Steve
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On the Blog Post Full Day Kindergarten Mandates & Curricular Changes: Will We Create Thinkers or Test Takers?
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On the article Pact Could Bring New Turf Athletic Fields to Middletown
Steve
9:57 am on Saturday, March 23, 2013
Hopesix, that number represents 0.008% of the Middletown high school students over those years. I believe that's James' qualm with the issue.
Let's hold academics to the same standard that you seem to hold athletics to.
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On the article Pact Could Bring New Turf Athletic Fields to Middletown
Steve
9:49 am on Saturday, March 23, 2013
I don't believe anyone suggested judging South or North on the SAT alone. But by most academic measures I believe they could do better. The budget seems to take the same approach that is producing its current results. I was hoping for innovative thinking on the academic side; the fact that it appeared to come solely on the athletic side is disappointing.
Skimming by schools in the county certainly makes an impact. But other districts showing more success then middletown have to deal with that same issue.
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On the article Pact Could Bring New Turf Athletic Fields to Middletown
Steve
8:03 am on Friday, March 22, 2013
Joe you could be absolutely right. I'm not in the high schools with any regularity where I can comment on why they're being outperformed by so many similar districts. Maybe it is because Middletown parents aren't as involved as you say they are. This is why I never said there should be more money thrown at them.
However, it is unfortunate that more people aren't concerned that the focus is on turf and not how to make our high schools even better.
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On the article Pact Could Bring New Turf Athletic Fields to Middletown
Steve
6:27 am on Friday, March 22, 2013
Sure, hopesix, that's successful. But similar districts in the state and county produce higher SAT scores, higher AP scores, and a higher college attendance rate. I would rather the district focus on the things that produce successful college students first, and athletics second. If that's not your priority that's fine. To each their own.
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On the article Pact Could Bring New Turf Athletic Fields to Middletown
Steve
11:33 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013
ReplyA commenter on here suggested our school system is one of the best in the country. I do not understand such an assertion. NJ Monthly ranks South the 105th best HS in the state and North 128th. I don't necessary agree with NJ Monthy's methodology but I'm not sure a new one would drastically alter those rankings.
College admissions experts almost universally agree scores on AP exams are the best indicator of future college success. Yet dozens of towns with similar socio-economic standards as Middletown see more success on AP exams then Middletown does. In a perfect economic environment money could be dedicated to all issues. But currently this is of greater importance to me then the status of our fields.
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On the Blog Post Video of Jan. 22, 2013 Middletown Township Committee Meeting
Steve
3:41 pm on Monday, February 18, 2013
ReplyThanks very much for taking the time to record and post. You have performed a true service to the community for those of us that cannot always attend the meetings.
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On the article Conference Says Choice is the Solution to Poorly Performing Schools in NJ
Steve
7:45 am on Friday, January 25, 2013
ReplyAn attack on Bowden's resume is absurd. However, there were several legitimate critique's of his film from educational historians and experts. Due diligence would have been best served by Ms. Bell had she mentioned them. At a post-screening Q&A session of The Cartel a couple of years ago Bowden didn't have much of a response to similar critiques.
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On the Blog Post The NRA wants to Divide This Country
Steve
11:23 pm on Sunday, December 30, 2012
ReplySuggesting that the NRA wants to divide the country by advocating a policy, is like suggesting that the President wants to divide the country by attempting to get its highest earners to pay more in tax.
Since almost no policy has near unanimous backing I suppose they are all trying to divide the country.
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On the Blog Post Proposed New Housing Developments: Where Do They Start and When Will It End?
Steve
5:36 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
ReplyGary, I did not say there is no correlation between unions and high taxes. I used your example of Michigan to point out there is not a total connection between unionized states and high tax states. There are hundreds of reasons for high taxes.
If you prefer you could spend time in Mississippi. Median pay is $30,000 less a year then here and their education system is one of the worst in the country but hey, no unions and low taxes.
Now I'm the one painting with a broad brush. My only point was to say you were doing it selectively. But given your comments it appears you don't want discourse but just someone to yell at.
Steve
2:29 pm on Sunday, March 24, 2013
As director of a religious school, her school wouldn't be subject to state mandates for testing. So it's unlikely that she "doesn't want to be held to any standards" and more likely that her reasons are exactly what she states them to be.
Please project your insta-rage elsewhere.