but in order to make successful students able to keep up with the global economy, the foreign languages are NOT for the "golden fluff" students! like it or not, the reality we live in requires offering foreign languages. why "punish" the students who are equally entitled to a free education by dumbing down the curriculum and the options for increased learning opportunities?

I agree that the underprivileged citizens deserve a quality education opportunity. Perhaps we need 2 different systems. One for those who want an education and one for those where "students" who attend are just there because it is "state law". Last time I checked, that was called day care for those under 5 years old. Some parents just want their kids out of their hair between the hours of 8 and 4 and don't really "care" how they obtain that. Again, this isn't the school district's fault, but put the blame back on the parents of the kids who choose not to learn. And above all, don't punish the kids who attend school everyday and are successful learners, or we will have an even bigger mess.

on a side note, TaxandSpend, why do you call other commenters by names other than the user name he or she has chosen? I find that really disrespectful. Almost as much as your comments about "golden fluff" students who do not cost you or me, the taxpayer, more money. The ones who are costing you more money are the ones that end up requiring additional programs that, in reality, are causing us to be co-dependent...instead of correcting bad behavior, we start a new school to allow the bad behavior to continue...just doesn't make sense to me!

Tax and spend

Do you know if Janesville middle and high schools have scheduled times for interventions in math and reading for complete periods?

I agree tax and spend.

School districts would save millions of dollars if they did away with all these extra classes and focused on math and reading.

There is a huge mismatch between what market forces require and what we are teaching in schools. Many employers are faced with candidates that are deficient in reading, math, and the utilization of new technologies.

Cutting edge technologies is where the future is going, not manufacturing.

We are not keeping up with the speed of technology. Other countries are leaving us in the dust. We will not have enough people to face the technological revolution in terms of skills.

"We can not treat one child different then the majority."

But the data clearly indicates that education does not treat all students the same. The achievement gap tells us that. I disagree. Look at high school graduation rates for African and Hispanic students.

Believe me, I hold conservative views but race is a real issue in education.

Yes, I understand parents are to blame for many kids failing but the education establishment is not designed to treat culturally diverse students the same.

Ms sassy

This country does not care about education period.

Facebook, twitter, music videos, online media, TV, YouTube, and blogs are teaching our kids today. Pretty sad.

We care more about funding wars, ousting dictators, bailing out unions and banks, aid to foreign nations, earmarks, and subsidizing companies who move jobs overseas.

We need to start paying new teachers 70 to 80 K a year but we need the right methods to recruit the best and let go of the ineffective teachers.

Eliminate the politicians and unions influence on education reform.

Holding a degree in education or masters degrees does not make a teacher
effective. This is one of the biggest problemsmin education.

We need to open up opportunities for people who do not have education degrees but have world class experience in teaching practices with degrees in other content areas.

if you ask me, T & S appears to be of the belief that the majority of students in the JSD have parents who help their offspring get ahead with their school work and help their children learn. A good portion of students DO have one or both parents (and/or step parents)who really are not only adequate but good parents. HOWEVER, there are way too many students who are left to their own devices (usually tv and mp3) and the parents are not actually parenting. Don't blame the teachers if the students are failing in math, reading and English. Blame the parents (of the kids who are disruptive in class, don't do homework, aren't being read to, etc). AND blame the administration for taking away the teachers ability to control disruptions in the classrooms appropriately. Too much "poor Johnny" instead of "naughty Johnny gets a time out". Blame the parents who side with a disruptive child instead of punishes their child for disrupting.

The schools are a reflection on what is going wrong in society. No one has the courage to stand up and say "ENOUGH". Children should be granted privileges for good behavior and rewarded for positive actions, rather than the current method of giving too much attention to bad behavior, class clowns and distractions in the classroom. Get the disruptive ones out of the classrooms so the kids who are learning can continue to learn and develop the skills they will need to be successful. If a kid is disruptive, they will need to make other arrangements for their kids' education outside of the taxpayer-provided free education. They have been given an opportunity to a free education. It's on them if they don't learn how to behave. That should reduce the class size to controllable numbers AND the students there will LEARN.

MadCityDad... I did. I am not talking about this any more. That post was for the Gazette. Thank you MadCityDad :)

Don't feed the Troll. Just flag the comment and it will be removed like the other one was.

Ok... T&S I know that you are not worth talking to on this subject of Child Abuse. I have been abused as a child (It does not matter how ect) and this comment goes to the gazette staff. I am offended tha you are allowing T&S's comment in regards to child abuse. This is as offensive as it gets for me. If a comments are on an article are about education how is it that a persons comments that equate an education problem to child abuse not removed? If this is not rectified I am gone and have absolute confidence I will NEVER have Any respect for this site, products, or services.

