School Board query

So does anyone know why Robert Nelson hasn't commented on this thread? He is normally so quick to respond, I find it interesting that he is M.I.A here.

That's the purpose of a school board -- to see that students receive a top-notch, broad education. To "pooh-pooh" that quality in a candidate seems to go against the very thing we're working for in the school system. If "street smarts" is all we need -- why spend more tax dollars to improve Walton County schools?

One of the goals of secondary education is to prepare students for college. We need school board members who understand what that means. We need school board members who can evaluate the weaknesses or strengths in a curriculum-- because budget considerations are often at stake. We need school board members who have read broadly and can look at the arts and literature through the eyes of an educator.

That may be the purpose, but is it reality? If it is about ensuring that students receive a top-notch education, why is most of the focus and concern on the lower 25% of the students? Isn't that portion of the classes the focus on the testing improvements? What about the top 25%? Sure, there may be AP classes here and there, but why is there such a focus on the bottom 25%?

I merely recounted a story that I heard and in now way attacked you or anyone else. You hear many things today concerning politics - some are true aka the Pinata and I guess this one is is baseless in fact.

You must have forgotten the interested girl factcheck Weak.

re Wilkerson vs nelson. I'd rather have someone on the schoolboard who actually has the interest of our children and their education at heart than someone who sees this position as a mere stepping stone to another political office.

I noticed at least a couple of stepping stone politicians in our local race this year.

That may be the purpose, but is it reality? If it is about ensuring that students receive a top-notch education, why is most of the focus and concern on the lower 25% of the students? Isn't that portion of the classes the focus on the testing improvements? What about the top 25%? Sure, there may be AP classes here and there, but why is there such a focus on the bottom 25%?

its all about the test. the schools must perform to maintian a certain grade (schools receive grades based on student performance on the FCAT/state test). so the focus is on getting all students to a certain minimum level. lower performing children need the most help to reach the level. it is truly a bad goal, imo. children do not perform the same, learn the same, achieve the same, etc. but, we're doing our best to standardize children, teachers, schools. it is quite appalling to me.

Wait! A NObama sticker? Why would anyone from another business put Republican stickers on Republican cars? That doesn't even make sense. Isn't it more likely a wingnut supporter giving a misguided gift?

Where would a random restaurant employee even get NObama stickers? And what would be the point? Some kind of Ashley Todd move? Ridiculous.

Sounds like someone at the Republican Headquarters was placing the stickers.:scratch:

So does anyone know why Robert Nelson hasn't commented on this thread? He is normally so quick to respond, I find it interesting that he is M.I.A here.

How do you know he hasn't?

Tootsie, I couldn't agree more, and that is why I question the reality of the School Board. It seems that receiving more money for the schools is the focus, and you get more money by focusing on the bottom 25% (no child left behind) of the students. Charlie Rose interviewed the 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2008 Teacher of the Year for the entire USA, a few months ago. Probably archived on his site, www.charlierose.com, and at least one of them had some interesting things to say about teaching to the tests for money. It is well worth the watch, and the difference between each of them is eye-opening.

Tootsie, I couldn't agree more, and that is why I question the reality of the School Board. It seems that receiving more money for the schools is the focus, and you get more money by focusing on the bottom 25% of the students. Charlie Rose interviewed the 2005, 2006, and 2007 Teacher of the Year for the entire USA, a few months ago. Probably archived on his site, www.charlierose.com, and two of them had some interesting things to say about teaching to the tests for money. It is well worth the watch.

thanks, would love to see this. The best teachers and administrators know that this system is not conducive to best education practices. I've had a school counselor nearly apologize to me about the FCAT being the focus of the school curriculum - but I feel that when the school leaders know there is something wrong with this, then they are probably trying their best to work around it. The best teachers can provide a good education environment for their students in spite of the test. still, we need to increase our expectations for learning.

school boards - that is another matter. I question their validity and their necessity and everything about them. just too political.

Here is the Charlie Rose interview with the Teacher of the Year recipients. >>>click here<<<

So does anyone know why Robert Nelson hasn't commented on this thread? He is normally so quick to respond, I find it interesting that he is M.I.A here.

I find it interesting that you would infer something from his posting pattern,

He does post here alot. Mildred has never posted on this site.

Robert is 10 days from an election. He is busy campaigning I guess.

You can email him at wrobertnelson@gmail.com.

Mildred has never posted on this site.

Smart

True

busy campaigning? Isn't posting critical information on SoWal.com also campaigning? It could be much more productive and efficient use of time rather than going door to door.

