO MANY of his actions. Good leaders earn respect, not demand it. If you know anything about real leadership, you know that he has none of the characteristics (read John Maxwell). THAT is why the plan is doomed to fail, no matter what it contains!

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    1. Actually my degree from Mercer was in leadership and I've got to ask how you can possibly judge his capability as a leader after just a year? Firing people, reorganizing, tailoring your work environment to fit your needs, and creating a plan are necessary whenever an entity is failing and you could hardly cite those as examples of bad character or lack of integrity. I would like to know what you have heard him say directly from his mouth or pen that is immoral and what you seen him do directly or felt that is unethical?

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    2. Additionally, calling a plan "doomed to fail no matter what..." before said plan is even presented is probably the most obtuse, negative, and uncooperative persecutive you could have.

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    3. Were you at the meeting last Friday? Have you not seen the research? The plan has been presented in all of its embellished obscurities. Yes its easy to denounce another's plan when you have none of your own, but that in it's own right does not validate the plan itself. There are too many questions to be answered.

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    4. Wonderful, ask those questions and if you don't like the answers propose better solutions. The only validation any plan receives comes after its implementation and results are analyzed. If you you don't have a better idea, then your opinion doesn't mean anything. During the planning sessions there were a lot of people expressing what they didn't like with no idea of what they did like and I'm not sure what you expect a leader to do with that sort of feedback.

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    5. And there were a lot of people expressing better ideas during the planning sessions. What happened to those ideas?

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    6. I think I'm getting the picture here. This blog is for those bitter few whose ideas weren't new or constructive. I and many more like me can see my ideas in the plan. Specific examples include the new breakdown of grade levels and year round schooling. I think the general divide between the opposing teams here is those who care about what teachers need and those who care about what students need. I am the latter.

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    7. What is troublesome to me, more so than the plan, is the climate that has been created by Dr. Dallemand. He has been a bully here since day one. Read this blog in its entirety for specific examples.

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    8. The problem is, he isnt presenting a plan but wants approval. He hasnt purposed costs, and supporting data for its parts, or how it is to be implemented. Yet he wants approval to go ahead with the plan. When asked by a board member these questions, at the meeting friday, he stated that we wont know that until we start to impelment it.

      You say it is "obtuse and negative" to oppose a plan you dont know what is yet you would support a plan blindly? How do you know it wont re-segregate schools if you dont know what the plan is???

      Also, I have read the purposed plan for making a plan. I have researched said plan for making a plan. I have researched his successes and failures in Minnisota. I have read the news paper articles about him and why he was RUN OUT OF TOWN. I was at the meeting and I listend to everything he said and took notes. Once more, I am highly educated. I am not opposed to him, I am opposed to a plan that has many aspects which are proven counter productive in a public school system.

      Free internet and computers for all and no tax payer money...Heck ya!

      Trimming fat without over loading class sizes (which is what is purposed, not 40 kids per class), I am all for that.

      Helping kids at young ages to learn to deal with anger issues, please do that.

      And many more things that are great. But dont ask me to blindly support a plan without telling me what the plan is and dont try to sneak things in that have proven to be failures elsewhere.

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    9. Oh and yes, this is a site for those opposed to the plan. Not sure how you missed it. If the title was not enough, you should have been able to pick it up in the original manifesto on the first page of the blog, written by the honeybadger him/herself. Just like the plan, it is all out there for those who want to put out the effort to find it and make educated decision's based on what they find.

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    10. Olive...a good leader gains the respect and trust of his employees before ever proposing drastic change in an organization. This man has done the opposite of that from the outset. Believe me, telling a principal to rid his office of family pictures and personal effects is not good leadership. Telling all school secretaries exactly what to say when they answer the phone is not good leadership. Arriving at a school with your personal photographer to take staged pictures of you appearing to participate in a school assembly is not good leadership. Firing people who have made you look bad because they were following the rules and you weren't is not good leadership. Taking your children out of a school during a Code Red, which is forbidden, is not good leadership. Trying to pass a major plan behind the employees' and public's backs, through secret illegal board meetings, (and then having to back-pedal and suddenly decide to allow "open communication" because forced to) is NOT good leadership. He has "strategically" orchestrated this fiasco since day one, spending an entire year staging events to make everyone think they were helping to devise this plan, when in fact the plan was already devised before he got here. A good leader has honor, integrity, and character, and this man has NONE. He is only about making himself look good and is so full of himself it's sickening. Just look at the home page of the school website, filled with pictures of himself (this is such an embarrassment to me as a community member). I have NEVER seen a school system website plastered with pictures of the superintendent like this! This is all about HIM - he is making a mockery of us all and I bet my bottom dollar he will be gone within 2 years, after fudging the statistics and making it look like he did something here.

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    11. Very well put! I just have two minor changes. All companies tell their employess what to say when they answer the phone. Also, it is common for companies to not allow personal effects to be displayed in a public area. I would think that administrators offices are public area's.

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    12. I have been affiliated with many, many schools in two different states for the past 26 years and have never come across such micro-management of a school by the superintendent. Schools are not typically regarded as "companies" but in my opinion should present a more personal and intimate environment if you want to make kids and parents more comfortable. He SCRIPTED what the secretaries are to say, which includes mention and promotion of the Macon Miracle of course. He also made schools put something about it on their marquees. It's just very different from anything I've ever seen, having been in schools every day of my long career. If he wants his employees to buy into his plan, he is certainly going about it EXACTLY the wrong way.

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    13. Whether or not public schools should be run more like a successful is debatable but the differences between the two are striking. The most important part being one is successful while the other has been failing for generations. That being said, I agree he should have done more to get some buy in from teachers and parents before attempting to implement his plan. It would not have been hard. Though, if you look at his history that is not how he works.

      Even worse, this is indicative of Macon and Bibb County as a whole. It is corrupt, poorly run, and lead by moron's. It is why the district can close 12 schools without a negative impact on the average class size throughout the system. It is why we have twice the number of county commissioners required for a hamlet of this size. It is why CJ Ellis got to another run off despite the belief throughout the community that he is an absolute moron.

      Like so many others, I am leaving this town as soon as I can. I was casually looking before this plan but now I am doing everything I can think of to be gone by summer. I have lived in 8 cities great and small in two countries. Yet I have never lived in one as poorly run, from top to bottom as this one. When Riechert is the best we can do (where has he been on this subject??) then this is a place that nobody with a real love for the advancement of their family should stay.

