Simmering just below the surface

I've already started buying school supplies
I have taken a hiatus this August from blogging about BRRSD matters, but today I want to at least mention the possible influx of money to districts from the federal government. Apparently Christie WILL request funds for New Jersey, after he initially indicated that he might not (according to a news report, see below).

Watch NJN's news from Tuesday. NJN is our local PBS station. First it discusses the new aid to help reduce teacher lay-offs (see above).  After that, it has a report on new concessions that Edison teacher's union has agreed to. They are taking a new cut in pay in order to save jobs. The highest in the state.

I realize that this is not happening in Bridgewater. I already saw the new faces (and no, not former BRRSD employees rehired) cleaning in two schools this week. Maybe some classroom teachers will be restored to my kids' schools, especially my son's Intermediate school where I thought class sizes were already high. To my knowledge they didn't redistrict, as someone requested the BOE to do last spring, and so I think the Intermediate School to the East will continue to have smaller classes than the Intermediate School serving the bubble year of west-side kids.

Part of me has really enjoyed the head-in-the-sand summer I've enjoyed. I haven't even missed worrying about what is going on in the district. It seemed to run fine without me interfering. But I know like anything else, you can't keep things on autopilot and sooner or later I'll be back at that ugly Wade Building trying to coerce the BOE to see something my way... largely in vain.

There will be plenty to talk about. I just spoke to two different people, one online, the other in person, who want to abolish the current school system. The first suggested that everyone should home school (and while she meant well, I think she doesn't understand that home schooling is a luxury only available to the middle class and wealthy - internet resources are fine, and often free, but most people have to work full time (both Mom and Dad, if both are around) in order to feed their families and pay their rent, others don't have the educational levels needed to home school). The other person would like to privatize schools in such a way that the funding follows the student and families get to choose where to send their kid. This happens to a certain extent already in areas where there is "school choice". Although there is some form of school choice in Somerset County, you certainly don't hear about it much in Bridgewater.

The list goes on of things to be discussed in the fall. Until then, I plan to embrace my ostrich-like mannerisms, if only for a few weeks more. I need a deck chair an a section of the Times and I'm good to go!

Enjoy the last few weeks before summer break is over. Enough blogging before coffee!!!! Have a great day!

UPDATE: This was in the Courier when I just checked. BRRSD's Cheryl Dyer more or less says it's too late... not for me, it isn't!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

New decade new post

It's the new decade and I'm already a little unsure about its start. N bonked his head and we ended up in the ER for a STAPLE. It was pretty inhumane - but much faster than stitches. I am directly dreading when it gets pulled out on Saturday! Then this morning the alarm didn't wake us, not because I didn't set it, but because I didn't check the volume level and of course it was silent. Everyone got to school as close to on time as to not call it tardy, but N needs a few minutes in the morning to get his act together if he is going to finish his morning work on time. I am pretty sure his teacher thinks I am a flake of a Mom who can't get her kid to school on time! Flake or not, I spent most of the weekend with N (I brought him to see my Dad, C stayed here for a birthday party and some quality Daddy time). He had a great weekend, despite the ER visit. N loved that I let him run wild where I never thought I would. In a pinch for some kid fun on a cold day? ...
Read more

Why I'm Voting for Barry Walker

Image
A long time ago in a Galaxy Far Far Away... ... I ran for a School Board. It is not a position to take lightly or to vote for "just anyone".  You've seen the signs... Barry Walker is running a tough, but honest campaign. It's not easy when your main opponent is an incumbent with strong political ties and a tendency to play by his own rules. In fact when I ran against him years ago, he used the Middle School directory to solicit votes. As an attorney and a board member - or even as a parent who can read - he should have known that this was verboten , since a "not for solicitation" clause is printed on all school directories. Misuse discourages families from including their information in the future.  As the saying goes, "it's easier to get forgiveness than permission." Maybe I'm jealous? Since I wrote the elementary school's directory and had every single email on my computer, I was tempted to do the same - it would have take...
Read more

What not to say....

My good friend posted on Facebook yesterday that one of her kids' teachers said, " Ok. You all need to stop talking now. I hate this class already." As of now she has 20 comments. Several comments were negative towards tenure (the program where teachers who have worked for 3 years in their position get a "job for life" and it is nearly impossible to fire them). I certainly understand resentment towards tenure. However, I also understand the comments - several left by teachers - saying that this isn't indicative of how the vast majority of teachers feel or teach. Some, like me, begged her to contact the school (I said she should bring it higher, to the Assistant Superintendent). She said her kid didn't want her to. What would have I done? I would have called. Immediately! It isn't in my nature to wait and see. I'm hot headed and I just can't help myself.  Would that have been in the best interest of my child? Probably not. It would be...
Read more