SBOE agenda for November

Just bumped into this link at the State of Tennessee's Education Department website. Back in August the State Board of Education approved a new set of science standards for K-8th grade. It's public comment time. The deadline on the web page is 'November' so you might want to read through those and comment very soon as it'll be taken up during their quarterly meeting on Friday, November, 2nd, in Legislative Plaza, Room 12, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Here's the agenda.

Also on the agenda, among other things, are 9-12 science curriculum standards (1st reading) rules for diversified pay plans, updated school bus specifications, and specific learning disability standards.

Oh, and 7 teachers may have their licenses pulled. Nancy Brown-Gearheiser may have her's reinstated. It was revoked in April of 2006 and the SBOE's minutes make no mention of why. In fact, the agenda doesn't provide any information about why the license status of any of these teachers is being changed. I think some comment would be in order.

Monday 11/20/2006

Snips from here and there.

School uniforms: Weekend conversations with MNPS attendees brought up two questions regarding school uniforms.

1. Why did the telephone survey have the first option as FOR uniforms instead of for the status quo?

2. What is MNPS going to do with Muslim girls and others with specific religious garb?

Teacher accused: Dyersburg cross country coach is arrested in East Tennessee for raping a 14 year old. (snip)44-year old Timothy Neal Byars is out of jail on a $50,000 bond. He's charged with one count of rape.(snip) Knoxville investigators plan to call Nashville police on Monday to talk to them about a possible second victim and second assault that happened in Davidson County on the way to the meet. From WBIR

Innocent until proven guilty but if so proven remember the recidivism rate is HUGE. Not around my children.

Flu closes district schools: The Wayne County School District was having problems finding enough substitutes to fill in for teachers who called in sick.

The school district decided to close early Wednesday after 20 percent of students, or approximately 320 students, were out of school because of illness. Classes won't resume until after Thanksgiving. From The Mountain Press

Another advantage of schooling at home. We love our pediatrician but, thankfully, despite having four children we don't see her very often. And yes, the children do leave the house and mingle with others.

Are truckers still worried about meeting John Ford along the highways? The Tennessee Department of Safety is placing a temporary moratorium on the approval of new commercial driver training or handgun safety schools and instructors. (snip) Currently, there are 15 commercial driving enterprises and more than 160 commercial handgun schools in the state. From the Murfreesboro Post

FUN: You too can be a famous artist: http://www.jacksonpollock.org/ reminds me of a software program we had around here called Raina II (we renamed it Squiggles). When the young ones HAD to have a few minutes at the keyboard we used this. Be glad this version doesn't come with the sound effects of Raina II. Click your mouse button to change colors. Have fun.