Love Seats and Kissing Rocks

On my father’s side of the family I’m the youngest of nine grandchildren. The next oldest grandchild is my sister and a couple of others. The age difference between us is six years. The oldest segment of grandchildren was in their late teens or early 20s when I was born. It was this segment of our grandchild population that passed along to me their own childhood lore of The Place---the one-time farm in Cherokee County where my father lives today.

If we all got together today and walked The Place we would share some of the same memories regarding particular trees, trails, and other spots. Some memories would be specific to each person, and some memories would be more relevant to each of the three generational groups.

One such memory would be the love seat which was a large, rectangular quartz rock that jutted out at the base of a very large, old tree in front of my great-grandmother’s home. The rock formed a ledge that could support the derriere of two slender people. As a child I played in an around the tree, and I never went to my grandparents without sitting on the “love seat.”

Today, if I mentioned a love seat to my students they would instantly picture a small sofa that could seat two to three people, but in the 1800s, however, a love seat was a place to date much like the movies or the mall might be today though the word “date” would have been largely unknown.

A young man might escort a girl to a dance, church, supper, or party, but that was about it. Most of the interaction occurred at the young ladies home in her parlor or on the front porch. In a USA Today article Johns Hopkins University sociologist Andrew Cherlin defines traditional courtship: "It was a process where parents and others kept watch while young people found a spouse. It had rules, steps carried out in view of everyone. It meant sitting in a parlor and chatting with parents.”

Often times a courting couch or loveseat was placed in the parlor or living room for the courting couple to sit close to each other. A loveseat was basically a sofa created from two chairs facing in opposite directions. In this way the man and woman could sit together, but there was a boundary between them….the shared arm of the chairs.

Dating [finally] began at the beginning of the 20th century, implemented by upper class women who were moving into academic and professional circles. They demanded the right to be able to dine out with a man and not damage their reputation. They also craved the freedom that going out on a date gave them, away from the prying eyes of their parents. They would sneak out to the dancehalls to meet who they wanted [per this article].

While Georgia girls might have snuck out to the dancehalls or various shops to meet a beau, girls attending the State Normal School in Athens, Georgia would head out to the Kissing Rocks. These “normal” girls were teachers in training, and the “normal” comes from the fact that they were being taught the standards or “norms” of education.

Per the New Georgia Encyclopedia the University of Georgia College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts used the campus until 1891, when it was purchased to establish the State Normal School. In 1932 the University of Georgia’s Department of Education assumed teachers’ training for the state. The normal school was taken over by the university and became known as Coordinate College but was used only as dormitories for freshmen and sophomore women.

Later the Naval Supply Corps School was housed in the buildings including Winnie Davis Hall, built with funds raised by the United Daughters of the Confederacy and named after Confederate president Jefferson Davis’s daughter. Varina Davis, wife of Jefferson Davis sent a letter to be read at the laying of the building’s cornerstone. You can see it here. The Navy controlled the property until very recently which resulted in the property being turned back over to UGA.

This report, produced due to the anticipated closing of the Naval Supply Corps School, discusses the buildings and the property in general including the Kissing Rocks, a group of boulders along Prince Avenue. The story goes that students at the Normal School would gather at the Kissing Rocks to steal a few kisses with their beaus. The site is also newsworthy for the prehistoric artifacts found at the location during a 1951 excavation.
While I did find some interesting online links about the State Normal School I was a little disappointed I couldn’t find an image of the Kissing Rocks. If anyone out that way would like to help, please send an image to gamind@mail.com and I’ll post it with your credit.

A bit of the school’s history can be found at Rootsweb while pages of The Crystal, the yearbook for the State Normal School, can be found here.

The picture with this post was snagged from OnlineAthens.com

Georgia Bloggers: Education

The following list represents the Georgia’s Blogs on the blogroll here at Georgia on My Mind that represents education as it relates to K-12, college, and homeschool. The particular focus for each blog is also listed. If no focus is listed the blog discusses education on an ongoing basis along with other topics.

Alone on a Limb – Environmental Education and Issues, K-12

Another History Blog – College

Best Practices in Education – K-12

Cobbloviate – College

Edublog Insights – College

Educated and Poor – College

From Melissa's Desk - Homeschooling

Georgia Library Media Association

Georgia Mom – Homeschooling

Georgia Youth and High School Sports News Blog – Sports

Get Schooled-Atlanta Journal Column

History Is Elementary – K-12

Home School Journey – Homeschool

Home Sweet Home – Homeschool

Huffenglish.com – K-12

I Will Take It Lord, All You Have to Give – Homeschool

Principal's Office – K-12

Rippling Pond – K-12

Rose Cottage - Homeschool

South of the Gnat Line – Homeschool

Stephen's Untold Stories – K-12

The Ohoopee Letter News-

The Ubiquitous Librarian

Why Do You Ask?