One of the benefits of posting here should be the comparisons that many are able to draw from postings by both candidates. That has not happened here. His opponent in the election has failed to even post an intro on this site.

What has he not posted that is critical in this process in the past?

Door to door campaigning works my friend as the candidate is able to look a potential supporter in the eyes and answer their questions. Many voters in Walton County do not even know this site exists and many avoid it because they see it leaning very far to the left of center.

I would hope in the future forums that elicit an exchange between candidates and their viewpoints on issues would grow. Sure would be cheaper and save many trees.

. His opponent in the election has failed to even post an intro on this site.

Door to door campaigning works my friend as the candidate is able to look a potential supporter in the eyes and answer their questions.

Failed? Possibly chosen not to for the same reason robert may not be posting here today.

The only thing I said was that he is normally quick to post on here, and I haven't seen him in a while... not sure what inference you were talking about, I thought it was pretty self explanatory.

I believe this thread was started back on the 16th and since then there have been some specific questions asked of him regarding his campaign that I think we deserve an answer on.

I find it funny that you want me to email him, but he can't respond to us here... maybe if someone sees him out door to door they can tell him we are waiting on his answers on SoWal.

I find it interesting that you would infer something from his posting pattern,

He does post here alot. Mildred has never posted on this site.

Robert is 10 days from an election. He is busy campaigning I guess.

You can email him at wrobertnelson@gmail.com.

I am sorry if you inferred that I was asking you to email wrobert. Just simply gave his email address for those that might want to correspond with him. He probably monitors that due to his business.

I am well aware of this questionnaire and have known about it for quite awhile- I really don't care how a candidate answers a public school board questionnaire put out by a Christian coalition. All candidates should have thrown it in the garbage. Most of the questions were pretty funny. Ms. Wilkerson's answers (or nonanswers) were perfect.

So- did you write the questions?

Are you infering something negative about Crimsonclay with the statement
" So-did you write the questions?" Negative attacks are not supposed to happen here.:nono1:

Are you infering something negative about Crimsonclay with the statement
" So-did you write the questions?" Negative attacks are not supposed to happen here.:nono1:

Nope -just curious since Crimsonclay seemed to really like that questionnaire!

Bob, you don't have to defend door to door campaigning as a valid way to contact potential voters. No one has contested that. I stated that posting responses on SoWal was a more efficient means of campaigning. Left-leaning or center-leaning, I would think that politicians would want to be able to lure all voters, regardless of which side they lean towards. I would, if I was running.

Nope -just curious since Crimsonclay seemed to really like that questionnaire!

Yes, I did like that questionnaire as did lots of other Walton County voters. I was just using it as an example of her indecisiveness. It let me know that Mrs. Wilkerson either doesn't have the same beliefs on some issues as I do or she is afraid to answer them. I thought this of several candidates in the local races and none of them received my vote in the end. It wasn't the only basis of any of my decisions though, just merely an extra tool to help me make my decision.

I do not dislike Mrs. Wilkerson I just think she isn't the best choice for our School Board.

I have two children in our school system, one in high school and one in elementary school and the school board is an important race for me. My children's education is a big deal to me and I know that Robert Nelson will make the best and wisest choices for the school children of Walton County. He shares my views and knows how to get things done the right way as well as understands how the school board and business model works.

I have known and voted for Mrs. Wilkerson for many years and she is a wonderful person, but it is time for a change. I voted the other day and voted for Robert Nelson, who I think will and do a good job for our school system.

We should be teaching students how to think

That may be the purpose, but is it reality? If it is about ensuring that students receive a top-notch education, why is most of the focus and concern on the lower 25% of the students? Isn't that portion of the classes the focus on the testing improvements? What about the top 25%? Sure, there may be AP classes here and there, but why is there such a focus on the bottom 25%?

Certainly one of the characteristics of a top-notch school system is its ability to challenge ALL students, including the top 25%.

That's my concern about a School Board that "cherry picks" which literature students can read, which plays they can produce. . .How can you ever have excellent AP classes when the curriculum is limited by the values of a certain segment of the population? How can students learn to evaluate literature or scientific theories THEMSELVES if our school system does it for them ---keeping everything but the most conservative/bland out of the libraries and out of the curriculum?

Teaching students to be "critical thinkers" means they have to be confronted with ideas or thoughts that may be foreign to them and their values. How else will they be challenged to invent, to create, to dream -- if all they are taught is to accept the status quo? "We should be teaching students HOW to think; instead we are teaching WHAT to think."