Posted by kpage (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 12:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This is good news, Natchez! For one, cameras all over the place, and two...open school board meetings. Small yet positive steps forward.

Posted by buttercup26 (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 12:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)

oh whatever!! what happen to the camera's they had already put up? hmm??? good question huh?
i remember cameras when i went to school there.. for some odd reason the these 'cameras' only caught what an authority figure wanted them to catch..
well maybe this bunch of 'new' camera will provide a little more security then the ones before. don't forget to put bullet proof shields up around them.. i give these cameras MAYBE 4 WEEKS and that's only depending on what kind of mood most of these students will be coming back to school.. GOOD LUCK NATCHEZ HIGH!!

Posted by ntzmom (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 12:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I wouldnt let my kids go to Natchez High ....Thank God I was able to afford private school.
But if I had young ones, I wouldnt care if they had cameras galore, that place is horrible and I would honestly do whatever it took to keep my child away from that place.

Posted by wonderingirl (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 1:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If they have a camera left over, maybe we could park the school's truck, trailer and lawnmower in front of it!!!!

Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 2:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)

lol@wonderingirl.....

What will they do with what they see? If the other cameras didn't catch anything why will these? It is sad that the school has come to this.. Does anyone wonder why parents put there children in private school now?

Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 4:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)

It's part of Dr. Morris' plan to educate the kids for positions in the global economy as prisoners and prison guards. Natchez seriously needs to get this change agent control freak, in my opinion, out of town. Cameras will not make kids behave. If there is so little control in the schools that surveillance and control staff are needed, then the schools need to be shut down

This is education? I don't think so! Will there be camears in the dressing rooms and bathrooms like in other districts across the country where these cameras have been installed? Why is Change Agent Morris so interested in collecting evidence? Is he AN EDUCATOR OR A JAILER?

Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 4:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If these schools are that unsafe then they constitute a public hazard and requiring kids to attend them is a violation of their civil rights. I know that two years ago NASD spent at least 46 million dollars. That is enough to send all the kids in the system to private schools. Parents, are you going to put up with this?

Posted by Bozo (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 6:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)

A guard tower is probably next.

Posted by amyrenene (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 6:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The sad part about it is that, even if they do catch "something" on camera, there will likely be nothing done about it. I have a younger friend that goes to public schools here in Natchez. She reported to a school employee that a knife was pulled on her...she was told that the knife wasn't sharp enough to hurt her, and there was nothing further done about the situation. Who will be in charge of monitoring these cameras and making sure that the proper action is taken if anything is caught on camera?

Posted by gator (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 7:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The way some of you people make such negative comments about the Natchez school system is a disgrace . These kids have no choice in who they were born to . There are a lot of good kids in the public school and many go on to better themselves in life. I know , I see and read about their accomplishments all the time . Mind you , there are also a bunch that are from less than stellar environments . Many are even born from crack/drug addicted mothers and are very anti-social and destructive . They display criminal,violent tendencies at early ages . They are in the mix with normal kids . This is the proplem . How to you isolate these type kids and at the same time run an educational institution ? What do you do with these type kids ? Think about the issues at stake before you make flippant comments .

Posted by triscuit (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 8:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)

There are a LOT of good kids in the NASD. These cameras are being installed to protect them. I agree with gator, some of you should think before you comment. Someone who thanks God that they were able to send their kids to private school probably doesn't know enough about NASD to pass any sort of judgement whatsoever. Someone who wonders what happened to the cameras they already have didn't read the article.

Make your negative comments, that's what some of you do best. But this article is about a positive action, something that needed to be done, and I'm glad they're doing it.

Posted by iomo (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 8:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

thanks gator and triscuit for sticking up for the good kids. No one should say how horrible the school district is until they have set foot in those schools. there are lots of good things going on there. It's just that you mostly only hear about the bad stuff, I guess it is more news worthy. Sure things need to be corrected, and maybe this is one step to make sure that happens. Hey, maybe they will monitor teacher, administrator and security guard behavior as well.

Posted by froggirl (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 8:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)

It's ashame that the High School has had to come to using camera's. I went to school there and we just had our 10 year reunion. All of you that say you are so glad that you could put your child in private school are fools. Because if you for once don't think the same thing goes on in Private Schools you are so blind. Most kids in private schools are the ones that are always wasted. That is because those kids can afford it. And with it being a Private school it is kept out of the paper!!!!

