WHO BENEFITS FROM THE TIME THAT STUDENTS START SCHOOL?

Why do students sleep in class?

High school starts before daylight.   Most teenagers simply do not get enough sleep.   This deprivation of adequate sleep affects the student's ability to learn, listen and concentrate.  It also affects their mood and health.   

If school would start at a later time most students would have a much better academic performance.   Some districts have shifted to a later start time. Those that started later did support the medical evidence that well-rested individuals perform much better.  

Statistically academic performance and attendance improved.  The tardiness rates declined in schools that started at 8:35 a.m. or later.  The number of car crashes involving teen drivers went down when the schools started at 8:55 a.m. or later.  I would suggest that high school should start at 9:00 a.m. Teenagers need a minimum of eight hours of sleep per night.

The teacher's union and school administrators have known for years that a later start time for high school students is much better for their attention and for their health.   They refuse to change the schedule because it is not convenient for them.  Teachers prefer the early exit time.

We should regard the health of the students as a mandatory first priority.  We monitor the food they eat and drink as an issue to be addressed.   Mrs. Obama has drawn up mandatory menu selections for all meals served.   She demanded that healthy drinks and snacks were put in the vending machines. Yes, nutrition is important, as is recess and gym class.  Exercise is part of health. (Many school districts have abandoned recess.  How sad!) 

Puberty creates a later shift in the teen's sleep cycle and we cannot expect adult sleep schedules from teenagers.  Doctors attest to the fact the adolescent brain is still growing through age 25, and chronic sleep deprivation does significant harm.  Our children have plenty of time in their lifespan to rise before dawn and clock in 40+ hours of work.   Let them do that once puberty is done.  If teens are allowed to grow up healthy they'll be more productive adults with less substance abuse, diabetes, and heart disease. This is a win/win for our children and our economy.

There is overwhelming research that exposes the public health issue for sleep deprived teens.  A public health issue requires action and leadership.   Too bad that in the case of the student's health versus the dictates of the union and administration you can guess who wins.    

This change can and should be implemented.   This should not be negotiable. After all every time a levy is put on the ballot the administration sends out a multitude of cards, flyers, signs and phone calls touting the message that "it is for the children."    I say prove it.  Parents should demand the change.

EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT CENTER - COST VS BENEFITS

Does this small child need a classroom or his parents?

Head Start is an $8 billion per year federal preschool program.  It was designed to improve kindergarten readiness of low income children.  It was implemented in 1965 and taxpayers have spent more than $180 billion on the program.  

The HHS tracked 5,000 children.   Half of these children attended the Head Start program and half did not.  This study followed their progression from ages three or four through the end of third grade.  

The first-grade evaluation found that any benefits of the Head Start program were gone by the time they reached first-grade.  The  study revealed that Head Start failed to improve the literacy, math and language skills of the the four year-olds and had a negative impact on the math of three year olds.

The third-grade evaluation was even worse.  How could it be better if any benefits had dissipated by the end of the first-grade?  The third-grade follow-up study found that Head Start had no statistically measurable effects on cognitive ability including numerous measures of reading, language and math ability.

Additionally the evaluation examined the effects of Head Start on social-emotional development.   The results were that children in the 4-year-old age group reported worse peer relations in third grade than their non-Head Start classmates.   Teachers reported "strong evidence of an unfavorable impact on incidence of emotional symptoms."  

Head Start also failed to improve the parenting outcomes and child-health outcome of participants.  In other words, the program is an abysmal failure.

The bottom line:  Washington's 48-year experiment with federal preschool has failed to deliver long-lasting positive developments for its participants.  

Head Start fails children and costs taxpayers exorbitant amounts of money every year.  And it is just one of 69 federal preschool programs.  Small children do much better within the family unit. The government cannot provide the love and affection needed for healthy psychological growth.

With all of the studies that have been written the government just doesn't give up.   Their idea is to throw more money at a proven failed program.

Now comes the community school districts.   Every school district is on line to build new Early Childhood Development Centers.   These centers will take the child from the home into an institutional setting.   The property owners will have to pay more taxes to support these centers and to build them.   Even though these centers have been proven failures (they are Head Start with another name) school administrators have decided to keep on building them without informing the public and by passing bond issues without mentioning their plans.   

In Lebanon we receive an oversized-expensive post card quite often.   This is a public relations piece to keep the schools in our minds.   We are to believe that the district's superintendent and board really care about what we think.   They have a word that they use quite often and a word that taxpayers should be worried about hearing.    That word is "consensus."    The "consensus" that they arrived at was an agreement among themselves.   The public was not invited to the meeting where the decisions were made.   I urge everyone to start calling the Lebanon School Board office and ask questions.   Ask the superintendent to answer your questions as to exactly what will be built, where it will be built, if there are new administration offices in the plans and where will the Early Childhood Development Center be located.   

