Posted by dingaling (anonymous) on November 1, 2009 at 8:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I hope with the building of this new school it will be maintained unlike the other.

Posted by leo71 (anonymous) on November 1, 2009 at 9:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Me too,dingaling.There's also more to education than new buildings,a quality--and professional-- staff is equally important.I visited Selma High last week and was not impressed by what I encountered.Obasahan needs to devote just as much attention to recruiting capable administrators and teachers as he is to infrastucture.What's the point in having a gleaming new building if the students aren't learning anything?

Posted by truelight (anonymous) on November 1, 2009 at 11:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

No doubt leo 71, quality and professional staff are important and needed in Selma City Schools whether old or new building. One thing you forgot to include in your write up is to commend him and the other leaders who worked so hard to make the dream of a new high school a reality after so many years. What we really need is to develop an attitude of gratitude for the things we have received so God can open more doors. The mentality that sends the message that "now we have this, what is next " is not so encouraging. In all things we should learn to give God the glory.

Posted by nowhining (anonymous) on November 1, 2009 at 1:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Leo 71, The school's cannot recruit teachers and administrators as long as there is tenure, and AEA. After 3 years it takes an act of congress to get rid of the teachers who are not doing their jobs. Teachers don't have to do much of anything after receiving tenure, and public education suffers tremendously. Many teachers realize that they can get by with doing very little, and the parents of so many don't care, so they don't hold them accountable either. The courts said teacher testing was illegal, that it was racist in nature.
I heard on the news the other night that charter schools were improving the public education system, where they exist, because they were providing competition. The schools, where charter schools exist, were improving, because students could have vouchers to go to them, and the public schools were loosing money, so they had to improve. Maybe the "stimulous money" will provide the students in Selma an alternative, and help all students receive a higher quality education. I know that the private school teachers must re-new their contracts yearly, so if they are not maintaining the quality education that is expected, they are no longer employed, and doesn't matter if they have taught for 20 years. Accountability is the answer, not a new building. With the wrong teachers, administrators, etc., the kids could be at school in the finest buildings, with the most up-to-date equipment, and still not progress.
Many of the young people now don't even get the three R's. Without a firm foundation, they can't build on their education. Being in school, builds character, lifetime friendships, etc., but it doesn't do a lot of good if you can't read and write when you graduate.

Posted by leo71 (anonymous) on November 1, 2009 at 2:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

That's true,nowhining.John Stossel talks about how the teacher's unions have a monopoly on education in this country in his book Myths Lies And Downright Stupidity,I highly recommend it. Truelight,I have a child that attends Selma High and I am grateful she'll be learning in a safer and more advanced environment,but to me this is like putting the cart before the horse.If something is going to be done it should be done right...we should focus on competent staff AND infrastructure in that order.

Posted by popdukes12 (anonymous) on November 1, 2009 at 3:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hope they can get some more disciplined hallways. http://tinyurl.com/yb9spyp

Posted by saveselma (anonymous) on November 1, 2009 at 3:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

leo71 and nowhining, the two of you sound like you would like for the teachers to do the jobs of the parents.

As a teacher (who has taught many years in local public high schools) let me say that although it is true that better teachers are needed, it is just as important for parents to do their job at home.

I can not raise children who are already "grown" when they get to high school.

Kids are raising themselves these days. Parents are too busy being selfish. If you can't control your kids at home, how can I be expected to control them at school?

I am speaking to Selma, not just you two. The two of you probably have good kids. I say that because you are reading the paper and appear to care about the local school system. You are in the minority, though.

Posted by saveselma (anonymous) on November 1, 2009 at 3:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

oh, and I don't give a hoot about tenure. It only protects BAD TEACHERS.

Posted by leo71 (anonymous) on November 1, 2009 at 4:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I agree,saveselma.My statements weren't meant as blanket indictments of all teachers,I also believe that improving our schools is a team effort.I realize that there are a lot of apathetic parents out there but there are parents that also care about their children's education and are shut out by the bureaucracy...I was just the other day when I went by to check on my daughter,I was told they couldn't give me a copy of her report card because I wasn't listed as a guardian in her file despite proof that i'm her father.If the bureaucracy treats parents as partners in their children's education,maybe more parents will become involved in it.