Posted by destiny (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 9:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I still beg the parents to get to the city leaders and demand the school system revert back to the system they had before PW threw it into chaos. Neighborhood schools. And we at that time had a school especially for the troubled kids that could not get along in the school system. Our kids were better educated then. Our kids deserve this action to give them a better education. You would not need camera's either. It's past time to put this in action.

Posted by iomo (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 9:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I agree destiny. With neighborhood schools the teachers and principals knew all the kids. Surely this helped with discipline. Now with such big schools there is no way they can know everyone, maybe that's why they need cameras.? I think it makes a big difference to a kid when they are acknowledged by name. Also most of our neighborhoods seem to be integrated now, so the neighborhood schools would be too. Ok, I know all of them are not.

Posted by John (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 9:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

There are good kids at Natchez High, however, the admin needs to decide who will benefit from cameras. In the past, those with pull didn't get into trouble. My question is : who will monitor the cameras? Probably the same folks who don't enforce the rules now.

Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 9:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

It's about time.

Now parents will see the truth about their little "angels".

Bozo- a guard tower would probably be a good idea to watch and video the school yard and surrounding areas for drug deals and other criminal behavior (prostitution,etc.)

Not only will this aid in identifying troublemakers, but also protect the innocent from false witness.

Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 9:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)

My kid went to NHS

It was scary at times, but she has gone on and is doing fine.

I just thought it was ridiculous what the private schools cost, plus I wanted her to be able to deal with real life.

In some ways she got exposed to the reality of life in ways that private school would have only temporarily shielded her from.

Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 9:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)

good point about how the videos are used

if administrators don't do their jobs and enforce rules and discipline in general

the camers are just an additional expense and only there for dressing to look as if somebody cares

Physical hands on these kids is the only way to physically make them do right.

Posted by overthehill60 (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 10:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Never in a million years did I think the school I attended in the 60's would come to having cameras. Any other time I would consider it an invasion of privacy, but if it will stop a few of the trouble makers then maybe cameras would be a good idea. There is one thing that I can't understand. Why would school officials around the world be able to view the cameras? It should be only the present school officials & police station.
About 15 years ago I had to go to the high school for some paperwork & thought it was going to bring back some good memories, but I was badly mistaken I was ran off the sidewalk by a group of black boys. Apparently all they wanted was to have a good laugh at my expense. I told the office & they actually looked scared & all they could do was say "sorry". In the 60's the boys would have been suspended from school for abusing a visitor.
I agree there are alot of good kids but it's the out of hand kids that are making life hard for them. If these trouble makers can be caught life will be better for the kids that are actually there to learn.
Thankfully my kids all attended Vidalia school.
I agree with ((buttercup26)) I hope the cameras are well protected because they will be destroyed.

Posted by sobeit (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 10:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Is there still an "alternative" school for trouble makers? For some reason I thought there was still such a school.

Posted by mcmy (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 11:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I always like to thank "Bucket" for what he did.

Posted by MissMagnolia (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 11:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)

OMG. To see some of your comments is just truly disgraceful. It appears that some of you need to evaluate your mindset. Not all students at the oh so aweful public school called NHS are a disgrace to the human race. Some of these kids have gone to college and become teachers, principals, doctors, dentists, nurses and even those white-collar professionals whom you sit beside at work everyday.
As a citizen of Ntz, you should be helping the oh so aweful public school system out because these same kids will rule the world one day and become your State District Rep, State Senator and/or Congressperson or be your grandchilds doctor or maybe even your doctor and/or nurse that work at the hospital. God forbid if that happens. I guess you will go to alternative medicine to avoid them.
I hope that you know that it will be these same kids who would be working for you to get your old age security called social security.
So go help out and STOP THE STUPID COMPLAINING.

Posted by motown (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 11:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

NATCHEZ HIGH IS HORRIBLE, WHY DO U THINK ITS SO MANY PRIVATE SCHOOLS HERE

Posted by MissMagnolia (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 11:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)

And by the way, did anyone on the site apply for the Superintendent position? Did you have the credentials to apply? Do you volunteer in any shape form or fashion to assist anyone? Everyone has BRIGHT comments but no BRIGHT WILL to help. I am a true advocate of being apart of the solution and not being apart of the complaining party/problem. Which one are you today?

