Posted by zoomru on July 1, 2008 at 1:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

WHAT??...
"...The board already had a code of ethics policy, but it didn't address a situation such as the one involving Ravenel, said Gregg Meyers, chairman of the board's policy committee. The changes set a standard of conduct and consequences for not following those guidelines, he said..."

CODE of ETHICS??.. Maybe you need to post these at all schools first? Bucko! That word CODE !! Reminds me of Pirates of the Carribean.." More or less Guidelines..REALLY!" We need more HEAT ..quite frankly!! Or more fingers to plug the DAM that is our educational system. At least we know someone is concerned and isn't afraid to be TARZAN and pound their chest. Sometimes to get people out of BED ..you need to throw a HORNETS NEST into the BEDROOM.
My God..Ravvy. Take this women down to MAGNOLIAs for a working lunch and take a photo.
IVAN and Charles ....are you two going to get a reporter down there to make sure they hold hands?? Does that demonstrate..Pere? or Glasn? I know what MORE POLICY....Demonstrates?? Its called tax increase.

Posted by Tulane75 on July 1, 2008 at 4:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If these are elected positions, how can you throw someone out of office for cussing? Why don't you just let them put a dollar in the "cuss" jar?

If you throw someone out of office, how will you fill that position? Can you call a special election or is there another provision for filling the slot?

Chairman Douglas dealt with Mr. Ravenel's comment and that should be the end of it. The board is spending too much energy on this non-issue! In the end, I am more concerned with the merits of what Mr. Ravenel said, more than I am his language or manners.

Posted by planet_earth on July 1, 2008 at 5:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"members would be prohibited from using profanity or threats, and doing so could mean penalties" - Interesting, that is exactly the behavior that teachers spend day in and day out trying to change in Charleston students who impede learning.

Posted by whalernut on July 1, 2008 at 5:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)

You better leave Arthur alone he might just get all your butts.
Go Arthur!
You are doing just what we voted you in for.

Posted by jammer on July 1, 2008 at 6:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

gezzzz what a bunch of pompuss a*s's that can't take the heat when they are steadily screwing up

yeaa that's it, remove the 1st ammendment... shut the opposers up and put them in the gas chamber I tell you!

everyone's trying their best to shut the white guy up, nothing new here... move on people...

Mr.Ravenel give them hell, we got your back... bump these wimps that need to be fired for the lousy job they have been doing

where are we in the nation?? nearly LAST??? someone NEEDS to be yelled at!!

Posted by wpc3iop on July 1, 2008 at 6:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The CCSD board needs to do its job and quit worrying about Arthur Ravenel's language...Give 'em hell Cousin Arthur!!!

Posted by MC29461 on July 1, 2008 at 6:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Politicians cannot be removed from office for violating internally developed policies, but rather for violating a specific number of public laws.

What a bunch of Yankee crybabies.

Please, please pack your carpetbags and go back to up north to the rustbelt schools that you and your union politicians ruined and leave us poor dumb Southerners alone.

Posted by berthelot on July 1, 2008 at 7:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Maybe they really were "bitches".

Posted by watchdog on July 1, 2008 at 7:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Ravenel should step down, his kind and ways do not work in this world. He has done nothing for our community, but divide us. He is a Baboon. We need leadership in this state, we need to change,opps! I said the forbidden word CHANGE..... We are last folks in the nation, we must be last on the globe, lets be the best that we can be. Get rid of the bums.

Posted by watchdog on July 1, 2008 at 7:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)

MC29401, you have some serious issues. Do you know what you are talking about? You are an idiot, you not even close. You baboon...

Posted by watchdog on July 1, 2008 at 7:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I am sorry, its MC29461 that is an idiot. This is the reason we are dead last. I am going to say it again, WE NEED TO CHANGE.....

Posted by greyrider on July 1, 2008 at 8:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This is ridiculous. I don't use profanity. I'm one of those few who find profanity offensive, and I don't like when people use it around me. But this is America. Freedom of speech includes offensive speech. Who am I, or anyone else to "re-decide" an election based on the "I have been offended" argument? If an elected official uses offensive speech, issues statements condemning it, bring it up during the next campaign. But let the people decide.

