Talk of Waco

By Son of Fred

July 24, 2008 6:57 AM | Link to this

I find all these comments about race interesting!

*East Waco, needs leadership. *

*NOTE: Dear ELECTED OFFICIALS, please do not tell us how to raise or kids or run our schools. If you have a child in prison for dealing drugs you need to do your “PREACHIN” at home. *

If you have not paid your property taxes, you need to “MAN UP” and pay your bills. We talk about deadbeat parents not paying their child support how are you differnt.

*If you are a PASTOR lead by example pay your bills on time! *

DO not just talk the talk, Walk the Walk, lead by example.

If you are leading a chamber of commerce and you owe everyone in town money you are not MY leader!

If you want to lead other parents in regards to public schools how about paying your taxes on time?

MY DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IT COME DOWN TO ALL OF US LEADING BY EXAMPLE!

I am sure toes were stepped on but a point has to be made! or we all look foolish!

By racistnonsense

July 24, 2008 7:49 AM | Link to this

It all becomes about race when it comes to East Waco. If this were Viking Hills or Tennyson it wouldn’t have a thing to do with race, in fact the folks in East Waco would probably gloat. Get this in your head “pastors” and “community organizers” (both of which have become euphamisms for the thing in the center of the washing machine painted black): Not everything is about race. GL Wiley is a hole in the wall of a school. The students don’t care, the administration doesn’t care and no matter how hard you try you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.

I volunteered at GLW a few years back when Willie Williams was principal there. If Mr. Williams is an example of the type of leadership the school has had then no wonder it’s in the shape it’s in. Furthermore, during my volunteer time there I never saw a more apethetic group of young people. Learning was the farthest thing from their mind. One thing my volunteer days at GLW did for me, though, was to make me decided that teaching was not for me.

I say close the sucker down, knock the building down and let the vacant lot serve as a reminder to the community that the community brought the problem on itself.

By tim

July 24, 2008 9:06 AM | Link to this

racistnonsense…nice screen name.

If you have all the answers like you think you do…why didn’t your volunteering time lead you to want to help students and become a determined teacher. I am in education and you do not fit the mold. Why not be a difference maker…oh, I know why - it’s much easier to sit on the sidelines and complain.

So with all that being said - and all the nonsense you typed - what a waste of time on your behalf b/c your thoughts are not credible - just opinion. Us educators are glad you didn’t join our ranks - you’re not worthy enough. So go to the local job service and try to find another job…

By Roman

July 24, 2008 9:23 AM | Link to this

WISD trustees will be facing tough decisions in the coming months. They have stated in the school board meeting that they will be faced with possibly closing several schools in years to come. The number of school that could close may be up to 5 across the district. We first heard about this idea before the bond election was announced. The idea of neighborhood schools has proven too costly for the district. We as taxpayers will have to decide wheather we want to continue with that template or not. If we do keep it, be prepared to have your property taxes raised.

By Wilson B.

July 24, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this

Hold on just one minute Racistnonsense,

First of all, Willie Williams was the principal over 25 years ago, not a few years ago. No your history! Second of all, my sister and myself went to G.L. Wiley in the 80’s and received a great education from great teachers. It was a totally different generation back then and the teachers were wonderful! And during that time there were a lot white kids that went to Wiley also. Where you got that information from, I don’t know, and it’s completely false. You said teaching was not for you and that’s good! Stick to your day job.

You really try to be nice on these comments page, but when ignorant, lame, and blind to the fact people like Mr. or Ms. Racistnonsense speak it makes you realize how much they help on holding us back.

By teachers teach

July 24, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this

you “educators” and (apparently we should all use that term loosely around here) obviously aren’t doing your job if you can’t get the kids to score anything other than an unacceptable rating for the past 5 years.