Posted by MissMagnolia (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 12:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Those private schools have been around for years and some of them offered "security" and "avoidance" for parents who did not want to let their child remain at NHS once established. You know " the kids from across the tracks".
I went to both a private and public schools and had a great education from both. Graduated even. Have a great life.
Those private schools you are speaking of became popular after the creation of NHS because some parents did not want their kids to mingle with other kids from NNHS.
Hell, Ntz has nothing to offer anyone let alone a child who needs guidance on what the world has to offer them. But you complain. Have you considered establishing a organization to aid in alleviating the problems YOU see? Of course, you didnt. You just feel better complaining.

Posted by MissMagnolia (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 12:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Back to the topic.....Camera great idea. Anything to offer assistance to the staff is great.
They need to put hidden cameras in the classrooms, so some parents can see how their children act behind their backs.
You know when the teacher call you one evening after work and tell you that your child was a little disruptive today and you say my child dont act like that.

Posted by andy (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 1:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

need a camera on steamplant road to show who killed someone last night adams so is keeping this one quite does any one know did this happen come on ND

Posted by MayJay (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 2:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

MissMagnolia.. parents for the most part KNOW how their children act. Most CHOOSE to pretend that they are ignorant...don't be fooled. Parents know they haven't raised their kids right...if they raised them at all. Parents now a days are to worried about themselves...and don't worry about their kids until they are embarassed by some trouble the child got into.
Natchez High has needed cameras and now they have them....hope they put them to good use!

Posted by motown (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 2:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

MissMagnolia:"Hell, Ntz has nothing to offer anyone let alone a child who needs guidance on what the world has to offer them. But you complain. Have you considered establishing a organization to aid in alleviating the problems YOU see? Of course, you didnt. You just feel better complaining."

NOT COMPLAINING JUS STATING FACTS, HARDLY EVER FIGHTS OR DRUG DEALS AT PRIVATE SCHOOLS, AND NO I'M NOT GOING TO ESTABLISH AN ORGANIZATION TO HELP PEOPLE THAT DONT WANT TO CHANGE.

Posted by buttercup26 (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 2:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

((gator)) your a hypocrite haha, you say 'these kids can't help who they are born too' then turn around and say 'what do you do with the crack/drug addicted born kids?'

didn't you say they couldn't help it? You give them kids a chance just like you give any kid a chance... crack/drug addicted children has a shot of a good life just as any other child, i am a proud sister to 2 girls that went to NATCHEZ HIGH one didn't graduate but went on to get her GED and is attending Colin and the other strutter her stuff all the way on that foot ball field this year!!! ;) did i mention they both were born addicted to a drug?

Posted by firered (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 2:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"HARDLY EVER FIGHTS OR DRUG DEALS AT PRIVATE SCHOOLS"

((((Motown)))) Have you ever been to any of these private schools on a daily basis? HA, you couldn't be more wrong. There are just as many fights at the private schools (and if they aren't fighting there they go elsewhere to fight) and just as many drugs. The majority of the drugs at NHS was marijuana. But at the private schools you have cocaine, meth, crack (yes), Ecstacy, pain killers, Xanax, things like that. There are downfalls at every school. PUBLIC schools are more out in the PUBLIC because taxpayers are involved. PRIVATE schools are kept PRIVATE because they are privately owned and funded.

Posted by motown (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 3:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

YEA IVE BEEN PLENTY, YOUR RIGHT ITS DRUGS EVERYWHERE IN SOCIETY TODAY, BUT I STRONGLY DISAGREE ABOUT THE FIGHTS.

Posted by firered (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 4:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Well, maybe there are more fights now at the public schools than there were 5 years ago when I went there but there weren't that many fights there. Anytime you get that many people (and teenagers for that matter) in such a small area there are gonna be fights. motown do you have a child in the private schools? Have you ever had a child in the public schools or attended the public schools? When you were in high school did you hang out w/ both private and public schoolers? They are all the same people. They just come from different backgrounds w/ different parents and go to different schools. Some are raised w/ lax parents some raised w/ strict parents. There are troublemakers no matter where you go. So there's always gonna be trouble.

Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 4:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I know I am unpopular here with this one, but they should have kept North Natchez and South Natchez high schools. I don't recall ever hearing such madness while I was at North Natchez. But that's could've, should've and would've.

Posted by motown (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 4:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

YEA I HUNG OUT WITH BOTH PUB./PRIV., AND THE PUB. STUDENTS SAID IT WAS FIGHTS ALMOST EVERYDAY AND PRIV. MIGHT HAVE 5 ALL YEAR AND IT WASN'T ANYTHING SERIOUS ENOUGH TO CALL POLICE LIKE YOU HEAR ABOUT NHS

Posted by firered (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 4:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Well, NHS isn't as bad as everyone makes it out to be. Its in the handbook that the police are called anytime there is a fight. Its called zero tolerance. I think its a good idea. Its not true about fights everyday, but apparently I can't persuade you to think otherwise, even though I know first hand.

((teach4peace)) I agree with you. I think that the high school should be split up. Its not big enough to accomodate that many students. They should've kept it that way. Thank the exmayor Phillip West for that one!

Posted by motown (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 4:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

IVE NEVER BEEN TO NHS, I'M JUS GOING BY WHAT I WAS TOLD, YOUR PROBABLY RIGHT

Posted by natchezlady1 (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 5:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It is a sad day when security cameras are needed in any school, but that, unfortunately, is the sign of the times. Teach4Peace, I agree 100%. It should have stayed North Natchez and South Natchez. There were far less problems than we have now. As far as private schools are concerned, let's not be coy. Let's state it the way it is. You will NEVER hear about any fights or drugs on campus for 1 reason and 1 reason only, and that is because this is Natchez, MS and majority of the kids at private schools either has a doctor daddy or lawyer mommy or somewhere in the middle. They would not dare publicize the names or events that happen out of sheer respect not to embarrass daddy or mommy. It doesn't work that way at Natchez High. At Natchez High, nobody's mom or dad is rich or highly influential. If that were the case, then they wouldn't be at Natchez High, now would they? However, I digress. We will continue to have behavioral problems in schools that have parents who are not involved. When I was in school, I was more afraid of the wrath of my mother if I decided to act up. Just the thought of that woman getting mad was enough to deter me from any misbehaving. We need those kinds of mothers again. Unfortunately, we have a new breed of mothers and a new breed of kids.

Posted by freetospeak (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 7:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I must speak up and defend one of the private schools that you are speaking about. I personally know the facts about drugs and fighting because I am there everyday. In the past two years there have only been two fights. One involved a couple of elementary students and the other involved two high school girls. This school also has the greatest drug policy that I ever seen in any town. It is mandatory that every student from the 7th grade through the 12th grade be drug tested at the beginning of each school year. Random monthly drug test are administered each month following the initial testing. Its not that we hide it, it’s that we do not tolerate this type of behavior. If you choose to use drugs, then you have made the choice to leave our school.

Posted by gator (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 7:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Buttercup26 I was going to make a comment about your attack . Then I read your first post and it explains everything .
Also great that you had a positive experience with drugs . Not many people or families can walk away in such a proud manner .

Posted by blogfather (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 7:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Wouldn't it be great if PARENTS could watch their own children from a home computer? I'm sure if the classrooms can be viewed from anywhere in the country from a computer for school staff, then this should be possible for parents as well. Of course they would have to make you register so they could make sure not just any perverts could look in, but overall I think a great concept.

Posted by MissMagnolia (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 7:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Thanks firered for clarifying that for motown. Make that 2, Teach4Peace. I agree with you.

Posted by lilredhead (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 9:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Natchezlady1 I hope that I can be one of those mothers you speak of. I try everyday to teach my two young children how to behave, have respect, and to have self control. I pray that I am doing a good job. You are right, today we have a different breed of parents and children. When I meet with the teachers I tell them if they have any problems with my child to call me and I will take care of it. I want my children to be upstanding citizens and held responsible for their actions.
Blogfather at one time a school system in another state (maybe this one I am not 100% sure) tried to put cameras in every class room so parents could see their children. I don't know what happened with that, but it was tried. I think it is a great idea to be able to monitor your children at school.