Posted by teeitup on July 1, 2008 at 8:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Change? From what to what

Posted by Early on July 1, 2008 at 8:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)

From bitch to bastard

Posted by shoelaces on July 1, 2008 at 8:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Board members slinging mud at eachother is not why we are "dead last." The kids can use 4 letter wordds and not have consequences.

Here goes shoelaces with the broken record....BAD PARENTING IS WHY WE ARE DEAD LAST.

And maybe berthelot may be right...maybe they are B***ches?? Sometimes that isn't really a bad thing, you know.

teeitup...I agree with you too. Before more people jump on the "change" band wagon why don't we see what the change will be. Otherwise it sounds like the blind leading the blind.

Posted by Jane on July 1, 2008 at 8:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Why didn't the idiots in Columbia vote for school choice? Inez Tennebaum and the rest of the Dems voted it down. Tax dollars should go with the student. You aren't happy with your kid's school, you should be able to take your kid out and put him/her in a better school and the tax dollars go with your kid to the new school. I don't care where you live, you put your kid in the school of your choice. Just like the free market. People who are hurt the most by lack of school choice are low income kids.
Ravenel using the "B" word is not the problem.

Posted by jeff61 on July 1, 2008 at 8:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

A new study finds that profanity in the workplace can actually help boost office morale.

By: Matt FinkelsteinPublished October 19, 2007

Profanity in the workplace may be considered taboo at most companies, but a new British study shows that office expletives might actually help boost morale.

Swearing can help develop and maintain solidarity among workers, as well as relieve stress, according to the study conducted by researchers at the University of East Anglia, based in Norwich, England.

Posted by mlm on July 1, 2008 at 8:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)

According to the reporter, Gregg Meyers said, "...the policy would deter inappropriate behavior and encourage board members to stay on task and focused on the business of education." Meyers also reportedly admitted, "...such a scenario would be "a zoo" but said it's important that the board have those tools if needed."

If state law even permits such a usurpation of power by the majority of the members of an elected body, it will be a "zoo" indeed. Other than very specific reasons outlined in state law, there is no recall procedure in South Carolina law. I am fascinated by this broad assumption of powers by Mr. Meyers, who is an attorney.

I think Ms. Green may have already recognized a fly in this ointment when she was interviewed by one of the TV stations about this yesterday. She said the ultimate court of public opinion is the ballot box. Wow, she finally gets it!

I'll give two scenarios for Mr. Meyers to consider. The first involves who exactly is subject to this attempt to permanently censure a fellow board member. The second example is the public's potential to react in its own way. Beware of what you wish for.

If he truly wants the power to remove an official in order to "deter inappropriate behavior" and if Ms. Green says the public should be involved in this process, then OK. According to Ms. Green, Mr. Meyers is proposing the public also be given the power to recall an elected member of the board for what he calls "inappropriate behavior". I'm with that.

Posted by mlm on July 1, 2008 at 8:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)

What about the county board chairman who more than once in the last two years has assaulted a member of the public? What about other board members who together with that person verbally abused and physically threaten a community leader at a private meeting in an attempt to intimidate him? Is this covered by this policy? I know CCSD already has a policy that says what happens to a student or employee who resorts to "inappropriate behavior".

Is the superintendent subject to following the same rules? What happens when the superintendent threatens an elected official or berates someone with racial slurs or sexual harassment? These are not hypothetical examples. They are documented incidents that took place within the last three years, while the current school board majority was in control. Though he was aware of those incidents involving the members of his majority, we didn't hear Mr. Meyers raise any concerns before now. (That's a key point in this policy change scenario. The interest in this rises only now as their control appears to be slipping.)

And what happens when the majority of the county board removes an elected board member, assuming existing state law allows them this latitude? What if the underlying motivation is political, as this example appears to be in the eyes of a significant number of citizens? Does the public have a say, as Ms. Green implies? Will there be a county-wide special election to fill the vacancy? And what does it say if the same person, still a qualified elector, is resoundingly reelected to the board by the people after being removed? What happens if this person is returned with a mandate? Who will have egg on their faces then?

Posted by BillytheKid on July 1, 2008 at 9:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Arthur is an a&& and should be off the board along with his "voting puppy’s" or voting block.
Our schools need more money, they need update classrooms and they don't need a public or a school board that does not support them.
If South Carolina is ever to get out of the "Bottom of the barrel" in the many areas where we are LAST we need to start with supporting the children in the schools giving the opportunity to a top education.