“The community” has failed these kids

By D

July 24, 2008 9:38 AM | Link to this

We are a raced society…everything IS about race. Although race is a socially constructed concept, it is still very real. There is a huge power differential (racism) in Waco and East Waco leaders are justified in being concerned. If that community is only large enough to support a samll number of campuses, then fine. However, you do not use the exisitng campus’s poor performance to justify closure, that’s called placing blame on the “victims” of racism in our community. And you certainly don’t do it less than a month before school starts. When is the village going to get together and talk about these uncomfortable issues? And foucs on equitable solutions? I think placing Carver in a centrally located spot makes sense so that it truly is a magnet for all of Waco and not a recuriter from East Waco. Then, maybe, Wiley’s enrollment would increase and closure wouldn’t be necessary. I say think outside the box, start some conversations, and give it another year like the commissioner said!

By GOOFY IDEAS GALORE

July 24, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this

I do not care what the commissioner says, in my humble opinion he needs to spend his time raising and mentoring his OWN children!

DO any of his children have criminial records? If you do not know the answer buy a subscription to the Waco Tribune Herald and you too can be informed.

* ARE any IN A FEDERAL PRISON FOR DEALING DRUGS???*

They too are products of the WISD, their Mother was even on the WISD board while she lived in Lacy Lakeview. Of course they claimed residence in East Waco. Coincedentally at the same address where federal agents raided and subsequently arreseted a certian commissioners Son.

Save your lectures for your own family. THEY DID NOT WORK THERE AND THE WISD BOARD DOES NOT NEED OR WANT YOUR IMPUT!!!

By Wilson B.

July 24, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this

And another thing,

The Church has always been the backbone of the black community and G.L. Wiley is apart of the East Waco community. It is their civic duty to speak on anything involving the black community whether it be a good thing or a bad thing.

P.S. Viking Hills and Tennyson are in West Waco right, I rest my case!

By Rob

July 24, 2008 10:16 AM | Link to this

Wilson B:

Congratulations on putting your great G.L. Wiley education into practice!

I, along with many others, must have wrongly learned the correct use of the words “no” and “know.”

Who knew it was “no your history?”

By Mike

July 24, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this

What’s the old saying…..A Church is not a building, it’s the people. I think the same goes for this school. The building itself has little to do with the performance, it’s the people….and when I say “people, I’m NOT talking about the staff. Teachers can only do so much. I’m talking about the community as a whole. If more people in the community valued education, they would have better performance, but many parents in the community do not. They do not sit down with their kids and read, or help them with their home work. They don’t make sure they go to bed a decent hour, and most of all, they do not set a good example for their children. But, when it come to the blame game…it’s not the parents fault, no….it’s the teachers, or it’s racism. Look in the mirror parents. Until your community changes, things will remain the same. Build another school in the same community, and I bet performance will still be poor.

Close the school, send the children to some top performing schools so they can see what success looks like, and what it takes to get there (hard work). Let them learn from their peers, because a lot of kids sure are not getting it at home.

By Wilson B

July 24, 2008 10:46 AM | Link to this

Please forgive rob but that’s what happens when you’re typing fast. I am a young and very well educated individual with a college degree. Just one mistake is all you could find?

By Wilson B

July 24, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this

Please forgive me Rob for my ONE simple mistake. But to let you KNOW, I am a well educated young man with a college degree (getting my masters). Is that the only mistake you could find? Excuse me for the typo.

By Rob

July 24, 2008 11:02 AM | Link to this

Oh man, Wislon B.

Here let me fix a few more things for you…

1. P.S. Viking Hills and Tennyson are in West Waco right, I rest my case! (question mark after right?)

2. Second of all, my sister and myself went to G.L. Wiley in the 80’s and received a great education from great teachers. (myself went to G.L. Wiley? Correct grammar would be “my sister and I went to G.L. Wiley)

3. G.L. Wiley is apart of the East Waco community. (apart of the community? Maybe you meant “a part of the community.”

4. It was a totally different generation back then and the teachers were wonderful! And during that time there were a lot white kids that went to Wiley also. (Start a new sentence with “And?” maybe just remove that pesky And and start the new sentence with capital D in During.)

I could probably go on, but not really worth the time. Congrats on your degree! Was it in English?

