| Author |
Message |
    
ajc
Citizen
Username: Ajc
Post Number: 1831
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Monday, September 1, 2003 - 8:53 am: |     |
Nan, as I said, this is all about getting easier access to his information, thereby allowing local residents a better opportunity to become more involved in the process.
Do you really believe the access to his website will stop anyone from making up their own minds? I sure hope not...
BTW, I agree that we should all be allowed to state our opinions whenever we like without getting personally attacked… Thanks for sharing.
___________________________________________________________________
Waiting for an all-day Jitney, or some better way we can all share our opinions... |
nan
Citizen
Username: Nan
Post Number: 917
Registered: 2-2001
| | Posted on Monday, September 1, 2003 - 9:04 am: | |
bobk,
It's the context in which the "facts and figures" are presented that disturbs me. They are arranged, like a well written commercial, to have the reader slowly draw the conclusion that our school system is a poorly run failure.
Just look at what's given prominence--the "Reading Curriculum Debate." Since when is the Reading Curriculum Debate a standard topic on a neutral list of facts and figures? Why is a letter from ACE, condemning the program, given equal footing with other information? And WHERE is the debate anyway? In a real debate both sides get equal time. The only supporting evidence from the administration is a letter from Jim Memoli describing the contents of the program--a list of which the average person without an education background would not be able to judge the quality.
Another example of this type is the prominence given to the New Jersey Monthly magazine rating of schools--which seems to dislike our district even more than Fringe does. Jersey Magazine journalists are hardly the go-to-guys for conclusive evidence on schools--they are not even qualified to be that--they are just trying to sell magazines. But here on Fringes' website they get a front row seat.
Fringe has refined this website over time to make the extreme political objectives more subtle--at one time he had a banner ad proclaiming the NJ Monthly ratings--it's like that saying, When the going gets weird, the weird go professional. Fringe coats his message in seemingly neutral statistics in a way to redefine our common sense. After all, you would have to be some kind of extremist or have something to hide to "try to suppress" these facts and figures--right? This is the case made by Fringe and his supporters (almost all strong critics of the school system). Fringe states it this way on the site:
Reactions to the data here and similar publicity regarding district performance and rank are predictable, and sometimes have a chilling effect. What was intended to be an annual event for the Star-Ledger ended in a one-time story after the public outcry from districts such as SO-M.
Thus, Fringe sets himself up as the only one willing to reveal the truth that has been hidden. Many people, already disillusioned with public schools by the constant media attack on them will feel a natural affinity with this message. The only problem is that it's not the truth--just one man's very biased opinion--but one he hopes to slowly convince everyone is the only logical conclusion a logical person can make. That's why his site is propaganda and does not deserve to be linked. |
ajc
Citizen
Username: Ajc
Post Number: 1832
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Monday, September 1, 2003 - 10:19 am: | |
Nan, I see your argument as only more reason to list the website. If you really believe his site is just propaganda, then the only fair solution to this issue would be if there's another side to the facts and opinions of the Fringe, I suggest we link those also... Either way, making this information available to the public is all the more important! |
Dave Ross
Supporter
Username: Dave
Post Number: 5073
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, September 1, 2003 - 11:38 am: | |
I assume everyone's talking about a link on MOL's home page, as it certainly gets linked here on the message board quite a bit already.
The links under "local links" are not for opinion/editorials or personal web pages or collections of statistics. Within "local links" there's a "clubs and organizations" category, which the ACE site should be listed under, as it's a local non-profit organization.
Other than that, sponsor links are available on a paying basis. Just e-mail webmaster@maplewoodonline.com to get pricing from Jamie.
As for changing top-level categories, it seems to be fairly straight-forward the way it is now and there tends to be only one "fire-zone" (Soapbox), which makes it easier to patrol. |
michael
Citizen
Username: Michael
Post Number: 355
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Monday, September 1, 2003 - 12:28 pm: | |
Dave, can't find ACE under local links/clubs and organizations. Is it in the works ?