Posted by drp7773 on July 1, 2008 at 9:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Here we go, what the schools need is more money, that will make the teachers teach better, that will make the kids learn better.money money money.....what a croc.....Teachers get the whole summer off , what 2 weeks off for Christmas break? and spring break and this does not even count the holidays and sick days but they get a full salary..Teach and teach well or quit!!!!! Parents need to step up, when the teacher sends home a note or calls that is a warning sign your kid is not learning, STEP UP...Use your vacation time, sick leave time what ever you need to do to be at that school to see what the problem is first hand. These schools being so low in the ranking is more then a money problem, its a team effort problem Teachers,parents and kids are to blame not money.

Posted by ThinkAboutThis on July 1, 2008 at 9:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Only in South Carolina!!

Hey CCSD baord members, go spend some time at the locals schools- what "punishment" do the kids get for the same actions? A free cookie or ice cream at lunch!!

Posted by ThinkAboutThis on July 1, 2008 at 9:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Meyers said he hoped the policy would deter inappropriate behavior and encourage board members to stay on task and focused on the business of education

They woud have stayed on task IF this wasn't brought to pubic attention!! Is this just another distraction ploy to keep focus off of the poor academics?

Who was it that brought it up for public attention and interviewed with the media in the first place?

Posted by PalmettoHawk on July 1, 2008 at 9:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Education begins at home. It starts with a parent reading to their baby, infants and on to the toddler and adolescent. When there is a fundamental breakdown of encouragement, monitoring and proctoring at home why should the child and then teen be concerned with getting an education when they can turn to other vices and distractions? As the Eighteenth Amendment (Prohibition) so miserably displayed one can not legislate morality. Neither can you solve the ills of society simply by throwing funding at an issue, are you listening CCSD? More importantly are you listening parents?

No amount of money will bring test scores one iota higher until parents completely comprehend what it is to raise a child and all that entails. Roadblocks to reaching that pinnacle? Babies having babies, they are neglected at home so the first display of “affection” and “love” finds teens and pre-teens exhibiting that need for connection and closeness with the physical act of loving. Then before we know it they are having the next generation of neglected and overlooked infants. This is not merely a black or white issue…it cuts across both races.

Too many parents maybe inhibited by their own lack of education, if you find yourself among that group I would encourage you to do something about it. Here is a novel idea for the exalted School Board and Administrators. Start out small with some night classes, just an hour or so, so that those who are interested might have the opportunity to get some tutoring. Screen the prospective “teachers” so that you don’t get the element that might take advantage of the situation. I have no certificate for teaching but that doesn’t mean that I couldn’t help someone get a grasp on what would be unlocked to both themselves, their children and generations of South Carolinians in the future. Or for those that would declare that it shouldn’t be a quasi governmental responsibility how about opening Community Centers to that sort of class, or the Churches of the Low Country?

Most of the time there is merely a gripe session on these pages but today I have made an effort to think out a solution to a core issue. And to those reading this dissertation I would merely add, huked on fonics werked four me.

Posted by whycantitbebetterhere on July 1, 2008 at 9:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)

My goodness - how would you like it if what he did happened to you at work? Just because someone is a public servant - it doesn't give you the right to abuse them. I would love to see all of you Arthur fans work for the public, you'd last about a week......

Posted by gamecockwoman on July 1, 2008 at 9:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)

That's what happens when these jacka**es from DC come in here and try to tell us how to run our business. Since Mr. Former Justice Lawyer Gregg Myers has taken over running our board, it's really been a mess. Remember, he's the former DOJ guy who tried to tell us how to run it back in the 80's. no wonder the kids don't learn - they're just taking lessons from the leaders. Will this bunch of monkeys ever get their act together to straighten out this screwed up education system and stop acting like 8 year olds?

Posted by Thomas1776 on July 1, 2008 at 9:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Arthur "Bitch" Ravenel is just another compulsive liar. Actually more pathological.

Get help for your lying, Arthur. Join PLA ( Pathological Liars Anonymous ).

Posted by aimpulsive on July 1, 2008 at 9:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This is insane.

