Comments are temporarily disabled on TucsonSentinel.com while we upgrade our system.
— 30 —
I want to help TucsonSentinel.com offer a real news alternative!
We're committed to making quality news accessible; we'll never set up a paywall or charge for our site. But we rely on your support to bring you independent news without the spin. Use our convenient PayPal/credit card donation form below or contact us at donate@tucsonsentinel.com today.
Subscribe and stretch your donation over time:
Or give a secure one-time gift with PayPal or your credit card:
TucsonSentinel.com is an Arizona nonprofit organization. Your contribution is tax-deductible.
Please be respectful and relevant. Thought-provoking. Or at least funny.
We want comments to advance the discussion and we need your help. Debate, disagree, yell (digitally) or laugh, but do it with respect.
We won't censor your comments if we don't agree with you; we want viewpoints from across the political spectrum. We're dedicated to sparking an open, active discussion. We believe people with differing opinions can spark debate and effect change.
Comments are open to registered users of TucsonSentinel.com.
Keep in mind:
TucsonSentinel.com does not allow:
Comments that violate these guidelines may be removed. We reserve the right to make up the rules as we go along.
Commentors are solely responsible for the opinions they express and the accuracy of the information they provide. Users who violate these standards may lose their privileges on TucsonSentinel.com.
Sentinel editors can't read every comment. Trolls, spammers and other troublemakers can slide under the bridge. We rely on you to help maintain a healthy conversation - more than likely, you're reading these comments before the editors.
What if you see something inappropriate? Use the 'Flag' button to send it to a moderation queue. Help us out and tell us why you're reporting it; please don't report someone just because you disagree with them. Boy who cried wolf and all that. We'll take appropriate action on violations.
We will not edit comments to alter their meaning or censor comments because of political content.
We will not remove comments solely because they are heartless, cruel, coarse, foolish or just plain wrong. Your disapproval can maintain a decent signal to noise ratio. Ultimately, however, self-policing is the best method.
Bottom line, don't be a jerk.
5 comments on this story
Wow, good news. I credit the marvel of the information age, getting this news out to a lot of people quickly, with influencing Stegeman to do the right thing. He is, however, wrong with the following quote:
It was done with idiotic intentions, and no one should support this stupid plan.
***
Wow, this is hilarious…and I hope her question wasn’t answered. When you send an email out to hundreds of people, you can’t keep it a secret. Get realistic there Watt. Duh! But I give Watt a 50 for her effort…
To me, on this part of the issue it’s this simple…public schools are public funded, meaning that they work for us…the taxpayers. In essence, we are their bosses. This means that, while they’re on the clock, short of violating HIPPA or similar laws they should have no secrets from us. We have a right to know about anything and everything they’re doing while they’re on the clock. If anyone has a problem with that then to them I recommend employment in the private sector.
***
For my daily news fix I go to three places…here, the dying ADS, and the Arizona Daily Independent. I gotta say that, while all three outlets reported on this story, the Sentinel’s investigation, reporting, timeliness, neutrality, and follow-up far outshined its competitors. Excellent work. (See Dylan, I don’t just hurl criticism and insults…I give props where they’re due, also!)
@Bret Linden
I believe you’ve confused Stegeman/Pedicone in your first graph.
Anyway, a quick search of the Star shows no reporting on this issue. As for the ADI, you might find their brand of commentary fits your viewpoint, but they’re hardly a news outlet.
But thanks just the same for your continued support; spread the word!
@Dylan Smith
-Blah, yes I did. My bad.
-On Tuesday they had a half-assed piece on the story, no where near as detailed as the Sentinel’s piece (though, in most cases, the Star is not detail-oriented, hence their inevitable forthcoming demise). It got some comments, but as of yesterday it was gone. For reasons I can’t figure out, the ADS will let some stories stay on line for a day, then it will disappear forever.
-The ADI…News outlet, I personally would say yes. However, I will concede they’re heavily biased. However, they do tackle many stories that the ADS won’t because the ADS has an agenda and rarely publishes pieces that threaten said agenda. Under normal circumstances I would call out the ADI on their lack of journalistic integrity. However, it is refreshing, and necessary, to have a counterbalance to the ADS. Hopefully, when the ADS dies, the ADI will assume a neutral position.
I continue to support the Sentinel because of it’s sort-of neutral position (you do lean left sometimes), but mostly because I can say whatever I want here without fear of it being deleted just because someone at the Sentinel doesn’t agree with it. I know it’s in your TOS, but having it in there is one thing, practicing it is another….and I appreciate that you guys practice what you preach. I will indeed continue to spread the word.
The no zero grading policy is overturned and I am glad that reason has prevailed. However, the problem with a lack of leadership at Pueblo remains. Naive is not the word I would use for this.
The problem of incoming freshman being poorly prepared is nothing new. It has been going on for decades. Pueblo has seen high drop out rates because students are poorly prepared, not uncommonly four or five years behind grade level. These students have been ill served and it is no easy matter to unlearn years of bad habits The problem is a complex one and not prone to simple solutions by well intentioned administrators.
I doubt Ms. Watt will ever be successful. If she were serious about making a change, then she would spend her time and resources identifying students with a high chance of failure, monitor their attendance daily from day one, and provide support classes to build study skills and provide help. These students need high expectations and the tools to meet them, not accounting magic. The zeroes are a symptom not the problem itself. Watt needs to be proactive with students about having skills and using them, thus never earning a zero in the first place. Then they do not need do overs, excuses or low expectations. It is hard work and teachers need support and encouragement, not the third degree or threats and other bullying.
What we can’t overlook in this practice is that Adelita Grijalva is in favor of this just as she is in favor of “Social Promotion.” The Majority Minority needs to stopped being coddled like they are underprivileged.