Greed Growth for 25 more years.

[Ken King]

And schools made of brick and block do not burn

10:43 a.m. EDT June 16, 2006

WALDORF, Md. - A fire broke out Friday morning at a Charles County middle school. The fire was reported at about 9:30 a.m. at the Theodore Davis Middle School on Davis Road in Waldorf.

The school is under construction and no students or faculty members were in the building at the time of the fire.

Fire officials said heavy fire and smoke could be seen coming from the roof when firefighters arrived.

There were no reports of injuries or a cause of the fire.

The district is on summer break, so there were no disruptions at a nearby high school.

And the cause to the problem is the excessive and unneccessary political policies of out-of-control growth coming at Pax NAS through Bohanan that does not defend our community and does not protect our infrastructure.

I will be a big change for 29b and I will put a stop to it.

The population of St. Mary's County in 2000 was 86,211, in 2005 it was estimated at 96,518. JPC do you have proof that the estimated increase of 10,307 persons was due to Pax River? If so, show it.

 

[Bruzilla]

There it is, by first hand testimony. If we let St. Mary's escalate out of control then we get people like this poster that thinks it is normal and to be expected.

To try to give answer to the poster, when the teacher knows the student's family then they have a more vested interest in the teaching and they can communicate with the families and can understand any special needs and can give greater credance to the individuality.

And can you tell me why we need all this greater credence to individuality? My two oldest kids made it through grades 1-12 in St. Mary's County Schools, and I had call to meet with teachers on only three occasions. I don't understand why you see this burning need for teachers to be familiar with the families of their students, or the burning need for recipricol attention. Granted there are some problem children in every school that need plenty of attention, and interventions involving school staff and family members, but these students are way and by far the exception to the general conduct of the student body. These students and their families get plenty of attention from teachers and administrators... usually more than they want.

And once again, high schools, be they in MD, PA, FL, etc., are not geared towards having a teacher stay with a single group of students through the whole day. This isn't so much a function of school design as it is a result of students taking different classes and pursuing different studies. For your utopian high school to exist you would need to hire teachers who are capable of teaching any curriculum the school offers, fund students who all want to take the same classes, and sverely limit what can be taught. In short, you want to move the K-5 model to HS, and that won't work.

Given even an optimized student:teacher ratio of 20:1, and seven periods a day, that comes out to about 140 families a HS teacher would need to know and be familiar with per semester. And to what end? So they can make courtesy calls on me? So they can play nanny for me? So they can email me each day with an assessment of my kids' performance and their homework assignment? To what end? Maybe your kids are in the special education or disciplinary segment that need lots of specialized treatment, but mine fell into the vast majority of kids who somehow manage to get through the day just by listening to what the teacher tells them... just like I taught them.

 

[residentofcre]

Speaking of teachers knowing the parents of students....

Wouldn't it be nice if when a child K-12 started to fall behind, teachers would take the time to call the parents right away...

When I was a kid, teachers could use corporal punishment [you know... spanking] I never got spanked but that threat didn't scare me nearly as much as when the teacher would say that they were going to call my parents....

I think more teachers should be calling the parents... it would take more than a call or two to get the situation on the right path again in most cases....

 

[BadGirl]

Speaking of teachers knowing the parents of students....

Wouldn't it be nice if when a child K-12 started to fall behind, teachers would take the time to call the parents right away...

When I was a kid, teachers could use corporal punishment [you know... spanking] I never got spanked but that threat didn't scare me nearly as much as when the teacher would say that they were going to call my parents....

I think more teachers should be calling the parents... it would take more than a call or two to get the situation on the right path again in most cases....

Wouldn't it make more sense to ask the kid to see his homework assignments, and to WORK with the child to ensure that the hopework is being done - and done correctly? In your scenario, you place the burden on the teachers. The burden for ensuring that a child is getting all they can out of school lies directly with the PARENTS. Ask to see homework; ask to see interim report cards, ask to see report cards; work with students to see if they are on top of their assignment load, and that they are learning at the correct speed and learning the proper content. If parents sees a deficiency, then they can contact the teacher to coordinate a means to get the students the help they need.

 

[tirdun]

Even if the trailers did not catch fire in 29b and even if they were to never catch fire ever again anywhere...