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    14. that was "successful Business"

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  6. I am a parent of children who attend Bibb County public schools. I am also a teacher in this system. I am neither an ignorant spouter of "baseless vitriol" nor a "pissed off teacher." Having been a parent volunteer for years, a member and officer of PTO and PTSA, a long-term substitute, and now a teacher in our county, I am a concerned individual with a unique perspective on the issues at hand. I attended the Strategic Planning sessions; I have read the proposed Strategic Plan. The items in the plan that has been advertised as taking all input into account suspiciously mirror the opening speech given by Dr. Dallemand at the very first planning session. I discussed the issues faced by our school system with a plethora of Bibb county employees. In each group, similar problems were voiced and solutions proposed. However, none of these has made it into the plan. Many of the goals, strategies, and action steps in the Strategic Plan could have been taken directly from any school improvement plan in the county. These are items that we have already addressed and are working toward. My school in particular was making great strides in meeting these goals. However, progress has slowed since Dr. Dallemand has taken over. I am not going to address the possibility of Mandarin Chinese being taught. While I do not agree with the premise, it was but one proposed action buried in the document that has done the intended job of distracting the populous. I am going to be explicit and honest in my narrative of damage that has been done to our children from the perspective of both a parent and a school employee. When Dr. Dallemand took the ability to schedule hearings for repeat offenders away from administrators, he undermined their authority. He would not allow suspensions to take place and would not place them in a better, more structured environment. This has trickled down to the students to the extent that they know that they can cause a food fight, bring a weapon to school, make a terroistic threat, or engage in violence without consequences. There are students at even our middle schools who are on probation for criminal offenses. There are high school students who have been charged with serious crimes who continue to go to school with students who are trying to learn. These students attend school ONLY because it is a condition of their probation. Then, they disrupt class, curse teachers, cause fights, and engage in other nefarious behavior. But, we as teachers have no "bite" to our "bark." And the students know it. Now there are students running rampant over their previously enthusiastic, dedicated teachers. Instead of offering assistance or solutions to the problems, Dr. Dallemand and his supporters blame teachers for being ineffective. The removal of support and subsequent blame of teachers by our superintendent has resulted in an unsafe environment that is detrimental to the learning of all students. THAT is the damage that has already been done. Continued...

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    1. As to Dr. Dallemand's plan.... I will reiterate: I have read the plan on the BOE website in its entirety. I advise everyone to do the same. There is nothing about student accountability. Teachers and other adults are held accounatable for student success. While I believe that teachers are charged with the duty to reach each and every student, I do not believe that the teachers are responsible for student success. Preparing our children for adulthood means making sure that they are able to work for, accomplish, and take credit for their achievements.
      Also, building dormatories for students is an unrealistic endeavor. Who will staff these? How can you mix students who might very well be members of opposing gangs? Will the students become wards of the state and be considered to be in foster care? I agree that the environment that some of our children live in is terrifying. However, there are other ways to address the needs of these students as well as their parents or guardians. Let's spend money on improving their living conditions, their sense of efficacy, their educational needs, and their parenting skills. Counseling services and life skills training could be provided at every school.
      One of the overwhelmingly popular proponents of my fellow strategic planners was to bring back vocational learning and electives to EVERY school. Teenagers want to go to school with their friends; they are not mature enough to make a decision based upon their future outlook. This is obvious to anyone who has ever dealt with teens. They are concerned mainly with their peers. Why not offer more opportunities at every school instead of dividing our children up according to interest? Does anyone really believe that a 4th grader is going to know what career path they want and choose a school accordingly? Or will they want to go to a neighborhood school with the friends they grew up with?
      Finally, I am appalled and offended by the amount of times race was mentioned in the plan. Then, when I researched Glenn Singleton, I was struck with the realization that this plan is not about the children. It is about the preconceived notions and racial prejudices perpetuated by Mr. Singleton. When I see students of every skin color and nationality playing together on the playground, laughing together at lunch, or dating one another as teens, I do not see students divided by race. But, when I read the beliefs of Mr. Singleton's Pacific Education Group (who does efficacy training and will likely be paid to come to Bibb), I see the doors of the past blown wide open to allow the anger and guilt of a previous generation to come through. Let us not undo all the healing and progress made by black and white leaders alike. We are all God's children and ALL capable of learning!!! Let us not derail our children's future by dredging up old and bitter feelings. Our children do not see color. Neither should the Strategic Plan. No matter what race we are, we should work together using common sense to educate our students.
      I challenge parents, students, teachers, Board members, and Dr. Dallemand to realize that we must come together, not drive racial wedges between us to accomplish our goal of improving our schools. Let us be radical. Let us be brave. Let us do what is right for our children - not for pressing our own selfish agendas. Give the teachers and administrators back their power. Take control back from wayward students and guide them through innovative ways toward a better future.

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    2. Here's the shocker that I don't think any teacher over the age of 30 realizes. If students can't be controlled within their own school, that school is ineffective. Period. It may be the fault of the teacher, the ISS coordinator, or principal and thank God our superintendent put that responsibility back on them. Suspending and expelling students doesn't help them or our city and the hardest part of this whole equation trying to figure out how to creatively engage students who hate school. Google "inspirational teacher stories" and read the examples of people who figure it out everyday. Im curious as to exactly what kind of "bite" you would like to have?

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    3. "I do not believe that the teachers are responsible for student success" That is one of the most appalling, antiquated, ridiculous statements that I assumed you guys just thought instead of saying out loud. Teaching is your job. Teachers not being responsible for students success is like a farmer not being responsible for producing crops. Sure you can't control the weather, but at the end of the day you still have to put the potatoes on the truck

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    4. Wow...I agree here. Teachers ARE responsible for the performance of the students in there class. That responsibility can be mitigated by a lack of discipline policy in the school or school system, and a lack of accountability by the parents. BUT, ultimately teachers are responsible for the students under there care and SHOULD be held accountable. If a CLASS (you can not count the childern who refuse to work) does not show improvement in a year, that is the teachers fault.

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    5. Sarge, that is how our country is run now. It's always someone else's fault. Heaven forbid the kids take responsibility for their actions.

      And it's "their" not "there".... Is it a teacher's fault that the 3 different spellings weren't covered???

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  7. I know he spent $68,000 at the BOE for furniture and to soundproof a room. Why would he need to spend that kind of money during this type of economy, and why does the room need to be soundproofed unless unethical things were going on.

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    1. He also says he spent nothing on the Chinese performers, but a school administrator told me it cost $16,000!! (and teachers have to spend their own money on supplies - go figure)

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  8. Let us examine some really good points. For a student to learn, there must be an environment centered upon learning. However, when one student is allowed to be disruptive and faces no consequences, then the learning environment doesn't exist. Discipline is key in maintaing order and encouraging learning. A teacher is unable to teach if one student is yelling profanity while she is trying to teach her high school Biology class about the structure of a cell.

    Okay, if the central office personnel want to keep the disruptive students in school, then create a wide array of alternative schools. Staff these schools with the teachers who have military and law enforcement experience. Put the good teachers who are able to break through the little thug's tough exterior in these schools. However, make it safe for all of the students, teachers and school personnel.

    At some point, you just have to realize that some people are inherently broken and are not able to be fixed. This is why we have prisons and the justice system. People can be evil and children can be evil. This has nothing to do with race, sex or religion. Students who are on probation should be required to attend the alternative school. And yes, they should face the stigma associated with their bad behavior. Part of the problem is trying to mollycoddle everyone. Make a student take responsibility for their bad behavior, and hold the student's parents accountable. The teachers and administrators should have the backing and the trust of the central office to implement the necessary discipline actions.

