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Two high school students hospitalized, 21 disciplined following underage drinking at Saratoga Springs High School dance Friday (updated at 3:30 p.m.)
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SARATOGA SPRINGS — Two high school students were hospitalized and 21 have since been disciplined following underage drinking during a dance at Saratoga Springs High School Friday night.
In a press release, high school principal Brett Miller said the school takes the situation "very seriously."
"We’re concerned about our students and want to ensure a safe environment for them."
At around 8 p.m. Friday city emergency officials received two separate calls regarding intoxicated students at the high school. Reports of a "highly intoxicated 14-year-old female" and another regarding a 14-year-old who had consumed "half a bottle of vodka" were heard over the police scanner that night.
Saratoga Springs Police Lt. Greg Veitch said the matter is still under investigation. "It is our understanding that the alcohol consumption happened off campus," he said, adding that police are investigating where the students drank and how they obtained the alcohol.
According to Miller, the two students transported to Saratoga Hospital from the dance were treated, released and are in good health.
The press release states that those students are believed to have been drinking prior to the dance.
Veitch said he could not release any further information about the students involved because of their age.
"We’ve had numerous meetings with students and parents, and most have been very supportive," Miller said.
In the same release, Superintendent Dr. Janice White said underage drinking "is unacceptable and it will not be tolerated. Our schools and all school activities are expected to be safe places for students, staff and the entire community." Continued...
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White also highlighted the school district’s history of offering programs for students and parents that focus on the hazards of substance abuse, including a 10-year collaborative effort with the Saratoga Partnership for Prevention, which provides ongoing services aimed at substance abuse prevention.
On March 10 the district will offer a program on prescription drug abuse in teens through its Parent University. The program will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Saratoga Springs Recreation Center.
More information on that program is available at http://www. saratogaschools.org/Parents andCommunity/ParentUniversity/PU_March_workshop_Rx-drugs.pdf.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Two high school students were hospitalized and 21 have since been disciplined following underage drinking during a dance at Saratoga Springs High School Friday night.
In a press release, high school principal Brett Miller said the school takes the situation "very seriously."
"We’re concerned about our students and want to ensure a safe environment for them."
At around 8 p.m. Friday city emergency officials received two separate calls regarding intoxicated students at the high school. Reports of a "highly intoxicated 14-year-old female" and another regarding a 14-year-old who had consumed "half a bottle of vodka" were heard over the police scanner that night.
Saratoga Springs Police Lt. Greg Veitch said the matter is still under investigation. "It is our understanding that the alcohol consumption happened off campus," he said, adding that police are investigating where the students drank and how they obtained the alcohol.
According to Miller, the two students transported to Saratoga Hospital from the dance were treated, released and are in good health.
The press release states that those students are believed to have been drinking prior to the dance.
Veitch said he could not release any further information about the students involved because of their age.
"We’ve had numerous meetings with students and parents, and most have been very supportive," Miller said.
In the same release, Superintendent Dr. Janice White said underage drinking "is unacceptable and it will not be tolerated. Our schools and all school activities are expected to be safe places for students, staff and the entire community."
White also highlighted the school district’s history of offering programs for students and parents that focus on the hazards of substance abuse, including a 10-year collaborative effort with the Saratoga Partnership for Prevention, which provides ongoing services aimed at substance abuse prevention.
On March 10 the district will offer a program on prescription drug abuse in teens through its Parent University. The program will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Saratoga Springs Recreation Center.
More information on that program is available at http://www. saratogaschools.org/Parents andCommunity/ParentUniversity/PU_March_workshop_Rx-drugs.pdf.
Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of saratogian.com.
dm23 wrote on Mar 9, 2011 5:38 PM:
" Maybe if Superintendent White had more of a presence in the student body we could take her concerns seriously. McFadden used to be out in front of the school every morning, visible for all to see, when the busses were unloading. She hasn't been out there once. "
get real wrote on Mar 9, 2011 5:49 PM:
" Why did it take 5 days for this story to break? I heard about it Friday. night and have been waiting for a story to find out what really happened "
local woman wrote on Mar 9, 2011 5:57 PM:
" McFadden was out in front of the school every day? Not when I was in high school. And yes, McFadden was the superintendent at that time. What does that have to do with her being concerned over this event? Everyone should be concerned that these kids were drunk. Where were their parents? "
salady wrote on Mar 9, 2011 6:30 PM:
" Don't blame the school or the parents.
These kids were with their peers who thought that drinking was cool. These kids really did not think that they could get that sick. They are kids who don't think. I hope they will learn from this. Maybe the parents should talk with their kids tonight about drinking and what could happen. "
These kids were with their peers who thought that drinking was cool. These kids really did not think that they could get that sick. They are kids who don't think. I hope they will learn from this. Maybe the parents should talk with their kids tonight about drinking and what could happen. "
trider400 wrote on Mar 9, 2011 6:30 PM:
" It took five days because that's how long it took the Post Star to post it and then the Saratogian to follow. As for the district, they never sent any information home, they sat back and ignored the issue until the social networks to lit up. "
The Enforcer wrote on Mar 9, 2011 7:50 PM:
" Cool - Don't blame the parents - Thought they wouldn't get sick. WHAT TYPE OF VALUE SYSTEM ARE WE LIVING IN???? You can't possibly believe what you're saying?? "
GottaLoveSaratoga wrote on Mar 9, 2011 11:28 PM:
" I can assure you this is not NEWS. This sort of thing happens every single year, for god only knows how long at high school dances/events. "
mabaringer wrote on Mar 10, 2011 7:02 AM:
" Where were the chaperones (teachers, staff, etc.) at this dance??? This is a school sanctioned (and payed for) event which would require a certain amount of supervision that clearly was not there. "
crazy4u wrote on Mar 10, 2011 7:31 AM:
" 23 drunk teenagers at a school dance is pretty sad with a bunch of oblivious adults standing around.....
and what 21 and over adult gets a 14 year old girl drunk??? "
and what 21 and over adult gets a 14 year old girl drunk??? "
superad1 wrote on Mar 10, 2011 8:30 AM:
" It sounds to me like the school staff DID do their jobs by identifying, removing and caring for these kids. The parents that I know (that have a clue) said that they were happy with how the chaperones responded that night and that the school has followed its own code, isn't looking to destroy these kids, and is looking to educate. Most of the kids didn't even get past the front lobby before they were nabbed. Stick with the facts, don't spread falsehoods or insinuations!
The sad thing is that this IS too common in our schools. To be honest, Saratoga HS has done a nice job with minimal problems at their dances. I feel more problems arise at the smaller schools. Unfortunately, schools can educate but when it comes to the dance, they have to REACT. It is the parents that need to be proactive. This incident isn't a slight against these specific parents, mistakes can be made by anyone, but as a society, we parents are turning a blind eye to this stuff too often. "
The sad thing is that this IS too common in our schools. To be honest, Saratoga HS has done a nice job with minimal problems at their dances. I feel more problems arise at the smaller schools. Unfortunately, schools can educate but when it comes to the dance, they have to REACT. It is the parents that need to be proactive. This incident isn't a slight against these specific parents, mistakes can be made by anyone, but as a society, we parents are turning a blind eye to this stuff too often. "
USADI wrote on Mar 10, 2011 9:03 AM:
" Lets look a little closer and clarify some of this. First a person heard on the scanner that a 14 year old consumed half a bottle of alcohol. Is this true? Most likely a 14 year old was intoxicated and someone calling 911 thought that a half of a bottle was the amount consumed. Next the dispatch relayed the raw information to the responders. That’s ok. We must ask our selves what size bottle and if the bottle was full when the teen got it. Usually half of a bottle of vodka would kill an inexperienced drinker, regardless of the size of the bottle. The comment on the scanner was raw hearsay from the person calling 911. I believe an ample amount of alcohol was consumed. I believe enough to intoxicate a 14 year old and require EMS. Half of a bottle? Hmmm! We weren’t there to see the consumption.