Posted by natchezlady1 (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 11:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Lilredhead, If you are attempting to raise your children with dignity, respect, and self control, God will handle the rest. You keep doing what you are doing and I am sure they will turn out to be fine, upstanding citizens. I have a 3 year old and a 6 year old and I try to raise them the same way my parents and grandparents raised me. When they gave me that eye, it was time to settle down. No telling me twice or having to threaten to spank me. No mam, all it took was a raise of that eyebrow and we got the message. Don't you miss those kind of mamas? God bless you and your kids. You keep on them and pray for them and God will handle the rest :) :)

Posted by always (anonymous) on July 12, 2008 at 12:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

yea u would think books instead of cameras but thats all the Superintendent could think about he ain't worry about education and test scores because he has good pay i thought he suppose to be gone the kids be more at home than school and why his kids don't or didn't attend public school system

Posted by purplehaze (anonymous) on July 12, 2008 at 2:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Yes you guys are right, it should have always been SNAHS & NNAHS. Unfortunately 6-8 people made the decision to go against the majority of the population for their own selfish reasons. Only the kids have suffered. And I don't believe that matters to these individuals or it never would have happened.

It's easy to say how it would have been but for the sake of the children, schools all across this country need to have their right to discipline handed back to them. That's the way it was when I was in school and I can assure you, the strictness and fear of the paddle didn't do any lasting damage. It probably made me a stronger, more respectable parent.

Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on July 12, 2008 at 6:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)

In Britain there are fourteen cameras for every one person. The cameras have not lowered the crime rate at all. The only purpose they serve is to remind the people they are being watched all the time. Sort of like a man made virtual God.

These cameras are Morris' confession he and his beloved public education system cannot take the place of parents and don't really know anything at all about educating kids. Of course he will try to hide this fact, and the fact that the problems we see in families and in schools were purposely manufactured by the public school system.

Parents will never see what these cameras reveal. There is too much potential liability for the school system in any evidence they pick up. This is just more idiocy designed to make it look like this failed school system is doing something.

Democrat, why have we still not had an article on the background and findings of the company who did the 465,000 dollar study last year? And why hasn't the Democrat told us anything about what the state plans to do with the 16th section lands?

Look up Bill Clinton's Governor's Schools to see what the real intent of public education is in its purest form. Or remain blind and servile to a system that has anything but the best interests of you and your children at heart.

Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on July 12, 2008 at 6:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The pity of all this is that those students and teachers who do prevail at NASD and do excel in spite of the environment are being cheated tremendously. How much more could they achieve in an atmosphere of order?

We have twelve short years in which to learn as much as we can. For many that is all the education they will ever have and it should be enough. It should be enough if it were not for people like Morris sent out to towns like Natchez for the express purpose of altering family and cultural values instead of simple teaching. Run this destroyer out of town before any more harm is done.

Posted by buttercup26 (anonymous) on July 12, 2008 at 6:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

(((firered))) hahaha no drugs in the private school haha i fell out my chair when i read that this morning!!!!
hahaha WE KNOW BETTER don't we?????? hahaha

Posted by 1redneck (anonymous) on July 12, 2008 at 9:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Cmon now , especially from a student body count . Common sense will tell you that a school with 1600 students will have more problems than one with 85 or 100 . If Natchez high had 100 students they'll have few problems also .

Posted by linenbreeze (anonymous) on July 12, 2008 at 9:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I can't understand why people think the schools are so out of hand. After all it is the same kids in school that is causing so much trouble out of shcool. What do school officials think that you can take an out of control kid off the street then expect him/her to be the perfect well behaved student. That will not work!
Just sit back and think about all the drug dealers & users, night robbers, muggers etc. that are expected to act like a student. That's impossible.
This alone should expalin why they are out of hand.

Posted by Peace007 (anonymous) on July 12, 2008 at 11:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I wonder how the teachers will feel about being monitored while they are teaching? These cameras should help filter out which teachers need to be replaced.

On the other hand, I like the idea of the other schools in Natchez having only 2 grades in each school and that would also help at Natchez High. Spliting up the grades to two schools, one school for freshmen and sophmores, and one for juniors and seniors, and hiring more teachers to have less students in each class will help. Offering alternative subjects, even on an after school basis, like art, theater, dance, and voice will help to gain the interest of some students who are bored in regular classes. I've found that when children were involved in the band, flags or sports, they enjoyed going to school more than the ones who didn't have any extra interests.