    Learning Chinese is not an issue. If the future predictions are correct, then this could be a valuable tool for Bibb County students. The economy is becoming more and more global. It would be a great idea for ALL of the supporters and opponents of "The Macon Miracle" to have a civilized discussion. I think that one of the problems is that no input from parents or teachers was taken to heart. An acknowledgment of some of the concerns would alleviate the unknown aspects of the plan.

    I hope that everyone will respectfully listen to both the supporters and opponents. There is absolutely no reason to be ugly to each other. We all have one common uniting goal and that is to improve the education system in Bibb County for ALL students.

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    1. You're arguments, while wrong, are probably the least inflammatory on this site and I appreciate that. I would like to call to your attention the fact that the plan does call for two alternative schools. I am extremely concerned about your notion "that some people are inherently broken and are not able to be fixed". You would give all teachers in the county the authority to make that call? At what specific measurable point to we give up? This county has to realize that fear, militarization of disciple, passing off responsibility of "break[ing] through the little thug's tough exterior" needs to stop rising up the ladder. It's our job as a teachers to do that while balancing all of our other responsibilities. I know its hard and unfair, but a lot of jobs are.

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    2. A teacher can only do so much without the backing of an administrator. Yes, a teacher is responsible for maintaining control of their classroom. However, some students are so disruptive that they need a time-out away from the situation. The administration should support the teacher when it is time to have the student removed from the class, instead of advising teachers to stop sending referrals. Frankly, I don't think that two alternative schools would be enough to handle the need. Early intervention is needed to stop the cycle, and some kids are displaying alarming behaviors in kindergarten and first grade.

      Let's face it, not every person is good. You see this in society and in school. How do you explain the Jeffery Dalhmers, Scott Petersons and other psychopaths in this world? Look, at the kid who killed all of the people at Virginia Tech. There are too many instances of children, who are students, have committed horrible acts such as murder, child abuse, etc. I am sure that some of the teachers in the Bibb County schools can provide evidence and example of students who are simply broken.

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    3. JR Olve, you are correct that suspending or expelling kids does not do that kid any good. Just like imprisoning people rarley stops them from committing another crime or executing people does nothing to make them a better person.

      What these are, are deterents. They are designed to prevent good kids from doing wrong. They are there to help give an incintive for struggling kids to try to stay on the right path. They are there as a punishment to parents for allowing their kids to go astray. When used correctly they have statistically proven to be very effective.

      Also, they give the students who are there to ability to get an education. Instead of a teacher focusing on one bad student they get to focus on the 20+ good students who they are attempting to educate. Forcing these kids back in to general populations hurts all the kids and helps no one.

      A good part of Dallemond's plan are the alternative schools. It is at these types of schools where your google success stories come from. It is rarly achieved in a normal population school or in a school where the population is performing well. In the mean time, the inmates are running the assylum and who age groups of kids are being lost.

      Rapes, knife fights, teachers getting bullied, kids getting bullied and beat up, kids completely ruining days if not weeks of education time are all happening without consequence. In the short term, until these alternative schools are in place the teachers and administrators are not even being allowed to defend the kids they teach or themselves.

      As for ISS, one ISS instructor at a local high school has told me that she has less students in her classes than she has ever had. The principles and teachers are not even being allow to use that tool. Why is it that ISS is not being allowed to be used as a tool or deterent? They still get to stay in school, the school still gets paid, Dallemond still gets his bounus for increasing attendance rates, and no parents get hurt?

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    4. If your ISS is not being utilized then that's a problem with your school level policies. ISS at my school is alive and well and our "behavior specialist" calms the students, talks to them, and then they complete work. Many teachers criticize the program for not scaring the students enough into doing the right thing. Fear is no way to get a child today to behave. I realize that's how i was raised and probably how most teachers were, but it has since become ineffective. Being unafraid isn't an incentive to behave well and once students find out that getting sent home is the worst thing a school can do, they certainly won't behave since they don't want to be at school anyway.

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    5. According to my friend, ISS is being utilized the way the principle was told to utilize it by "down town". Ofcourse, I am sure it has a different effect in a high school than it does in an elementary schoos. But dont most disciplinary techniques?

      Now, I agree fear is not the best technique but it is a VERY effective technique. Actually, psychologically fear is one of our most prominent motivators. But, as I said earlier these things should be used as deterents. Positive reinforcemnt is verbally applied for success. Maybe even rewards can be given. These are used with great succes at Alexander 2. Negative reinforcement is taking away the privliage of being around other students (ISS), attending regular schools, or when nothing else works sent home to be punished by parents.

      I am also a believer in corporal punishment, it was effective (when not abused) for myself, my parents, and my grand parents. Maybe fear should be brought back as a last ditch behavioral modifier.

      As for "kids not wanting to be there" that is a parental issue. At special schools you might turn some of them around but a random kid here or there is going to get lost in general population. That is the nature of society. Good, bad, or other wise special cases have to be handed in special ways. You cannot make 29 kids suffer for the 1. The attempt to do that is why our schools are failing.

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    6. Sure we have ISS, and in ISS kids sit and sleep the entire time... Why not go back?

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    7. I will tell you what works, my child acts up in class (now he is not a bad kid but he likes to talk and be in the center of attention which I know causes a problem for the teacher) When he acts out they make one phone call, to me and I come up to the school and I put the fear of god in him and he is fine after that. If the phone calls to me stop working they call my husband and he puts things straight. I may not have the perfect child but his teachers know we stand behind them and will handle the matter. There for he will not become a teenager cussing out teachers. Parents have to responsible for their kids

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    8. JR Olive works at one of the best elememtary schools. We see him daily in his flip flops. He has obviously drank the Kool Aide. I am not impressed by his words, either.

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  9. Just do a query in Infinite Campus on how many discipline entries there are this year, compared to last. You will see that the thugs are running the schools, and the teachers/staff are scared to do anything about it. So much for what the public wanted, a superintendent that put discipline as the number one priority.

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  10. JR Olive,

    Please give me some examples of how this "plan" which is not disimilar from Dr. Dallemand's plans in other districts will have more positive results in Bibb County.

    Please explain how the "culture" of fear that Dr. Dallemand has created is conducive to a positve learning and working environment?

    Please explain how the liberal use of "Diversity training" especially the teachings of Glenn Singleton and the Pacific Education Group, create an environment of racial equality and harmony within the district. Please research the numerous examples of litigation arising from this training in other districts.

    Please explain how Dr. Dallemand's belief that there should not be vocational training is representative of logical "real world" thinking. A recent NYT article about Apple's production overseas sights the lack of "skilled" engineers, specifically those with a 2 year degree, is the reason that so many technical manufacturing jobs are now completed offshore.

    I am not an educator, I'm a business person who, as an outside observer sees skyrocketing costs, with no "quantifiable" proof that these changes can and will improve results.

