Comments by lurker75
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Posted on January 23 at 1:46 p.m.
I found this online after reading Pollyanna's post. I thought surely they wouldn't leave such an important decision up to people who may have affiliation with either side. Come to find out, the people pushing the Truancy Program happen to actually be Corrections Officers. Community Corrections Officers presenting to the Community Corrections Board. Hmmmmm........
It would be interesting to see the make-up of the board. I know for a fact that the Mental Health Center is a totally different agency.
http://www.emporiagazette.com/news/2008/...
I also found this:
http://www.emporiagazette.com/news/2008/...
50% recidivism rate down to 9.72% recidivism? Yeah, that's a place to cut corners. Wow.
On Community Corrections Board puts all its eggs in one basket
Posted on January 23 at 8:51 a.m.
I happen to know of two different families that had to attend the Family Solutions classes due to their kids getting in trouble. While they were reluctant to go, they were very pleased after it was all over. They also said that within their group there were kids who had gotten in trouble for vandalism, stealing, battery, drug possession, possession of alcohol, DUIs, etc..... Those don't seem like "low risk" offenders to me, as opposed to kids that skip school. Speaking of which, where are the school counselors on this? Doesn't that fall under their job description? Or at least shouldn't the district chip in a little money since somebody else is doing their job for them? When I was in school, the school counselor would make home visits and go to the ends of the earth to get "truant" kids to school. Maybe they still do, I'm not sure. Anway, seems like awful good program to get the "hook."
On Community Corrections Board puts all its eggs in one basket
Posted on October 30 at 9:09 p.m.
LoL......
"Win by 12 and Salina Central is in.
Soooo, if you're going to win, make it a romp.
The Mustangs thank you."
And............
"Taylor Counts broke his hand and plays linebacker; he hasn't run the ball since the second week of the season"
We can tell you aren't an Emporia fan, and that's fine. I was just making a point that if there was a story line, you'd think the local paper would fine one that revolves around the local team. Don't you think that makes sense?
Posted on October 30 at 7:20 p.m.
Wow. It's almost as if this came from the Salina paper or something. I thought the local paper was supposed to have the back of the local team. Last few years have been really above par with the coverage. I don't think, honestly, anybody around here really cares about coach Sherman's success at Platte County High School in Missouri. Quickly, a raise of the hands on who knows where that is, or even what part of Missouri it is. How about the classification? Me neither. More importantly, nor do I care.
Sounds like Emporia is over matched, what with their average, never turned any program around coach, Bill Lowe. Good grief.
Go get 'em boys.
Posted on April 11 at 10:50 a.m.
Sorry DeepThoughts.......couldn't resist.
"I don't think you or anyone should jump to conclusions about why any business or even person does something unless you ARE in the loop because you don't know! "
So that means Mr. Walker should refrain from making judgements about the public school system here in Emporia since his children attend private school, yes?
Ok. You two can go back to your squabble. : )
Posted on April 4 at 11:33 a.m.
I believe the correct terminology would be "damage control."
Posted on April 3 at 10:05 p.m.
If he had said, "You know what, this might be good, and this might be bad. I'm hearing lots of negatives from other parents. Maybe this should be an issue taken to the board," I'd be behind him wholeheartdly. But he went a step further and put in his own opinion, which is his right. It's his newspaper, and his column. But, he must own up to his remarks. Taking stabs at the local school district in a time when this town is so starving for positive messages about our community really bothers me.
And what also bothers me are the messages which were deleted. I had the chance to read them before they were removed, and they weren't personal attacks. They were questions regarding people's subscriptions to the gazette and the possibility of cancelling. I've lived here my whole life. I stand up for the gazette when others don't. But deleting posts that questions their credibility and the value of their paper? That isn't the paper I grew up reading. I'd like to think that WAW wouldn't simply erase negative comments, but rather face them head on, own up to them, and if needed, make things right. But, what do I know. Hopefully I just didn't get myself deleted.
Posted on April 3 at 9:52 p.m.
I disagree123.
"Early release may be an inconvenience for parents, but the real question is what impact the practice has on the students.
Early release may be enriching teachers, but it is not helping the children."
This is a statement of opinion. His opinion. Made by a person without children in the district. I'm all for a parental movement to approach the school board. This is why such a board exists, and officials are elected. But to make such generalizations from a 3rd party viewpoint isn't very responsible.
Posted on April 3 at 8:30 p.m.
It really is unfortunate that Mr. Walker chose this topic. I've always felt that the gazette and the school district were on pretty good terms. Their buildings make them neighbors, and his occasional joking around with Dr. Heim suggested good relations. Apparently not. I could understand if he had his own children in the system and felt like a real change needed to be made. But, after reading this forum, it sounds like his kids don't even attend usd253. So his conclusions and point of of view really are irrelevant. They couldn't be first person, and therefore, don't hold much weight.
I know one of the basics of writing, and is actually taught at my daughter's elem. schools is "ideas." She was told, "If you don't know what your talking about, and don't have solid information to include, pick something else because people will see right through you.
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Posted on January 27 at 4:18 p.m.
Ok. Bear with me.....The High Risk offenders are the ones who are at a High Risk of repeating an offense. I think I'm fine with that. Therefore, Low Risk offenders would be the ones who have a Low Risk of repeating an offense. Pretty simple. I agree that the majority of the money should go to high risk offenders, that makes sense. But, you can't tell me that if I skip school a few more times than I should, I automatically qualify as a HIGH RISK to commit a criminal offense, more so than somebody who has actually gotten a DUI or been arrested for stealing?? If you think about that, really think about it, that just doesn't make sense. I'm positive that there is a need for the truancy program, I really do. But if supporting it means getting rid of the other one, I just don't think that's good for the community. So the kids that get diversions now, what happens? Same thing that happened to me? Believe it or not, I got into a little trouble in college. I was underage and drinking a beer in a bar. Broke the law, got caught, paid my dues. However, this is what my diversion entailed: Show up in court. Plead guilty. Meet some county attorney (I think?) Sign some papers. Send in a check. Keep my nose clean for 6 months. Nobody checked on me, nobody discussed with me my actions, nobody visited with my folks or the other members of my family, nothing. So guess what I did in 6 months? Yep. I became a repeat offender. I was just more careful. Now if I knew that if I were to get caught again I had to not only take a class, but involve my parents in the class, there is a much less chance that I would have been so bold. I sure would have thought twice about my actions. Now take my situation, and plug in stealing, or drug possession, or vandalism. What's going to happen to those kids if they go on diversion? Education is the key to recidivism. Family Solutions offered that. High Risk vs. Low Risk. You decide.
On Community Corrections Board puts all its eggs in one basket