The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
“You you think that some of these poster would have figured that out.“Among the demands are four specific ones, related to education in Ridgewood. But let’s march everywhere but in front of the Board of Ed.
I hope your Ridgewood parents are proud . Go to the twitter feed post above and you will more of this . @RW4BL
Ridgewood for Black Liberation
We are a group of RHS alum and Ridgewood residents who are committed to anti-racist work and non-hierarchical organizing in Ridgewood, NJ. #BLM ”
file photo by Boyd Loving
Unfortunate that it happened at school. RHS is not responsible, the student is. RHS did not raise this child. I take responsibility for my children. They are wonderful kids and I raised them well. The district educated them as per state guidelines.
Shameful behavior and deserves to be addressed by school in some manner. School will focus on education and the parents should focus on the child’s deviant behavior. Vandalism is a crime and child should be turned over when she is identified.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Parents time to kiss up , the Ridgewood Education Association wants you to show your support , for Ridgewood teachers and secretaries by displaying a lawn sign. Pickup anytime at 348 S Irving Street( on the porch). Remember if you want those recommendation letters you better step up !
So many people hold their kids back that they are ready for all day K because they are six years old.
Can’t have it both ways, hold them back and then demand full day K.
Lets be honest about this. Too many parents hold their kids back because they are “young”, “small” or “not ready”. I do not want all day K because it rewards this type of behavior. Some delusional parents see their kids as geniuses when they are really 6 year olds in kindergarten. Not gifted just at a different developmental stage. It used to be over aged boys, but now the parents og girls are getting into it.
Stop letting parents hold their kids back. When they come for registeation place them in the grade according to their cut off birthdate. No more gaming the system.
Let the 5 year olds have developmentally appropriate half day kindergarten and put the 6 year olds in first grade where they belong.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood High School was again not portrayed in the best light in the stands or parking lot during the lacrosse tournament. Principal Tom Gorman sent out and email condemning poor behavior and littering.
“Unfortunately, despite previous warnings and pleas for assistance in my November 30 and December 11 letters regarding the conduct of our fans at the MetLife Stadium football championship game, Ridgewood High School was again not portrayed in the best light in the stands or parking lot during the lacrosse tournament. Administrators from Mahwah High School have notified us that the parking lot parent tailgate in the Ridgewood section was left in a very poor state with trash and alcohol bottles strewn about. In addition, we had one Ridgewood adult fan verbally accost the referees after the game, which required police intervention.”
Several Ridgewood parents have now come out and vigorously denied the allegations made by Principal Tom Gorman. Parents claim the messes were not Ridgewood messes and that RHS parents and students cleaned up .
This is not the first time these type of allegations were made at a Ridgewood Sports group. In December
Principal Tom Gorman , sent out and email saying , “Unfortunately, despite previous warnings and pleas for assistance, Ridgewood High School was not portrayed in the best light in the stands or in the parking lot. Administrators and faculty members spent much of the game dealing with students that were under the influence and/or involved in disruptive behavior. In addition, the parking lot in the Ridgewood section was left in a very poor state with trash and broken bottles” https://theridgewoodblog.net/ridgewood-high-school-was-not-portrayed-in-the-best-light-in-the-stands-or-in-the-parking-lot-at-metlife-stadium/
A reader at the time commented , “I watched the streaming game on MSG Barsity. The camera panned the Ridgewood crowd and one high school aged boy gave the finger to the camera – for the entire time the camera pointed into the stands. It seemed like forever.
Tailgating is something that adult and college sports fans do. How many Facebook posts of tailgates have you seen this fall? All pics of your neighbors drinking in the parking lot. This is also seen in the Facebook posts from parents traveling to college football games and partying with the kids. Did any of you stop and think how pathetic you look drinking at a frat party? And then you make things worse by posting those photos for the world to see.
So parents, the kids are just mimicking your behavior. Think about that the next time you post your party pics. Some parents think that they look cool, most just look like puffy boozers.”
While we think the truth is somewhere in between the Gorman allegations and the parents denials we do think parents ,coaches and teachers must lead by example and set high standards of behavior . A $103 million school budget would suggest those standards should be equality as high.
Maybe this is another reason we have so many “PARCC refuseniks” the lengthy tests take to much away from learning time?
Many teachers think PARCC a waste of time and needs to be eliminated. Teachers know better than anyone the progress of their students better than any testing can determine. Education is a local issue ,state and federal mandates are in no way indicative of what children’s specific needs are in a specific school district.
We learned this from “No Child left behind” , when it had more of a negative impact on a high performing district like Ridgewood .