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  11. There are likely few teachers that would disagree that bold change is needed. There are likely few teachers that would agree that that all the good things being done need to be discarded as well. Most teachers are not racist (either white against black or black against white). Effective teachers teach all students, yet, like doctors, not all patients survive. Some students, like patients, cannot be healed. Some students, like patients, will not take their medicine. Some students, like patients, refuse treatment. Does it matter if students, or patients, are black or white? Not that I am aware of. You can choose the farmer analogy if you prefer. Some seeds simply will not grow as big as others in spite of fertilizer, water, or soil composition, yet the crop may be successful.

    Dr. Dallemand was hired to put together a research-based plan. Before embarking on drastically different strategies, people need evidence that far-fetched ideas will work. All they need is the supporting demonstration these measures have worked before.

    A sound plan would also include time frames and yardsticks to measure results. At the end of one year, exactly what results should we see, and what if we do not get them?

    Specific phases would be useful, too. The current plan looks as through there are no timing considerations, though many of the points refer to additional research and resource discovery identification.

    There is an administrative (board, not school) disconnect regarding student discipline. The turn-the-other-cheek approach to discipline is dangerous and teachers, students and parents have a right to know there IS a stop-gap solution. What happens to traffic when a police car appears?

    There is a growing atmosphere of racism. Many whites feel that the color of their skin is been used against them. Many feel that white students and teachers are being subliminally encouraged by the administration to leave the school system. Many think think that you are a racist if you do not support Dr. Dallemand's plan. This plan should not be automatically rejected, or accepted because Dr. Dallemand is black.

    There is a growing sentiment of oppression-as in a dictatorship. If you cannot buy the plan, regardless of the validity of the question, you are quickly ushered out. Discourse is not welcome in this regime and the volume of anonymous commenters indicates this severity.

    This forum has demonstrated there are some thinking members of the Macon community. I think most people want to know he supporting evidence. They want to have a voice. They want to be on the team to turn things around. Let the community LEGITIMATELY buy-in to the plan.

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  12. The financial aspect was completely omitted in the last post. The last thing Bibb County needs is a financial fiasco. Come on board members, ask the questions, get the answers, BEFORE you vote.

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  13. http://www.13wmaz.com/comments/166385/175/Dallemands-Plan-Concerns-State-Educators-Group

    Well, at least WMAZ seems to be trying... a little.

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  14. The latest article on Macon.com says the vote is expected after the kick-off. Now, the agenda for the Thursday board meeting is on the Bibb County School website. There is nothing about the plan on it. There is a calendar of meetings and events included in the document on page 4 which mentions a called board meeting at 1 p.m. at the Centreplex Arena and then the kick-off starting at 1:30. Is that when they are voting, I wonder?

    http://bibb.k12.ga.us/images/BoardMeetingAgenda2.9.2012.pdf

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    1. I can't believe there is so little transparency in all of this, that it isn't even known when the board is going to vote on the plan. These things should be public knowledge!

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  15. The principals were sent back to schools yesterday with notes/info to pacify their staffs. Included was the information that the superintendent would be asking the board to delay the vote on the plan. Tonight, on Channel 13, when Frank Malloy said the school board would be voting Friday, the Central Office member sitting next to him did not correct him. So what's the truth? Are they voting Friday or not? Also, principals reported back that the superintendent had been in touch with "the state" (presumably the State Dept. of Education) and that they would be granting waivers to offset the loss of funding that would otherwise be incurred with the new school structure of K-3, 4-7, 8-12 schools. Is THAT really true? Parents who contacted the state themselves were told that we would still incur a loss of Federal funding under this new structure. Can we afford ANY loss of funding for schools? Even more importantly, can a rational, thoughtful school board seriously consider an enormous plan with such far-reaching implications for a community's educational system in a matter of a few days? If the plan can bear close scrutiny, what will it matter if more time is taken to scrutinize it? It's too important a decision not to get it right.

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    1. If Dallemand is really interested in mending fences and showing a little good faith, he would postpone the kick-off celebration as well as the vote.

      He is probably hoping he can kick his propaganda machine into overdrive and put out some (mis)information to placate people into being subdued and submissive on Friday, and then say to the board, "See, everyone is behind the plan, so you should be, too."

      It is more important than ever to stay alert and informed.

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  16. Well, apparantly RD ranted and raved at the principals today asking them whoever told them they could not suspend kids? He truly sounds like a spoiled child who is not getting his way.

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  17. Check this out-are his children and wife still living and schooling in Bibb County?

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    1. Yes, but is this woman really his wife? She does not have the same last name. Surely they wouldn't hire a superintendent for the Bible belt who is living in sin.

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  18. SACS knows nothing of this plan and has not approved it. This is more hogwash.

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  19. I think JR Olive is an administrator who has not been in the classroom in a long time.

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    1. I think you didn't read what he wrote...

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    2. JR Olive is a para pro in Pre K at Carter Elementary. He also handles the children's safety patrol team. And it is true that he only wears flip flops.

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    3. Only one of those statements is correct. Mr. JR is in charge of the safety patrol team.

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  20. A detailed, educated questioning of "the Plan":

    http://www.facebook.com/notes/anneliese-newberry/bibb-county-strategic-plan-one-parents-opinion/10150664622486834

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  21. I beg to differ: teaching Mandarin is a very big issue if you follow the money and the jobs. The BOE is a huge FAILED enterprise. It spends hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars each year. End results so far are disastrous. This is NOT Dr. Dallemand’s fault. Bold new proposals deserve review. His “Macon Miracle” purports to be conceptually advanced enough to merit an up or down vote within one week. Let us now shine the light of reason on what, sadly, should instead be titled his “Bull in a China Shop” plan. The emperor has no clothes. First, how can any strategic plan pass muster with no attached financial projection? Imagine how the Board of any large business would react. Just for offering up such a critical plan after a full year of supposed hard work, the CEO, the CFO, and any staff deputies who parrot them would be fired. Let me take a rough stab at filling the numbers gap. K thru 12 spans 13 age groups. Start by giving ten jobs to the Chinese to teach the youngest group. Each year thru 2024, award ten more jobs to the Chinese. The first wave of Chinese teachers keep teaching K, the next ten come in at 1st grade to teach the original group, the third ten come in at 2nd grade to teach the original group a third year, and so on. By graduation day in 2025, the seniors will have been taught Mandarin for 13 years. Juniors will have been taught for 12 years, and so on. By then, we will have awarded 130 teacher slots to China covering 910 contract years. Shockingly, more than 10% of our current teacher base will have shifted to Chinese nationals. By then the BOE will have cumulatively spent $68 million on the Mandarin folly, considering loaded salary cost for the Chinese plus managerial support cost. This assumes the BOE will not bear ANY cost for associated permits, employment agencies, travel, relocation, housing, utilities, food, auto leases, or BOE drivers. It also assumes zero inflation for teacher salaries and benefits. The true cost is therefore badly understated. No other BOE in the USA supports such a scheme, so our 2025 seniors can likely find jobs to exploit their rare language skill. And where would they go? They would leave us, and perhaps leave America. We Bibb taxpayers would give away 130 of our coveted teaching jobs to Chinese nationals, gaining only the right to stimulate some other economy with students we train. Even if “Bull in a China Shop” goes smoothly, does such an end result make any sense at all? Do you think, maybe, this could be why no other BOE in the USA is intrigued? Let us look at this further. Fast forward to May of 2018. Kids in the 5th grade have been taught Mandarin for six years. 5th grade teachers all thru the system are unable to cope with class disruptions. The students gleefully converse with each other in Mandarin. Teachers and administrators who are not Chinese nationals have a tough time figuring out what is going on, or how to restore order. Parents are having the same issues with students in the home. Many students use Mandarin to thwart parental control. Parents cannot help much with Chinese class work, not even for students who show ideal behavior. Students who show the worst behavior are destined to use Mandarin to advance criminal agendas in the schools, in the street, in targeted businesses, and while held in YDC and police custody. “Authorities” will not be in the criminal language loop, nor will resident victims. Future thugs who speak Mandarin openly will have no fear of being understood by random adult strangers. These serious new threats to Bibb citizens would not be nearly as bad for a language such as Spanish, which many Bibb residents speak passably. Fluency in Spanish would be far more useful to graduating students in local employment venues. Spanish teachers can be found among Bibb residents. Please pass these stark facts along to your BOE Board members who are facing enormous pressure to vote without thinking. Thanks!