By Wilson B

July 24, 2008 11:22 AM | Link to this

Rob this is a comments blog, not a letter to get into the Doctorate Program at Harvard. If I type to fast, then I’m sorry! There is NO (did I spell the right one?) way you can insult my intelligence with your comments. Stick to what this article is about.

I wouldn’t be surprised if you worked in the Administration office after all the comments I’ve made.

By Former Wiley Wildcat

July 24, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this

It is sad when such a devestating event is about to take place in the community and we have to read such derrogatory comments. Wiley can bounce back from the low-rating. With the right teachers and staff support Wiley can bounce back. It doesn’t stop there,they need help from the community. Volunteers who are concerned about the school need to step in. Most of all they need PARENTS to be concerned. I believe with these ingredients Wiley can move forward. And for the gentleman with the comment about Wiley becoming a HOLE. I wouldn’t say that to my worst enemy because it would hurt them. It shows what kind of person you are!!!!! You,ve been served.

By Mike

July 24, 2008 11:44 AM | Link to this

To Wilson B What does “I wouldn’t be surprised if you worked in the Administration office after all the comments I’ve made.” mean?

By B.T.

July 24, 2008 12:21 PM | Link to this

In sum:

1. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink;

2. A struggling school in the community is better than no school at all.

By Wife of Wilson B.

July 24, 2008 12:28 PM | Link to this

To Rob: It truly bothers me that you have analyzed the blog comments! Being a graduate student a blog is a safe place that does not need an APA style of writing! IT’S COMMENTS! Get a grip and focus on the issues at hand. If you have such great ways of correcting, then maybe you have great ways to correct the problems at hand. You might want to go back and check your use of “a part” and “apart” before you choose to correct someone else.

By concerned waco citizen

July 24, 2008 12:55 PM | Link to this

 The situation at Wiley is sad.  Wiley has been a part of Waco ever since I was a youngster.  The problem is not the teachers or the community.  The problem is the emphasis on the TAKS Test.  Back 20 years, teachers were able to teach at a speed in which where everyone could learn.  Now in the modern times..lessons are rushed so all the TAKS objectives can get covered.  The state now judges shools solely by TAKS Standards.

I am against closing Wiley. One thought I have is the district needs to find a way to increase the enrollement at the campus. Maybe they could add a few more streets to its attendance zone. The reason why I am suggesting this is because if Wiley only has around 200 students… the school really suffers when each student fails. But if more students are on the campus, each student score would weigh less. I am really condused why the district added Brazos Middle School. It was really not needed. When it was added, the enrollement at Wiley dropped.

By FAMILYMAN

July 24, 2008 1:04 PM | Link to this

PEOPLE… PEOPLE!!!! This is a FAMILY CRISIS! How many of the parents whose children attend G.L. Wiley actually bother to attend PTA meetings or even get to know their child’s teachers? Don’t tell me it doesn’t have to do with the topic at hand… it all goes back to the family. Education starts in the home. Home training… manners… respect for authority… self respect… etc. The blame always gets directed at those at the top, be it administrators or teachers… but I beg to ask, who’s in charge of the home? I am now convinced to say, give them one more year. EAST WACO, it is time to put up or shut up!

By Rob

July 24, 2008 2:18 PM | Link to this

Wow! Will “Mom of Wilson B” be next to make attacks?

By Mike

July 24, 2008 4:37 PM | Link to this

Family Man, you hit the nail on the head….and said it much better than I did. My concern is that the parents will not change, even if they are put on notice.

Concerned Waco Citizen, My wife is a teacher and I tend to agree that the TAKS does limit teachers, but all of the other schools have to meet the same standards as Wiley, and they are succeeding, so it has to be something else.

Rob, Although I knowticed ; ) the errors, but your responses are hurting the point that you were initially trying to make.

By :)

July 25, 2008 10:49 PM | Link to this

Rob, your such a JACK A*!!! Can you understand that you jerk??? Trying to correct bloggers for mechanical errors. You people that sit here all day and do that are just born losers that have nothing to do. Loser!!!