Next we have a second kid going to the hospital. I believe this is true. So, we know that two kids were intoxicated on an unknown amount of alcohol, but enough to require EMS and transport. Those are the first two solid facts here. The third fact is that it did not happen on the school property according to officials. This is not hearsay, a rumor or speculation, it is fact.
We are told that 21 kids were disciplined in connection with the incident. At no point does the article say 21 kids were intoxicated or consumed alcohol. This is key to understanding the magnitude of the story. Were 21 kids intoxicated? It isn’t clear. It just says 21 were disciplined. Disciplined for what? Knowing of the incident and not bringing it to the attention of an adult? Being present during the consumption? Encouraging the consumption? What were they disciplined for?
No matter how you cut it, none of it is good in regards to the kids involved. The story is just unclear to me and the deatails are the key factors in how one percieves the severity of the story. "
Next we have a second kid going to the hospital. I believe this is true. So, we know that two kids were intoxicated on an unknown amount of alcohol, but enough to require EMS and transport. Those are the first two solid facts here. The third fact is that it did not happen on the school property according to officials. This is not hearsay, a rumor or speculation, it is fact.
We are told that 21 kids were disciplined in connection with the incident. At no point does the article say 21 kids were intoxicated or consumed alcohol. This is key to understanding the magnitude of the story. Were 21 kids intoxicated? It isn’t clear. It just says 21 were disciplined. Disciplined for what? Knowing of the incident and not bringing it to the attention of an adult? Being present during the consumption? Encouraging the consumption? What were they disciplined for?
No matter how you cut it, none of it is good in regards to the kids involved. The story is just unclear to me and the deatails are the key factors in how one percieves the severity of the story. "
22miles wrote on Mar 10, 2011 9:38 AM:
" This story took so long to break because school officials would either not comment on questions about it or would flat out lie about the dance.
As for the discipline, it was most likely 4 days for the two girls that went to the hospital and one or two days for the rest of the kids.
The two girls that went to the hospital were definitely drunk, but the other 19 kids just needed to be detected with alcohol to get in trouble, although students at the dance said the suspended kids were more than tipsy.
The Toga Administration should be crushed for not being up front and honest about this problem. Instead they released a press release that reiterated their commitment to stopping underage drinking, when they actually did a good job controlling things on their end and should have lambasted parents for letting this happen. "
As for the discipline, it was most likely 4 days for the two girls that went to the hospital and one or two days for the rest of the kids.
The two girls that went to the hospital were definitely drunk, but the other 19 kids just needed to be detected with alcohol to get in trouble, although students at the dance said the suspended kids were more than tipsy.
The Toga Administration should be crushed for not being up front and honest about this problem. Instead they released a press release that reiterated their commitment to stopping underage drinking, when they actually did a good job controlling things on their end and should have lambasted parents for letting this happen. "
cb wrote on Mar 10, 2011 9:54 AM:
" The school tries to bury the hall and bathroom fights as well as episodes like this to keep their Discipline Record clean and Overall Evaluation high.
After we kick out the Skiddies, should we kick out the High Schoolers, too? "
After we kick out the Skiddies, should we kick out the High Schoolers, too? "
greywulfe wrote on Mar 10, 2011 9:57 AM:
" Having such a high drinking age (pretty much the highest in the world) in part encourages unsupervised binge drinking. At least this happened in the confines of high school where there are adults present. Too often our institutions of "higher learning" are just drink/sex fests ala Skidmore with no adult supervision and far worse consequences. Give kids tons of money, no supervision and you have situations like what happened at Comptons, or the party last week. "
oldtogaparent wrote on Mar 10, 2011 10:16 AM:
" The two leading stories in the Saratogian in the past couple days are very disturbing. These high school kids know that binge drinking is wrong and dangerous. It took extensive planning to secure the alcohol and deceptive skills to bring it into the dance for consumption. These children are sly, stupid, deceivers. I hold their parents accountable.
Skidmore “friends” allowed Alexander Grant to wander away from a party drunk and stripped from clothing and then not report him missing for 18 hours. That is unconscionable. They are a thoughtless depraved group of individuals who hold some responsibility to this man’s miserable death.
The common problem in both situations is that this age group (14 yrs to 24yrs) are not suffering the consequences of their actions. The school will hand out a minor punishment and some parents will feel so badly that their kid is “sad” that they will go out and buy them a new car to help them feel better. No joke - it’s happened.
I am tired of the Saratogian defending Skidmore students as such a wonderful group who are an asset to our community. I see all too often that they are decadent, lawless, and spoiled. Someone deserves jail time for the death of Alexander Grant.
Actions have consequences. Our society has eliminated real punishment and the results are evident in the headlines. "
Skidmore “friends” allowed Alexander Grant to wander away from a party drunk and stripped from clothing and then not report him missing for 18 hours. That is unconscionable. They are a thoughtless depraved group of individuals who hold some responsibility to this man’s miserable death.
The common problem in both situations is that this age group (14 yrs to 24yrs) are not suffering the consequences of their actions. The school will hand out a minor punishment and some parents will feel so badly that their kid is “sad” that they will go out and buy them a new car to help them feel better. No joke - it’s happened.
I am tired of the Saratogian defending Skidmore students as such a wonderful group who are an asset to our community. I see all too often that they are decadent, lawless, and spoiled. Someone deserves jail time for the death of Alexander Grant.
Actions have consequences. Our society has eliminated real punishment and the results are evident in the headlines. "
togaguy13 wrote on Mar 10, 2011 11:33 AM:
" Anyone that feels the staff didn't do their job, needs to realize that the PARENTS didn't do their job. Walk through the high school and look at these kids today. The girls are wearing next to nothing(school is hand tied by sue happy parents) with tattoos everywhere. Boys wear their pants around their knees. It all starts at home all the school can do is what they did. Maybe you lazy parents should volunteer to help chaperone the dances instead of crying and bit*#%ng "
crestite wrote on Mar 10, 2011 12:29 PM:
" The school is not to blame for this - the parents are. Those kids got the alcohol somewhere, and brought it to school. Fourteen is a difficult age - is the child old enough to make its own decisions, and bear the responsibilites that go with those decisions? Certainly not - yet parents are for too lax in supervising children of that age. Heck, they allow their sons and daughters to dress like street walkers - they even pay for all the accessories. Yet when their son or daughter has any thing bad happen, they are up in arms. I say - make the parents more accountable in situations like this. If a youth 15 or under shows up at school with alcohol or drugs, impose a mandatory fine on who ever has custody of the child. Messes like this would end in a hurry, and those parents who claim to be unable to control their child would make better efforts to get help. Too often they just give up too soon, because raising a child properly is too much effort for them. "
zyxw wrote on Mar 10, 2011 12:47 PM:
" The same exact stuff happened when I was in high school and it happened when you were in high school too. I suspect in my day the drug problem was worse, and it was right here in Saratoga. Kids make stupid mistakes and hopefully learn from them. Let those who have never had too much to drink cast the first stone. "
mabaringer wrote on Mar 10, 2011 12:49 PM:
" No one but the offenders themselves will ever really know what went on. However, the fact remains that there was alcohol consumed on school premises at a sanctioned event under the supervision of the school district. As parents, we are responsible for our children 100% of the time, keeping in mind that there is a shared responsibility with our childrens educators. Perhaps this should serve as a lesson to the district and a "zero tolerance" policy should be in effect. "
part of the cure wrote on Mar 10, 2011 2:14 PM:
" I Have a Saratoga Springs High School Child. When this story broke I asked him for information.His responce brought a new line of information for me. I'm sure all of you who think this is "kid suff" remember High School parties. The difference with this one is that these children were only 14 or 15 (FRESHMAN OR SOPHMORES)! 2OF THESE CHILDREN SUFFERED ALCOHOL POISONING!!!At this young age more than likely they were not even aware of what they were doing (PEER PRESSURE DOES THIS TO US ALL AT SOME POINT). How did these 14 or 15 year old kids get to the dance? What I heard is that limo's were involved! Where were the parents that not only let this go on but BOUGHT RIDES? "
part of the cure wrote on Mar 10, 2011 2:19 PM:
" We as parents have to truthfully ask ourselves how these inebreated Freshman and Sophmors got to the dance? I'm sure they did'nt all walk!! "
part of the cure wrote on Mar 10, 2011 2:34 PM:
" If all these 14 or 15 year olds did walk to the dance it must have been one amazing Conga line.Someone has to be held responsible for this! "
top knotch wrote on Mar 10, 2011 3:19 PM:
" WE NEED TO GET RID OF THE SUPERITENT AND THE PRINCIPALS THEY ARE NEVER WITH THESE CHILDREN. THE SALARIES THESE INDIVITUALS MAKE ARE RIDICULOUS IF THEY SPENT MORE TIME WITH THE KIDS THE KIDS WOULD HAVE RESPECT, LETS SEE THAT THE HIGHER UPS START EARNING THERE PAY. GET INVOLVED. WHEN I WENT TO SCHOOL THE PRINCIPAL WAS WITH US EVERY DAY. GO TO THE SCHOOLS NOW AND YOU CAN:T FIND A PRINCIPAL AND THEY HAVE 2. ITS SAD 1 MAN CAN:T DO THE JOB. "
22miles wrote on Mar 10, 2011 3:35 PM:
" WE need to retroactively fire whoever it was that taught Top Knotch to spell...
