The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
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Ridgewood NJ, a teacher effectiveness organization’s report on the nationwide implementation of best practices for teaching reading reveals that 19 states including New Jersey lack critical policies to promote literacy effectively.
Continue reading New Report: Here’s why 40% of fourth graders can’t read at a basic level
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Trenton NJ, as the problem continues to worsen in New Jersey and across the country a task force will be set up to address the shortage of teachers in New Jersey’s K-12 public schools.
Continue reading Governor Murphy to Create Task Force to Study Teacher Shortages
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Ridgewood NJ, Responding to the proposed escalation of health benefits premiums that will increase taxes and crush the budgets of towns, counties and school districts across the state, Senate Republican Leader Steven Oroho released the following statement:
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Trenton NJ, Senator Steven Oroho (R-24) and Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-13) have introduced legislation to form a special legislative committee with subpoena power to investigate massive proposed premium increases for the health plans that cover state government, local government, and school employees.
Teachers always have to dress professionally, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to look fashionable. If you’re looking for some outfit ideas, then look no further. These six professional outfits are perfect for many teachers.
November 29, 2021
Dear Ridgewood Public Schools Community,
As part of the Alternative Schedules Initiative, the District is investigating new K-12 schedule options, as well as alternative start and end times. Research by the American Academy of Pediatrics, as well as other well-documented studies, indicates that a later start time for adolescents helps align their circadian rhythms resulting in improved physical health, academic performance, safety, and overall wellbeing. Given our commitment to nurturing the development of the whole child, we believe we would be remiss if we did not examine the current structure of our school day and consider potential adjustments that reflect these data.
Continue reading Ridgewood Schools Alternative Schedules Initiative Community Presentation
No matter how dedicated you are as a student or whether you’re in high school or college, checking your phone for new notifications is second nature. According to Inside Higher Ed, 49% of students use technology for non-learning tasks which distract them, with 68% of teachers being bothered by the fact.
Continue reading 5 Helpful Ideas to Support Students Who Are Now Learning Offline
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Bergenfield NJ, Governor Phil Murphy and U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona today visited Bergenfield High School to discuss the importance of in-person learning. While the pandemic led to a temporary statewide closure of schools in March 2020, public schools serving over 95% of New Jersey’s nearly 1.4 million students are now learning in-person either on a full-time or hybrid schedule. Governor Murphy has also required all schools to provide full-time, in-person instruction for the 2021-2022 school year, with no remote learning option available.
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Ridgewood NJ, Governor Murphy today announced the expansion of eligibility for more frontline essential workers and high-risk groups in New Jersey’s COVID-19 vaccination program. Eligible groups include educators and staff in pre-k through 12th grade settings, childcare workers, and transportation workers, among others.
Continue reading New Jersey Expands Eligibility for New Jersey’s COVID-19 Vaccination Program
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Ridgewood NJ, since September New Jersey’s teachers union has been warning of teacher shortages being exacerbated by the COVID pandemic. Faced with a teacher shortage , NJ lawmakers are considering having the state recognize out-of-state teaching certificates to make recruiting easier for school districts.
Continue reading Will NJ Teacher Shortages Spur Adaption of Remote Learning?
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Ridgewood NJ, according to the Superintendent Search Committee, the superintendent search survey closed on Friday, December 18, and over 2,000 responses from teachers, staff, parents, students, and community members were received. The survey was designed by R-PAT Solutions, LLC, and the wording is part of their process. The next step is to begin formally interviewing applicants next month. A large number of candidates from all backgrounds have submitted applications.
“In a normal society, this virus would be handled by having the sick or vulnerable stay home for as long as necessary, while encouraging the young and healthy to go about normally with life. Teachers that are sickly could stay home and go on unemployment like everyone else in the country. Young college grads with education degrees can temporarily Take their place. Very simple. How are parents that are not teachers or other government employees supposed to work and feed their families if they have to stay home and care for their children who are doing remote learning? This point is rarely brought up. How have day care centers and summer camps in NJ been open since June, but schools cannot reopen? Why are day Care workers and summer camp workers lives valued less than teachers lives? I drove by the Ridgewood YMCA parking lot last week and witnessed large numbers of children, of various ages, over the age of two years old, standing very close together and not wearing masks. Why is this permitted when masks are required in NJ outdoors when not social distancing?
Locking down everyone is actually making everyone more sickly in mind, body and soul. Why is it that the government and their followers only care about people sick or dying from covid19, but not from any other cause, like the annual flu, being killed in riots, or from not being able to receive necessary medical treatment? Yes there is a pandemic, however, like it or not, the fact is that less than 0.5 percent of all people will die from it. It is obvious that the pandemic has become a convenient, catch all excuse, which is being massively abused. This is to the detriment of all humanity, the effects of which will be ever lasting. Wake up people! Please please start thinking for yourselves and you will realize what is actually going on here. Only when teachers and all government employees are treated the same and feel the same pain as small business owners have, during this pandemic, will people actually see the truth, be on the same team and be able, willing and ready to work together.”
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Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood BOE member Mike Lembo said in a Facebook post ,”The Ridgewood School Board has called for a Special Meeting this coming Thursday July 23rd at 5pm. The topic will be the school reopening plan for the district. We know that parents, teachers, and students have many concerns, questions, and comments on the issue. Please let your voice be heard, as we called this meeting for all of you.
The meeting is going to be held remotely, you can find the BOE Webcast link to the meeting on our website homepage. Members of the public can call in comments during the public comment period of the meeting or write-in comments online prior to, and during, the Board Meeting. These comments will be heard, but any offensive, lewd, or obscene language will not be tolerated. There will be two public comment portions, one at the beginning of the meeting and one at the end. Do not forget to mute your broadcast when speaking to minimize sound feedback and do not forget to identify yourself before speaking!This is a special meeting concerning the school reopening plan only, the regular Board of Education meeting will be held on Monday July 27th. Comments, questions, and concerns related to other issues besides the reopening will be more appropriate then.”
“Classic bureaucratic strategy. Pick services to shut down that have maximum impact and cause maximum distress to the public. Same strategy was used during government “shutdowns” when they closed parks to inflict as much pain as possible.
When this clown proposes a meaningful plan for coping with the revenue shortfall, then maybe start to pay attention.”
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Ridgewood Nj, Governor Phil Murphy on Sunday warned on CNN that key employees , including health care workers, firefighters, police officers and teachers could be laid off if the state does not receive additional funding from the federal government. Of course no mention of any lay offs for bureaucrats in Trenton or any effort to stem the systemic gross mismanagement of New Jersey’s finances .
