Tag: Ridgewood schools

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Reader says ,”Paying ANY money for ANY–no matter how few– grade points is morally wrong and totally unethical”

RHS_theridgewoodblog

” Paying ANY money for ANY–no matter how few– grade points is morally wrong and totally unethical. If students have to be bribed with grade points to do the things that they SHOULD be doing because it is an added educational value is really SICK. Extra points have always been been awarded for extra effort. Paying money for extra credit and not even having to prove they actually went to the event in question is pure bribery. Many of our Ridgewood families can buy anything they want (were any on the unreleased lists of those who bought their child’s college admission?) but that probably means they didn’t even bother to go. For free grade points? Many of our spoiled brats would rush to get in line to purchase–NOT EARN–grade points. Fortunately for Ridgewood and the world, many parents encourage their children to do the right thing. These students are all out-standing in many ways and we are fortunate to have them. And we are also very fortunate to have parents who will stand up to the almost guaranteed nasty pay-back and state when they see something that is not correct. The School Board should actually be happy to have something other than: “Poor–name– is being picked on by his teacher and the teacher just won’t–select one or more–give him a good grade, let him be a starter in sports, not send him to detention, etc. etc. This attitude has been around for years but it’s getting considerably worse now. And buying grades is just a result of that–the teacher can raise any purchasers’s grade to please the parents while not requiring any effort being put into it. “

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Reader says when someone says , “something should not be brought to the attention of authorities” it means just the opposite

Ridgewood Police RHS

“whenever someone says “something should not be brought to the attention of authorities” it means just the opposite, that the issue should be brought to authorities, and firings are in order and policy changes are in order.
As American Citizens we the people have the right to bring anything to authorities any issue we are concerned about. And we should bring ANYTHING WE WANT to any authority.

ever hear of a WHISTLE BLOWER? I bet you hate those, right Joe. I bet you hate consumer advocacy Joe. I bet you hate all investigations that uncover fraud and corruption and hidden abuse and violence. “

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Reader says,”The very fact that students presumably got a break on their grades by merely buying a ticket is horrible”

pay cash by quaziefoto1

“How did May 22 determine that “there was no selling of grades”? Did they actually check with the students in that class or the teacher him/herself? Many above responses were in the line of “So what?” and stating this was a common practice in the schools. The very fact that students presumably got a break on their grades by merely buying a ticket is horrible. The whole concept is totally wrong but if you are actually doing these kind of things regularly–and as above writers stated “The student accomplished a learning experience for which they should get raises in their grades because they did something educational”–without a sign in and sign out sheet, how can anyone know they were actually there? After reading this column it is easy to see how those who were rich enough could see no wrong in buying their child’s way into college. It started young by “buying grades” in earlier school situations. I do admit that many students have bought their way into many schools by their parents buying a building or making a huge contribution to the school in which entrance is desired. I see no way to stop this but paying someone to “get the student into the school” was obviously set up by someone who wanted to pocket the money rather than having it go directly to the schools. Where our son went to school the Chairman of the board was the head of a huge corporation and had 5 children–4 of whom went to that school but the 5th was turned down as the school felt she would be unable to keep up with the requirements. Where is that honesty today? “

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Reader claims Extra Credit Ticket , ” teacher is Gorman’s niece”

Ridgewood Police at RHS

” I have spoken with the parent. She DID go to the teacher. Then she went to the department head. Got nowhere. Then she went to Gorman and Nyhuis. Again, got nowhere. Told them she felt unheard and had no where left to go then to the BOE. She followed every guideline the school gives on how to proceed. This could have ended so easily if those at all the meetings had just said they would look into it and look into policy. But they didn’t. And I have been in meetings like this as well with that administration. They don’t listen, and I’m sure legally cannot ever say anything at all. So they nod and make you feel unheard. This woman was not asking for extra points for her daughter’s grade- she couldn’t care less if her daughter got the one point she wanted by doing extra credit- she told her daughter to respect the teacher’s decision. But when on the VERY NEXT DAY the teacher offered extra credit for attending BergenFest, which was not even in that marking period, the s*&t hit the fan. PLUS FYI the teacher is Gorman’s niece!!! “

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Reader suggests , Tradition of Excellence “is for sale

tradition of excellence

“If extra credit doesn’t matter why offer it. “Quite small” what does that mean? You are not clear.

“Nominal fee” Money of any amount should not be allowed to be used to BUY extra credit. Not even one cent. We are talking about a public school in the United State of America. Isn’t that against the law for public schools in the United States of America. Buying good grades.

Are you teaching kids that they can buy their way into what should be an accomplishment, good grades? A kid who can afford the $20 might earn an A minus instead of a B plus. A kid who cannot afford the $20 could get the B plus. A college looking at grades considers the grades.

“Nominal fee” is infuriating. Some families count every penny. Money, not even one cent, should be permitted for PURCHASE of an improved grade, extra credit.

Because of what you expressed in your letter you should be fired Right Now.

Your values, your attitude, your standards should not be allowed in a public school, Ridgewood High School. ( I am not a parent of a school age child.) I am a longtime resident of this town.
And I thought my school taxes were PURCHASING a TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE. “

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Fallout Continues from Ridgewood Schools Extra Credit Purchase Scandal

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RIDGEWOOD NJ , just weeks after a nationwide college admissions scandal rocked some of the country , a Ridgewood  mom has stepped forward to claim a local teacher offered extra credit points to students for money.