Posted by dabear5000 (anonymous) on November 1, 2009 at 6:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I am reading all these comments and it seems that everyone is putting the blame on the teachers. Whatever happen to parents "parenting their kids." Education first start at home. Let's not forget that.

Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on November 2, 2009 at 9:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Again, here comes the "Government" to the rescue with your tax dollars.

Posted by disgruntled (anonymous) on November 2, 2009 at 11:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)

dabear5000, I think what happened with parents parenting at home is that too many kids are having kids. How is a kid supposed to raise another kid if they still need parenting themselves?

Posted by selmaOnMyMind (anonymous) on November 2, 2009 at 3:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

disgruntled, that is a significant portion of the problem with today's youth as a whole. Parents have to learn to separate parenting and friendship when it comes to their kids. I tell my children that I am their parent, not their friend, but they can tell me anything and we will get through it as a family. So far it has worked!

Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on November 2, 2009 at 3:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

leo71, I think I would have lost all reason for a situation like that. That is inexcusable for the school to not hand over YOUR child's report card. Not in the file? What do they need....DNA? You have a parent at the school trying to be involved and this is what you get....redtape! Looks like "the system" might be part of the major problem here.

Posted by leo71 (anonymous) on November 2, 2009 at 3:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I did,eyeeonyou.I'm waiting for the public relations person at the school board to find out if I have "legal" custody of her.All this for a report card! And they wonder why these schools are in the shape they're in.Between them and the vindictive ex,i'm nearly ready to surrender.

Posted by selmian (anonymous) on November 2, 2009 at 4:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Popdukes,
That link is rather embarrasing for a longtime selmian. It must be hard having a child in that environment? I think that needs to be the focal point of this conversation. Lots of gang signs going on there. A lot to overcome by looking at that video and like many others new hallways may not help that.

How do you go about changing all of that and the gang mentality?

Thanks!!

Posted by leo71 (anonymous) on November 2, 2009 at 4:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Parental involvement,selmian.Especially that of a father.

Posted by popdukes12 (anonymous) on November 2, 2009 at 6:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

leo71: You hit the nail on the head. But the welfare system frowns on a male figure in the home. How do we change that? popdukes12

Posted by leo71 (anonymous) on November 2, 2009 at 6:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

By speaking out and supporting one another,popdukes.The welfare system certainly plays a role in the anti-male,anti-father culture that has developed in this country,but I think it can be largely attributed to feminism.It started with demonizing white men and it's morphed into including all men...the media,legal,and educational systems have all followed suit.

Posted by popdukes12 (anonymous) on November 2, 2009 at 6:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Leo71: How about a new boxing ring out by the new vo-ag building. popdukes12 http://tinyurl.com/ybts23q

Posted by saveselma (anonymous) on November 2, 2009 at 7:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

popdukes, that video is from a selma high in California. Not all of the videos on youtube that say Selma High are actually from this Selma High. The one you posted the other day IS from this Selma High.

Posted by popdukes12 (anonymous) on November 2, 2009 at 8:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

saveselma: it was in the middle of about 20 from here. Sorry. popdukes12

Posted by hope4selma (anonymous) on November 2, 2009 at 11:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Many people do not understand how new educational facilities affect student learning, public opinion and quality of life for a community. Students learn more effectively in an attractive new environment. Teachers teach better and school systems can attract better teachers. New schools represent a win win situation for communities. New businesses look into the quality of the education system before locating in a new area.

And yes we do need improvements in our education system, however the change must come by way of parental involvement in school activities, more parental involvement in their children's education.

A new high school is encouraging me and my spouse to stay in Selma. When I visit other states and see beautiful new schools, I wonder am I cheating my kids by remaining in Selma. The promise for a new high school that my kids will be able to attend is promising and makes me want to stay in Selma.