Although Cuzin Arthur should not have used profanity, it is HIS right to threaten her job as it is the Board that hires and fires superintendents. If he tells her that she needs to listen to the board members because they are her bosses or she will be fired, that is no different than a supervisor telling their employee to "listen up or hit the street".

The fact that he used profanity is disappointing, but it is being a bit dramatized. Would things have been any different if he had said, "I got rid of one woman already..." or, "I get rid of one superintendent already..."?

Posted by shoelaces on July 1, 2008 at 10:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Think About This...I was thinking the same thing. Who was it that has brought this to our attention? Maybe name calling has always gone on. Again, I can think of another word he could have called McGinley that would have many groups up in arms.

Palmetto Hawk - good suggestions. We do offer adult ed classes in the schools. Some people actually come to them. We even offer parenting programs. On the day they are offered we have one in the morning and one in the evening. Occasionally someone comes to them.

It is really hard to get the school community to be a part of the school when the families live somewhere else!! I am for school choice but I think if you are going to send your child to a different school you better get your butt to the school to support it.

Posted by Early on July 1, 2008 at 10:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)

drp7773, don't know much about the teaching profession do you. You think they stop working when the bell rings? I watch my wife put in 60+ hours each week. Holiday she is trying to catch up and during the summer she is off sometimes but has to attend classes also. Where else do you have a MASTERS degree and make in the 30's after many years?

Posted by shoelaces on July 1, 2008 at 10:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)

drp - as for teacher pay I encourage all of you to go see what we make. It is public information. Go to Charleston County School District. Click on the "Employment" tab, go to the left and click on "Teacher Salaray Schedule." You will see the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 salary schedules. A regular classroom teacher is contracted to work 190 per year.

Now, I don't complain about what I make. We are a two income home and are quite comfortable. My husband makes double what I make and went to two years of college...go figure.

The only job I have ever held out of college is a teaching job so I don't know what "real" jobs pay. I can tell you that I don't get paid for over time. I don't get a Christmas bonus. I get evaluated all the time but I never get any bonus for good evaluations. I can't even go to the bathroom when I need to!!! I get a twenty minute lunch and eat with the kids. I get a 40 minute break 4 days a week. I am usually at work between 9 and 10 hours a day but only get paid for 8 hours of work. Since I put in some extra time at work I usually don't bring work home with me.

If anyone goes to the above mentioned information you can see if teacher's salaries compare to the "real" world or not. As I said before I have no other frame of reference. I know I probably make less than everyone I know.

There is a lot of money at the top on Calhoun Street. I think we could trim some of the fat. Do the math first before thinking we teachers have it so good.

Posted by Girleygirl on July 1, 2008 at 10:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"The committee recommended that members conform to "a standard of civility in interactions with other board members, employees, students and the public so as to treat all persons with dignity and courtesy. Profanity, threats, threatening job terminations, or abusive language is prohibited, and if used may subject a board member to public reprimand and may constitute cause of removal from office through procedures" prescribed by state law."

Damn don't ALL jobs have a similar practice in place? I know a lot of people don't go to work and get mad at a co-worker and start cussing them out and threating them, right? In other words why are they just NOW trying to implement some type of order now? If the people on the CCSD lack common courtesy for one another than this "ethics code of conduct" is a joke!
Grown people that can not have a civilized conversation without calling each other names...sounds similar to certain blogs on this site, and its sad!

Posted by SCdeacinNYC on July 1, 2008 at 11:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Amen Girleygirl. Im willing to accept the "we are all humans and make mistakes" excuse, but he is a politician and of course we hold politicians to ridiculous standards that no human being should be able to account for. He should not have used that word, sure it was blown out of porportion but as girleygirl mentioned, how many of you would be able to walk into your office and explode in a profanity-laced tirade without at least being reprimanded. He is supposed to be a professional with the well-being of children and people and taxpayers at stake, and he can't have a professional conversation with the woman in charge of the school district without calling her the B word. He needs to do better.

Which brings me to my second point, the fact that the CCSB seems to have way too much control (as do most SDs). They are politicians when it comes down to it, I think we should have more former educators in these positions or at least an even split. People who know what works and aren't there paying lip service.