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  22. **********I've been informed that at some schools, that parents are planning on picking up their children late, so as to make the teachers stay at the school and not be able to attend the macon miracle event friday. Have any of ya'll hear this as well??*******************

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  23. 13 Wmaz is running a pole on whether you think the kids should have skipped school this morning or not. If you support there decision, go vote yes!!

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    1. Before a vote happens on this plan, a COMPLETE review of all literature and research relevant to the major points of the plan should be completed and published online.

      This review should also include a survey of other school systems using any of these methods and their results (including a qualitative analysis of comments from community members).

      This review should be completed by someone OUTSIDE the Bibb BOE.

      Additionally, a cost analysis of the plan should be completed (and, yes, this can be done PRIOR to the plan being approved). The cost analysis should also be completed by someone OUTSIDE the Bibb BOE.

      Perhaps these would be good research projects for a course at a couple of major universities (outside Bibb County).

      What to say at the BOE meeting: can you please provide to everyone a copy of the literature review and any analysis (complete with a reference list) that was completed prior to the creating this plan? Also, please include the names of those who completed the review and analysis, as well as a brief bio and a bias statement from each participant.

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  24. I'm so over being cussed at and threatened by 15 year old students . . . only to see them back in my class the next day. Can we talk about that?

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    1. That is awful. I think more parents should know what really goes on in the classrooms.

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    2. The tragedy of this whole situation is that for an entire year while he was designing his plan not one single thing was implemented to address our most pressing problem....disruptive and apathetic students. We needed for him to take the reigns and immediately implement a "tough love" program to identify children who had problems and keep them in school out away from those children who were being prevented from learning. Put them in a setting where they could get counseling, mental health evaluations and help and still learm. Instead we were just told, and I quote Dr. Dallemand, " you're the adult in the room...deal with it." However he wasn't able to talk face to face with some involved ans astute students who sought him out today. If he really cared about our children he would want to help.....NOW.

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    3. His meetings at the schools and in the communities were just a " dog and pony show" they were all shams. He only met with hand picked students and did not see any of the problems......has anyone ever seen him in the schools talking with and interacting with students without it being a publicity photo op or set up meeting? He needs to take off the coat and tie, leave his PR man in the office and walk into schools and classrooms unannounced. THAT would earn him a little respect.

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  25. Hey some help please! I cannot post on 13WMAZ or Macon.com because I do not have a facebook account. Could someone post the following on one or both? This is concerning the comments from the BOE employee who said that Dr. D was not at work. I know that he was. I am SICK of the lies!

    "I work in the Wells Fargo building, Dr Dallemand's car was parked on the second level instead of his normal self assigned space on the third level of the parking structure. He was at "work" by 9:00. A lot of the people I work with were commenting about his parking choice today. Apparently smart kids scare him??"

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    1. Maybe he carpooled? I don't really believe that, but it could certainly be used as an excuse.

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  26. WMAZ just shut down the live, online feed of the Board Meeting

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    1. Dear 3rd Grade Parents,
      Middle and High School Students ride the bus together. How do you feel about your 4th grader riding the bus with a 19 yr old with an ankle bracelet? Oh wait, there are plenty of 15 yr old 7th graders in the middle schools that are wearing ankle bracelets. But don't worry, YDC only turned some of them away because lockup was already too crowded.

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    2. At my kids school elementary ride with middle and high school already that started this year. I was never a fan of the bus but I did use it when I had no other option now I can never use it I am not putting my 1st grade little girl on a bus with 12th grade boys. And by the way my kids go to one of the better school in the county. I can't imagine the fear of my little ones being put with the older kids at other schools. Because of this the middle and high school kids do not get home from school until 4:30pm, they get on the bus at 6am that is going to be a long day when those extra 2 school hours get added......

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  27. Let's get ready for the "free" entertainment tomorrow. I am anxious to see what happens.

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  28. After attending the board meeting tonight I have to say that I am very excited about tomorrow's gathering. I found that there are huge discrepancies between schools in our county as far as the handling of information from the central office. Since I have used my real name to share my opinions, my principal reminded today that whatever I say might reflect on our school. In no way have I ever felt quieted, shunned, or belittled. Nor have I felt in danger of loosing my job. Many people I spoke with tonight and those who have posted here said that they have been told not talk about the plan or share details with anyone. A woman approached me in the lobby of the central office and, after explaining that I was an employee of Bibb BOE, she replied "Oh so you guys are under a gag order right?" An assumption I quickly refuted. I have to applaud the administration at my school for never at anytime making me feel nervous or hushed. My advice to anyone who thinks they can't express their opinion or has to dress a certain way or has eat a certain thing, consult your school level administration and don't assume that you'll be fired for exercising your first amendment rights.

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    1. P.S. I wore a homemade shirt that read in big red letters "I am JR Olive" in case I ran into any fans I've made on this blog and to remind everyone here that they're scared of.... Well, I don't really know what you're all afraid of.

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    2. Are you aware that you are very outspoken at school and that perhaps this has been noticed by the administration there, which is why they never make you feel "nervous or hushed"? You get what I'm saying, right?

      Did you speak at the meeting tonight?