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RHS Extra Credit Letter

RHS_Sign_theridgewoodblog

May 21, 2019

Dear Parents/Guardians and Students:

Last night at the Board of Education meeting, a parent approached the Board during public comments regarding the issue of how extra credit is awarded to students in classes at RHS.  Subsequently, news organizations picked up on this complaint and were across the street at RHS after school today looking to speak with students.

This concern was recently raised with the administration and since then we have been investigating how teachers administer extra credit in their classes.  Each teacher and department handles extra credit differently.  The extra points allotted varies but in most cases it is quite small when looking at the overall total amount of points a student can accumulate in the quarter.

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Bombshell at BOE meeting :Buying Extra Credit

Ridgewood Police at RHS

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Board of Education members direct Schools Superintendent Daniel Fishbein to investigate a Ridgewood High School parent’s allegation that “extra credit points” were made available to her child for “purchase,” but not made available to the same student via the traditional method of submitting extra class work.
Watch as the parent explains exactly what happened in class:
https://ytcropper.com/cropped/av5ce3e3f3b01fc

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Resident Questions lack of Public Discussion at Ridgewood BOE Meetings

the-wizard-of-oz-6-cems360

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Saurabh Dani the Admin of It Takes a Ridgewood Village pointed out some odd discrepancies between how the Village Council conducts business and how the Board of Education conducts business . In a post Dani said:

“Our village council has work session discussions and then at the next meeting they have vote. Many school boards follow similar structure but they don’t always meet in public for work sessions but still keep minutes – they call it “caucus meeting” where agenda and minutes are published, e.g. Jersey City, Rahway etc.

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Reader Says One Village One Vote Group ,” trying to spread misinformation to take away people’s voting rights”

Vote Ridgewood NJ

As usual information from Winograd is one sided without all the facts. Thought Lindenberg previously said he wanted accurate information for people to be informed. Why are these people keeping themselves busy trying to spread misinformation to take away people’s voting rights? Stop trying to scare everyone by making Ridgewood voters sound unhinged. Ironic signed by one usually unhinged.

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Reader says , “They don’t care it’s not their money”

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” Everyone knew that’s a flood zone. It’s all bullshit. They don’t care it’s not their money. They going to do what they want to do end of the story. Just keep on spending money. People wake up and see how many homes are for sale again this year holy shit. Talk about a revolving door. No one is going to retire in Ridgewood anymore why would you. Family is moving to town to use the school system and they get out. And really at the end of the day it’s still overrated. There are many great talents in school systems around us. Ridgewood is not the best anymore. Period. “

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One Village One Vote Group Looks to Take Away Your Right to Vote on School Budgets

Ridgewood 3 amigos

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, OneVillageOneVote.com is the group run by the usually suspects looking to take your right to vote on school budget .

The Ridgewood school budget for 5000 plus students and 24,000 residents is nearing $111,000,000 and accounts for 60% of your property taxes .

These are the same people who supported Paul Aronsohn with his destructive high density housing projects , which are destroying the Village of Ridgewood and hurting your property values.

The high density housing will lead to massive increases in all public safety budgets , traffic congestion, parking problems, water shortages, sewage issues and larger school budgets and more school construction.

The facts are the schools spend your money, you own the schools , the administrators and teachers work for you .

Do not let these people with all their ulterior motives take away your right to vote or infringe on your right to vote .

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Reader says , “The field is being replaced at a cost of $600,000 earlier than expected because it was installed in a flood plain”

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photo by Boyd Loving

” The field is being replaced at a cost of $600,000 earlier than expected because it was installed in a flood plain. In the last 8 years it has happened several times and has required many thousands of dollars in repairs besides the regular maintenance costs. The crumb rubber washes into the abutting brooks and is an environmental hazard. While grass fields are recommended in flood plains, new products are on the market which are made from organic components that are not as hazardous as crumb rubber to the environment and are 30 percent cooler when exposed to the sun which makes the turf service healthier and safer for the players. The new geofill field was recently installed at Maple Field which exists in the same flood plain. It is considered a success by players ,coaches and village administrators and grounds personnel alike. The Board of Education is installing crumb rubber once again. Their logic for doing this defies comprehension. “

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RHS U Got Brains and the Ridgewood Municipal Alliance Present Driving Under the Influence and Criminal and Civil Liability

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Monday, May 13
7 p.m.
RHS Learning Commons

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Attention Ridgewood parents, on Monday, May 13, U got Brains, a Ridgewood High School student club, and Detective Anthony Mormino of the Ridgewood Police Department and School Resource Officer will discuss driving under the influence and the potential criminal and civil liabilities for parents and guardians who provide alcohol to minors. This presentation will start at 7 p.m. in the Learning Commons at Ridgewood High School.

Continue reading RHS U Got Brains and the Ridgewood Municipal Alliance Present Driving Under the Influence and Criminal and Civil Liability
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“Choose to Be Nice” Initiative , just more virtue signaling propaganda

omen prequel works development horror

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ , call us old fashioned but any chance these kids could learn skills to help them be functioning adults ?

More worthless virtue signaling amounting to nothing more than feel good propaganda . It looks like parents no longer contribute anything to there children’s well being .

WILLARD LEADERSHIP
Representatives of the Willard School Leadership Committee explained the Choose to be Nice initiative at their school and efforts to spread kindness. The committee is made up of 20 Willard students, advised by Principal Caroline Hoffman and teachers Jerome Ong and Rebecca Dodd.

  • The slide portion of the presentation may be viewed here.