wow.  That is surprising and very disappointing news concerning the placement of spring break right before AP exams.Almost as surprising as the scheduling NW did which puts all but one of the AP exams in the spring..  I understand the thought behind this, to teach the course closer to the testing time but it over loads students who are taking more than 2 AP classes (my daughter will now have to drop AP Stat).  Also the class time in the spring is shortened b/c of the test schedule.

I guess AP students are supposed to use their spring break to study.  and I’m sure most of them will because that’sthe type of student who signs up for the challenge of AP anyway.

There’s no winning with AP and the block schedule but i totally agree that someone is not thinking when it comes to the calendar.   AP students are a minority, and not many parents are going to give this a second thought. But again it goes back to why we lose so many talented gifted kids to other schools like  Woods.  People on the “outside” scratch their heads and wonder whey the BOE makes bonehead decisions like this.

Email Mr. Logan the the BOE and ask them why the kids who work so hard to achieve are always getting the short end…and this starts with the “gifted” programs in grade school.

and P.S.  Spot on Pam!

So, Chatham County’s “leadership” is being pragmatic when they decide that the Sheriffs should not spend their time enforcing the law (ICE), to give them the time to arrest those who “break” the law (burglars, drug dealers, etc.), when they are reported by those who are living here against the law (illegal immigrants)   Did I interpret that correctly?   Oh, and by the way, the leadership is also breaking the law.   Has this surreal sanctuary brought everyone who was in the shadows out of them?   Have a lot of people “in the shadows” been calling in to report crimes?   How can you tell?  Has crime in Chatham County decreased measurably because of this, and if it has/has not – can it be proven?   I was brought up to believe that if you are not breaking the law, you have nothing to fear from those who enforce the law.   Of course, as each day passes, those in power seek to remove more rights and privileges from a law-abiding free people, and give the rights to those who break the law.   Ahhhh — so this is redistribution in action.

I totally agree with regular schmo about her views on inexperienced drivers.  I believe in children working and paying for part of their own insurance.

My daughter started working in tobacco when she was 13, and saved money for her car insurance from the time she started working.  By the time she got her drivers license, she had quite a lot of money saved.

She continued working during the whole time that she went to high school and college.  She learned responsibility and the rewards of hard work.  Today, she works full time, is raising four children, and is teaching them the same work ethic that she developed.

The insurance companies are in the business to make money.  They take more risks by insuring inexperienced drivers, so they charge more.  You just suck it up and pay for being inexperienced.

Phyllis Thomas

The other day I received an email entitled “comments on your post” and like a boob I opened it.  It was linked through an old post I made to the chatlist, back in 2007 and there were all sorts of strange addresses attached to it. This was a post that Gene put on the journal so it is still accessible.  i knew right then I had screwed up. There was a snippet of the post I had made so i have no doubt that whoever sent me this “gift” did it through my chatlist account.

i have contacted Gene, as a heads up.  My computer is completely dead but I guess I should have known better.

I’m not blaming, just warning.

Meg

PS.  am using my don’t laptop for now.  Need a good (cheap) Mac repair person.

While libraries across the  country are cutting services, our county commissioners have teamed up with the community college to enlarge our library. (It may even create a few jobs!) For the improvement in the library  many of us are quite glad, but I also think bookmobiles provide a valuable service to the community, too. While I suffer the inconvenience of the roundabout going in at 87, it has led to alternative routes to town. Some may consider roads and libraries, funded by taxpayers, as “socialist” but I think collective efforts for the good of the community are vital, and what the government can do best for us.

Let’s hope the county can find a way to provide a book mobile again in the future.

