I've not posted much lately because I have been sick. Sinus infection. Yuck. Nuff said.Im not one of those to go on and on about medical conditions.
Ill try to think of something worthwhile to write later on today.
THought you all might like this picture.
Check out the web site too, its fun.
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34 comments:
Perhaps your next blog can explain this -
In 2007 - Wichita East had an enrollment of 2198. That same year they reported 20 violent Acts.
In 2007 - ACHS had an enrollment of 846. They reported 26 violent Acts.
Wichita East has nearly 3x the enrollment, yet had 6 fewer violent acts commited in 2007.
How do you explain that?
http://www.city-data.com/school/arkansas-city-high-school-ks.html
http://www.city-data.com/school/east-high-school-ks.html
Look down at the bottom of the page for violence statistics.
I dont know,
but look at how it goes up and down.
there is half or less than there was in te years 2003-2005
So violent acts are way down from those years.
how do you explain that?
2007 : 26
2006 : 21
2005 : 56
2004 : 73
2003 : 56
2002: 13
2001 : 37
Thats the thing about stats. There is no context, so we dont know why.
I may look into it.
Ask the principal, off the record.
I'll bet she has an opinion, one way or another (and nothing to defend now).
Dude, you need to look at statistics as being "relative". Maybe each school system looks at "violent" acts differently. Maybe Wichita East considers a "act" when someone actually gets hurt, not when it is threatened. The state probably doesn't hand down a mandate saying what is considerded violent in a school. My opinion is people are on a witch hunt, and finding things to get upset about. 26 violent acts? I grew up in the 80's, in a town about the same size and school population. We had "violent" acts probably once a week during school. Granted, kids were smart enough then to do it off school grounds. As for school systems go, Ark City is actually pretty decent. A lot of the larger school districts i.e. Goddard, Derby, Wichita for one, overlook somethings, hide many more things than Ark City is "suppose to be hiding", and being a smaller town, people stick their nose into more things. I am a Ark City transplant. I moved here from a town east of here, and at least your high school (and school district) wasn't threaten to be taken over by the state 7 times in10 years for have a bad school. You guys have it good here, beleive me. Decent schools, good teachers, and good programs. Only thing I see is a bunch of parents (and nosy non-parents) griping about some issues, that are really non-issues. Come back to reality.
You do have to define violent acts.
Schools may even define them differently.
I also noticed that Wichita East had more violent acts against teachers than Arkansas City had.
Parents need to be involved. If you are really concerned about violence, consider what you can do to help the situation.
Maybe Wichita East considers a "act" when someone actually gets hurt, not when it is threatened. The state probably doesn't hand down a mandate saying what is considerded violent in a school. ... As for school systems go, Ark City is actually pretty decent.
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I realize that everything has to be taken in context. The point is, in 2004, I asked Dr. Ballard why there was such a disparity between Ark City's numbers and the rest of the state. His response, "Ark City is the only district reporting accuratley."
Perhaps this is true. I tend to think not. The only district reporting accuratley? Why hasn't the state cracked down on this? Why dosen't Arc City begin reporting the way other districts do? Do they want this reputation? Yes, the numbers are down considerably from 2004, but they have seemed to ebb and flow over the years. Could be coincidence, could be something they are doing.
My cheif complaint, is that they are not being proactive enough. Everything seems to be a reaction to some incident. When something happens, safety is "top priority." After things quiet down, it's back to the status quo.
We need comprehensive charecter education, anti bullying education, zero tolerance for any act of violence or intimidation. Zero tolerance for "open defiance," (which is up the last couplke of years)perhaps we need to increase the alternative program. Make it more punative. Maybe uniforms would be a help to restoring some sense of order and decorum in the classroom.
I don't have all the answers, but I know sitting around pretending we don't have a problem is not the answer.
26 acts of violence is 26 too many.
Maybe Ballard is right(about reporting accurately). My old alma mater in Coffeyville had been hovering around 4 and 13 from 2003 to 2007, and last year, they had 28. It jumped approx 140% in one year; must have gotten some really bad apples in that freshman class.
It is also the only school I know of that basketball officials are escorted in and out by police before and after a game so they don't get jumped by the local student body (Coff Comm. College has also has had shootings and stabbings at bball games too. Gives you the warm fuzzies, doesn't it?)