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    3. Dear Miss Olive, I have been been following your comments over the last several days and you certaintly have been a very busy little bee indeed! Quite opinionated I might add. I too was at the meeting this evening. As amatter of fact I was the second speaker at the podium. Funny, I didn't see you there in your team jersey as you so proudly profess? With all of your zeel I would have thought you would certainy have been the first proponent to speak out in favor of Mr. Dalleman's grand scheme fof Macon. I must admit that your eliquence and mastery of oratorship can be quite persuasive indeed. However, when it comes to substance, wisdom, and truth in life, your grasp on the matter at hand falls short. Perhaps I may be presumptuous, but my guess would be that you don't as yet have children? When you are blessed to do so I would be interested to know if you learn temperance combined with the ability to see the world as it really is; moreover with the gumption to admitt it. Case in point, two days earlier you proclaimed your disdain regarding the teachers derriliction of duty with thier ineffectual ability to controll the problem childred with thier behavioral challenges. Your philosophy is at the heart of what is wrong not only with a school system but our government at all levels and current acceptable norms of society. To legislate by an outside entity a personal responsability from within the individual is an absolutely untennable position. We, with our tax dollars and faculty and adninistrators with thier efforts, it is our absolute responsability to provide for our junior citizens to enable them to follow in our footsteps. It is encombent upon them to make the most of it with our assistance and dirrection. Our educators are by in large altruistic and good at what they do, why else would they do such a tough job for so little and with such scruitiny and thanklessness? To expect them to be policemen and inmate guards with so little authurity puts them and the preponderance of good students at risk. By the way, is your name really JR Olive; because we can't find a record of you as proclaimed parapro of the county system? Are you planted Dallaman idiologue? Come clean.

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    4. Yes, Dallemand Robot. Come clean :)

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    5. Coming clean...

      First and foremost I am Mr. Olive or Mr. JR (as my kids call me) and I would have to surmise the reason you didn't see my shirt and me is because I arrived downtown at 5:55 or so and was relegated to the downstairs lobby until about 6:40 or 6:50 and therefore I'm sure I missed your address to the board. I wish I hadn't because you too seem to have a mastery of oratorship and that would have been refreshing among the addresses I was able to hear after I was let upstairs. You are correct that I do not as yet have children. However my father worked as classroom teacher until retirement, then worked in a county level position, and now works for the state board. I myself have vivd memories of school, not being as far removed as some other community stakeholders, I worked with children in educational settings my entire college career including in various BCPS locals, and I am currently employed by Bibb BOE. I think rather than trying to cite a deficiency in perspective, you might just acknowledge that we share a difference of opinion. It's true that "to legislate by an outside entity a personal responsability from within the individual is an absolutely untennable position." That's why legislating parents to raise their children more effectively is not a realistic goal or complaint. Of course kids who have good parents are better students, but in this modern age it has become the teachers responsibility to raise children. I want to be clear that I am in no way stating that all teachers in Bibb are bad teachers or have something to learn. I work with many great teachers everyday! I am saying that your statement that "our educators are by in large altruistic and good at what they do" is not true. If they were, we wouldn't have a school system with one of the largest achievement gaps in the nation and our statistics would fall more closely to the national average. Also, if you're trying to find me, you'd need to know that JR stands for John Richard. That might help in you search.

      Thanks for not being ashamed or afraid of your opinion Mr. Boswell

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    6. Yes John Richrcard Olive, you are correct. We can not expect parents to raise their kids. That would be too much to ask. I mean, where would the world be if parents were responsible for their own.

      As a Para Professional at Sonny Carter you get to see the horrific results of good parents. Kids attending school, working hard, doing thier homework. When they miss behave the parents show up to meet with the principle and discipline their kids at home for such behavior. Schools like Sonny Carter and Alex 2 (where my children attend) threats of ISS are generally effective and behavior problems are relatively non existent. These are the terrible results of responsible parenting.

      My wife and several friends on the other hand have chosen to work at the "inner city" schools. When a child miss beahves and runs from room to room grabbing books off the shelves and throwing them at teachers then lays on the floor and screams for two - three hours the parents decide to not answer there cell phone. Not because they cant, because they know what is going on and dont want to deal with it (real situation) then come to school and blame the teachers and administrators for not being able to handle it without them.

      Or when a 3rd grader grabes and pushes a teacher, and threatens to hit them resulting in campus police being called. Then no parent will come get them and the school is not ALLOWED to discipline them (another real situation) despite the testimony of the other students.


      These are much better ways to run our schools. Lets not look to involved parents. Sonny Carter and Alex 2 are not better situations for learning than Bruce or Morgan.

      PS...anybody for or against this plan understand this. I can come up with 100 examples just like this for every race and gender. The biggest hole in this plan is that it blames race for the "gap" in our system. Race is not the problem, culture is. The culture of those who believe in education and what it can do versus those who do not care.

      A language program for bid county isnt an option it is a must. Longer school days are proven to positively effect education. Technology is a good thing. Some of the things in this plan go to far to an extreme or do not offer options but they are good ideas. The base problem is not the plan, it is the theory on which the plan is based. The theory that the problem is race. The fact that someone must be blamed instead of EVERYONE taking credit for getting there. It is the teachers, it is the parents, it is the administrators, and it is the culture in which we are living. And we have to attack the problems before we can work on the results.

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    7. J R - You have a degree in leadership from Mercer but work as a parapro? Really? Why in the world is that?

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    8. Sarge...As a Para Professional at Sonny Carter you get to see the horrific results of good parents. Kids attending school, working hard, doing their homework. When they miss behave the parents show up to meet with the principle and discipline their kids at home for such behavior. Schools like Sonny Carter and Alex 2 (where my children attend) threats of ISS are generally effective and behavior problems are relatively non existent. These are the terrible results of responsible parenting.

      How long has it been since you've been to Sonny Carter??? I'm there almost every day and if you think kids are scared of ISS and kids are doing their homework and kids AREN'T throwing desks you might like to come on over and stay a while! Discipline or lack there of is a problem at Sonny Carter just like it is at every school in Bibb Co. When children have been taught by their parents to say things like "You know you can't put your hands on me" to the assistant principal that's where the problem begins. The truth of the matter is some parents do not know how to parent because they weren't parented properly themselves. What's wrong with a teacher in school being the person who makes a difference in a child's life if their parents aren't doing it. In a perfect world the parents are the ones who will guide their children to success whatever that may be but this is not a perfect world so why can't a teacher or guidance counselor or school social worker or principal or librarian etc. be the person who makes all the difference to a child. Does it really HAVE to be the parent? How many people in the world has crappy parents or no parents and ended up hugely successful because SOMEONE took an interest in them?

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    9. First of all the word is LOSING, not loosing. Secondly, it is How many people HAVE crappy parents....not HAS. Obviously your own English skills leave a lot to be desired. Thirdly, as long as you are touting the party line, of course you can speak out freely. And finally, it is hard to take you seriously when you are known to wear flip flops every single day to school, irregardless of the weather. And if teachers could take the place of parents, there wouldn't be many discipline problems. Teachers can make a difference, and they often do, but the failures outnumber the success stories.

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    10. Hahaha!

      Typing on a Mac can be a little dicey sometimes due to auto correct, but fine I'll own the "loosing" "losing" mistake. Congrats you got me. Secondly, I never said "has crappy parents" which you were correcting. That was Sarge. Thirdly, my choice of footwear has nothing to do with my intellect and I doubt many people here take me seriously anyway. Even still, I am more than willing to live with whatever consequences come from those who assume they know me based on my shoes.

      Fourthly, "irregardless" is not a word. True, I have made some typos, but I don't think I've ever criticized someone's use of language and used one of most cliche english faux pas while doing it.