Zing.
I hope this isn't taken down for being an attack. "
Zing.
I hope this isn't taken down for being an attack. "
samm wrote on Mar 10, 2011 4:25 PM:
" Kids usually imitate.
Every function in town, fundraisers especially, that are covered by newspapers or on television feature 'drinking alcohol'.
It looks 'cool' or 'sophisticated' and certainly acceptable ....right?
So there you go do-gooders.....take it from there......or is that 'over your heads'?...........set better examples....period.. "
Every function in town, fundraisers especially, that are covered by newspapers or on television feature 'drinking alcohol'.
It looks 'cool' or 'sophisticated' and certainly acceptable ....right?
So there you go do-gooders.....take it from there......or is that 'over your heads'?...........set better examples....period.. "
mitch44c wrote on Mar 10, 2011 4:53 PM:
" listen i go to saratoga highschool and all you "super parents" need to chill out one and stop repeating he said she said number one she drank half a water bottle to clear things up number two they wernt caught at the door at all they cut the music and called names of people to come to the front and stop blaming the parents what if your kid was in the same position i bet you would have radically different views and i agree completely that all the principals should be fired they have 0 let me repeat that 0 respect for the student body our school runs on a guilty till proven innocent standard and blaming the principals will just make them make radical change which would be for the worst also. and i hope yo uknow what todays generation of parents is called "the helicopter generation" because you never let your kids learn for themselves they made a mistake and ive talked to both girls trust me they learned their lesson just let it go you people make me sick what you think underage drinking doesnt happen would you rather it happen in a car somewhere with some sketchy kid you dont know you should be happy that there is a safe place you should be happy that it happened at the school because if anything bad happened there would be chapperones there to help it is legal to drink in almost everyother country smarten up and stop being ignorant "
saratoga01 wrote on Mar 10, 2011 5:18 PM:
" All of these students think that drinking is sooo cool. They watch shows like Jersey Shore and try to imitate that behavior. All kids ages 13-20 are followers. They all dress the same,listen to the same music just to fit in. Ever notice how teenage girls wear the exact same thing. Ugg boats, northface coats and leggings. The boys are now wearing skinny jeans and of course the hat has to be crooked. Its sickening "
flowerchild6969@live.com wrote on Mar 10, 2011 5:29 PM:
" Alcohol is not cool in the high school...teachers and chaperones...must take heed that kids will push the limit... a breathalizer might be the answer and or more teachers on duty ...kids will push the limit but will adults step forward to watch and take care that kids don't overdue drinking or antything for that matter? "
mitch44c wrote on Mar 10, 2011 5:42 PM:
" look at all other contries they have fewer deaths from alcohol and no drinking age and secong all of you are looking at this completely backwards the school overly did their job because they caught 21 students THEY NEVER CATCH 21 students you are all looking at this completely backwards and you just look reaaaalllyyy ignorant because that is not the case at all "
oldtogaparent wrote on Mar 10, 2011 5:49 PM:
" @mitch44c- If you are a shining example of a Saratoga High education; we are squandering our money away. "
wary wrote on Mar 10, 2011 5:58 PM:
" Every parent who reads what Mitch wrote should be concerned enough at least attend a school board meeting and find out if his use of the English language is now acceptable in the schools. "
CRAZY4U wrote on Mar 10, 2011 6:14 PM:
" Mitch is a kid.... the bullying and sarcasm stops now.... He/she has every right to blog as are you.... "
highschool101 wrote on Mar 10, 2011 7:28 PM:
" so to the people that think the parents should have been more on target you are probably exactly the parents who think your kids dont drink or dont allow them at that and think they listen. These kids parents Im sure had no clue they were drinking before. Its not their fault, I really doubt that they ssaid to their kid to have fun getting drunk. Its bound to happen a lot of kids drink in highschool. When I say a lot I mean a lot. I go to the high school and I really don't party that much but there really are parties ever weekend and you may think your kid doesnt and maybe they dont but a lot of kids have little 5 people parties too that your kid at some point has probably been to at at least once but they lie to you and say theyre sleeping at there friends. For saying that the school officials did a bad job i think your wrong. I did not go to the dance this year but from other years they've always been tough and i actually think it would have been way easier for them to just turn a blind eye and "not notice" that the kids were drunk. They would have avoided all of this. As for the kids well i honestly think that its fine they drink. This is when most kids start to first try alcohal and this will not be the last. When you first try it you never know about control so they drank until tehy were blasted. What annoyed a lot of kids though were these kids thought they were cool cause they got kicked out, apparently some girls were saying they were apart of the "kick out crew". They didn't realize they just looked sloppy. Thats the problem i think should be adressed. Also i agree with mitch they should lower the drinking age and after like 5 years (after the excitement of the age changing) there would be less problems. "
Liberty101 wrote on Mar 10, 2011 8:01 PM:
" Those darn Skidmore students are ruining our town. Something must be done. I have had it!
What??? It was Saratoga students.
Never mind. "
What??? It was Saratoga students.
Never mind. "
truman wrote on Mar 10, 2011 8:19 PM:
" Liberty,
So what happened this past weekend wasn't enough for you ? You want more ? Well you just might get it with St. Patrick's Day coming up.
What has to happen before you acknowledge that Skidmore has a serious problem ? "
So what happened this past weekend wasn't enough for you ? You want more ? Well you just might get it with St. Patrick's Day coming up.
What has to happen before you acknowledge that Skidmore has a serious problem ? "
oldtogaparent wrote on Mar 10, 2011 8:28 PM:
" @Crazy4U – no one said that these apparent high school students (Mitch44c and highscool101) have no right to blog. It is an accepted reality that If any person blogs, those comments are available for a response. Do you think that these students display acceptable writing skills and possess the ability to formulate congruent statements to support their opinions? I submit that perhaps a little less “Jersey Shore” and a little more essay writing might be beneficial for their future success. "
Liberty101 wrote on Mar 10, 2011 9:14 PM:
" Were you ever a kid truman or have you always been a perfect spit polished adult that you claim to be now? Kids get into trouble. It happens all the time. In good homes and in bad. Perhaps it even happened in your home. It happens at Saratoga High and yes, it happens at Skidmore. The headlines prove it for crying out loud. These are not BAD kids. They are kids and if they live as long as you and I perhaps they will respond in fashion more appropriate than yours . However I am delighted that my previous comment smoked you out truman. Thanks for being the manifestation of my thesis of bias against Skidmore. "
rosebud wrote on Mar 10, 2011 11:29 PM:
" I agree a little less Jersey Shore and drinking will do wonders for students at Saratoga high, as will a little more essay writing. I say this as a senior at the high school.
