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Art Aisner (Editor) May 23, 2013 at 04:17 pm
Thanks Mom C, we appreciate you taking the time to share your opinion. The students were actually…Read More invited guests and recognized for their hard work completing their book of essays on leadership. This was not a Country Day event and the students were honored for developing the ideas and concepts for their essays, which occurred in the classroom.
Eric Goldberg May 9, 2013 at 06:44 pm
He was a "real" teacher . Two of my children had him as a teacher in the past few years.…Read More He was "quirky" in a good way , but what most impressed me was how well
he knew my child in such a short time and how much he was able to nurture my sons ( sometimes unorthodox ) way of doing thing , instead of "squashing" it . He encouraged his creativity. We lost a "Good one" . G-d bless him ! Eric G
Leslie May 10, 2013 at 04:49 am
I had "Mr B" as a teacher way back in 1967 when I was in a program in 5th grade called…Read More "Academically Able" one day a week. It must have been the first or second year he was teaching. He was a young, totally cool, funny, idealistic teacher who ran this amazing program which allowed each student to do an independent study about something we were really interested in, instead of doing regular classwork. (Does this sound like the 60's?!!) I still remember the first day of class where he held up this notebook and explained to us that we'd learn to plan and keep track of everything in our special "POA (Plan of Action) Notebook" (a plain old spiral notebook), and that, yes, we kids were capable of planning what to do on our own. He was easy to talk to, and he really listened and gave us kind and thoughtful advice. He helped us plan field trips, or build models, to do whatever it took to make our projects the best they could be. (Sometimes this included a bunch of us packing into his van and carreening to a local destination - always an adventure!) We learned a lot in that class - way more than just about our selected topic. It was a wonderful experience for a 10 year old kid. Now, 46 years later, I still talk with friends about how great his class was, and how some of us are still relying on our "POA Notebook" and other things we learned from Mr B.
I am sure he left behind a legacy of hundreds of kids who were truly touched by him as a wonderful person and great teacher.
Marsha Stanislaw May 11, 2013 at 01:37 pm
Mr B. was my son's teacher at Quarton School in 1977. He was a fabulous teacher!! His love for…Read More teaching was evident to me as a mom of one of his students. He was patient and nurturing. Mr. B instilled confidence . He had the ability to bring out the best in his students . I still think about the gentle man who loved his work and the lucky kids who benefited from his gift.
Thanks Mr. B
Love,
Steve's Mom
canseeallsides April 30, 2013 at 04:17 am
I see the point they are making quite clearly. I just FIRMLY disagree with it.
That level of…Read More discipline is very personal and up to the parent. The level does not have to be the same answer to be right action for that family or each individual. Both levels maybe the "right way".
I hear discipline being said but should be called a terror tactic. I respect your discipline view and suggest you perform it AWAY from shared public forums including school. Take your child to jail for a day, I prefer to teach my kids INCLUDING the choices being made here as another opportunity to talk, teach and listen to them. Caution, strong opinion follows: I will never prefer a method to traumatize (SHOCK) them into submission and obedience.
Be firm and I respect you but call it what it is, it's terrorism.
Definition of TERROR
1
: a state of intense fear
2
a : one that inspires fear : scourge
b : a frightening aspect <the terrors of invasion>
c : a cause of anxiety : worry
d : an appalling person or thing; especially : brat
3
: reign of terror
4
: violent or destructive acts (as bombing) committed by groups in order to intimidate a population or government into granting their demands <insurrection and revolutionary terror>
Courteney Gettel April 30, 2013 at 01:03 pm
May I ask where your children go to school? If it is in the Birmingham School System, then I…Read More suggest that when the judges come to your school (and they will), that you keep your kids home for the day. This way they won't be "terrorized." I truly wish you peace. As for my children, they are not "terorrized." In fact, I get compliments all the time about how wonderfully, well-mannered they are - not just from other parents, but from school officials as well. So I must be doing something right including having them listen to what "could" happen should they make a wrong choice in life.
Karen Frank April 30, 2013 at 07:31 pm
Let’s be clear: There are very real and horrifying instances of misconduct. That these…Read More offenses should be investigated and prosecuted where appropriate is not open to question. No one supports crime. No one supports underage drinking. Drunk driving cannot and will not be tolerated. No one wants their child to experiment with drugs.
As our children grow up, we -- parents, teachers, the culture as a whole -- tell them that good kids abstain, bad ones use. Yet over 80 percent of America's children will at least try alcohol or other drugs. Do we really believe that most of our children are bad? As a pediatrician told me: "These aren't bad kids. They're our kids."
By moralizing the choice to use or not, we're alienating our kids. This isn't a question of good and bad, it's a question of health and safety. If we keep this in mind, we can better help our kids grow up without succumbing to drugs and alcohol.
We've failed to prevent use because we've done most things wrong by focusing on drugs as a criminal and moral problem, and on scare tactics and hyperbole.
Nancy Perkins May 3, 2013 at 04:31 am
I'm surprised this is the book the mother chose to cause a controversy over. Usually it's a Judy…Read More Blume book, which is what happened at a school I taught at. There was a big to-do about it and because Judy Blume lives in our community for six months of the year, it was on the front page of our local newspaper. Our library also didn't change the way we handled her books. I understand where the parent is coming from. But I would think, "The Diary of Anne Frank", would be one of the last books you would want to censor.
Andrew Moore May 3, 2013 at 01:03 pm
Indisputably the right call was made by the school district. What a great relief to see common sense…Read More prevail. Birmingham’s educators and administrators should be applauded for their wise decision.
Laura Welsh June 11, 2013 at 07:50 pm
"Following Otto Frank's death in 1952". Otto Frank DID NOT die in 1952. Where are you…Read More getting your facts??
Tim Thomas April 25, 2013 at 10:44 am
While this is certainly great news for Birmingham Schools, I find it very disturbing that this…Read More evaluation looked solely at high-stakes, state-mandated test results. These tests only evaluate a small number of subject areas. What about the rest of the high school curriculum and subject areas? What about the other amazing opportunities our students have outside the classroom? What about our co-curricular and extra-curricular offerings? If this study looked at the entire high school 'package' we offer at BPS, it would be much more valuable as an indicator of what makes a great high school.
Tim Thomas - BPS parent and teacher
Shar Wickens April 16, 2013 at 01:21 pm
ST. James Preschool in the Heart of Birmingham .
355 West Maple
248-644-0820 ext. 7103
Open Fall…Read More enrollment forMom & Me, threes, fours, Kindergaten Readiness & Young Fives.
Jessica Schrader (Editor) April 16, 2013 at 02:17 pm
Thanks for sharing this info, Shar! I added it to the story.
Patricia Raezler April 24, 2013 at 12:20 am
Well you missed Westmaple Nursery School! We are the second oldest preschool in Oakland County,…Read More founded in 1950. We have children from the ages of 3 to 6. While our 3 year old program is full we do have room for 4 year olds and also have a junior kindergarten program. Our children go to kindergarten very well prepared. Call Pat Raezler, Director at 248-646-5155 for more information and a tour!
Racer Boy March 21, 2013 at 01:45 pm
I would like to know what happens when a deranged individual walks up to the front door, hits the…Read More buzzer, is denied access and then he pulls out his weapon or a brick and casually and easily shoots/breaks out the glass and simply walks in the school to carry out his plan of destruction. This type of security is great protection from the Fed-Ex or UPS guy. It just doesn't seem like it would do much to prevent what actually occurs in real life. Maybe we could post signs at all entries stating, "No Crazed Killers Allowed".
Birmingham Public Schools to Host Learning Conference 2013
Comment Recommend Art Aisner (Editor)