As for school systems go, Ark City is actually pretty decent.
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Actually, the Middle School ranks 18 out of 100, and the High School 58. Based on test scores....
http://www.city-data.com/school/arkansas-city-high-school-ks.html
http://www.city-data.com/school/arkansas-city-middle-school-ks.html
Don't worry, my kid just entered middle school, so those stats will be going up soon. ;)
(Coff Comm. College has also has had shootings and stabbings at bball games too. Gives you the warm fuzzies, doesn't it?)
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Someone needs to tell our young hoodlums to get with it. We've got a reputation to protect here.
@7:23 AM
Good luck with that. Most people when they've left a position choose not to comment. Go ahead, ask.
A thought, would be nice to get Mr. Doug Russell to comment "off the record".
3 principals in 7 years and there isn't a problem?
Who was the fella from 2000 - 2002.
As I recall, he had a lot to say about the administration/BOE and their lack of support.
Granted, the players have changed, but the attitudes have not.
This is the 2006-2007 crime matrix, suspension, expulsion and violence statistics for USD 470.
I think the numbers are interesting.
2007-2008 report card
Ah cool, now I know only kindergartners are completely innocent! Heh, heh! Sorry just had too.
"Who was the fella from
2000 - 2002".
Not too sure, maybe Dr. Sjoberg. Best I remember, he ran into hot water when he fired a teacher for viewing pornography while at school. Angered someone in the School System or on the School Board.
Sjoberg was a jewel of a guy. (author's opinion only) Hated to see him go. I'm being real serious here.
Ok, it seemed to me that the paper reported that all the violence we have (or were going to have) involved gangs of Blacks and Hispanics. According to Bytedaily's chart (good chart!), it looks like the white folk are having some issues w/ Hispanics and Native Americans? It also looks like by the time they are seniors, they wise up, and stop trying to beat each other up. According to the charts, maybe they need to have some sort of "sensitivity" training in the Sixth grade, when they all go to the Middle School. Maybe it is the rival elementary school gangs we need to worry about.
I really find this quite amusing, all these facts and figures.
Unfortunately, 3 principals in 7 years is not all that rare anymore. Very tough job at ACHS!
Sjoberg did have a lot of potential to do AC some good, as did several others. The lack of support from the rest of the district and the town is why they don't last.
I really doubt whoever came up with the idea of comparing Wichita East HS to ACHS has even been in Wichita East. They have about 5 police officers on duty during lunch period and the average Ark City kid would probably soil themselves in a matter of minutes if they had to walk those halls.
Ok, it seemed to me that the paper reported that all the violence we have (or were going to have) involved gangs of Blacks and Hispanics. >>>>
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No, that never happened.
We never reported anything like that.
Hey I have a dead horse that needs beating: What is up with this idea? Sounds like it is feasiable, but not much comment from the School Board. Here it is again:
""Technology has bypassed the capacity of schools to respond with
fact," said Arkansas City Public Schools Superintendent Ron Ballard."
Dear Ron Ballard & USD 470 Boardmembers:
It seems to me the soultion is simple...control the technology for your own use. Send out a text message to everyone that signs up and wants to receive a daily, weekly or "Emergency" text about the school and/or functions. Cost to do this would be minimal to say the least.
This makes me wonder how the school teaches our students, when the administration and school board refuse to get on board with current technology?
I am disappointed with the current actions of the board, but it is a very curable problem that needs to be addressed.
My other concern is the fact we voted the new bond issue to enhance security, but the only actions taken seem to be stalling out the tennis court, putting in a septic tank and deciding we need to raise the sales tax to make the roads nicer to the new football stadium.
We need to make the students safety the first priority, not somewhere after the football field, tennis court and every other fool thing that seems to come along.
The school board is trying to cover it all up!!
The school board is trying to cover it all up!!
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Yea they're buying a lot of video cameras to monitor all areas of the schools.
That should help them know what they need to cover up more quickly.
Editor,
Sorry about the comment about the blacks vs. hispanics thing. May have read it on one of the blogs here or there.
If they are putting video systems in the schools, who is going to monitor the cameras? Did they take that in consideration (the school board) to hire another FTE for the school year just to watch video screens all day? I am assuming the video system is to detect problems when they arise, not just to record the actions after it has happened and provide evidence. Unless they think it will act as a deterrant.