I enjoy watching Jersey Shore. It is one of the few worthwhile shows currently airing on "music television." Why, may you ask. Jersey Shore is the greatest satire of America's insouciance to its position in the world. Yes high school kids watch Jersey Shore but that does not mean we aspire to be alcoholics. In my belief, Jersey Shore is commensurate to Fitzgerald's Gatsby. "I've been drunk for about a week now, and I thought it might sober me up to sit in a library." Has America's obsession with alcohol, partying and superficial wealth changed since the twenties?
No it has not. I have lived in Saratoga my entire life. To rebuke teenagers and college students for unabashedly drinking in public is extremely ignorant. In today's Saratogian, the police blotter lists a DWI and public possession of alcohol. It's March. Saratoga in August might as well be one big saloon. If twenty drunk high school students at a dance disgusts you, then what do you think about Caroline St. at 1 A.M. on a Saturday night in August? Apparently Caroline St. is good enough for a visit from the Girls Gone Wild. This is not the horses, health and history Saratoga is known for. Kids at the high school work at the track and for businesses that reap its benefits during the summer. What do we see? Gambling and alcohol. I'm not saying the track is inherently bad for Saratoga, but it does mitigate drinking for us.
Yes, I agree high schoolers need to write essays. We already write essays though. Regents essays. The New York Board of Regents requires each student in New York to write two essays for the Global regents, two for the US History regents and four for the English regents. Kids are writing essays, but the level at which the Board of Regents sets the bar from its huge marble offices on Washington ave is frightful. An essay prompt on my Regents Exam was, "describe two technological developments and their effect on US history." I could have written about bicycles, texting, academic video games, Facebook, television and everything else this side of Myanmar. Regents exams are a prime example of why students drink; we have nothing to aspire to at the state level. We are writing essays, yet we are not being challenged to write or think independently at a sufficient level to compete with Finland or Singapore.
We will watch less Jersey Shore, drink less and write more essays...when Saratogians, New Yorkers and Americans stop blaming eachother for the city, state's and country's failures. This incident was not solely the administration, parents or kids fault. Students have shown up drunk to winter casual for years. Nothing was done to stop this in the past. Brett Miller is in his first year as principal at the high school. He has already cancelled all future winter casuals, give him a chance. As for the kids, give us an incentive to test higher and truly challenge us academically. Taxpayers pay for our education, you should ask for your money's worth. "
I enjoy watching Jersey Shore. It is one of the few worthwhile shows currently airing on "music television." Why, may you ask. Jersey Shore is the greatest satire of America's insouciance to its position in the world. Yes high school kids watch Jersey Shore but that does not mean we aspire to be alcoholics. In my belief, Jersey Shore is commensurate to Fitzgerald's Gatsby. "I've been drunk for about a week now, and I thought it might sober me up to sit in a library." Has America's obsession with alcohol, partying and superficial wealth changed since the twenties?
No it has not. I have lived in Saratoga my entire life. To rebuke teenagers and college students for unabashedly drinking in public is extremely ignorant. In today's Saratogian, the police blotter lists a DWI and public possession of alcohol. It's March. Saratoga in August might as well be one big saloon. If twenty drunk high school students at a dance disgusts you, then what do you think about Caroline St. at 1 A.M. on a Saturday night in August? Apparently Caroline St. is good enough for a visit from the Girls Gone Wild. This is not the horses, health and history Saratoga is known for. Kids at the high school work at the track and for businesses that reap its benefits during the summer. What do we see? Gambling and alcohol. I'm not saying the track is inherently bad for Saratoga, but it does mitigate drinking for us.
Yes, I agree high schoolers need to write essays. We already write essays though. Regents essays. The New York Board of Regents requires each student in New York to write two essays for the Global regents, two for the US History regents and four for the English regents. Kids are writing essays, but the level at which the Board of Regents sets the bar from its huge marble offices on Washington ave is frightful. An essay prompt on my Regents Exam was, "describe two technological developments and their effect on US history." I could have written about bicycles, texting, academic video games, Facebook, television and everything else this side of Myanmar. Regents exams are a prime example of why students drink; we have nothing to aspire to at the state level. We are writing essays, yet we are not being challenged to write or think independently at a sufficient level to compete with Finland or Singapore.
We will watch less Jersey Shore, drink less and write more essays...when Saratogians, New Yorkers and Americans stop blaming eachother for the city, state's and country's failures. This incident was not solely the administration, parents or kids fault. Students have shown up drunk to winter casual for years. Nothing was done to stop this in the past. Brett Miller is in his first year as principal at the high school. He has already cancelled all future winter casuals, give him a chance. As for the kids, give us an incentive to test higher and truly challenge us academically. Taxpayers pay for our education, you should ask for your money's worth. "
Liberty101 wrote on Mar 11, 2011 7:30 AM:
" After reading some of the comments posted by regular citizens on this blog it seems ironic to me that there are those who would pick on students use of language.
You hang in there Mitch. Nice comment rosebud. Well composed. "
You hang in there Mitch. Nice comment rosebud. Well composed. "
crazy4u wrote on Mar 11, 2011 7:35 AM:
" @oldtogaparent- so he/she can't spell or use punctuation.... Big deal.... Still a person with an opinion... no one's perfect... "
adkkman wrote on Mar 11, 2011 7:55 AM:
" Rosebud you make an interesting argument, and glad you've stepped up to be heard. A fine comparison in Gatsby, but I don't see the ultimate lesson learned, being attainable in Jersey Shore. F Scott had a way of weaving a cautionary tale. Would you say on the whole JS appeals more to the base desires of the audience? Viewing it as a satire is rare if not unique.
You are probably right that 'do as I say, not as I do' is not a good reason to avoid drinking here in Saratoga Springs. However more essays and higher difficulty will motivate VERY few to not drink. How about a few dwi funerals to see the damage drinking does to families? How about sitting in a wheelchair for 2 days to see what being paralyzed is like? How about spending a weekend in County lock up? I suggest these scared straight approaches will have a far greater effect on the student population than a few days off from school.
If by 'stop blaming each other' you mean take personal responsibility, then we agree. If you mean, can't we all just get along kum by ah, I'll grant you the Utopia is possible position for now. "
You are probably right that 'do as I say, not as I do' is not a good reason to avoid drinking here in Saratoga Springs. However more essays and higher difficulty will motivate VERY few to not drink. How about a few dwi funerals to see the damage drinking does to families? How about sitting in a wheelchair for 2 days to see what being paralyzed is like? How about spending a weekend in County lock up? I suggest these scared straight approaches will have a far greater effect on the student population than a few days off from school.
If by 'stop blaming each other' you mean take personal responsibility, then we agree. If you mean, can't we all just get along kum by ah, I'll grant you the Utopia is possible position for now. "
the don wrote on Mar 11, 2011 11:07 AM:
" the spelling and grammer is your big concern ? what about the punishment 4 days suspention and the school is paying teachers to tuter these kids after reguler school .How about some real punishment and maybe this will stop. and by the way toga high big time drug and alchol problem. serios drugs "
truman wrote on Mar 11, 2011 11:46 AM:
" Liberty, I was expressing my opinion that there is a serious problem at Skidmore and that it's gotten out of control. If you or anyone else disagrees, then I'm "delighted." In fact I think that's just wonderful!
However, for you to claim that what I stated proves your "thesis" of local bias against Skidmore, well let's just say that I don't think Mr. Hegel would be very impressed.