Final point, on this board and the other about education there seems to be way too much teacher bashing. I am not a teacher, but many of my friends are young teacher (in their 20s) just starting out in the profession. There are also lots of teachers in my family. I truly believe it is a calling. Not everyone was meant to do it, but most people who claim that teachers aren't doing their job have no clue in this world what that job entails. Extremely minimal pay, aggravation from parents and administration and of course as Early mentioned ridiculously long hours. We don't respect education enough in America and especially not in SC and that's why we don't respect the people that teach our kids. I think the road to a better education system, especially in SC is to start respecting our educators more, pay them like the professionals they are!!! and listen to them on what works and what doesn't work in schools.

Listening to politicians has gotten us no where! Fix the broken system of public schools, make teaching an attractive profession with equally attractive benefits and composition to get the best of the best. Make it competitive to be a teacher (because it should be) and update and modernize the way we teach students and how we teach them. America is about 50 years behind on our teaching modules.

Posted by jeff61 on July 1, 2008 at 12:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

drp - as for teacher pay I encourage all of you to go see what we make. It is public information. Go to Charleston County School District. Click on the "Employment" tab, go to the left and click on "Teacher Salaray Schedule." You will see the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 salary schedules. A regular classroom teacher is contracted to work 190 per year.

I am sure all teachers are aware of what the pay is when you chose to enter the profession? Knowing this, why would you still knowing enter a career field with such lousy pay and hours and headaches only to turn around and complain about all of it. This makes as much sense as going to college to work as a cashier at a convenience store. Basiclly what I am gathering is some feel as if they have chosen the career of a public servant and expect some perks to come thier way?

Posted by drp7773 on July 1, 2008 at 12:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Again, off all summer, big Christmas and Spring breaks, great retirment and health..Tell me another job with these perks except a congressman...a job where you can teach in the summer school program and make ***extra money*** Again the point was if it takes more money to teach better then you need to quit and the parents need to step up...

Posted by SCdeacinNYC on July 1, 2008 at 12:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

jeff and drp, most do it because they want to **gasp** teach kids, make a difference, God forbid people actually want to make a difference in this country's educational system. I had some wonderful teachers who were passionate about what they did and made a real difference in my life. Yet, they have Master's degrees many of them and make only in the 30s and low 40s. That is ridiculous.

DRP, I'm glad it sounds like a great job to you. So I expect you and everyone else would be now flocking to this lucrative and easy vocation.

I'm waiting...

Posted by jeff61 on July 1, 2008 at 1:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Posted by drp7773 on July 1, 2008 at 12:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Again, off all summer, big Christmas and Spring breaks, great retirment and health..Tell me another job with these perks except a congressman...a job where you can teach in the summer school program and make ***extra money*** Again the point was if it takes more money to teach better then you need to quit and the parents need to step up...

Right on. Damm Straight, F'n A Man
In my 12 years of school I can honestly say there was only about four teachers that actually made learning interesting and gave the kid an incentive to learn.

Posted by PalmettoHawk on July 1, 2008 at 1:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

drp7773 - I challenge you to spend an entire day in a classroom just to experience what a "cushy" job you think that teachers have today. I'll do that one better, I'll spend the day too.

Posted by RW on July 1, 2008 at 1:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If Arthur Ravenel was a big spending liberal...none of this would matter!

Posted by Newt on July 1, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

GOODGOOGLEGAMOO! Some of the posts are way out there! We have an education system that is broken, not just in Charleston, but across the nation. Teachers are underpaid and underappreciated! We as a state pay more per person for our prisons than we do for our children’s education. Until we get our priorities straight nothing will change.

Parents need to step up, place expectations on our children’s performances, show up at parent teacher nights, sit down and make sure their homework is complete (I don’t always understand it). We also have to hold administrators responsible. When there are bullies and disruptive kids in class….have them removed at once. If the children cannot show the teachers respect…..have the parents come pick them up from school.

Unfortunately, the red tape and bureaucratic BS has tied the local districts hands in a lot of cases.

Not to mention the “No Child Left Behind” shicrap that is mandated with NO FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL!!!!!! How can they mandate something for the states, then not fund it? Total shicrap!

Posted by Newt on July 1, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Oh, and Author is a total senile nut job and should retire from ALL public service!