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Dave Ross
Supporter
Username: Dave
Post Number: 5075
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, September 1, 2003 - 1:22 pm: | |
Don't know if there is an ACE web site. Thought someone posted a link once. If someone knows it, please post it here. |
bobk
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 3351
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, September 1, 2003 - 3:01 pm: | |
Na, nobody would be complaining if NJ Monthly ranked our schools in the top twenty. 
Frings does have his agenda. However, the facts are the facts and have to be dealt with. |
michael
Citizen
Username: Michael
Post Number: 358
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Monday, September 1, 2003 - 11:19 pm: | |
"Fringe does have his agenda." which is what exactly ? To see an overall improvement in our school system ? To let the people see the info and decide for themselves ? What ! What ! What the hell is is "agenda " !!!!
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bobk
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 3355
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 2, 2003 - 12:41 pm: | |
Michael, Fringe, for the most part, wants to prove that our schools have gone to the dogs as the racial and economic mix in our communities has changed and the tax burden has shifted onto Mr. Fringe who I will bet dollars to donuts sends his kids, if any, to private schools. Certainly. these changes have brought on a number of challenges and problems to say the least. However, negativity (and this is coming from Mr. Negativity himself) isn't the answer. |
hariseldon
Citizen
Username: Hariseldon
Post Number: 135
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 2, 2003 - 12:48 pm: | |
Bobk..Better eat those dollars or donuts, at least one of Fridge's kids graduated Columbia with mine. The whole family is quite active in our school system |
Robert Little
Citizen
Username: Boblittle
Post Number: 58
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 2, 2003 - 12:57 pm: | |
Maplewood local stuff is split between "Official Maplewood" and "Soapbox." I'd rather have one place to look for information on non-Education local politics.
Fringe has put together a content-rich site with a small amount of editorial content. You could say that means he is biased but it would be more accurate to say he has opinions, like all of us. |
bobk
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 3356
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 2, 2003 - 1:20 pm: | |
Hariseldon, I am talking about Fringe, not Fridge. And two out of three ain't bad. I use his site all the time for information to be honest and consider it excellent. Guess I got up on the wrong side of the bed today...again.  |
hariseldon
Citizen
Username: Hariseldon
Post Number: 136
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 2, 2003 - 3:03 pm: | |
Bobk, you noticed I posted just before lunch..no wonder fridge was on the mind |
michael
Citizen
Username: Michael
Post Number: 360
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 2, 2003 - 5:56 pm: | |
Hey bobk, don't quite know how the dollars to donuts bet works but I figure you owe me either 12 bucks or 7 bucks for a dozen Krispy Kremes! ! (yum)
On the kids in or went to private school, you are just flat out wrong baby.
On the other "supposed" agendas of Mr. Fringe, let us, for argument’s sake,( since I do not speak for him) assume you are correct. Wouldn't it be a good thing to find out why? And WHY do other communities with similar statistics (racial and economic) fair much better than us. Is the answer always and only to be "WE NEED MORE MONEY”?
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sbenois
Citizen
Username: Sbenois
Post Number: 10197
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 2, 2003 - 6:42 pm: | |
Dearest Nan,
I was wondering if you could give me critical feedback of my brand new superb signature.
Thankey
---> Brought to you by Sbenois Engineering LLC <-
Please check out Fringe's Excellent Website:
http://hometown.aol.com/njfabian
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fringe
Citizen
Username: Fringe
Post Number: 156
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 3, 2003 - 8:40 am: | |
19 February 1998
To the Editor:
Two questions about my letters to the News-Record have been raised with increasing frequency. Rather than let others suggest answers, let me address them. First, what is my purpose? Simply to encourage Maplewood and South Orange citizens to become more knowledgeable through their own investigation about educational issues affecting their communities. This is more difficult than it appears because most sources, including these letters [and website] as well as official pronouncements, are written with some bias. While it is not a primary concern to me whether residents agree with my positions, it does bother me that no more than 15% of registered voters are motivated enough to participate in school elections. This allows special interest groups the ability to skew the results.