I have no bias against the institution or any of the students. I just think they have a serious problem and that they're not doing enough to address it. "
However, for you to claim that what I stated proves your "thesis" of local bias against Skidmore, well let's just say that I don't think Mr. Hegel would be very impressed.
I have no bias against the institution or any of the students. I just think they have a serious problem and that they're not doing enough to address it. "
tp go wrote on Mar 11, 2011 6:51 PM:
" Rosebud,
You forget or Omit more likely one salient point. Most if not all those on Caroline Street in August ARE OF AGE to LEGALLY DRINK and GAMBLE. Your comments about the regents exam show that you actually are using this blog as some bully pulpit for what you perceive as unfair. I agree with you though, you are not challenged. In fact, as I recall a few years back the push was to drop the passing grade on those exams from 65% to 55%. I'm not sure how you can claim the regents bar has been set too high, as frankly it is very dumbed down from what it was. Wow, you were not given a specific example and you actually had to use your brain. You're right you could have written about any number of things. What happened? The lack of specific direction too much for you to handle? Secondly, why is there this absurd notion that all rights of passage for college and high school kids is to be unabashed drunks who "get in trouble"? I think your and Imbecile101's comments are rather immature. There was a time when a young man or you woman's right of passage was doing a hitch in the service, getting that first part-time job, getting married, or gaining entry to college. Not getting as hammered as possible and then having people like you to rationalize it away. If you don't believe me, go do some research on drunk driving accidents involving teens in the 50's and 60's and compare it to today when the drinking age was 18 not 21. I read the Gatsby in college. I don't remember Nick Carraway breaking a plate over somebody's head. Or getting so drunk that he broke into an office half dressed and then died of drowning and exposure. Or micturating on the neighbors lawn. I also don't remember him signing a form about his behavior in the sports season as all SSHS athletes do including a few at the party/dance. Which mandates no drugs or alcohol or tobacco. Maybe Bukowski should be the author you use as he was a stumbling, fornicating, draft dodging drunk his entire career. Your comparisons to the roaring twenties are misplaced. Like it or not YOU ARE A KID. Certain social behaviors and rules apply to you that don't apply to me and others. If that bothers you then wait awhile. The one thing that is certain in life is that you will age. You can't drive until 16, vote until 18, hunt until 14 (with an adult) join the service until 18 (17 with parental consent) drink until 21, drive after 9 with a new license with out conditions. Cant' buy a gun, enter a contract etc... before 18 and YES that means NO you CAN'T drink. So there is no "oh kids will be kids" excuse that seems to be what you and others like imbecile 101 are offering. I'm sorry if the fact that you had to write 8 essays as the culmination of your regents career is too much for you. Wait until college kid, when you have to do compositions, a thesis or a dissertation and then see how tough and horrible the 8 essays you had to write were. Also, don't assume the 8 essays you and your fellow students write are up to par either. Based on your piece I have no doubt you are intelligent as much as I find your comments naive that is an age thing, you indeed sound smart. However, after having read some of your fellow students above posts I would say you might be in the minority. "
You forget or Omit more likely one salient point. Most if not all those on Caroline Street in August ARE OF AGE to LEGALLY DRINK and GAMBLE. Your comments about the regents exam show that you actually are using this blog as some bully pulpit for what you perceive as unfair. I agree with you though, you are not challenged. In fact, as I recall a few years back the push was to drop the passing grade on those exams from 65% to 55%. I'm not sure how you can claim the regents bar has been set too high, as frankly it is very dumbed down from what it was. Wow, you were not given a specific example and you actually had to use your brain. You're right you could have written about any number of things. What happened? The lack of specific direction too much for you to handle? Secondly, why is there this absurd notion that all rights of passage for college and high school kids is to be unabashed drunks who "get in trouble"? I think your and Imbecile101's comments are rather immature. There was a time when a young man or you woman's right of passage was doing a hitch in the service, getting that first part-time job, getting married, or gaining entry to college. Not getting as hammered as possible and then having people like you to rationalize it away. If you don't believe me, go do some research on drunk driving accidents involving teens in the 50's and 60's and compare it to today when the drinking age was 18 not 21. I read the Gatsby in college. I don't remember Nick Carraway breaking a plate over somebody's head. Or getting so drunk that he broke into an office half dressed and then died of drowning and exposure. Or micturating on the neighbors lawn. I also don't remember him signing a form about his behavior in the sports season as all SSHS athletes do including a few at the party/dance. Which mandates no drugs or alcohol or tobacco. Maybe Bukowski should be the author you use as he was a stumbling, fornicating, draft dodging drunk his entire career. Your comparisons to the roaring twenties are misplaced. Like it or not YOU ARE A KID. Certain social behaviors and rules apply to you that don't apply to me and others. If that bothers you then wait awhile. The one thing that is certain in life is that you will age. You can't drive until 16, vote until 18, hunt until 14 (with an adult) join the service until 18 (17 with parental consent) drink until 21, drive after 9 with a new license with out conditions. Cant' buy a gun, enter a contract etc... before 18 and YES that means NO you CAN'T drink. So there is no "oh kids will be kids" excuse that seems to be what you and others like imbecile 101 are offering. I'm sorry if the fact that you had to write 8 essays as the culmination of your regents career is too much for you. Wait until college kid, when you have to do compositions, a thesis or a dissertation and then see how tough and horrible the 8 essays you had to write were. Also, don't assume the 8 essays you and your fellow students write are up to par either. Based on your piece I have no doubt you are intelligent as much as I find your comments naive that is an age thing, you indeed sound smart. However, after having read some of your fellow students above posts I would say you might be in the minority. "
Highschool101 wrote on Mar 11, 2011 11:35 PM:
" Tp go- honestly I reading your comment I thought you were the most judge mental person ever. You are allowed to have your own little condescending opinion said in the nasty way you did but really? Now your going to be as so bitter and pathetic to make a shot at the way a kid died not even a week later. You are a nasty person who I think deserves no respect in life just for that comment about a dead kid who barely got to live life yet and learn from his mistakes. You can read this comment now and go back to your judgmental life where you get so concerned with others because your so unhappy with your life. Have you ever noticed the adults who are judged constantly are eons with the smiles on their faces and with friends that really care and would never imagine to judge their own friends and turn their backs on them like I'm sure your friends would? It's because those people who get judged through their life have learned not to care what people what you think. "
tp go wrote on Mar 12, 2011 12:10 AM:
" Your post is another ringing endorsement of the lack of standards in our public education system. I did not take "a shot" at the way a kid died. An if you ever hope to prevent a similar death stop white washing it as some mistake equivalent to forgetting to turn off the coffee pot. The kid was blitzed out of his mind on drugs or alcohol or both and now he IS DEAD because of it. By the way genius, the word are you're not your and judgmental not judge mental. Additionally, if "my friends" would turn their backs on me then they can't be my friends now can they? Imbecile. You don't need the handle of highschool101. As your rambling and naive post pretty much spells that out for all to see. I see my tax dollars hard at work. Listing facts is now judgmental huh? By the way junior "judgment" is an egg head liberal term for DISCERNMENT meant to construe something negative about the person doing the discerning. Grow up. "
Liberty101 wrote on Mar 12, 2011 8:27 AM:
" It must be pointed out that tp go (Tea Party Go) is an example of an American education gone bad. His bitter retorts are based solely on anger and resentment. A person can not be so angry and intolerant if he does not feel he has failed in life. That he did not achieve his goals and is now simply wasting time until he passes. Please do not take his comments personally HIGHSCHOOL101. No more than you would the barking of a mad dog behind a neighbors steel fence. However use him as an example of what happens when you waste your education. When y ou make the wrong choices in life. Use him as motivation to do better. You sure do not want to end up barking behind a fence like he is. "
tp go wrote on Mar 12, 2011 9:36 AM:
" Yes highschool listen to liberty101 who posted roughly 10 blogs trying to show that 48% is a greater number than 51%.
