Chuck: 
Received your reply on my note to Donna about uniforms - therefore you 
might be interested to know that I received a letter in Xmas card from 
former team mate at former school in Fl.  They have abolished uniforms 
this year after 15 years of trying.  Kids became too adept at 
camouflage and making the uniform conform.  The teachers finally 
rebelled because their discipline over their uniforms was enforced 
strictly to the point of pay penalties this past year.  The students 
were not penalized, only warned.  Rules,Rules,Rules on top of rules just 
doesn't work.  We can't legislate morality!!  Keep up the fight.  Stand 
your ground.  There are better ways to improve these situations.   
As to your comment on how colleges can improve courses.  Yea!!  We see 
the same problem.  Not enough preparation for the real world.  They come 
in with too many idealistic "new" approaches which only work in theory 
or after the new teacher has management under control.   
 
Since I am now in public middle school teaching we find the biggest 
problems dealing with polar ideals in approaching student discipline. 
Our administrators really need to get back into the classroom to see 
what the changes are.  I am specifically talking about my 
administrators, of which I have three who have been in the 
administrative system for 15 years plus.  We have requested that the 
NCMSA (North Carolina Middle School Association) which has a strong 
following and an excellent convention every spring which most schools 
support in this state.  Almost 80% of middle schools represent the 
entire association.  We hope to see some progress with getting our 
staff(admin.) into classroom situations within a couple of years.  They 
need to be refreshed.  However the NCMSA is going to do a series of 
workshops steering them in this direction.  Since I'm serving on a 
committee working on stuff like this for EOG testing and teacher 
involvement with accountability - got any ideas?!  What's happening up 
your way on discipline? 
 
        Lori 
 
 
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