Do you know about a Georgia blog regarding education I haven’t listed? Please contact me at gamind@mail.com to let me know, or to advise any corrections that need to be made.

History Is Elementary Hosts Education Carnival

Find out what is hot and what is not in the edublogosphere over at my curriculum blog, History Is Elementary.

I'm hosting the 136th Education Carnival.

It's better than any education journal I could ever subscribe to.

Poor Planning With School Registration...Who Is To Blame?

I was glad to see WSB News did not place the Clayton County School System as the bad guy in the recent reports concerning the crowds that deluged county board offices yesterday and today. The reports have stated that there were over 1,000 people in line attempting to register their children.

Imagine owning a television repair service and having 1,000 people showing up at your office wanting immediate service. The problem is they forgot the television. How could you help them? You couldn’t. Not until they bring the television. Okay, I realize my analogy may be a little off, but I want to post this and don’t have time to think of something really neat.

Most counties in the metro area have begun asking parents to register their children in one centralized location in the county….usually the county board office. In this way everyone is told the same thing and paperwork is streamlined. Most non-educators have no idea how the school-site offices become so clogged with parents three or four days before school starts wanting to register their children. You simply can’t move for the crowd and there isn’t enough room in the school-site offices for more than 10 people at a time in the outer offices. The paperwork is involved…..several pages. Many don’t have the shot records they need, social security cards, and in so many more cases now than ever before. the necessary divorce agreements so that educators know who they legally can talk and legally can’t. At the high school level discipline records have to accompany new move- ins as well, since we are getting more violent students in record numbers.

Actually I personally feel the main reason registration now occurs in one central location has to do with the safety of the office personnel. Parents verbally abuse the office staff when they are simply complying with state and local rules. With accountability the number one rule these days most school employees would rather be cussed out than told good bye by the school system for not obtaining the correct documentation. In years past when on-site regstration was still going on I’ve seen deputies on duty in the office to maintain order and I have seen pushing and shoving matches underway by parents in line.

I realize Clayton County has had and still has numerous problems with their school system, however, what I see is an ongoing non-educator problem….mainly parents. They lost their accreditation not too long ago because some of the elected school board members kept interfering with the day-to-day operations of the schools. Recently the school super resigned on her own, or perhaps it was hinted at, and the talk is it was over test scores. Clayton still has, according to the folks I know, a huge problem with school attendance. If the kids don’t show up they can’t learn in order to pass a test. Showing up is ultimately the parent’s job. In this most recent bad publicity parents ignore news reports regarding registration news, ignore the ability they have to call the school system or access the school system website to find out what they need, and decide they’ll just show up at the tail-end of summer and demand service. Folks, it just doesn’t work that way.

I recently registered my daughter for school back in our home county after she had attended school in the county where I teach. Even though I’m an educator I checked with the school system about what to do and went on line and printed out ALL of the forms I needed. We did have one little hiccup in that I was told my daughter needed a shot update. We headed to the Health Department and were told she was up-to-date to my daughter’s immediate relief. It seems that the folks in the registering department in our school district were so overwhelmed with folks from out of state they were telling everyone they needed more shots. We got a new copy of her shot record and were done, but here’s the real reason why we didn’t stand in line…….I registered my daughter over two weeks ago. One of the Dad’s on the video tape was complaining that his daughter needed a shot and it would cost $100……..It would not cost near that amount at the the Health Department. Another line stander complained that her grandbaby had never missed a day of school and it would be the school system’s fault if a day was missed. If we really want to know why so many children today will not take responsibility for their own actions we only need to look as far as the child’s biology.

Sure I understand that there were a few people in the long lines in Clayton County who did just arrive a few days ago in the state, but you can’t tell me that everyone in that line just arrived. No way……the majority got what they deserved for their procrastination.

Name Your Poison...The Magic Ingredient or Kool-Aid

When I was pursuing my teaching degree I did some research on charter schools. At that time the idea was very new and very little research had been completed regarding their success or failure. While many charters exist today they are still treated as the step-child of education. and many educators remain ignorant of what a charter is or isn’t.