Perhaps he can tutor you in math for you upcoming regents exam. "
Perhaps he can tutor you in math for you upcoming regents exam. "
highschool101 wrote on Mar 12, 2011 10:08 AM:
" Yea you know tp go the reason im making spelling errors and what not is because i really dont care about fixing them. This is a blog not am essay..please realize that. And the judgemental word was fixed by my ipad. And actually to be honest right now i feel a lot more mature than you. I have already learned in my life that judging people is not a way to get through my life. Ive learned that because my parents taught me that, it was important to them. And really your going to bring in your politcal views? Just an fyi i actually believe in a lot of republican veiws and personally its embarassing that you are a republican. Now go talk about this blog all day or whatever new person youve got on your list to judge today cause its all you have to do in yoir boring old life. And completly agree liberty. "
saratogaparent wrote on Mar 12, 2011 11:03 AM:
" This my first time blogging. I will try my best to spell correctly, that seems to be an issue on this site. I am a parent with children in high school as well as college. We are losing sight of the fact that raising children is full of moments that we can use to teach them to make better choices in the future. I believe that consequences are important in the process. I do not condone the students drinking at the dance but I will also tell you that I know that my children do take part in underage drinking. I wish that was not the case but it is the reality. As parents we have tried to have open and honest dialogue with our kids. I don't know if that is the right way but it works for us. I would rather they were honest and I knew where thay were rather than they lie to us. We have always encouraged responsible decision making. Unfortunately underage drinking is a reality, it was when I was a kid and the drinking age was lower then. It is very hard to be a parent of teenagers. I can assure you that the majority of parents are trying to raise thier children as best as they can. Why does it always have to get ugly and attack the parents so quickly. Why not acknowledge that this period in raising children is very challenging. Understand that most parents are trying thier best but children will make mistakes. This is how they learn. Think back to your youth and most of us will find we made mistakes and learned from them.. Lets work together and not always be the first to throw stones. Our society is too much of that. We all want the best for our children. "
tp go wrote on Mar 12, 2011 11:15 AM:
" Well I'm not a republican, I am a registered conservative. Looks like you are saved some embarrassment. So you're 0 for 1 kid. Secondly, I never busted your chops just about a type-0. Those are to be expected but your babbling incoherent post coupled with your misspellings kind of sunk your boat. This most recent post of yours further illustrates my point. Your IPAD should not be what determines the correct spelling of the word judgement or judgmental. That should be you Mr. Student of the year. Especially if you plan on using the word to cast aspersions on somebody. 0 for 2 kid. I'm glad you and mommy and daddy all talk and reminisce about the 60's and how bad judging people is lol. Welcome to the real world junior. Judgement takes place everyday. Be it you sitting across from a college admissions officer, a perspective employer, a police officer or a shop keeper. Or you deciding who to ask out on a date or be pals with. I think the term you're searching for is prejudging. However, don't worry I didn't prejudge you or highschool101. I judged you. Judged you both to be imbeciles. Who both think you're a lot smarter and more well versed in the world than you are. That is the problem with you teens and college kids. You think you know more about the road you're walking on than people who have already been down the road you're traveling. You are lucky though, being a high school kid your ignorance will be taken with a grain of salt due to your apparent youth and inexperience. Liberty is a supposed adult so his idiocy is pretty much taken as fact at this point. He gets no get out of jail free card like you do. Oh, and for future reference it doesn't make one look very smart when they start EVERY other sentence with the word AND. People might judge you lol as being stupid. Additionally, typically not always but typically if the next word is going to start with a vowel you should use An instead of And. Such as "An Actually" I mean you don't want to be JUDGED as a functional illiterate do you? Lastly, it is you're as in you are. Guess the IPAD missed that one this time too. 0 for 3 kid. Maybe your parents should spend less time reading Heather has two Mommy's to you and lamenting about judgment and teach you some better math skills. Then again, you completely agree with liberty and that idiot still thinks 48% is greater than 51%. Perhaps your devotion to him is the reason you are so lacking in math and grammar skills. "
part of the cure wrote on Mar 12, 2011 11:50 AM:
" The problem here seems to be a "Failure to Communicate"..Heres an old lyric that was written to bring children and parents together...
You who on the road
Must have a cade you can live by
and so become yourself
Because the past is just a goodbye
Teach your children well
Thir fathers hell did slowly go by,
And feed them on your dreams
The one they picked,the one you'll know by
Don't you ever ask them why,if they told you, you would cry
So just look at them and sigh and know they love you
And You,of tender years
Can't know the fears your elders grew by,
And so please help them with your youth,
They seek the truth before they can die.
Can you hear and do you careand
Can't you see we must be free to
Teach your children what you beleive in
Make a world we can live in
Teach your parents well,
Their childrens Hell will slowly go by,
And feed them on your dreams
The one they picked.the one you'll know by,
Don't you ever ask them why,if they told you,you would cry
SO JUST LOOK AT THEM AND SIGH AND KNOW THEY LOVE YO. "
You who on the road
Must have a cade you can live by
and so become yourself
Because the past is just a goodbye
Teach your children well
Thir fathers hell did slowly go by,
And feed them on your dreams
The one they picked,the one you'll know by
Don't you ever ask them why,if they told you, you would cry
So just look at them and sigh and know they love you
And You,of tender years
Can't know the fears your elders grew by,
And so please help them with your youth,
They seek the truth before they can die.
Can you hear and do you careand
Can't you see we must be free to
Teach your children what you beleive in
Make a world we can live in
Teach your parents well,
Their childrens Hell will slowly go by,
And feed them on your dreams
The one they picked.the one you'll know by,
Don't you ever ask them why,if they told you,you would cry
SO JUST LOOK AT THEM AND SIGH AND KNOW THEY LOVE YO. "
superad1 wrote on Mar 12, 2011 12:29 PM:
" Someone give tp go a hug and SOON. That is one angry little blogger! Oy! "
crazy4u wrote on Mar 12, 2011 1:06 PM:
" watch this movie with your kids and see what happenes...
Its called "The Party Never Stops: A Binge Drinkers Diary" "
Its called "The Party Never Stops: A Binge Drinkers Diary" "
part of the cure wrote on Mar 12, 2011 2:31 PM:
" I have to comment on one re-occurring theme in this post....Binge drinking!
Binge drinking by definition is an alcoholic who has the power to not drink daily but can wait periods of days and then consume large amounts of alcohol in a short period of time. THESE !14 and 15 year old children are not alcoholics...they are simply trying to become what they think is the "norm" that they learn from the media (thanx Charley Sheen.LinsdaY lOHAN.Thanx Brittanny Spears..Thanx Miley Cyrus) on and on and ond on...THANK YOU OUR MEDIA IN THIS COUNTRY! We all know that entertainment PROFITS ARE ONE OF OUR LARGEST REVENUE SOURCES!!
Guess what I'm trying to say is maybe it's time to "disconnect" (twitter..youtube..the internet..ipad.constant meaningless texting.etc) until we realize the power they hold over our children. "
Binge drinking by definition is an alcoholic who has the power to not drink daily but can wait periods of days and then consume large amounts of alcohol in a short period of time. THESE !14 and 15 year old children are not alcoholics...they are simply trying to become what they think is the "norm" that they learn from the media (thanx Charley Sheen.LinsdaY lOHAN.Thanx Brittanny Spears..Thanx Miley Cyrus) on and on and ond on...THANK YOU OUR MEDIA IN THIS COUNTRY! We all know that entertainment PROFITS ARE ONE OF OUR LARGEST REVENUE SOURCES!!