So... your answer to Ken's question is: NO. You have absolutely no data that shows relocatable classrooms are less safe then standard built schools?

Good, now you can stop blabbering on about it.

 

[Toxick]

then still the trailers in and of themslves are second rate and inferior conditions then having actual school buildings.

In what way are they inferior?

And how did you come to this conclusion?

And schools made of brick and block do not burn

How did you come to THIS conclusion.


And while we're on that topic, you should add this to your campaign platform: About how you can save the county THOUSANDS of dollars by removing fire-extinguishers, smoke detectors, and other useless fire-safety equipment in all the brick & mortar schools - because they won't burn.



Run with that. You don't need to give me any credit.


Yer Welcome!

And the cause to the problem is the excessive and unneccessary political policies of out-of-control growth coming at Pax NAS through Bohanan that does not defend our community and does not protect our infrastructure.

This unrestricted growth is also the cause of most cases of Heart Disease in St. Mary's County - as well as lung cancer, kidney failure, heartbreak of psoriasis, ozone depletion, feminine odor, West-Nile virus, wildfires, nematode infestation, gas prices, jock-itch, erectile dysfunction, pit-sweat, Mad Cow Disease, insurgency, meteor strikes, locust, pox, heat, darkness, tsunami, killer bees, proliferation of smeg-cheese, drug abuse, spouse abuse, alcohol abuse, child abuse, and pornography.

 

[JPC, Sr.]

The Wizard!

And can you tell me why we need all this greater credence to individuality? My two oldest kids made it through grades 1-12 in St. Mary's County Schools, and I had call to meet with teachers on only three occasions. I don't understand why you see this burning need for teachers to be familiar with the families of their students, or the burning need for recipricol attention. Granted there are some problem children in every school that need plenty of attention, and interventions involving school staff and family members, but these students are way and by far the exception to the general conduct of the student body. These students and their families get plenty of attention from teachers and administrators... usually more than they want.

And once again, high schools, be they in MD, PA, FL, etc., are not geared towards having a teacher stay with a single group of students through the whole day. This isn't so much a function of school design as it is a result of students taking different classes and pursuing different studies. For your utopian high school to exist you would need to hire teachers who are capable of teaching any curriculum the school offers, fund students who all want to take the same classes, and sverely limit what can be taught. In short, you want to move the K-5 model to HS, and that won't work.

Well I am not a teacher and I am not running for the Board of Education (BOE). My point is that the reckless political policies now going on here of out-of-control growth are overloading our County's infrastructure and particularly overcrowding the St. Mary's County schools and thus forcing the BOE to use more and more of the dangerous and inferior relocatable trailers as classrooms and that needs to be stopped. After that the schools can be run any way the BOE and parents want to run the schools as I do trust them to do their best, but the reckless overcrowding of our schools interferes with the safe and competant operations of any facility and that needs to be stopped.

Given even an optimized student:teacher ratio of 20:1, and seven periods a day, that comes out to about 140 families a HS teacher would need to know and be familiar with per semester. And to what end? So they can make courtesy calls on me? So they can play nanny for me? So they can email me each day with an assessment of my kids' performance and their homework assignment? To what end? Maybe your kids are in the special education or disciplinary segment that need lots of specialized treatment, but mine fell into the vast majority of kids who somehow manage to get through the day just by listening to what the teacher tells them... just like I taught them.

Some kids do need more regard from the teachers and some do not, some families want more involvement and some do not, that is fine by me. But the reckless policies of overcrowding the schools and forcing the classrooms outside into trailers is giving us some second rate and inferior conditions for our schools and that is what I want to stop.

 

[Ken King]

But the reckless policies of overcrowding the schools and forcing the classrooms outside into trailers is giving us some second rate and inferior conditions for our schools and that is what I want to stop.

Explain how an independent classroom that is safe, comfortable, and free from other disruptions of the main school makes them inferior or second-rate? Do you have a study to back up this assertion or is it just a gut feeling that you as a dead-beat parent has?

 

[MMDad]

Explain how an independent classroom that is safe, comfortable, and free from other disruptions of the main school makes them inferior or second-rate? Do you have a study to back up this assertion or is it just a gut feeling that you as a dead-beat parent has?

