Comments

parent wrote on Oct 1, 2009 11:10 AM:

" check with the school. Kids on Facebook today are reporting that the Sweeps policy is on indefinite suspension. "




Yes wrote on Sep 26, 2009 4:37 PM:

" That is a pretty mixed message when a teacher is expecting students on time. Buy a watch and show up when you are expected to be there. The only mixed message is the one some parents set. Rules don't apply to their kids. Quit making excuses and enabling your kids. "




BOTTOM LINE wrote on Sep 24, 2009 1:44 PM:

" Are we as parents or students going to change the minds of the DECISION MAKERS?! NO!! I was talking with my daughter last night and she stated that she doesn't care about it and not all the teachers are consistent! On tuesday, in one class a teacher stated that whomever wasn't inside the classroom is SWEPT and another teacher stated that if you had your hand on the door or walking into the classroom, you are okay!! TOO MANYMIXED MESSAGES!! "




Curious Reader wrote on Sep 22, 2009 3:33 PM:

" I have read the comments about Sweeps and the concerns that children who are late miss out on that class. However, I have seen only one alternative solutions offered and that was detention at a later time. Are there punishments available that involve just the child who was late and don't penalize classmates or instructors? "




to parent to the parent wrote on Sep 22, 2009 2:12 PM:

" wake-up - kids are already lying and so are parents hence why they need to check on the absence and make sure it is legit. Parents need to quit enabling kids - it does more harm than good. A white lie is still a lie! "




Riggs wrote on Sep 21, 2009 10:44 PM:

" "concerned educator"The students are contacted with the assignment, given the oppurtunity to hand it in and if needed to come in after school or before.. Plus every teacher offers ectra credit..This has proven in districts to work and it has in Pierre from 1500+ tardies last yr to 350 this yr in the first 3 weeks...so more are learning with less distraction...kids are being more accountable, respective, etc..so you need to go see this in work before throwing stones..What school do you work in??? Is enabling your behavior mod at your school or the 95% pay the price vs 5% "




Student wrote on Sep 21, 2009 1:24 PM:

" How does this policy help prepare us for future jobs?

When you go to work, if you are 10 seconds late, who is going to notice? Your boss isn't going to lock you out of the building and not let you work for that day. "




To Parent... wrote on Sep 21, 2009 10:03 AM:

" NCLB does NOT mean that your child or any other child can disrupt a class, because they feel it necessary to socialize between classes or they felt like sleeping in. These students are required to check with their teachers about assignments - so they are getting the information, just not in the classroom. Why should they get full credit when they choose not to be in class on time. "




Sweeps are sweet wrote on Sep 19, 2009 2:30 PM:

" Sounds like a lot of employers need to pay closer attention to the parking lot. What kind of job allows employees to be repeatedly late for work? Aren't these people expected to be on time? You can "What If" and "My Neighbors Cousin's Friend's Kid Was Swept For No Reason" all you want. The sweep is effective in ensuring that those students who want and deserve an education get a good one. Those students who don't know the intrinsic value of their own education are denying themselves an opportunity to better themselves. "




Parent to To the Parent wrote on Sep 19, 2009 11:20 AM:

" Who are you to tell me about responsibility and my child? You don't even know me. I know of people (state workers) who are always late for work and NOT fired. My point is the NCLB ACT was enforced to educate students not have them sit in a lunchroom and socialize or play on the computer. What is this teaching our children? Also, what consitutes an excused tardy? Are we going to have to worry about our kids lying now so they can get out of detention? What type of ethics is this teaching? Homeschooling? That's an idea!!! "




concerned parent wrote on Sep 18, 2009 4:49 PM:

" continued from previous post. This was the first time I had called in this year. confused as to why this happened. As a parent we should be able to call our child in sick or late and not be questioned. I could see them being concerned if it had happened a lot, but that was not the case "




concerned parent wrote on Sep 18, 2009 4:46 PM:

" I called the school recently and told them my child would be a few minutes late for class, when asked why, I explained for personal reasons. When my child got to school he was asked to go see the principal to explain why he was late. After some discussion he told the principal to call me. I was then asked to give a more specific reason as to why he was late. I was also told that he wanted to sweep my child even though I had called. do they call all parents about this? "




Parent of 2 Riggs students wrote on Sep 18, 2009 12:38 PM:

" The school is not required to educate your child - YOU ARE - if your child can't make it class then they are responsible for their own education. If the student is under 18, then guess what - it becomes the parents responsibility. What do you suppose happens to students that have ISS or OSS - we don't send teachers out to the homes of these students. It is the same concept - it's a discipline issue that has been accepted at Riggs for years. They can still get the information, just not the points. "




Dave wrote on Sep 18, 2009 11:10 AM:

" I'm glad to see students on here supporting the policy. I hope the concerned parents are reading their responses. When the students notice a positive change and support such a strict policy, it goes to show how bad the problem must have been. Some people seem concerned about the tardy child's education, but forget about the disruption in education to the other 24 students who showed up on time. "




Green wrote on Sep 17, 2009 10:45 PM:

" I wish the negative people would come see for themselves...the same kids get swept daily...these kids have chosen their path....they can not disrupt those of us that have chosen a different path..they will shortly work their way into the new academy...and we will continue on our path uninterrupted.....The sweep is sweet!!! "




Agree with Concerned Educator wrote on Sep 17, 2009 10:15 PM:

" I agree with Concerned Educator 100%. Find a way to penalize the students, but don't take away the education. It seems to me that the students who are consistently tardy are those who probably need the education the most. Aren't we further distancing them by outcasting them? I worry that this policy will ony further alienate students who are already struggling with wanting to come to school. We should embrace those kids, and find ways to draw them in, not push them away further. I believe in teaching responsibility, but we're throwing the baby out with the bathwater here. "




wow wrote on Sep 17, 2009 7:56 PM:

" It is amazing how some people will use any excuse to talk trash. To RE who made the comment about Catholic schools...what the heck does that have to do with anything. Pretty useless comment. Plenty of people have had great experiences at parochial schools, plenty of people have had bad experiences at public schools. The bottom line is we need to quit tieing the schools hands every time they try to solve a problem. Grow up, accept responsibility and deal with it! Life is tough and some of you are teaching your kids towhine! "




Gov fan wrote on Sep 17, 2009 7:33 PM:

" What happenes if a student has a very good excuse for being tardy and will not lose a portion of his or her grade, does that student get to go to class that day or are they also keep out of the classroom. If they have a good excuse they should be able to attend class but wouldn't that disrupt the class? Just a question I would like answered from anyone that knows. "




Interested Parent wrote on Sep 17, 2009 6:03 PM:

" I think this is more than a student issue. How do most students get to school? Is this a parent problem? I think that very few students would be late if they had a bussing system. I understand this doesn't apply to some students but it is an issue to be addressed. "




Concerned Educator wrote on Sep 17, 2009 4:27 PM:

" And to clarify, I agree that students deserve a penalty for being late, such as a reduction in daily participation grades. The item that disturbs me is that we are preventing the student from attending the class at all. To comment to DJ, if one is late for work one does not get paid for the time missed, but one is not forced to forgo the entire day's work because of being late.

. "




Think People wrote on Sep 17, 2009 4:27 PM:

" Punishment is expected if kids are late. This is agreed I believe! But don't withhold education from the kids. If they don't learn a concept one day that applies to the next day, then they have fallen behind. Punishment yes! But don't take away Education! "




Student wrote on Sep 17, 2009 4:21 PM:

" This sweep thing really does work...it helps keep these kids from disrupting our classroom learning time and we love that. there isn't a knock on the door every 5 minutes that takes our teacher away from us who are on time and keeps the focus on us who are responsible enough to be on time! This is all it comes down to and 99% of the students like this so if your not a student it don't affect you so leave us alone and let us learn! "




Sam wrote on Sep 17, 2009 4:07 PM:

" I am a student at Riggs and this a procedure that helps with the tardy policy! When I am sitting in class and late kids come in it take away MY learning time and that isn't fair to all the students who are there ON time EVERY day! Lets talk about the education we are missing because of these students who are ALWAYS late! Ask the real students at Riggs and we will tell you....its something we like and want to help us get the most out of our education! Hear this School Board! "




To the Parent wrote on Sep 17, 2009 3:29 PM:

" "Better Late Than Never"... tell that to your employer, bank or any one else that runs on a schedule. It's called responsibility and it's a standard in the real world. Trust me, if your kid shows up on time, he or she won't be left behind. The fact is, I don't want mine left behind waiting on yours. Try home schooling and run it on your schedule. "




Concerned Parent wrote on Sep 17, 2009 1:31 PM:

" We have forgotten who is he employer & who is the employee here. Parents (employer) need to let Pierre School (employees) know that their job is to EDUCATE. I am tired of hearing from the teachers at Riggs how they are not babysitters. I believe the contrary. If you work with children (or have), then you are a babysitter is some significate way. Also the last time I drove into city limits it said "Welcome to Pierre" not welcome to Sioux Falls. There is a better solution to this minor issue. "




Parent wrote on Sep 17, 2009 12:44 PM:

" What ever happened to "Better Late Than Never"? Is this school teaching education or ethics first? Every student is different! Why place a program that benefits some but not others? Is this in accordance with the NCLB act? "




Gramma wrote on Sep 17, 2009 10:12 AM:

" I feel a policy like this teaches the students more responsiblity and respect, which they will have to have when they go out into the world. It is respectful to the school, teachers, and other students not to disrupt the classroom by coming in late. "




scott a parent wrote on Sep 17, 2009 9:50 AM:

" As a parent I want discipline for late students but taking away grades and classtime defeats the purpose of schools teaching. Detention for being late is plenty discipline but don't take away classtime and grades. Come on people THINK! "




Concerned Educator wrote on Sep 17, 2009 9:38 AM:

" So, if I understand this correctly a student who is late for class misses out on an entire day's lesson. Does this policy seem to go against every piece pedagological knowledge? Since when is it appropriate to punish a student for being late by withholding the education he or she has the right to receive and the administration has the duty to provide?

Tardiness is a problem and students must learn to be accountable and on time, but robbing these students of the chance to learn the course lessons for the day seems extreme and detrimental. "




DJ wrote on Sep 17, 2009 8:04 AM:

" It is very easy if your child is at school on time and at class like they are suppose to be what is the problem. Get up in the moring get to class and you won't have any issues with this. Would we do the same to our employers. No, if your late for work you don't get paid for the time you missed so why should we let our kids get credit for being late and lazy. If it is an excused tardy there is no problem quit complaining just to complain, and teach our kids responsibility for themselves "




Tomb wrote on Sep 17, 2009 7:49 AM:

" Students get class on time (no problem) How come the schools attorney is from out of town. Doesn't Pierre have any qualified lawyers? Hire local residents! "




Wise Idea wrote on Sep 17, 2009 7:46 AM:

" I like the idea...however, for all those parents who are not in favor why don't we tell them that if they want thier kids in class so bad then they can leave work, drive to the school and walk them to the classroom door and listen to the child explain why he or she was late for class. Then they can get back in. Two or three times of having to drive to school to "re-admit" thier kids and I bet the complaining stops...and the kids aren't late anymore. "




re wrote on Sep 17, 2009 6:49 AM:

" I went to a catholic boarding school in the 60's, you couldn't be tardy cause they beat you. Oh, thats why the catholic church is broke, they got sued for abuse. "