Here is a great topic. McCall's Hill it has been a center of activity in Ark City for generations from Cowley College using it for the hardest workout of the season, first driving lessons, riding bikes down to fast, watching fire works, but what most Ark City natives think of when think of McCall's Hill is Snow!!!!
Sledding down McCall's Hill has been an Ark City tradition for years. When my grandma first moved on to Greenway Dr 1959 our family felt privileged to have the best sledding in town in our back yard, until tonight. For the first time in the 60 years my grandmother has lived at the bottom of the hill she watched snow plows destroy an Ark City tradition.
about the blacks vs. hispanics thing. May have read it on one of the blogs here or there.
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Some anonymous person did say that on here earlier. i should a deleted it , but didnt.
im not sure who will monitor the videos, but it shouldnt be that big of a deal. you would not need someone to be looking at all of them all of the time.
im not sure who will monitor the videos, but it shouldnt be that big of a deal.
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"Young said the district superintendent would have the capability of pulling up video from 16 cameras, all at one time, in his office."
Anonymous said...
Dude, you need to look at statistics as being "relative". Maybe each school system looks at "violent" acts differently....
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From the Kansas State Department of Education -
http://online.ksde.org/rcard/definitions.aspx?org_no=D0470&bldg_no=7456&rpt_type=1#violence
Violent Acts -
For the purposes of determining school safety indicators, violent acts are defined as malicious acts against students or staff that result in the student receiving an out-of-school suspension or expulsion.
Traveler Editor said...
I dont know,
but look at how it goes up and down.
there is half or less than there was in te years 2003-2005
So violent acts are way down from those years.
how do you explain that?
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I believe if you look at the numbers from 2003-2005 compared to 2006-2008, you will see that considerably more students are receiving ISS rather than OSS, thereby eliminating the need to report the incidents to the state as violent acts.
2003-2005 compared to 2006-2008, you will see that considerably more students are receiving ISS rather than OSS, thereby eliminating the need to report the incidents to the state as violent acts.
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I dont see how that relates.
but i did find that during those years, if two students got in a fight, they counted it as two violent acts .. they only have to report that as one.
so you could manipulate it either way.
but, they did change that so it could account for some of the decrease.
Still, the bottom line is, violent acts are way down.
I think it would be interesting to compare pre packing house statistics to post packing house statistics.
I dont see how that relates.
but i did find that during those years, if two students got in a fight, they counted it as two violent acts .. they only have to report that as one.
so you could manipulate it either way.
but, they did change that so it could account for some of the decrease.
Still, the bottom line is, violent acts are way down.
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I'm not sure that is true, but assuming it is, your logic dosent hold.
If all they are doing is changing the way they are reporting the numbers, then violent acts are probably about the same.
If there were 50 fights, resulting in 100 violent acts being reported, and now there are 50 fights resulting in 50 violent acts being reported, there are still 50 fights. Nothing has changed.
If in the past, they gave 50 students OSS for fighting, but now give them ISS instead, violent acts drop to zero (for the purpose of state reporting,) but there were still 50 students fighting.
See my point?
See my point?
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I do see your point, do you see mine? :)
it just depends on how you spin the numbers.
You can make that into a positive or a negative.
Just exactly what a violent act is, is still not defined.
Saying it is something that results in a suspension, is not a definition.
WHAT is it that can cause a suspension?
Traveler Editor said...
See my point?
>>
I do see your point, do you see mine? :)
it just depends on how you spin the numbers.
You can make that into a positive or a negative.
Just exactly what a violent act is, is still not defined.
Saying it is something that results in a suspension, is not a definition.
WHAT is it that can cause a suspension?
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Sorry, I just re-read my post, and it sounds a bit sarcastic. I didn't mean it to be.
I do see your point. I also believe that things are much better than they were 3 or 4 years ago. The administration deserves some credit for that.
I believe there is still too much, and the administration is not doing enough.
And that is not based on statistics, but on direct observation and anecdotal reports from teachers and students alike.
And that is not based on statistics, but on direct observation and anecdotal reports from teachers and students alike.
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And on conversations I have had with administratiors and board members...
Did anyone look at our report card from BD's link? We are below state average on many things, including attendance, drop-out rates, graduations, teacher credentials, etc.
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