Education system out of touch

[wrobert]

Okay I found out some more stuff. And it gets even more confusing to me.

Credits required to graduate.

Walton County Career Development Center 24
Paxton High School 24
Walton High School 28
Freeport High School 28
South Walton High School 28

If you are on a sports team at WHS you have to take PE all year long. That gives you two credits due to block scheduling.


There is a 1/2 credit computer course requirement from the State of Florida. Walton High School says that you will take keyboarding to meet that requirement and you get a full credit.

 

[ShallowsNole]

Can't speak for Walton, but it must be the same deal as South Walton. My son is currently doing the two blocks of PE thing. It's a good thing, too, because it takes all he can do to keep a passing grade in Honors Geometry. I'd hate it if he had something else this semester that was hard.

I'm being halfway facetious (well, not about the geometry grade) but the two blocks of PE only happens once, usually in ninth grade, and it's an issue only if your child is in varsity athletics. :roll:

 

[scooterbug44]

Seriously, let the nasty PMs and drubbings begin, because if your kids are preparing for college with these schedules, you had better not redecorate their rooms too fast.

I went to a basic public high school and could have completed the work for these course schedules during my study hall (probably after I finished the course work for my AP classes). Bear in mind I was also doing a variety of extra curriculars and sports too.

Really? Geometry and 2 PE classes? Sports during the school day? I keep waiting for the punch line.

When I was a freshman in high school I started my school day at 7:45, 3 days a week and 5:00 the other 2 and worked to make it home for a dinner at 6:30 during the off seasons (the days when I didn't have a sports practice or meet but stayed for several hours because of all my extra curriculars). I had 4 classes in the morning, 3 in the afternoon, and teachers who thought a 93% in an AP class was a B+.

While I didn't walk uphill both ways in 18" of snow 'cuz I had athletic practice and lived close to the school, I did get a solid education.

 

[ShallowsNole]

Seriously, let the nasty PMs and drubbings begin, because if your kids are preparing for college with these schedules, you had better not redecorate their rooms too fast.

I went to a basic public high school and could have completed the work for these course schedules during my study hall (probably after I finished the course work for my AP classes). Bear in mind I was also doing a variety of extra curriculars and sports too.

Really? Geometry and 2 PE classes? Sports during the school day? I keep waiting for the punch line.

When I was a freshman in high school I started my school day at 7:45, 3 days a week and 5:00 the other 2 and worked to make it home for a dinner at 6:30 during the off seasons (the days when I didn't have a sports practice or meet but stayed for several hours because of all my extra curriculars). I had 4 classes in the morning, 3 in the afternoon, and teachers who thought a 93% in an AP class was a B+.

While I didn't walk uphill both ways in 18" of snow 'cuz I had athletic practice and lived close to the school, I did get a solid education.

You forgot biology. He does have biology. He doesn't have a biology BOOK, which is my personal rant, and I haven't heard of them dissecting anything, but other than those two issues, biology seems to be going well. ;-)

And I got a solid education in the Walton County School System. Salutatorian of Freeport High School Class of 1981 (ironically, I would have been Valedictorian but I got a C in PE in my sophomore year because I refused to participate, as doing so would have messed up my hair), and received my bachelor's degree many years later (my fault for the delay, not the school system's) with a 3.85 GPA.

Quality educations do happen in the Walton County Schools, but the biggest difference I see between the early 1980's and now is that parents HAVE to stay on top of their kid's classes - and the kids themselves - to make sure that they are prepared for life after graduation. With block scheduling, they are learning in 18 weeks what we had all year to learn, so they cover a lot of ground in a much shorter amount of time - much like what they will face in college. The sports PE can be aggravating, but we are fully prepared to supervise a session or two with the Florida Virtual High School if I have an issue they can't fix, or if there is an elective we miss due to the "sports" PE.

What I want to know is why the other high schools in Walton County offer Driver's Ed as a elective, but to take it at SWHS, you have to get on a list and take it in the summer....:roll:

 

[2BFabean]

You forgot biology. He does have biology. He doesn't have a biology BOOK, which is my personal rant, and I haven't heard of them dissecting anything, but other than those two issues, biology seems to be going well. ;-)

And I got a solid education in the Walton County School System. Salutatorian of Freeport High School Class of 1981 (ironically, I would have been Valedictorian but I got a C in PE in my sophomore year because I refused to participate, as doing so would have messed up my hair), and received my bachelor's degree many years later (my fault for the delay, not the school system's) with a 3.85 GPA.