Guess what I'm trying to say is maybe it's time to "disconnect" (twitter..youtube..the internet..ipad.constant meaningless texting.etc) until we realize the power they hold over our children. "
crazy4u wrote on Mar 12, 2011 3:26 PM:
" @ part of the cure-
well it has to start sometime....and who is more vunerable from pure pressure than a 14 year old boy/girl just wanting to be liked...I can guarentee you that that is NOT the first time these 2 heavily intoxicated students tasted alcohol.....use your head... "
well it has to start sometime....and who is more vunerable from pure pressure than a 14 year old boy/girl just wanting to be liked...I can guarentee you that that is NOT the first time these 2 heavily intoxicated students tasted alcohol.....use your head... "
tp go wrote on Mar 12, 2011 7:29 PM:
" toga(pathetic excuse for a )parent.
How is your open dialogue "working for you" if your kids by your own admission BREAK the law by drinking? In fact, the last thing you have done is encourage responsible behavior. If you had succeeded your brood by your own admission wouldn't be drinking. Oh how Oprah of you, you have an open and honest dialogue with your children ahhhhh. Every sentence of your post underlines your poor parenting. So when one of your kids tells you they are going to a house party to drink that is ok with you because they had an OPEN AND HONEST dialogue with you? HUH? Are you insane lady?? Your kids drink and "you wish that was not the case" Try being a GD PARENT and MAKE IT NOT THE CASE !
AS a parent, people like you make me sick. Abdicate your and your child's responsibility with that imbecile "oh they will do it anyway" routine. For every lame parent like you I can name a dozen who DO IT RIGHT. You called them your CHILDREN. I didn't use that word you did. As CHILDREN they do what they are TOLD not what they WANT to. I'm glad my daughter could possibly be K*lled some night from a DWI or a fight based on you and imbeciles like you having "open dialogue" with their children. How nice, you are your kids BFF and not their stinking PARENT. Man, I was probably wrong about these kids, with parents like you its no wonder they showed up drunk. What the heck kind of example are you setting with this "oh I'm trying but I can't stop them" BS ? Drugs are a reality too as is rape and assault and murder. Are you as nonchalant about those behaviors as well? Open and honest dialogue, you imbecile. " hey mom I think I'm going out to do some lines tonight" "thank you for having an open and honest dialogue with me dear". I need to go vomit now. "
How is your open dialogue "working for you" if your kids by your own admission BREAK the law by drinking? In fact, the last thing you have done is encourage responsible behavior. If you had succeeded your brood by your own admission wouldn't be drinking. Oh how Oprah of you, you have an open and honest dialogue with your children ahhhhh. Every sentence of your post underlines your poor parenting. So when one of your kids tells you they are going to a house party to drink that is ok with you because they had an OPEN AND HONEST dialogue with you? HUH? Are you insane lady?? Your kids drink and "you wish that was not the case" Try being a GD PARENT and MAKE IT NOT THE CASE !
AS a parent, people like you make me sick. Abdicate your and your child's responsibility with that imbecile "oh they will do it anyway" routine. For every lame parent like you I can name a dozen who DO IT RIGHT. You called them your CHILDREN. I didn't use that word you did. As CHILDREN they do what they are TOLD not what they WANT to. I'm glad my daughter could possibly be K*lled some night from a DWI or a fight based on you and imbeciles like you having "open dialogue" with their children. How nice, you are your kids BFF and not their stinking PARENT. Man, I was probably wrong about these kids, with parents like you its no wonder they showed up drunk. What the heck kind of example are you setting with this "oh I'm trying but I can't stop them" BS ? Drugs are a reality too as is rape and assault and murder. Are you as nonchalant about those behaviors as well? Open and honest dialogue, you imbecile. " hey mom I think I'm going out to do some lines tonight" "thank you for having an open and honest dialogue with me dear". I need to go vomit now. "
Victorian wrote on Mar 13, 2011 9:18 AM:
" Tea Party Go (TP Go) is convinced that 13% of the population is a winning number. How's that for fancy schooling? In fact he is a father whose past harsh comments indicate he would force his own daughter to bear the child of a person who (God forbid) raped her. Note that he says he is a registered conservative but his tag name refers to the tea party. Keep his words in mind next election when you see tea party people on the ballot. A vote for them is a vote for Go TP. "
Rocketroger43 wrote on Mar 13, 2011 9:23 AM:
" I think for a HS senior, Rosebud makes a pretty good argument. If I thought that was typical of a HS senior, I might feel my school taxes are well spent. Unfortunately, based on a few other responses, I see that many HS kids believe that proper communication isn't warranted when "blogging" (or whatever you consider this forum). I wish that was only true of HS kids, many of their parents (or at least people my age and younger) also forget to communicate effectively when using email, even if for their job. I understand people will have typos and misspellings, but the level to which they appear is astounding.
The regents are part of the problem; teachers are forced to teach to it, have no latitude to make the educational experience more for those who are capable, and spend way too much energy on kids who don’t care to learn because they will be judged by the uncaring student’s performance. It will get worse when we make that official as part of the new teacher evaluation process proposed nationally. Who do you think gets help? The kid who wants to go from 90 to 95, or the kid who goes from 30 to 50? One has four times the impact on the teachers performance evaluation in the near future. The other has a shot at achieving something more than pumping gas for someone who fills up at the Jersey Shore.
We spend way too much time and money trying to force kids who don't/won't appreciate education to get one. An education is a privilege, not a right, at 16 there should be a test, you pass, you get to keep going, you fail, you go get a job or go to trade school (where you get good grades and behave or get kicked out). Let these kids go work for a few years (or let their parents get sick of supporting them living at home and trying to act like they are part of "Jersey Shore"). Then we'll see if they want to get an education and put some effort in. It's so much cheaper (and easier) to teach the willing.
We coddle our kids too much, who have learned the entitlement mentality from their parents, rich and poor. Wish every kid spent a summer working on a farm. The kids of farmers I’ve meet have been the best, hardest working people to join my company I’ve ever seen. They know what real work is.
And lastly, yes the administrators at out school are terrible. They are bureaucrats that don’t even do a good job at controlling costs. $170,000 plus a free car, crazy retirement benefits and doesn’t care about student or parent experiences. As long as this year’s budget balances, she appears to be happy. And canceling all future dances because of this? That is knee jerk stupidity. That doesn’t solve the problem, only changes where the kids go to hang out after drinking.
Oh and I love linking to this guys blog. It seems he has given up, but it is a fine example of what is wrong with the administration in Saratoga.
http://saratogaschoolsindecline.blogspot.com/ "
The regents are part of the problem; teachers are forced to teach to it, have no latitude to make the educational experience more for those who are capable, and spend way too much energy on kids who don’t care to learn because they will be judged by the uncaring student’s performance. It will get worse when we make that official as part of the new teacher evaluation process proposed nationally. Who do you think gets help? The kid who wants to go from 90 to 95, or the kid who goes from 30 to 50? One has four times the impact on the teachers performance evaluation in the near future. The other has a shot at achieving something more than pumping gas for someone who fills up at the Jersey Shore.
We spend way too much time and money trying to force kids who don't/won't appreciate education to get one. An education is a privilege, not a right, at 16 there should be a test, you pass, you get to keep going, you fail, you go get a job or go to trade school (where you get good grades and behave or get kicked out). Let these kids go work for a few years (or let their parents get sick of supporting them living at home and trying to act like they are part of "Jersey Shore"). Then we'll see if they want to get an education and put some effort in. It's so much cheaper (and easier) to teach the willing.
We coddle our kids too much, who have learned the entitlement mentality from their parents, rich and poor. Wish every kid spent a summer working on a farm. The kids of farmers I’ve meet have been the best, hardest working people to join my company I’ve ever seen. They know what real work is.
And lastly, yes the administrators at out school are terrible. They are bureaucrats that don’t even do a good job at controlling costs. $170,000 plus a free car, crazy retirement benefits and doesn’t care about student or parent experiences. As long as this year’s budget balances, she appears to be happy. And canceling all future dances because of this? That is knee jerk stupidity. That doesn’t solve the problem, only changes where the kids go to hang out after drinking.