Huh? So one minute there only smart kids should be allowed in classes they are good at, then the next....those classes shouldn't even exist? lol Kinda hard to debate against someone who can't even make his own mind up.

How can the director of "human and administrative services" not see that stuffing more kids into each classroom does not "serve" any of the humans? I understand the importance of the bottom line - however, the primary focus must be on people.....not dollars. The thought that he sees the district as a "vendor" is frightening. What's he selling?

I am not tax and spend.... please read below at all the posts below. There is a lot of sarcasm to go around toward Tax and Spend. T&S just recycles the same lines... for what? Make no mistake when I say, "you are right." I mean stop your ideological grandeur (tax and spend that is). I have no time for tax and spends ideals.

Nothing in Gazettextra about this. Interesting.
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/c...

moderate1 = taxandspend
Pitiful when you have to log on as someone else just to have someone support you. LOL

T&S - have you ever thought of running for office? I think you would do great! You are a pro at socio economic challenges that impact the youth of the country as well as the disparity that plagues the schools. This is not to mention the multi fasetted areas of work force needs that everyone is negating. You would be a sure win.

You are right again T&S. What a simple solution. I have never thought of that (the general population as well). Then again the general population doesn't have kids, but I am sure you do. Good job T&S!

Instead of criticizing him why not offer your own opinion on the subject.
.
I have, he doesn't read anything though. He just sees the total comments have gone up and posts the same thing he's been saying for a week, then claims he's right.

still no other plan then my plan to follow the law,
.
The problem is your warped (and wrong) opinion isn't the law.

You are right MadCityDad! T&S is always right. A person can simple not have a conversation that propels solutions with someone that is always right. I have watched the blogs and everyone.... EVERYONE has a comment from T&S with the same mannerisms. Stay classy everyone.

It's high time we all agreed to stop feeding the Troll. If nobody reaponds to her, maybe she'll go away. If she doesn't, we can still have a reasonable discourse around the insanity of her opinion. Quite honestly the posts are getting ever more way out there and not worthy of our time or response.

@ tax and spend - the more you talk the higher the temperature gets. I have one question to ask. Is the reason you keep uttering your views is to get a, "you are right" answer? If so... You are right! Now please move on.

Not sure I would have chose to use the word vendor in this context, Dr. Sperry!

fishbelly...maybe he just got tired of you. Instead of criticizing him why not offer your own opinion on the subject.

Since you do not like what I say I must be lying?
.
No it's based off the fact someone called you on this (your lies) in the other topic that is exactly like this, and you quit responding there.

The core tools required by law for all the children are ignored so we can fund the Golden Children.
)(
Ah yes, the "core tools" that you refuse to respond to in the other topic. All you post are lies and non-truths.

I am (correct) Janesville is funding Fluff classes first, and core education second.
.
No you're not, but you haven't said anything true since i've been reading these comments.....why start now?

Child abuse is a serious charge. Hope you're prepared to offer some proof. Unless of course you're just taking potshots, which you are. Still waiting for Troll to file her civil rights lawsuit. Don't forget you'll need a little thing called evidence.

Tax and spend

I also think we need to look at compensation for teachers of non core courses.

Why pay PE teachers or consumer ed teachers the same as math, science,or reading teachers?

"The author of the proposal, Steve Sperry, director of human and administrative services, said he believes that bigger classes would not affect the district's ability to deliver a quality education and be the "preferred vendor" of education in the area."

Steve??? Very, very disappointing!! During my now near forty years of teaching I never felt that I was employed by a "vendor", or was myself a "vendor" of education within my classroom. But you may be correct in one respect; because once class sizes get over thirty, they may as well be fifty. The ability to individualize education in the classroom is lost by that time. Teachers indeed become "vendors" as candy bar machines are vendors of candy. Education requires more. Kids deserve more.

Is anyone else sick of the broken record?

Difference is for example Milton funds the education required by our constitution first which is math,science,reading,and English language
..
I do believe you were called out on this in the other topic about raising class sizes, and you suddenly just quit posting in that topic......and suddenly here you are in another one. Keep posting your lies and half truths.

Larger classes in middle school what a joke they can't handle 10 kids let alone 30!

We give aid to other nations, we increase bailout money to defunct companies, we would die to maintain Social Security and Medicare benefits, we provide billions in subsidies to companies who take jobs overseas, we spend billions to support military operations than are going no where, we spend billions to oust dictators...

But we can't provide funds for extra teachers to maintain appropriate class sizes...?

Tells you a lot about our priorities in education......

"We use the poor for head count, and that is it."
-
Spoken like a true communist. Try inspiring your children to do something else, and they will succeed where you did not.

Colleen Neumann is simply one of the finest teachers I know. I aspire to some day be as innovative and creative an instructor as her. She has shaped so many lives, and Craig will miss her terribly. I wish her the best!