Common Core is designed to change the attitudes, values and beliefs of our children.   Change them from the values they learn at home and in church to the values of "the state."   Common Core values of values clarification and Secular Humanism.

We cannot trust the bureaucrats no matter where they lurk.

  

HERE THEY COME AGAIN - ANOTHER LEVY ON THE AUGUST BALLOT

 The Lebanon School board has decided to put another levy on the ballot in a costly special election.   This levy will be for 5.38 mills.   That will be approximately $412.00 annually for a $250,000.00 house.  This levy will generate approximately $4.2 million per year in operating funds.  $412.00 is huge in our family.  

Add that amount to the other levies that have been added to our tax bills in the past ten years.

Last August Lebanon put a levy on the ballot.  That passed with flying colors.   In November of last year they put two new levies on the ballot.   One is a 37 year bond issue with an additional millage listed as a “maintenance” levy.  The maintenance levy is supposed to generate an estimated $1,180,670 annually.   

In November of 2005 the district was, again in crisis mode and managed to closely pass 6.5 mills.   The count was 51.73% for the levy and 48.27% against.   This levy was a replay of a 5.9 mill levy that had been resoundingly defeated in May 60.28% against the levy and 39.72% for the levy.  Note that their needs went from 5.9 mills in May to 6.5 mills in November.

In November of 2011 Lebanon voters “avoided $3 million of additional budget cuts” by approving a five-year 3.78 mills operating levy by just 129 votes or 50.5% for and 49.5 percent against.

Most of us remember when this district had to go under state control because of the unconscionable poor management of district funds.  The waste and total lack of fiscal responsibility is still evident.   The more money they get the more they spend.  

They now have hired a person to manage the demolition of district buildings and construction of the new buildings.  What does Mark North do?   What does the architect do?   What does the construction companies do? 

The public has not been informed via public meetings or per the constant postcard that is sent to everyone in the district.  What are the plans?  What will be demolished?   Where will the board office be located?   Where will the school clinic be located?   How many children will you be adding to the district per the Early Childhood Development Center?   They managed to pass a levy with zero information as to your plans for the Lebanon children.

Your card gives mundane information that does not apply to over 67% of the homes in the district.   We do not need to know when kindergarten registration commences or how students may earn “extra credit.”  

The district does have access to every student’s email and their parent’s email.   They also have their phone numbers and addresses.

I would think that an email to one and all with this “post card” information would save money and time.    Alas, this district is not in the business of doing either.    Yes, and they could save even more money by doing their jobs and cutting the position of Public Relations.  The post card is part of their vague public relations.

I have listed just a few of the levies that have been passed and spent by the people who are in the business of running this district.  These people are insatiable.   They will never have enough money.    They spend it as fast as they grab it from us.   They take people to court that can’t afford to pay their taxes.   Those people are put out on the street.   They don’t care.  They will line their pockets and strip ours.  

They may claim that they operate in a fiscally responsible manner, but the facts tell a different story.

These people are ingrates.   They are union thugs who don’t care if they put granny on the street.   The union, the OSBA, the ODE, the Buckeye Association of School Administrators, the Ohio Council for Elementary School Science, the OEA, NEA and other school related groups teach all of the locals how to manipulate the public and get more money from every property owner.   

They are experts and have years of experience in this “extortion racket.”    I feel free to call it that because they always promote each and every levy as “for the children.”    It is never ever for the children. 

Yes, the district does also receive federal grants, state money and other income.   When they accept certain federal funds they are obligated to implement Common Core.   The more of your tax dollars that you send to the local schools the easier it is for them to buy the entire Common Core curriculum and the computers necessary to indoctrinate your children. 

If you will notice every district is in the business of building new schools.  These schools are being planned and built for Agenda 21 – Sustainable Development.   This will be followed by The New World Order. 

 

Please wake up and see what your schools are really doing to your children.  Please monitor what they are being taught and what they are not taught about our country and how we are the last glimmer of light and of hope and liberty left in the world.    People die trying to immigrate to this great nation.   Our children are only taught negative stories about the United States. 

Yes, we are talking about a levy, but with our money the government school systems are destroying our country child by child.  Please do work to defeat this levy and every levy until the school leaders do their job . . . . . . educate our children how to think critically.   How to extrapolate facts from fiction would be beneficial to every person.