He strained is gut, that's why he says he can't work. I guess it's also why he can't think.

 

[JPC, Sr.]

The Wizard!

Explain how an independent classroom that is safe, comfortable, and free from other disruptions of the main school makes them inferior or second-rate? Do you have a study to back up this assertion or is it just a gut feeling that you as a dead-beat parent has?

My point is - and has remained - that the overcrowding caused by the excessive growth is the problem and that is what I intend to stop.

Otherwise, "an independent classroom that is safe, comfortable, and free from other disruptions of the main school" would be fine by me.

Its just those blasted relocatable fire box trailers that I disapprove of.

 

[Ken King]

My point is - and has remained - that the overcrowding caused by the excessive growth is the problem and that is what I intend to stop.

Otherwise, "an independent classroom that is safe, comfortable, and free from other disruptions of the main school" would be fine by me.

Its just those blasted relocatable fire box trailers that I disapprove of.

Well as asked before (and ignored by you) did the 10,000 person increase in our local population all come from Pax River as has been your claim? If so, where are they working as the workforce level at Pax has been fairly stable for many years?

Don't those relocatable school classrooms meet the state standards for safety? If not, do you have proof that they do not?

Brick and block schools burn too, are they of no concern for you? If not, why not? Or are you just wont to b!tch and moan?

 

[JPC, Sr.]

The Wizard!

Well as asked before (and ignored by you) did the 10,000 person increase in our local population all come from Pax River as has been your claim? If so, where are they working as the workforce level at Pax has been fairly stable for many years?

The Navy Base has itself brought in thousands of new people to this area, but many others are sideline people like the new bigger Walmart will bring in some and the new Hotels and grocery stores to feed the new population and things like that, so Pax NAS is behind it all even if it is not directly doing it.

Don't those relocatable school classrooms meet the state standards for safety? If not, do you have proof that they do not?

I am sure that the trailers do meet the State standards and after two (2) of the trailers burned down in 29b the trailers still meet Bohanan's standards, but they do not meet my standards as I want better for St. Mary's County.

Brick and block schools burn too, are they of no concern for you? If not, why not? Or are you just wont to b!tch and moan?

The school books might burn and the students themselves could burn but brick and block do not burn and if there is a fire in one room then the brick and block will keep the fire from burning through it to the next room, like the fire did in 29b where one trailer cought fire and the fire spread to the second trailer and burned both of them down.

 

[donbarzini]

I swore I was going to ignore you. Now look what you made me go and do!!!

MORON!!! Everything on God's green earth has what is known as an "ignition temperature" and thus, WILL burn. That includes mortar and brick.

Jesus H. Christ!!!! Will you please dry up and blow away?!?

 

[Ken King]

The Navy Base has itself brought in thousands of new people to this area, but many others are sideline people like the new bigger Walmart will bring in some and the new Hotels and grocery stores to feed the new population and things like that, so Pax NAS is behind it all even if it is not directly doing it.

Where are your specifics as to the number the base has brought in or is this again just what you believe has happened? Remember we are talking about since 2000.

I am sure that the trailers do meet the State standards and after two (2) of the trailers burned down in 29b the trailers still meet Bohanan's standards, but they do not meet my standards as I want better for St. Mary's County.

Are you a structural engineer? What do you know about safety standards that you can establish them?

The school books might burn and the students themselves could burn but brick and block do not burn and if there is a fire in one room then the brick and block will keep the fire from burning through it to the next room, like the fire did in 29b where one trailer cought fire and the fire spread to the second trailer and burned both of them down.

Really? Are you a fire specialist or have you ever fought a fire? Besides the books do drop ceilings, insulation, wiring, wood doors and furniture not also burn and can spread fires throughout a structure? Doesn't block and brick allow for a furnace effect during a fire allowing for super-heating and higher temperatures within the structure, thus more likely ignition of materials in close proximity?

 

[residentofcre]

In spite of everything you say you can do.... if [shutter to think..]you win the seat, you will be one very small voice, very naive vote....

It's a fact you will annoy people in the House but they have dealt with small voices like yours before.... so you will not be able to change things...

Bohanan... on the other hand has a number of well built relationships... and he would do more to straighten out the issues you are spouting off about...


