Posted by hitormiss (anonymous) on March 21, 2008 at 12:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Arella Bacon has the courage a lot of us lack. Standing up to a group of parents who are so vocal and telling them and the school board what the silent majority are all thinking, takes guts. Ms. Bacan is to be applauded.

Posted by ntz143 (anonymous) on March 21, 2008 at 5:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I was at the meeting and while I think that Mrs. Bacon spoke from her heart, I still do not agree that parents alone are to be blamed for the failures in the school district. I find it ironic that the Democrat focused on her statements instead of focusing on the named teachers of the year and the district teacher of the year, Amy Smith. They also could have focused on the district's safety manager who called security at NHS "a disaster". But once again, they have chosen biased reporting that amounts to nothing more than a PR campaign for the board and superintendent instead of the overall successes and concerns that came out of the meeting. If Ms. Finley is REALLY pro-education, maybe she should report on the system as a whole and not just spending her time backing the Adminstration.

Posted by niderbip (anonymous) on March 21, 2008 at 5:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)

the lady is correct. show me high teen births, and i'll show you (overall/for the most part):

uninvolved parents
lousy school test scores
high poverty
high crime
drugs
etc.
and more high birth rates to teens

Posted by triscuit (anonymous) on March 21, 2008 at 7:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)

http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/news/2005...

Bacon knows her community. I'd trust her assessment of the situation over that of anyone posting anonymously here.

Posted by kpage (anonymous) on March 21, 2008 at 8:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey niderbip...all of the above facts you stated come back to the parents. If the kid's parents were more involved in their lives, then we wouldn't have such a problem with the facts you mentioned. All these parents have to do is know where their kids are and what they are studying in school, along with good spankings and lots of love. These parents should learn to really KNOW their kids. They would find that kids are really neat and teach us so much.

I think many parents of today tend to feel it's the teachers and school administration who are supposed to raise our kids. The way I see it, it's my duty to raise my kid with respect so he/she won't disrupt class or help lower school scores.

Posted by niderbip (anonymous) on March 21, 2008 at 9:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)

kpage -

bingo.

if i wanted to raise someone else's kids, i'd adopt them. however, we've bought into the "new" thinking that "it takes a village".

it used to just take a couple (preferably) of decent parents.

Posted by straightshooter1 (anonymous) on March 21, 2008 at 9:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Triscuit, are you saying that Mrs. Bacon is the only citizen who speaks for "her" community? That only her opinion is acceptable? I believe she is a wonderful lady but I think that the problems in the community require changes to the existing system in order to create better schools for our children, including the firing of those who do not produce the results that they were hired to produce. Change is not a bad thing...it is the only sure thing.

Posted by niderbip (anonymous) on March 21, 2008 at 9:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)

just remember where a lot of your school tax / state / federal funds go:

"free" breakfast
"free" lunch
cops in school
security equipment
etc.

if you can't feed your own kids, you probably can't afford to have them. this continues to be a never-ending cycle (nation wide).

Posted by NtzMom55 (anonymous) on March 21, 2008 at 10:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Thank you for this article Julie Finley. It was very appropriate and worthwhile to feature Ms. Arella Bacon in this article. I know that there are many problems facing the schools in Natchez and one cannot put all of the blame in one direction but with the circumstances facing our schools here, starting with home is the right place to start. Every thing else is secondary until more parents wake up and start accepting some responsibility and become more active in their child's life and take on an active roll in making education a priority. The parent is the child's first and most important teacher. This is where too many parents in our area are "failing the grade". It is time to stop blaming evey one else for the problems and strat to own up to the true bases of where the problem begins. Every parent is NOT to blame. There are many wonderful people in our community, but there are just enough problem people to make the situation as bad as it has become. Those are the people that need to wake up and own up in accepting the resposibilities of getting involved in their child's life and education.

Posted by Lilsister (anonymous) on March 21, 2008 at 11 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Mrs. Bacon,
You are a wonderful person and a great community helper and leader. I do agree that parental involvement is necessary to help improve our schools. You stated in this article, "We need to stop firing people and come together." "Every year we have it coming up and we want to fire people. It upsets the children." Who does this firing that you are talking about each year? I am sure that the community nor the Committee For Better Public Schools cannot fire anyone. Therefore, if the children are upset or become upset ,who is doing the upsetting? I am just wondering where you are coming from? I want answers. We all need to know the truth,and I promise that I have no enemies to punish or friends to reward.

