September 13, 2009
To: Valdosta Daily Times, Other Editor, Department of Justice, Presidents Barack Obama Web Site, Citizens, Internet, and Beyond….
Superintendent Bill Cason of Valdosta City School System could not allow time for the President of the United Sates Barack Obama to speak to the inter school children in Title Town USA. However, for the next two weeks, Valdosta City Schools will be participating in the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) and Cogat is a cognitive abilities test (Cogat Testing). In all honesty:
TEACHERS can see why they might take the Cogat test. This test helps us look at how a child's academic ability. (The child's IQ) The Iowa Test of Basic Skills is not used for anything other than to see how well the students do as compared to other students. The system spends a pretty good penny for this test. This test interrupts four days of instruction. This test is not aligned to the Georgia Performance Standards. (This VS the Presidents 21 Minute Speech)
Since we are a school who should not be wasting any instructional time, why are TEACHERS taking this test? On the other note, TEACHERS remember sitting two hours in the gym last year looking at a play that was put on by the Valdosta State University Drama Department. The play was good for lower grades but TEACHERS should not have lost instructional time looking at this play. This year alone, TEACHERS have lost time for a fund raiser drive and for students to go to the office to get ducks if they sold one item.
TEACHERS lose instructional time for students to escort grandparents on grandparent day. TEACHERS lose instructional time for the Valdosta High School Band to come and do a concert, TEACHERS lose instructional time for the Boy Scouts to recruit boys, TEACHERS lose instructional time for the book fair, TEACHERS lose instructional time for pep rallies, TEACHERS lose instructional time for school pictures, TEACHERS lose instructional time for STEEP testing that is on basic facts and the CRCT is based on problem solving, TEACHERS lose instructional time on Guided Reading and Guided Reading is a lower grades implementation program. Countless times TEACHERS lose instructional time but TEACHERS could not give the President 18 minutes. TEACHERS lose instructional time on honor roll parties that only recognize students that make all "A's" which is so unfair for those students who need just a little incentive.
The list goes on.... What are TEACHERS teaching our children when we say that the EXECUTIVE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF of the UNITED STATES message is so unimportant that TEACHERS need not listen to it? TEACHERS remember on inauguration day, TEACHERS all turned THEIR televisions on because history was being made for a man who gets no respect from the very same people who empowered him.
Simply because he did not turn out being another "MONKEY" on a string. Simply because he utilize his brain rather than his body like so many of our other wonderful presidents. Notice, I did not capitalize presidents. So we must really understand the definition of Title Town USA. Welcome to the “Title Town USA that you do not know! God Bless our Children under Superintendent Bill Cason and those forced him to make this decision. Apparently they are locked in the 1860 Valdosta Charter Mentality to control, suppress, and abate the people in Valdosta City School System. How Sad?
GEORGE BOSTON RHYNES
Retired United States Armed Forces Veteran
A concerned citizen and brother of humanity
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