Second, I have been asked to define my bottom line. I want a balanced presentation of all the facts, and logical actions to be taken from them. I believe the emphasis on ideology has resulted in an absence of clear accountability and leadership – at all levels. Any attempts to address the myriad district problems are doomed to failure until these fundamental management precepts are established. This cannot and will not happen until someone is willing to stand up and say without qualification, “These problems happened on my watch, I accept full responsibility for them. This is what I’m going to do about them, these are the results you can expect and this is what it will cost.”
Contrary to the spin of those holding differing views, I am not opposed to spending more money on the public schools. I am opposed to such spending without a plan for each program that includes very specific, objective measures of success. I am opposed to budget increases based primarily on enrollment increases without a thorough, unbiased investigation as to residency of the student body. Further, I do not believe there should be any salary increase above a cost-of-living index unless there is improvement in the district’s educational product as indicated by objective measures of success.
I encourage readers to contrast these views with the school board’s budget for 1998-1999, and determine for themselves to what extent the current district officials share these beliefs.
JT Lamkin
Maplewood
Five and a half years later, this still sounds relevant, and still no acceptance of responsibility from then and current board members Slafkes, O'Leary, Latz, and perhaps Jasey (can't recall when Gordon resigned), or administrators Horoschack, Davenport and Memoli.
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nan
Citizen
Username: Nan
Post Number: 918
Registered: 2-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 3, 2003 - 1:56 pm: | |
Dearest S,
Please check out Susan Ohanian's Excellent Website:
http://www.susanohanian.org/
Thankey |
michael
Citizen
Username: Michael
Post Number: 363
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 3, 2003 - 7:31 pm: | |
Susan's bio from http://www.asu.edu/educ/epsl/EPRU/bios/ohanian.htm
Susan Ohanian, a long-time public school teacher, is a freelance writer. Her numerous articles have appeared in Atlantic, Parents, Washington Monthly, The Nation, Phi Delta Kappan, Education Week, Language Arts, and American School Board Journal. Her 20 books include One Size Fits Few: The Folly of Educational Standards (Heinemann 1999), and Garbage Pizza, Patchwork Quilts, and Math Magic (W. H. Freeman 1993). Ohanian is an advisor for the John Dewey Project on Progressive Education at the University of Vermont and a Senior Fellow at the Vermont Society for the Study of Education. Her group is crisscrossing the state, warning the public . |
michael
Citizen
Username: Michael
Post Number: 364
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 3, 2003 - 7:36 pm: | |
BOBBY KAY!!! Whada ya say ?
How bout it ? |
nan
Citizen
Username: Nan
Post Number: 920
Registered: 2-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, September 4, 2003 - 5:58 am: | |
Michael,
Why edit the last sentence of the first paragraph? Here's the sentence and the following paragraph--to provide a better context:
. . .Her group is crisscrossing the state, warning the public about the dangers of the No Child Left Behind legislation.
Susan's website http://www.susanohanian.org offers information and inspiration on High-Stakes Standards and Testing resistance. The site includes: Atrocities (news items of education assault on children), Commentaries (thoughtful and/or hilarious discussions of issues), and original Cartoons. It offers links to other resistance sites and sample letters to editors posted by resistors to newspapers around the country. This website is unique in that it stays up-to-date, posting new items several times a week.
------------------
And what exactly is your problem with her biography, anyway?
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michael
Citizen
Username: Michael
Post Number: 367
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, September 4, 2003 - 9:36 am: | |
Hey Nan, easy, I didn't intentionally edit anything it must have been left behind during a WP cut and paste. Nothing sinister here.
Why post her bio? The more info the better, right? Did I say I had a "problem" with it?
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