I am in complete agreement with the insurance company for charging more for new drivers.  Happened to me, happened to you, happens to everyone.  I paid half and my father paid half.  Of course I started driving when I was 14…. but I had to get a part time job to pay for my half of the insurance and for gas.  If you check the statistics you will see new drivers are the “worst” drivers.  Hence using the words “new”. Grades have nothing to do with driving ability in my opinion.  Though I had good grades when i was in school.  I just feel that new drivers should pay more.  I had to, my husband had to, my friends and family had to.  It makes sense.  And if they can not afford the insurance then I guess they don’t drive.  I worked while in school.  There are people working 2 jobs, going to school, and raising a family….. so collage kids should be able to work some… to pay for SOME of the insurance.  If you have more than 1 “new driver” in your family… well thats life.  You chose to have children close together.  That is what happens.  Did you complain about the cost of college?  (which is RIDICULOUS)  or did you accept it.  I love my insurance company.  They taught me responsibility at a young age.  I am still with them and will never change.  And, since I have a great (knock on wood) driving record I pay about $70 a month for 3 cars.

just my 2 cents.  People need to stop complaining about some things that have been around forEVER!  accept it.  Shouldnt the kids have been driving for a few years now?  I mean you can get a learning permit and start the insurance then.  So when they are old enough the insurance companies already know them and know how they drive.

ok I know not everyone agrees with me… but at least we are in America and opinions are aloud!
thanks chatlist

It’s hard to believe that community leaders elected and appointed to  promote educational excellence would sabotage the students they’re  supposed to serve, but that’s precisely what Chatham County school  officials and the Board of Education have done.

And apparently they don’t care one bit.

Despite knowing about the potential conflict, these “leaders”  scheduled next year’s spring break immediately before Advanced  Placement exams. That means high school sophomores, juniors and  seniors will return after 10 days away from the classroom and walk  straight into college-level finals. Students will have no chance to  get back

into their academic routines, attend review sessions or get  last-minute advice from teachers.

The AP Chemistry and AP Environmental Science exams are that Monday  morning at 8 a.m. AP Psychology begins at noon. Good luck, folks.

Our ‘leaders” have failed. It could cost some of our students college  credit, much-needed flexibility later in their education and a lot of  money, since credit from AP exams allows many families to avoid  paying for courses later.

All they needed to do was schedule the break the week before Easter,  as many area school systems already have done (see below for a list)  — a very minor change to accommodate next year’s later holiday.

It’s not acceptable to use the excuse that “we’ve always done it like  that” or “most people wanted it that way.” That may be fine when  there’s no educational interest in play, but never when there’s a  compelling instructional reason to choose one option over another.  You can imagine the board’s response if “most people” wanted to be  out

of school the week before End of Grade tests!

Decisions like these reverberate far beyond the many students now  facing important exams without the opportunity to prepare adequately.  How do you possibly convince relocating families and businesses that  Chatham County has a quality school system when student achievement  clearly doesn’t matter?

What’s worse, these leaders don’t care. After making this argument to  board members and asking for a change in the calendar — in postal  mail and e-mail, with copies to the superintendent — not one board  member or school official responded in any way whatsoever. Silence. I  guess when you get caught with your hand in the cookie jar,

there’s  simply nothing to say.

For the record, based on research provided to me, only four school  systems in the area sabotaged their students with a spring break  running from April 25 to 29 (through May 1 counting the weekend):  Randolph County, Harnett County, Asheboro City and Chatham County.

And, it probably isn’t too shocking that these districts also posted  the lowest average SAT scores in the area. (This might suggest  something about whether academic achievement is valued.)

Here are some schools or districts that looked out for their students  (and have higher average SAT scores than Chatham):

* April 18-25: Lee County, Guilford County, Alamance-Burlington and  Raleigh Charter (Wake)

* April 18-22: Wake County and Charlotte-Mecklenburg

* March 28-April 1: Orange County, Moore County, Chapel Hill- Carrboro and Winston-Salem/Forsyth

* March 21-25: Woods Charter (Chatham)

It’s something worth remembering when we hear about Chatham County  Schools “collectively creating success,” as its website boasts — and  when it’s time again to visit the polls.

William S. “Chip” Pate Jr.
Pittsboro

I have had a wonderful relationship with A-1 Heating and Cooling.
Their prices are competitive, and I purchased the maintenance contract.
They have been completely prompt and attentive, and the people that come out have  always been extremely nice.
The phone number is 919-837-5467.
The company is located in the Chatham Central area.  I don’t remember if it’s Bear Creek, Bonlee, or Goldston.