      As far as failures outnumbering success, I think that's why a drastic overhaul of the system is needed.

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    11. Excuse me, "has crappy parents" was not Sarge, it was Anonymous.

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    12. AnonymousFeb 14, 2012 09:27 AM

      Copied from Anonymous.....First of all the word is LOSING, not loosing. Secondly, it is How many people HAVE crappy parents....not HAS. Obviously your own English skills leave a lot to be desired. Thirdly, as long as you are touting the party line, of course you can speak out freely. And finally, it is hard to take you seriously when you are known to wear flip flops every single day to school, irregardless of the weather. And if teachers could take the place of parents, there wouldn't be many discipline problems. Teachers can make a difference, and they often do, but the failures outnumber the success stories.

      I am not JR Olive. I do however know him but I am not him. I haven't worn flip flops since I was a child? I don't understand your statement that "if teachers could take the place of parents, there wouldn't be many discipline problems." Teachers do take the place of parents for eight or so hours a day. We prayerfully drop our kids at school each morning leaving them in the care of someone else who we "hope" will treat them as we would if we were the ones with them for those 8 hours. When I taught I did treat the children as if they were my own. They were taught natural consequences for behaviors just as I teach my own but I also sat with them at lunch and discussed their lives with them. I knew about their lives outside of school. I even made sure I went to at least one outside activity to support the child outside of school to show them I really cared. Now, all these years later, some of these same children have found me on Facebook and told me how much they love me and still think about me. These were not children on the good side of town! I tried to give them what their parents couldn't or wouldn't but I saw that as my job as their teacher and as a person who lived in their community. My children wanted to behave for me and wanted to learn from me and they did. I also played with them on the playground and facilitated their play so that there were very few discipline problems. I guess I just don't believe a teachers job ends when lunch starts or when recess begins. In fact I'm not sure a teacher's job ever ends just like a parent's job never ends. Yes, failures do outnumber successes in Bibb County. I am actually opposed to most of the Macon Manipulation and have signed the petition stating my opinion. I will be at my school tomorrow to voice my concerns and opinions but what I was discussing above is that some teachers have become apathetic. I don't know what caused it. Is it Dallemond? Is it Bibb County? Is it not being supported when there are behavior problems? I don't know but it's not fair to the students who are trying and behaving and want to learn. There are so many wonderful and creative ways to teach children. I know "think outside the box" is so overused but in this instance it is so necessary. I'm not talking about the Macon Manipulation here but talking about teachers and my wish that they could go back and remember why they went to school to teach and remember their visions for what they would do to make children's lives better. Don't let Dallemand change you or take your fire and love for teaching and children! Fight back by trying new things, asking for help from parents, and finding creative ways to discipline and reward that will work in your classroom. Don't get so down that you give up and give in. Believe it or not parents are behind you. We want you to succeed because if you succeed then our children succeed. We just want you to show our children that you care about them as people not as the next folder or next set of signed papers or next score on a card but as an individual person. Get to know them....and let them get to know you.

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    13. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    14. Here here Anonymous! Teacher apathy and "burnt-outness" are the major problems facing education, especially in BCPS. Your description of yourself as a teacher seems perfect and it's exactly what I think teachers should expect to be required of them if they want to as effective as possible. Also, I know that there are teachers currently doing those things as well has having the same attitude you described as having yourself and we need more of them!

      The part I am confused about is why you (and tons of other great teachers) think Dallemand is killing this idea. I think that he also believes the focus of education should be on students and their needs as opposed to what teachers or their parents want. An example would be requiring the removal of all distractions from personal offices. I think that goes along way towards getting administrators out and about to see and understand what happening in their schools. I also have read a lot on this blog from teachers complaining about Dr. Dallemand's leadership style being mean or dictatorial. I believe his tone is justified.

      BCPS have many of teachers who are not effective and don't like being confronted with the idea that they're not cut out for the job they've chosen after working so very hard (or not). I can acknowledge that being told that by someone with quasi radical ideas from out of town could come off as arrogant or harsh. The reality is that we all know people who teach who just aren't good at it or don't want to put up with the challenges facing BCPS, but nobody has said anything.

      For some reason we think that anyone willing to be a teacher despite the demands and low salary should be given the job because they're heart would have to be in the right place to want to do it. Heart alone doesn't make a good educator and all of those teachers who do view their job as never ending and take all of their student's successes and failures personally shouldn't be concerned. They're doing a great job, but it's impossible to address a failing county as a whole without including the effective employees with the ineffective.

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    15. JR-I do agree about teachers but do not see the "Macon Miracle" and the problem with teachers as the same or under the same umbrella. I happen to know I have made numerous suggestions at your school for teachers to be required to eat lunch with students and for teachers to facilitate proper socialization and group play during recess and I have been met with disdain and the idea that your Principal refuses to require this of teachers. Teachers are required to eat with students at many other schools throughout Georgia including schools in Bibb County. Teacher apathy is being allowed by your administration. Sorry to say it but there it is. Teachers are not being held to a level of excellence which Sonny Carter students and parents were used to with previous administrations. To me the "Macon Miracle" is something completely different from teacher apathy. These are two completely separate problems. Teachers were apathetic here before Dallemond every arrived. Some of it is because teachers do not feel pride in their work or school anymore. It's not all their fault. Being in a failing school system for years and watching it deteriorate cannot be good for moral or self-esteem. I do believe some of Dallemon's plan can work and is good but some of it is horrifying! I have a middle school girl who weighs about 75lbs. Can you imagine her in high school next year with boys who are 19 or 20 years old? The size difference alone is scary without even thinking about the developmental differences in a 13 year old girl and a 19 year old boy. I know you do not have children at this time and you would like to think it doesn't matter and that having children would not change your mind but believe me...as someone who's been a teacher without children and a teacher with children it does change everything! You think you love the children in your class now but after you have held your own newborn in your arms you really realize you are holding a soul housed inside a tiny body and that you're responsible for everything that happens to that soul. Sorry to get gushy but that's the thought I remember vividly the first time I held my daughter for the first time. You never look at children the same way and your viewpoints about Dallemond's plan would be based more from a parents point of view than a young, fresh, (nothing to lose) teacher's point of view. I just see teacher apathy and "the Macon Miracle as two separate things.

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  29. Hi - I didn't get all the names of the individuals who spoke tonight, and wanted to know if anyone else know the name of the last man who spoke, the guy who turned to face the audience while he talked, and anyone else. Thanks!

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  30. Today is the day!! Come to the centreplex and let your voices be heard! The students and parents at the board offices yesterday were wonderful! Don't stop there! We need you again today! Thank you to the people who are standing up for our schools!

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  31. Eloquently worded insults are still insults. Be civil, people.

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  32. Where were the protesters this afternoon? I thought all these people were supposed to show up?