Quality educations do happen in the Walton County Schools, but the biggest difference I see between the early 1980's and now is that parents HAVE to stay on top of their kid's classes - and the kids themselves - to make sure that they are prepared for life after graduation. With block scheduling, they are learning in 18 weeks what we had all year to learn, so they cover a lot of ground in a much shorter amount of time - much like what they will face in college. The sports PE can be aggravating, but we are fully prepared to supervise a session or two with the Florida Virtual High School if I have an issue they can't fix, or if there is an elective we miss due to the "sports" PE.

What I want to know is why the other high schools in Walton County offer Driver's Ed as a elective, but to take it at SWHS, you have to get on a list and take it in the summer....:roll:

mr nole you can thnak the aclu fro that:roll: (american coroaker lover union)

 

[Miss Critter]

I heard a rumor (by phone since I'm in LA for another few weeks) that there are 200 waiver requests from South Walton for Niceville High for next year. True? Should I be concerned? If you were relocating to the "Destin area" what high school district would you choose? My son will be a freshman this fall. Thanks for any info, either on the board in private message.

 

[Jdarg]

I heard a rumor (by phone since I'm in LA for another few weeks) that there are 200 waiver requests from South Walton for Niceville High for next year. True? Should I be concerned? If you were relocating to the "Destin area" what high school district would you choose? My son will be a freshman this fall. Thanks for any info, either on the board in private message.

If you are so concerned, you might go to SWHS and talk to them yourself, instead of listening to and passing on rumor.

Another example of the stuff that drives me nuts. We have 1 high school, people. Why try and tear it down when a little parent involvement will go a long way? Several of us have been busting our butts for several months to get parents to come to the school and participate for a once a month parent meeting, not to mention the fact that only a handful of parents have ever attended a Walton County school board meeting, but have no problem in big mouthing every rumor they hear.

I can't imagine that many of these people who continue to complain about SWHS have had much "real" contact with the school- as in visiting, volunteering, and researching. The education of our children involves more than just the school- it involves the parents as well.

 

[NoHall]

If you are so concerned, you might go to SWHS and talk to them yourself, instead of listening to and passing on rumor.

Another example of the stuff that drives me nuts. We have 1 high school, people. Why try and tear it down when a little parent involvement will go a long way? Several of us have been busting our butts for several months to get parents to come to the school and participate for a once a month parent meeting, not to mention the fact that only a handful of parents have ever attended a Walton County school board meeting, but have no problem in big mouthing every rumor they hear.

I can't imagine that many of these people who continue to complain about SWHS have had much "real" contact with the school- as in visiting, volunteering, and researching. The education of our children involves more than just the school- it involves the parents as well.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease. Changes in the schools are usually a result of parents voicing what they want. Most of the policy/schedule/program changes that we have are introduced with "We've had dozens of calls from the parents about this..."

 

[wrobert]

Another example of the stuff that drives me nuts. We have 1 high school, people. Why try and tear it down when a little parent involvement will go a long way? Several of us have been busting our butts for several months to get parents to come to the school and participate for a once a month parent meeting, not to mention the fact that only a handful of parents have ever attended a Walton County school board meeting, but have no problem in big mouthing every rumor they hear.

Well said Jdarg. While I feel the school district did not do enough on their part to increase participation at the meetings, (having one then tossing the idea), just when is it that the complainers are going to step up and try to help make changes. The reason some of this stuff is so out of whack is it gets changed, and no one says anything. But they do have an opinion at the local diner.

 

[Jdarg]

Well said Jdarg. While I feel the school district did not do enough on their part to increase participation at the meetings, (having one then tossing the idea), just when is it that the complainers are going to step up and try to help make changes. The reason some of this stuff is so out of whack is it gets changed, and no one says anything. But they do have an opinion at the local diner.

I love this!! I hear the most ridiculous stuff.

Of course we have to remember that when people are satisfied with their situations, they are not vocal like an unhappy minority.

I agree with you about the school board meetings- they did not allow enough time to give people a chance to "notice" that meetings were occasionally at their school.

SWHS is a 6 year old school. Before it opened, this community fought hard to get a school built south of the bay. Now we have one. It has understandable growing pains, but nothing that is insurmountable with a little more parent involvement and dedication.