Posted by drp7773 on July 1, 2008 at 1:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Oh lets take a survey in here or better yet in any state on how cushy everyones job is, all jobs have ups and downs, no one is saying teaching is an easy job but I would bet most would say that about their jobs are not easy the difference is we work all year!!!!!!!!! and we can be fired if we dont perform up to standards,or if there is not enough business to support salaries or hell if the boss just doesn't like us. I really doubt a teacher lives day to day thinking their job is in jeopardy. Lets be clear here there is no way I would be a teacher in today's society, but it's not because of the money it's because of the kids, and the parents.... But enjoy your Summer vacation, I have to get back to work!!!

Posted by shoelaces on July 1, 2008 at 1:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

But if you spend a day you will have to plan for it. And you have to plan on your own unpaid time. And in some cases these lesson plans must be completed before you leave Friday afternoon for the upcoming week. And you would really have to teach for more than a day to grasp what teaching is all about.

You will need to become familiar with all of the SC standards and address those in your lesson plans. You need to provide the standards, indicators, objectives, materials, Bloom's Taxonomy, procedures, differentiation for the various learning styles, differentiation among your groups of diverse learners, assessment methods, and methods of re-teaching if necessary. And let's not forget your classroom management plan and consequences you will need to have in place. And you must plan for early finishers. Can't have them just sitting around.

Then after you teach for your big day you must then go back and do an item analysis of the work children did. This will help you know what areas need to be re-taught and guide your next lessons in each subject area.

If someone is missing for whatever reason you must also remediate and catch them up on what they missed.

Piece of cake!!! That's why we get paid the big bucks!!

If you were to look back at my previous post, I don't complain about the money I make. As a matter of fact, I am getting paid right now for the work I did during my contracted 190 days.

I am not complaining about the challenges of my job. I am simply sharing my experiences in the classroom. I teach in a wonderful school with great leadership and great teachers. Are the kids all great? Nope but they aren't all bad either.

***For anyone who wants to volunteer in their neighborhood school all you need to do is pick up the phone and call the principal. I know we always welcome extra help!!! You may just enjoy yourself.

Posted by Lovely_One on July 1, 2008 at 1:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

jeff and drp,

I am going to echo what SCdea said. Many teachers do it because they want to teach children and they like to know that they have made a difference in a child's life. Many of them don't even get recognized for the great jobs they do, they get minimal support from the parents, and catch hell from the students. My grandmother and her sister were teachers and they made peanuts, but did their jobs as if they were paying them a queen's salary. And the breaks you think they get are always countered and negated by the fact that they have to work double time to grade papers and prepare their lesson plans and anything else that teachers have to get done during a "regular" work day.

Plus many of them have to take classes during the summer to make sure they stay abreast with the ever changing world. And let's not mention the hell that they receive from the many different personalities of the children they are teaching and the oh so watchful never satisfied administration that they have to answer to. So, please, don't make it seem as if teaching is a cake walk because, believe you me, it is not.

Posted by shoelaces on July 1, 2008 at 1:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Thanks Lovely One for the support and back up!! And yes, we are always going through training and recertification. As I am sure other professions do as well.

drp and jeff (how's the homework?)- I might get summers, Christmas, and spring break off but think about how much time you probably have off from work too.

There are 260 weekdays in a year. You probably don't work every one of those. Do teachers really work THAT much less than most other people?

Not trying to pick a fight....I'm just sayin.....

And I like cousin Arthur. JG Altman too!!!

Posted by jeff61 on July 1, 2008 at 2:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

shoelaces,
drp and jeff (how's the homework?)- I might get summers, Christmas, and spring break off but think about how much time you probably have off from work too.

As you said you have the summer off hence the fact my kid is not in school so there is no Schoolwork to worry about. I refuse to call it homework. I am convinced the teachers are sending home the schoolwork which should be covered in school and execpt me to teach it.

I don't get much time off from work. Even when I leave work I still made availabe pretty much 24 / 7. I earn quite a bit of leave but I am not able to take when I would like.
But this is not about me this is about Smartboards and people being call bitch and what not or something like that. I think the issue is a group that wants to make up new rules to provide a reason to remove someone they may not agreee with

Posted by Lovely_One on July 1, 2008 at 2:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

No problem, shoelaces. Glad to be a voice for the teachers, because God knows you all have so many against you. People are so quick to jump on the "teachers have it so easy" bandwagon and they have no real clue as to how hard you really have it. They must realize that you all have to teach 20-30 students at one time and keep in mind that not all of them learn at the same pace and learn the same way. Therefore, you have to adjust to each student's learning style and pace accordingly. And let's not talk about the different personalities you have to contend with and the parents who feel that their child never does anything wrong.