The current PARCC tests seem to be pushing education to the lowest common denominator instead of encouraging individual growth and advancement.
Perhaps it’s time we move on from State mandated testing of any kind and truly get down to the business of educating students. Maybe if we didn’t lose all this time on nonsense like this we could focus on important things like civics, grammar, real math (not common core crap) .
“Not My Kid” (video)
Every concerned Ridgewood parent should click this link (or cut and paste into their internet browser) and watch the associated video when they have the opportunity:
https://www.sptsusa.org/not-my-kid/
New Jersey parents, it turns out, were at the cutting edge of this issue about the year 2006 and have apparently since moved from a New Jersey-centric approach to a nationwide scope.
Some great parent questions are addressed in this video, including “Shouldn’t we just be quiet about what happened so as to avoid putting ideas in our children’s heads?” and “My child’s classmate just committed suicide. How much more is he/she now at risk of doing the same thing?”.
We tragically lost Alex Modlin but now is no time to put our heads in the sand about the perennial problem of depression and teen suicide.
Ridgewood NJ, Next up is “Raising Responsible Leaders” by author John Jay Bonstingl. This program will take place on Tuesday, November 10 from 7-9 p.m. in the Benjamin Franklin Middle School Auditorium.
The 2015-2016 parent/peers series consists of eight engaging presentations throughout the school year. Co-sponsored by The Valley Hospital, with support from The Foundation, adults are invited to attend these programs on creating balance in children’s lives.
Click here for the November 10 program flyer.
Click here for details on the series.
Click here for the series flyer.
JULY 1, 2015 LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2015, 9:24 AM
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Tensions were high last Monday night as a large crowd of parents gathered at the Board of Education meeting to voice their displeasure about various issues. The assembly was so large that additional chairs had to be laid out for the capacity crowd.
Parents packed last week’s Ridgewood Board of Education meeting to voice their displeasure over the increasing class sizes at some village elementary schools.
Many parents attended the meeting to protest increasing class sizes in some Ridgewood elementary schools.
Sheila Brogan, BOE president, issued a preemptive statement at the beginning of the meeting, saying, “I did want you to know that we have been listening. It has not been falling on deaf ears that people are concerned about the sizes of some of the classes in some of our elementary schools.”
This did little to mollify the crowd, however, as many went to the podium to express their displeasure and disappointment with the board’s handling of the issue.
https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/parents-question-increase-in-class-sizes-1.1366351
JUNE 2, 2015 LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2015, 9:59 AM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Like clockwork, placards marking the homes of new Ridgewood High School graduates are popping up on front lawns throughout the village. It’s a spring tradition embraced by the community, one signifying proud parents and reasons to celebrate.
The end-of-school rituals, namely proms and graduations, are always joyous events. In recent years, however, it’s become custom that those occasions are preceded with sobering advice and warnings about the dangers of over-celebrating, particularly if alcohol and drugs enter the equation.
Members of the Ridgewood Municipal Alliance Committee have taken the lead locally in spreading the word of those dangers, and they’ve initiated a campaign this season that delivers a message supplementing the drunken driving cautions that typically come at this time of year.
The “Parents Who Host, Lose the Most” program is directed primarily to adults who are hoping celebrate a child’s prom and graduation. Its tagline, “Don’t be a party to teenage drinking,” speaks directly to parents and guardians.
“Over the years, we know there have been parents who have hosted parties for their kids. This is a particularly good time to do it – it’s spring and you have graduations and proms,” explained committee chairwoman Sheila Brogan. “What we want to do through this campaign is enlighten parents about the liability and risks that are involved in serving alcohol to underage drinkers, kids in high school and college.”
https://www.northjersey.com/community-news/parents-reminded-of-underage-drinking-laws-1.1347045
State Board of Education president speaks to Ridgewood parents, teachers
March 13, 2015 Last updated: Friday, March 13, 2015, 9:58 AM
By Mark Krulish
Staff Writer |
The Ridgewood News
New Jersey State Board of Education President Mark Biedron appeared at the Ridgewood home of Marlene Burton to engage a group of concerned parents, some of whom are also teachers, in a dialogue about changes made on the educational landscape in recent years.
Over the course of two-and-a-half hours, Biedron and a group of approximately 30 people explored topics ranging from the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) tests, Common Core standards, teacher evaluations, Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and the narrowing of the curriculum.
Reminding those in attendance that his opinions were his own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Education, Biedron spoke candidly about what he believes will help children be successful.
Many decades ago, content was king, Biedron said, as information was much more difficult to find. With all of the information the world has to offer available at the push of the button, he said schools can now additionally focus on other skills and habits that he believes many want their children to have.