Posted by silly_willy_24_7 (anonymous) on March 21, 2008 at 11:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

here we go again, folks! you are forgetting that a parent's purpose is to make the children, it is the school's responsibility to turn them into decent human beings.

remember, to the average parent, school is just a convenient daycare for 6 to 7 hours a day, including a free bus ride to and from home, with good behavior.

so please stop accusing the parents of not doing their jobs!! after all, anyone can make a baby in just a few minutes, but to become a teacher or administrator, it takes several years of college and state licensing.

Posted by fay2ntz (anonymous) on March 21, 2008 at 11:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I am the product of parents who were both teachers and know that all of the problems at the schools can't be put on the teachers. Yes parents must do their part also. But, I am a recent unemployed mother of a student in the public school and everytime I have gone to the school to just sit or help out in my child's class I have been treated rudely and very unwelcomed. My question to Mrs. Bacon, someone I've known all of my life, is how can parents do what they are suppose to do when we go to the schools to show support and are treated this way? My husband and myself both work with my child everyday. My child does assigned homework as soon as she gets into the house and then proceeds to do the work in extra workbooks that I have purchased to reinforce what is being taught at school.
I have only been living in Natchez for a short time and this is the first time having to send a child to school and just can't understand why school administrator and teachers would act like this. I could see if I was being disrespectful or being disruptive to the teachers process, I don't. I only go to see what my child is doing and what needs to be worked on some more. So, putting all of the problems on the parents is wrong. I see parents who don't care, teachers who don't care, and administrators who don't care. Where do we start, well I agree to start at home. But how, whether you are black or white some people who have children just don't deserve to have them.

Posted by jfinley (Julie Cooper) on March 21, 2008 at 11:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)

All,

Ntz143 has a good point about the district teacher of the year.

Since you all don't always know what we've got planned for upcoming issues of the newspaper, I wanted to share a little.

We have have a story already planned that focuses just on Amy Smith and the other winners. We think the honor is far too great to be buried in a school board meeting story, so we typically handle it by visiting each school, talking with the winners and taking photos of each. The story will be a front page centerpiece next week.

And in response to the point about the security at NHS, I believe Dr. Wayne Barnett was referring to the layout of NHS — the fact that nearly all the doors open to the outside.

The district has said numerous times that this is a major problem, and we've reported that. In fact, I wrote a whole story on the district's buildings in December that questioned why they had not been renovated and pointed out the security problem at NHS.

In this case, I didn't view his comment as any new news. Often, when meetings last several hours, we can't include everything said. Nor do I think that you all want to read a catalog list of every comment made. It can be long! :)

Thanks for your comments.

Julie Finley

Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on March 21, 2008 at 11:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Of course parents are part of the problem, we all know that, but that is an untouchable problem, until the parent comes within the school border and within the influence of the school system. Initially, we can only deal with the kids and the parents within the school. The problem is how we deal with the kids in school and produce positive results. You can deal with the parents once you bring some punishment down on a bad kid and when the bad parent comes in, deal with them from a position of strength that they must fall in line or suffer some consequence. If they are obviously out of control bring in all the social services people and bring all hell down on them.

Professional and highly paid school teachers and administration should know how to deal with this old problem. Mrs. Bacon is right, but she is not seeing the entire picture, only a part of it. I don't know her or if she is a teacher, but we cannot allow school failure to fall on parents shoulders. It is the duty of the schools to take the kids and mold them into good citizens without excuses. There will always be bad parents. That must be factored into the equation of success. Improvise and Overcome. Once a bad kid is identified and the parent is evaluated as imcompetent or uncooperative make counseling mandatory for the entire family. Let's show some backbone and demand cooperation or suffer the consequences, without fear of some foolish litigation from a parent. Have parents sign a waiver of litigation and permission to punish. This is the USA, we can do what we want as long as we don't harm anyone, in good faith, reasonable, and for the common good.

Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on March 21, 2008 at 11:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)

OH, has ANYONE been fired from the school system in the past 4 years??

Far as I know the problem is KEEPING teachers from voluntarily leaving, because they get sick and tired of the situation.

I don't believe that students have had their feelings hurt due to a BAD teacher being fired. But I do think their feelings may have been hurt by a GOOD teacher leaving for greener pastures!!

Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on March 21, 2008 at 11:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)

csguidry --

You make a good point there

As a matter of fact I know a lot of home school kids. Their families cannot afford private school, and they refuse to expose their kids to the influences of public school violence, drugs, sex, apathy, disrespect, etc.

The home schools program produces great results

Home schools routinely score 24 and above on the ACT

In some states home school students are doing so good, making the the public schools look so bad, that there is a big push to OUTLAW home school programs.

Every kid can learn if they are in the right environment and under the right and good influence.

Posted by overthehill60 (anonymous) on March 21, 2008 at 12:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

There are a number of things involved in raising good decent children. Sure it is the responsibility of the parents until the child starts to school then it should be teacher/parent team work. Parents should get to know the school system their children are in, but the school doesn't want that. They have parent teacher conferences, but that's planned & not the same as being able to watch hands on.
The majority of parents want what is best for their child's education, but if we have to turn them over to teachers that are there only for their pay check it's useless.
If a person wants to become a teacher they should take the reasonability of having that child for at least 7 hours a day. Some children only know the discipline of the teachers & they have all the opportunity in the word to make a difference.
When I went to school we knew if we didn't do as we were told we would be sent to the office for a good lick on the bottom. Now that is forbidden & the kids know it. They have the advantage over the authorities.
I agree with ((Krogers)) every student has a good chance under the right influence. The right influence not only means at home but also at school.
Sure drugs have a big part in this decline in children's education, but some kids that have never been exposed at home to drugs can easily get it at school from children that have it. This is where the police come in for their part in the team work. They should close down all the crack & meth houses where children live with parents that are suppliers. Then maybe the schools could be free of drugs. Until then we might as well accept for every generation to get worse.

Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on March 21, 2008 at 12:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Morris will help little Johnnie/Susie read better?

This is not a problem that started yesterday or the day before that.

I am not sure but educators should have learned skills and techinques in their formal education to address the problem.

If not, then our higher education system is failing. MS degreee means more of the same and PHD degree means Piled Higher and Deeper!

Yes, we probably have problems from the top to the bottom.

When are the parties going to understand that something has to change?

We have to change what we can conrol and then work on trying to change attudties/perceptions.

It will not be easy or painless, but we have to start somewhere! If that means, we elect school board members, we hire/fire superintendents at will, we hire/fire principals at will, we fire/hire teachers at will or we hold parents personally accountable for the conduct and performance of their children, so be it.

Damn, something has to change and we have to stop wringing and twisting our hands and blaming our public school failure on one segment.

Just my opinion..

Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on March 21, 2008 at 1:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Gary, you are right, the buck stops at the schoolkids desktop.

No excuses,

We know we've always had some sorry parents, and always will.

The teachers and administrators know this -- it's their job to handle it, BE ASCERTIVE. Identify the problem families, counsel them, offer them a series of consequences, bring all the hellacious social services down on them. Spank those kids, spank the parents with fines and home intrusion, get those social service people right up in their business, make them cooperate or pay the consequences. The public school system has to get some myway or the hyway attitude, get some backbone and find a way to cut through the bad parent problem.

Fay2ntz - your kids are lucky to have you.

Hang in there and don't let the school keep you from doing your job. We should all listen to you

I hope you will contact Dr. Wright and join with the Comm for Better Public Schools and make things turn out good for your kids. You will do a lot of good for the community.
I wish I had taken more action while my daughter was at NHS, but I would probably have gone to jail and made things worse (white guy raising hell in the school like a nut) . I feel guilty for being such a coward, but you still have a chance to do the right thing for your kids. I pray for you and Natchez.