Oh and I love linking to this guys blog. It seems he has given up, but it is a fine example of what is wrong with the administration in Saratoga.
http://saratogaschoolsindecline.blogspot.com/ "
tp go wrote on Mar 13, 2011 1:19 PM:
" Victorian ,
I thank you for posting and demonstrating your ignorance as well. As you are another imbecile that doesn't seem to know the difference between a plurality and a majority. Here is a tip, don't use statistics and polling data if you don't actually understand it yourself. For those of you who are not familiar with what an imbecile liberty101 is, this argument stems from previous gun control post in which liberty claimed that the MAJORITY of the country favored stricter gun laws. He then proceeded to reveal the polling results. 48% favored stricter gun laws. 13% favored less strict laws and 38% favored keeping them the way they were and not increasing existing law. So it is obvious for those of you who actually passed high school math to see that 13% +38% equals 51% as in 51% of the country does not favor making the laws more restrictive ie a MAJORITY. I tried ad nauseum to explain the basics of this to that imbecile liberty101 who still can't grasp the difference between a plurality and a majority. Then again anybody who has read any of her previous posts knows common sense is not one of her strong suits and neither is it for Victorian. Again than you for posting. "
I thank you for posting and demonstrating your ignorance as well. As you are another imbecile that doesn't seem to know the difference between a plurality and a majority. Here is a tip, don't use statistics and polling data if you don't actually understand it yourself. For those of you who are not familiar with what an imbecile liberty101 is, this argument stems from previous gun control post in which liberty claimed that the MAJORITY of the country favored stricter gun laws. He then proceeded to reveal the polling results. 48% favored stricter gun laws. 13% favored less strict laws and 38% favored keeping them the way they were and not increasing existing law. So it is obvious for those of you who actually passed high school math to see that 13% +38% equals 51% as in 51% of the country does not favor making the laws more restrictive ie a MAJORITY. I tried ad nauseum to explain the basics of this to that imbecile liberty101 who still can't grasp the difference between a plurality and a majority. Then again anybody who has read any of her previous posts knows common sense is not one of her strong suits and neither is it for Victorian. Again than you for posting. "
superad1 wrote on Mar 14, 2011 7:23 AM:
" To clarify, Rocketroger is referring to the CENTRAL OFFICE admin, who never get out of their offices and see kids, teachers and building admin. They sit behidn their new furniture with their regular raises while those with a passion for working with kids, all kids, do their job day in and day out. THEY are out of touch, but the adults who actually work with kids. It was because of a teacher and assistant principal's observations and frank discussion with me that I was able to help my own son with his problems. I talked, worked and guided my son, with rules, but there were things that I wasn't seeing. Maybe it was "blinded by love" or maybe it was just that he hid it well, but because of those AT THE SCHOOL that took the time to CARE ABOUT MY CHILD, he is now a successful person. Thank you to THEM! "
Kyle York wrote on Mar 14, 2011 2:21 PM:
" WHY do you fools argue with "tp go" and his learned ways. You may have you "DEGREES" and your "EXPERIENCE" and your "OPINIONS" and your "TYPOS"??????
Please. You BUGS are in the shadow of a GIANT.
As The Great TP told you THREE DAYS ago at 6:51 PM--
"I read the Gatsby in college."
-K. York Fitzgerald
Easy come, tp go.
Please. "
Please. You BUGS are in the shadow of a GIANT.
As The Great TP told you THREE DAYS ago at 6:51 PM--
"I read the Gatsby in college."
-K. York Fitzgerald
Easy come, tp go.
Please. "
cm wrote on Mar 14, 2011 3:39 PM:
" Just remember.. you're at the bottom of the social ladder due to your poor choices in life. It's not the mean libs. It's not the mean high school students. It's not the mean college students. It's not the mean carpetbaggers. It's not the mean elites. It's not the mean lamestream media whose facts you don't like. It's not the mean people that have actually been outside Saratoga once. It's you and only you.
Your failures in life are your own fault and lashing out here in a crazed manner is not going to change that or make you successful or less of an imbecile. It must be awful for you to know that you are a powerless failure of your own making.
My condolences. Just kidding. People are responsible for their own actions, right? Why should anyone feel sorry for you or try to help you?
I can assure you that we all continue to have a laugh at your expense on a daily basis. Your ignorance is astounding. That you so vehemently profess it like Sarah Palin does is hilarious for those in the know (everyone but you).
Please do continue to keep it up.. for the sake of your party and lazy, sedentary, uneducated, and malleable xenophobic Americans everywhere.
Now get off your couch, put on some Toby Keith, and go clean my toilet.. after you write some rambling retort that I won't read.
P.S. One time I read The Bell Tolling or something. "
Your failures in life are your own fault and lashing out here in a crazed manner is not going to change that or make you successful or less of an imbecile. It must be awful for you to know that you are a powerless failure of your own making.
My condolences. Just kidding. People are responsible for their own actions, right? Why should anyone feel sorry for you or try to help you?
I can assure you that we all continue to have a laugh at your expense on a daily basis. Your ignorance is astounding. That you so vehemently profess it like Sarah Palin does is hilarious for those in the know (everyone but you).
Please do continue to keep it up.. for the sake of your party and lazy, sedentary, uneducated, and malleable xenophobic Americans everywhere.
Now get off your couch, put on some Toby Keith, and go clean my toilet.. after you write some rambling retort that I won't read.
P.S. One time I read The Bell Tolling or something. "
tp go wrote on Mar 14, 2011 11:27 PM:
" Yeah Kyle this coming from the guy who said Saratoga prings the other day. It is funny how your type-o history is just kind of dissipated into thin air when somebody brings it up. Man I will never live down not typing great on the last post. I am going to have a hard time going on. "
tp go wrote on Mar 15, 2011 11:41 AM:
" CM you and Kyle dork need to coordinate better. He just asked why everybody argues with me. That is an odd question to ask about a guy's posts that are supposedly not read. I made this statement to you before, I think you were posting under liberty101 then as you two use the same language pretty much 100% of the time. Would you like to compare passports Mr. World traveler? A traveler who has been outside Saratoga Springs so often and is such a worldly man. By the way imbecile Saratoga is a town about 7 miles east of the City of Saratoga Springs. Unless you made a type-0 and forgot to type that in. I guess you and Kyle are very much alike. When you make a mistake it is just kind of ignored until the dust settles. Like when you left out a comma between malleable and xenophobic you imbecile. LOL
Additionally, Chomskey this sentence. " Please do continue to keep it up.. for the sake of your party and lazy, sedentary, uneducated, and malleable xenophobic Americans everywhere." Which was posted by you is not a complete or proper sentence. But hey you must learn that stuff in Saratoga the place I've never left before. LOL "
Additionally, Chomskey this sentence. " Please do continue to keep it up.. for the sake of your party and lazy, sedentary, uneducated, and malleable xenophobic Americans everywhere." Which was posted by you is not a complete or proper sentence. But hey you must learn that stuff in Saratoga the place I've never left before. LOL "
tp go wrote on Mar 15, 2011 11:50 AM:
" Oh what do you know I made a type-o. Excuse me I should have said Additionally, Mr. Chomskey, this sentence
Sort of like you should have said Saratoga Springs unless like every other carpetbagger you have an attitude about ten times bigger than your knowledge of the place you claim to know as well as the rest of us. "
Sort of like you should have said Saratoga Springs unless like every other carpetbagger you have an attitude about ten times bigger than your knowledge of the place you claim to know as well as the rest of us. "
Kyle York wrote on Mar 15, 2011 4:09 PM:
" Three posts
and still nothing to say.
I'm sure you'll try again.
And again.
And again...
-Kyle York
tz go, go...
go. "
and still nothing to say.
I'm sure you'll try again.
And again.
And again...
-Kyle York
tz go, go...
go. "
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