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    Replies
    1. Once the vote was moved I went to the BOE meeting Thursday and then Friday I decided to stay home and watch it on the internet. I wanted to hear what he had to say I was afraid I would not get in and be stuck outside with no way to hear his plan. I really wanted to hear him explain it to me in detail. But that did not happen only guest speakers and him TELLING us to like it. I will say my child was getting a quality education before all this mess started my daughters teacher has been teaching 26yrs she is amazing so leave her alone and let her do her job. Stop wasting her time with performers, was that a smart use of time and money yesterday? Was that a good reason to close schools? NO!

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  33. http://www.wearepolitics.com/1/post/2012/02/post-title-click-and-type-to-edit4.html

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  34. There is nothing in the 25 page document about Fine Arts Education. If there is such a concern for well-rounded students that can compete globally, we need to have the high-order thinking skills that the Arts teach.

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  35. I think they should have passed out barf bags instead of (hastily revised) copies of the so-called miracle. What a total waste of time, as he did not even cover the plan as he led everyone to believe he was going to do!! Yet another lie! And so apparent that he is playing the race card. When he started yelling, you couldn't even understand what he was saying, but most of the black people suddenly got some kind of rush and stood to their feet. It was bizarre!! Afterwards, he started hugging his cronies and taking pictures like he was President Obama or something. This man is very strategically making a mockery of our community. I personally think he would be better suited as a televangelist.

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    1. That was a bizarre scene. The frenzy just ignited some folks.

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  36. $16,000 for the Chinese performers (what I was told by a school system administrator), but Dallemand says it cost nothing?? Who is lying here?? I have a guess.

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    1. and our teachers have to spend their own money for supplies! Sickening! $16,000 would buy a heck of a lot of paper and pencils!

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    2. Oh, so by "school system administrator" you must mean one of the dozens of jaded principals who are angry they can't have personal items in their office and decided to make up a rumor. Why not wait to get indignant about something until you know its actually true.

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    3. I just saw this comment...no, it was not a "jaded principal" but an AP, and I have no idea if he/she was made to remove personal items from his/her office. Just repeating what I was told...Oh, and you never answered my question about why you are a paraprofessional, even though you have a leadership degree from Mercer?? Can't imagine why anyone would work for pennies when you could be making gold dollars.

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    4. I graduated from Mercer in 2009 during a time when unemployment was at its highest since the great depression and still falling. I applied to every job I could find and worked a few (including selling vacuums door to door). If you know of a position for a 26 year-old recent college grad with 7 years experience in the non-profit sector that's paying "gold dollars" let me know and I'll submit my resume...

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  37. Is this "our"(the community's) plan or "his"(Dallamund's) plan. Seemed to be all about Dr. D yesterday.

    Videos, paid speakers, and performers are a waste of my time as a professional trying to teach.

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  38. I was embarrassed for Bibb county even to be associated with this whole thing. Macon is and should be the laughing stock of all school systems.I still am amazed at how easily the people of Macon fall for such garbage. What is it going to take for parents to band together and take back their rights and fight for their children's education?

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    1. There are those that want so badly for a black person to be right that they will buy it sight unseen, no questions asked. The sad part is that when the plan collapses, Dr. D. will look worse then than he will look now being questioned and hopefully derailed.

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  39. A little compare and contrast exercise: Dallemand's speech from yesterday and Queen Latifah as Congresswoman Regina Bookman from 30 Rock. Notice any similarities?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fvUabknNow&feature=player_detailpage

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    Replies
    1. That is too close for comfort! Except QL didn't get her audience representing like DD did.

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  40. “Go into any inner-city neighborhood, and folks will tell you that government alone can’t teach kids to learn. They know that parents have to parent, that children can’t achieve unless we raise their expectations and turn off the television sets and eradicate the slander that says a black youth with a book is acting white.”
    —Barack Obama, Keynote Address, Democratic National Convention, 2004

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    1. What a great quotation! Glenn Singleton would disagree with that last bit - ha!

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  41. So here’s my opinion on the situation, for what it’s worth from an anonymous poster. I will say I am a Bibb County teacher. Comments I keep hearing and reading from supporters of the plan are things like “At least Dallemand has a plan” or “We have to try something because what we have isn’t working.” I get that the system needs changing, but it seems what he is mostly offering is the intangible idea of “change” without any substance behind it.

    I am reminded of a scene from the movie The American President where one of the president’s staff says to him, “People want leadership and in the absence of genuine leadership they’ll listen to anyone who steps up to the microphone. They want leadership. They’re so thirsty for it, they’ll crawl through the desert toward a mirage, and when they discover there’s no water, they’ll drink the sand.”

    The president responds, “People don’t drink the sand because they’re thirsty. They drink the sand because they don’t know the difference.”

    This site tells me that there are some who know the difference. We have to come together and make sure our voices are heard.

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    Replies
    1. Excellent comment. I'm proud to hear so many voices in Macon, though I'm leary that there is anyone to hear (read!).

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  42. There is a place to make comments on Dallemond's compass points about the plan. Make your voices heard! We need everyone to bombard him with comments of why this plan will not work. If you were there Friday you should know that many of his comments contradict of what is stated in the plan. Wish we knew which one is true.
    http://www.romaindallemand.blogspot.com/

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    1. I tried that ever since he STARTED a blog, and none of my comments were ever posted :( Just like the Bibb County Schools Facebook page, censored and edited to their/his purpose.

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    2. I don't think he actually writes that blog. It used to sound like Chris Floore before he left.

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  43. Does anyone on this blog realize that Dallemand is campaigning with Newt Gingrich? Does anyone realize that Dallemand's new in house attorney also works for Newt Gingrich?

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  44. That whole Newt Gingrich connection totally baffles me.

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    1. Romain sure is a busy man. Campaigning in SC then Fl. Civil trial starting April 16 in Rochester. It's a wonder he gets anything done around here.

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    2. A small correction, the inhouse attorney is Randy Howard and is an insurance defense lawyer. Their "new" outside council has just been named as the chief of Staff for the Newt Gingrich campaign and has been campaigning with Dallemand in SC and FL. Wonder how that ties in to them getting the "competitve bid" for legal services. How much you wanna bet that Dallemand is using his BOE credit card to pay for these trips. Charles E. was bragging about pictures of Dr. D and Newt,and that Dr. D would be the Secretary of education, but I guess they figured that wouldn't help the cause so they are trying to "Hush" that part. These aren't even close to all the "trips" he has taken in the last 6 months. He has been gone many more times. We could find out, but apparently Dr. Dallemand is using every means at his disposal to fight Open Records Requests on any of these and other subjects.

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  45. http://www.mnasa.org/cms/lib6/MN07001305/Centricity/Domain/40/Dallemand_10Handouts.pdf

    hmmm, we saw something very similar at our 1st meeting at the centreplex...

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  46. What is the next plan of action that everyone needs to be involved?

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  47. Here you go click on this link

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ue0A007_rRA

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What happened to the video? I click the link and it isn't there. Anywhere else I can go to find it?

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  48. http://www.change.org/petitions/bibb-county-board-of-education-in-maconga-stop-the-macon-miracle-plan?utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition&utm_term=share_with_facebook_friends


    Link for Facebook protest

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Feel free to voice your opinions here.