The school system is not perfect in Selma, however Selma has some great things we all can be proud of:

1. The first Early College High School in Alabama
2. One of the top Early College programs in the nation
3. The AMSTI program in the public schools, which is one of the top 10 national school initiative programs in the nation.
4. The AMEC Program, designed to get more students into medical school starting with their first two years of college @ Wallace Community College
5. Wallace Community College, one of the top Community Colleges in the nation
6. Concordia College, a great four year college with a great football team.

We have some great initiatives in our public schools that parents must take advantage of for our children. Selma is what you make it and we have a lot of great things.

Yes, a new school is part of the solution to an overall better school system, but a new school is a great start.

Hats off to the school system.

Posted by ybhlsns (anonymous) on November 3, 2009 at 7:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I am grateful to the many people who worked hard to obtain the funding for a new school for the students in Selma. I graduated from A.G. Parrish High School over 40 years ago and it was old and rundown then. My father in law graduated from Selma High (same building) approx 70 years ago. It is past time for a new school building. I hope that the students will be encouraged and proud to have a new building and will work hard to get the education that is needed to succeed in life.

Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on November 3, 2009 at 9:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Leo, it's a sad day when you have an (ex) that would take any measures of keeping you from being involved with YOUR childs school work and grades. So now you have to have "legal" custody to have access to your childs grades? That's just idiotic. We are talking grades here. The system wants parent involvement yet wants to create pathetic rules and hurdles at the same time. I would DEMAND the grades. If they don't grant you access, I would be getting a lawyer.

Posted by leo71 (anonymous) on November 3, 2009 at 9:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)

It is sad,eyeonyou.I want to mention her name so badly for all of Selma to know ,but i'd be stooping to her level.A new school is fine but it's all moot if they don't grant concerned parents access or hire competent teachers and support staff to teach these kids what they need to know to compete.

Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on November 3, 2009 at 11:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Absolutely. The new building is nothing but a shell with new paint and classrooms. It means nothing unless the teachers are competent, actually educated, speaking understandable ENGLISH and willing to push these children to great heights. Likewise, the parents have a huge stake in this education too. Most of these lessons start AT HOME!!! Some of these parents could even stand to get educated themeselves. Matter of fact, some of these parents act more like a child than some of the actual children.

To be honest, this past election was pretty indicative of what we are talking about here. Low voter turnout is a slap in the face of these kids and is embarrassing. I've never seen a town that takes LESS responsibility for its own than Selma, Alabama. People preach out of one side of their mouth about civil rights, Selma being the voting mecca and the struggle......then turn around on election day and sit on the couch. It's ridiculous. It's pure laziness, apathy, irresponsibility, lack of accountablity.......and it shows in everyway, everyday in Selma Alabama.

Posted by Hazel (anonymous) on November 3, 2009 at 2:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

KUDOS to hope4selma & ybhlsns !!!

Posted by leo71 (anonymous) on November 3, 2009 at 2:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I guess the rest of us don't deserve any. :)

Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on November 3, 2009 at 4:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

WIth all these great educational accolades and accomplishments from these educational institutions, why does Selma continue to have the amount of youthful crime and such? The opportunites are there...so why aren't they taken advantage of? If the food is on the table, why are people not eating it? Judging from all the programs mentioned above, Selma shouldn't have all these habitual problems then.

Posted by saveselma (anonymous) on November 3, 2009 at 4:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

hope4Selma, I agree with a lot of your statements. However, a new building will not make the teachers teach any better.

And I have believed for a long time that Selma High students deserved a better facility.

I think that a new high school should have been built YEARS ago without a bond.

Folks, face it. There is plenty of money in the schools. I know the money is misspent. You can see this especially in Selma. Just look at Dallas County and Selma City. Too many chiefs and not enough Indians. Too many supervisors. Too many head of this, incharge of that. There is money in education.

There was money years ago to maintain Selma High and yet it wasn't.

Ask yourself "Why?"

Posted by selmian (anonymous) on November 3, 2009 at 9:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Popdukes,
Based on your video link from Nov. 1 there needs to be something done soon if there is ever to be a new day in Selma. Fathers stepping up is a solid long term solution, but what about the short term?

How many parents on here with kids at Selma High would send them to another school (with no cost) to get there kids out of this environment and get a top notch education?