“Content alone will not make our children successful,” Biedron said. “What will? Critical thinking skills, problem-solving skills, collaboration skills and communication skills. Are these skills being taught by Common Core and PARCC? That’s a big question. Education is organic, it’s constantly changing.”
https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/state-boe-president-visits-ridgewood-1.1288623
State education leader, Ridgewood parents to meet
MARCH 4, 2015 LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2015, 1:21 AM
THE RECORD
RIDGEWOOD — Mark Biedron, the president of the state Board of Education, will meet next week with village residents to address questions and concerns about Common Core standards and the computer-based PARCC tests.
Marlene Burton said she will open her Liberty Street home to accommodate Biedron’s visit to Ridgewood on Tuesday.
Burton said she’s moving furniture out of her house to make room for the 60-plus residents expected to attend the forum with Biedron. State education officials also confirmed the event.
Burton said Biedron agreed to the Ridgewood meeting following an email exchange on Common Core issues and the controversial PARCC tests.
The meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. at 123 Liberty St.
PROFILE: STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION PRESIDENT BRINGS UNIQUE PEDIGREE TO POST
JOHN MOONEY | JANUARY 7, 2015
Mark Biedron cofounded a progressive private school that’s a far cry from the testing-centric culture of public schools
Mark Biedron, president of the state Board of Education.
Name: Mark Biedron
Title: President of the State Board of Education, 2014 to present. Appointed to the board in 2011 by Gov. Chris Christie.
Why he matters: Biedron has taken an activist role in leading the 13-member board that is responsible for reviewing and approving state administrative code and school regulations. He has traveled the state to query stakeholders and pressed the administration to explain its policies, from testing to school monitoring.
Where he comes from: The board president is a cofounder of the Willow School in Gladstone, a small independent school that focuses on ethics and language as the cornerstones of its curriculum. Founded with his former wife in 2002, the school’s progressive model is quite a bit different from the testing-focused culture of the public education system that Biedron is now charged with overseeing.
Not incongruous: Biedron maintains that for all the evident differences, he feels that public schools are moving toward a more holistic approach to education via the new Common Core State Standards and the advent of PARCC (Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers) testing.
Quote: “In the old way and my way of learning, it was to put answers on paper. But your look at PARCC and Common Core, while not perfect, it is about how you got to the answers.”
Not happening fast enough: “I am the first person to say that testing doesn’t show everything about a student, but we have to take a lot of steps moving from Point A to Point B … This big behemoth called education moves slowly.”
How he started a school: Biedron said he was looking for a school for his children that would address both personal virtues and academic rigor, and finding none, he and his former wife were left with the decision to either move or start their own school. They decided on the latter.
FEBRUARY 27, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Local parents and residents gathered at the Ridgewood Public Library on Wednesday evening to put themselves in the shoes of students by taking the controversial PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers) test.
Ridgewood Cares About Schools, an advocacy group that studies Common Core-driven changes in curriculum and the PARCC assessment itself, hosted the program, which allowed parents the opportunity to step into the role of a student in today’s educational climate.
Many believe that giving parents that experience will lead to better insight into what fears or concerns students may have. With that idea in mind, the adults fired up their laptops or tablets to prepare for testing.
The “pupils” had the ability to choose a test from any grade level in either math or English and language arts (ELA).
Yik Yak is just the latest we may be able to limit it use or get rid of it altogether but there will be another one just like it along 5 minutes later
Unfortunately Yik Yak is just the latest mole to whack. We may be able to limit it use or get rid of it altogether but there will be another one just like it along 5 minutes later. Maybe as parents we should step up and teach our kids about respect, responsibility and self confidence instead of focusing our fear and rage at this and other social media outlets.
I installed Yik Yak a couple weeks ago to see what it was about and 99% of the posts are pure sophomoric drivel. Hopefully this should dilute some of the sting associated with the other 1% assuming it’s at all dangerous or hurtful. Comments like “Jimmy is a poopy head” should raise as much concern for our kids collective intelligence level as anything else.
A notice went out that some kid posted something about shooting up a school and the police didn’t seem to give it any credence whatsoever. After reading a couple of days worth of posts myself I have to say that I’m not very concerned either.
I don’t disagree with the doctor here in that the Ap, like any social media outlet, has the potential to be used as a vehicle for hate and bullying. I also agree that social media in general has begun to replace real human interaction and conversation with horrible consequences.
As parents it’s our job to teach our kids about responsible, moderate use of social media since it’s probably here to stay. As for Yik Yak, my message to my kids is why would you want to associate with the morons that post on it in the first place?