Have you ever expressed any of the concerns to the current leaders?

I have...

 

[Toxick]

Otherwise, "an independent classroom that is safe, comfortable, and free from other disruptions of the main school" would be fine by me.

They're fine by you?

Its just those blasted relocatable fire box trailers that I disapprove of.

Yet you disapprove of them.



Ok - whatever...



Did you stop to think that if 20 children were in one of these firebox trailers as it spontaneously cumbusted, there would be 20 fewer deadbroke parents that have to pay unjust child support?!

 

[Bruzilla]

I think that Ken makes a good point about the base not driving growth that much. I used to live in Golden Beach, and drove past Charlotte Hall twice a day. There were always dozens of busses and hundreds of cars there from folks commuting to DC. Since the base population has remained pretty steady I'm guessing the big driver of the population increase, and housing cost increases, is the influx of people who work in DC looking for a cheaper place to live.

 

[Bruzilla]

Well I am not a teacher and I am not running for the Board of Education (BOE). My point is that the reckless political policies now going on here of out-of-control growth are overloading our County's infrastructure and particularly overcrowding the St. Mary's County schools and thus forcing the BOE to use more and more of the dangerous and inferior relocatable trailers as classrooms and that needs to be stopped. After that the schools can be run any way the BOE and parents want to run the schools as I do trust them to do their best, but the reckless overcrowding of our schools interferes with the safe and competant operations of any facility and that needs to be stopped. Some kids do need more regard from the teachers and some do not, some families want more involvement and some do not, that is fine by me. But the reckless policies of overcrowding the schools and forcing the classrooms outside into trailers is giving us some second rate and inferior conditions for our schools and that is what I want to stop.

So why do you keep attacking perfectly fine high schools by labling them as "Columbine" schools? Do you really feel that you non-applicable insult to the schools lends credibility to your argument? It doesn't. Also, you seem to be mixing your issues. You wrote that you didn't want high schools where teachers have limited contact time with students and families to become the norm... even though they've been the norm since I was in HS in the 1970s, and now you're saying that's fine - just git rid of the temporary classrooms. So what's your real concern? The classrooms? If you're running for office why don't you just announce that if elected you'll initiate a tax increase and bond issues to expand all of the county schools with enough classroom space to get rid of the trailers? If you're really a serious candidate why do you waste all your time posting here when you could be getting your message out to all the county people who think like you do... unless there really aren't that many who think like you and you know that.

 

[JPC, Sr.]

The Wizard!

... and now you're saying that's fine - just git rid of the temporary classrooms. So what's your real concern? The classrooms?

My concern is stopping the reckless growth that is overloading our infrastructure and overcrowding our schools and making the need for those trailers - thus I plan to stop the growth.

If you're running for office why don't you just announce that if elected you'll initiate a tax increase and bond issues to expand all of the county schools with enough classroom space to get rid of the trailers?

I do not want to accommodate the growth. We do not need more space we need to get rid of the overflow.

If you're really a serious candidate why do you waste all your time posting here when you could be getting your message out to all the county people who think like you do... unless there really aren't that many who think like you and you know that.

Well I do use the computer for other things in contacting officials and running my website and the Forum here is fun.

But I do have a new campaign ad in today's Enterprise newspaper just at the end of the Editorial section bottom right. This ad even has a Democrat donkey in the middle of the ad so it is kind of like the icons used here. The ad was to have stars on each side but last minute changes yesterday took out the stars.

BUT, do note that this ad has now gone out to ALL of the 29b voters so I am getting the message out to those that really count (those in 29b).

 

[JPC, Sr.]

The Wizard!

I swore I was going to ignore you. Now look what you made me go and do!!!

MORON!!! Everything on God's green earth has what is known as an "ignition temperature" and thus, WILL burn. That includes mortar and brick.

Jesus H. Christ!!!! Will you please dry up and blow away?!?

In 29b it is a question of standards.

So if 29b votes for more Bohanan then they get Bohanan's standard with out-of-control growth and super inflation and fire box trailers as school classrooms,

OR, if voters in 29b chose to vote for me and my standards of stop the growth, control the inflation and get rid of the fire box trailers.

There it is - the choice for 29b voters.