There is just so much that teachers deal with that is not recognized by the general public. If everyone would/could just walk a mile in a teacher's shoes they would see what it is like. Heck, I merely volunteer at my kids' schools every once in a while, when my schedule allows me to (duty-free lunches, reading to the students, field trips, etc.) and I wouldn't take a teacher's place for anything in the world. I respect you all wholeheartedly and thank you for all that you do. Thank you all!

Posted by ColdBeer on July 1, 2008 at 3:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This is a joke, right? Surely the CCSB (including Ravenel) aren't as screwed up as they want us to believe they are. Are they? This must be some type of futuristic experiment testing human reaction to improbable situations, or something like that. Hell, it’s not just the CCSB either. It’s all of the groups in all three of the counties in this area. When was the last time there was a news article where one of the counties accomplished something positive? This is getting just plain silly… and embarrassing.

Posted by ThinkAboutThis on July 1, 2008 at 7:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Doesn't mean Mr. R went about it correctly but maybe he is calling it for what it is?

His original frustrations were about an item that could advance education NOT BEING on the meeting AGENDA!

So, has it come out WHY the advancing of education for students WAS NOT on the MEETING AGENDA in the first place?

Posted by stand828 on July 1, 2008 at 9:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Ravenel is a senile old coot and has no business being on the school board at his age. He can't possibly have any clue what it's like in a school today.

And if he can get away with calling someone a bitch, what kind of example is that setting for others? How can a student be punished for calling a school employee or fellow student a bitch when they see someone in Arthur's position do it with no consequences?

Get rid of him, and take his name off of the bridge at the same time...he's a disgrace and his family has become an embarassment.

Posted by rollo on July 1, 2008 at 10:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

You Go!!! Cous'!

Posted by Time4action on July 2, 2008 at 12:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

365 days a yr minus 190 work days = 175 nonwork days.
Only 180 days are classroom teaching days. There are 10 teacher "work days" without the students. Planners, bulletin boards, test, etc, once prepared, are used from year to year. I'm not saying teaching is easy but a well organized teacher does not have to put in extra hours. A dedicated professional is going to do their best regardless of the pay. I don't know the answer, I just don't agree throwing money at the problem is going to solve anything.

Posted by Time4action on July 2, 2008 at 12:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"regardless of the pay" didn't come out right. I meant they excepted the salary when they signed the contract, get yearly time in service pay raises plus yearly cost of living pay raises. So are the teachers making the most money doing the best jobs?

Posted by FiscalConservative on July 2, 2008 at 5:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)

They get paid what they should. They knew what the pay was when they started college and chose that profession. The best go teach at private school. The rest teach public. Some do it for the "making a difference" aspect, so they derive their utility from that satisfaction and salary. Money is not always a good measure of a job. Utility is. We get some utility in everything we do. Read some Jeremy Bentham.

Posted by whycantitbebetterhere on July 2, 2008 at 8:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I can't believe that anyone would criticize a person for being a teacher. They are the most important people in our society, they do not make enough money for what they do, in my opinion, and maybe if they were valued by the community like they should be, they wouldn't be paid a pittance for the very important jobs that they do. I would have to say that working for the public is to work for about the worst boss in the world. They call you stupid and won't willingly pay you anything to do it.

Posted by DCartisan on July 2, 2008 at 9:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)

What gets me is the same people praising Ravenel are the ones that get upset when ignorant kids blast rap music using the same language. Unless you're talking about a dog that term is disrespectful. Women everywhere should be upset at the use of this word on another woman no matter who said it.

No wonder CCSD is the laughing stock of the state. We've all heard the saying, "sometimes your purpose in life is to be a warning to others". CCSD's purpose is to be a warning to other school districts on what NOT to do to be successful.

Posted by auger on July 2, 2008 at 6:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Arthur IS Charleston! Arthur IS South Carolina! Arthur speaks his mind! Transplants don't like that! They want things to run like they did up North, out West, etceteras.... This is the South! We are NOT going to turn into the passive tripe you are used to dealing with. If you can't handle folks speaking their mind, move on!