Posted by Lilsister (anonymous) on March 21, 2008 at 4:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

J Finley,
When you do the story on Amy Smith and other winners of the Teacher of the Year Award, please include in this section the community involvement that has impacted children. I know Amy, and I have known her and her family since she was a child. They are fine people, but there may be some in our community who do not know her or the other winners.
I personally would like to see printed the winners of the various competitions like reading fair, science fair, spelling bee, geography bee etc. these events should have all taken place by now. Promote the good things happening in the schools so the public can know that not all parents are bad parents. Mrs. Bacon appeared to have generalized that all parents are problems. We must qualify our statements.

Posted by niderbip (anonymous) on March 21, 2008 at 4:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"It will not be easy or painless, but we have to start somewhere! "
----------------------------------------------

Sex Ed.........embrace it.

Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on March 21, 2008 at 6:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

niderbip - sex ed. I think is one of the problems! My generation knew very little for sure and so were scared to do anything! Remember (if you are old enough) all the tales about growing hair on your hands, having your hair fall out, going blind, etc? Today's kids on the other hand think they know it all, and so think they can do anything with no consequences.

Posted by Whisper (anonymous) on March 21, 2008 at 9:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Give the power of the class room back to the Teachers...
Stop letting the kids act out and then the parents defend them. Teachers are not baby sitters. And schools are not recreation.

Posted by ntz143 (anonymous) on March 21, 2008 at 10:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

it is interesting that we lament about parents and their lack of skills when we have these children 6-8 hours a day. Why aren't the teachers changing lives? Some are but the vast majority are not. Take the high school, for example...you cannot expect students to be positively motivated when everything that means something to them at that age- school pride, comradrie, schoole spirit..is taken away from them. If you give them NOTHING they will respond accordingly. I am not only speaking as a parent, my wife is a therapist for teens . You cannot expect these kids to do right when you offer them nothing positive. I would like to challenge Dr. Loftin to take a different approach with students at NHS. Start assuming they are all good kids and go from there. I think you will be amazed at the results. You don't run a prison, Dr. Loftin so quit treating our students AND PARENTS like you do.

Posted by c_8512 (anonymous) on March 21, 2008 at 11:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

ntz143, do you know if dr. loftin still has the beads weaved into his hair? maybe this is his futile attempt to reach out to his students, but i have heard many of them, teachers also, making fun of a nearly middle aged man wearing beads in his hair. even so, he still does not take his nose out of the air long enough to see what is really going on around him.

Posted by hitormiss (anonymous) on March 21, 2008 at 11:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I think the Democrat’s article, while lacking some wonderful positives, sheds light on the fact that the small vocal group asking for Dr. Morris to be fired is just that…a small group. Ms. Beacon works on many volunteer committees and I am sure recognizes as I do, Dr. Morris commitment.

Posted by Lilsister (anonymous) on March 22, 2008 at 12:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)

hitormiss,
Do you have children in the public school system? If not children, do you have grands or some other love ones in this system? Mrs. Bacon works as a tutor at Morgantown Elementary, and I pray that with all of her wonderful qualities that she can make a difference with some of the children. There are many children, who are without parents these days. Check the Sunshine Shelter, The Children' Home, and the Pendleton Home.

Posted by hitormiss (anonymous) on March 22, 2008 at 1:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Lilsister, both my wife and I devote many hours to children we love and yes they attend public schools. Yes, there are children without parents and if YOU checked with the Sunshine Shelter, the Natchez Children’s Home and Pendleton Home you would find just how many of children placed there have parents who have abused, neglected or just plain ran off and left their kids, proving Mrs. Bacon’s point.
Turning the focus to something you think we are lacking, because we don’t agree with you, is falling on deaf ears. Playing blame games with Dr. Morris may have gotten you some attention but lilsister don’t think you are going to play that here.

Posted by niderbip (anonymous) on March 22, 2008 at 2:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"niderbip - sex ed. I think is one of the problems! "
----------------------------------------------------------------------

you can't have birthrates >70% to unweds and think that it doesn't need to be addressed.

except here.

Posted by Negotiator (anonymous) on March 25, 2008 at 11:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The issue is that Natchez High is a Level 2 school.... how in the world could any company justify locating in Natchez with that kind of performance?

Whatever it takes, do it. If it means expelling the trouble makers (everyone of them), so be it.

Bottom line; the performance has got to improve.