Atlanta City Schools has operated charter schools since 1999. They were authorized to operate on a performance based contract to serve students who reside within the city of Atlanta. Charles R. Drew Charter School is one of the oldest holding their charter for the last seven years.

Each charter school has its own non-profit governing board and recruits, selects, and hires staff for the day-to-day operations of the school. Charter school educational programs, curriculum, and instructional methods vary. Each charter school’s daily, weekly, or yearly schedule may be the same or different from Atlanta Public Schools. You can see the entire text at the Atlanta City Schools website.

Within the last few days WSB-TV ran a two part story regarding one particular Atlanta charter called Achievement Academy of Atlanta. The school has been in existence for the last four years. You can access the video for the news story here.

Yes, Achievement Academy has had problems in their short history with money mismanagement…..I don’t know all the details, however, their students consistently outscore their regular pubic school counterparts on standardized testing, and it would seem parents are supportive of the school even though there is currently a pending lawsuit between the charter and the school system.

As I watched the story I really zeroed in on the reporter’s (Richard Belcher) comments regarding the differences between Achievement Academy and the regular public schools students will be forced to return to if the school system has its way and shuts down the charter. Students will have to return to a more chaotic environment that consistently performs poorly with regards to academics and a higher number of discipline issues as well.

What is the magic ingredient these charters have over their counterparts?

Are the administrators and instructors at the charters better educated, more knowledgeable regarding instructional practices, or just simply better at keeping middle school temperaments in check? No, the faculty at these schools can be compared to any school across the city. A mixed group of individuals…some at the end of long careers, some in the middle, and some just beginning with varying degrees of license and credentials.


Do the charters have access to better facilities, newer educational materials, or use top-notch educational reform models? No, not necessarily. Many charters receive a set amount of money each year just like any other school and they must allocate it following the same formulas. Many times charters are housed in older schools that might not have been in use for awhile. The news report referred to the fact that Achievement Academy had been forced to move from a great location to one of poorer quality. Many times charters are housed in storefront locations or other non-traditional type buildings.

Ok…..then it must be the money. Charter schools receive generous amounts of money because we all know that throwing money at education solves all ills. Please don’t tell me you buy into this bunk…

Nope….it’s not a better prepared or educated faculty. It’s not better facilities, brand new textbooks, or a state of the art building.

The magic ingredient is very simple. It’s simple dedication and responsibility on the part of students and most importantly….the parents.

Unfortunately I could not access a website for Achievement Academy, however, I did access the website for another Atlanta City Schools charter……Atlanta Charter Middle School. I found the magic ingredient right there on their website and I bet you a Varsity slaw dog, an order of onion rings and a fried peach pie that Achievement Academy has the same magic ingredient.

Parents who apply to have their children attend most charter schools must abide by the rules of the school. They must sign an agreement. Many times as in the case of Atlanta Charter Middle School the student must sign an agreement as well. Here are some of the requirements parents agree to…..

*parents must donate 15 to 10 hours of volunteer service to the school
*parents must participate in one main fundraising event and one grade level event
*parents must respond to messages received from the school
*parents must have their child at school each day by 8:30 a.m. ready to learn
*parents must check homework assignments, assist with need service projects, and make sure students read 30 minutes each day
*parents must notify the school of any change of address, phone number, or family status

You can see the full text of the agreement here.

If parents don’t live up to the contract students can be removed from the school.
In a regular public educational environment that option isn’t there except in extreme circumstances and only after numerous situations have occurred over several years….not weeks or months.

Many school systems have parent contracts like the one I describe above including the school system where I teach. The difference is that these charters actually have the authority to enforce it, and the parents and students know it. Each year I am required to send home a parent/student/teacher compact and I am required to show to school administrators that I have had 100% compliance. The sad thing is I’ve never had 100% compliance. I receive nasty notes from parents who are appalled that we might ask them to do some of the things mentioned above. Many simply ignore my pleas to return it. I have never had an administrator refer to the compact when we are conferencing with a violent or truant student. The compact certainly is never brought up when discussing a student who refuses to complete an assignment.
I firmly believe holding parents and students accountable in the education process is the magic ingredient, however, most American schools keep drinking the same Kool-aid. They continue to chant schools fail, administrators fail, and teachers fail. Yes, there are problems and blame should be given where it is due, however, until we begin to encourage and invite parents to be accountable in the process the educational success we all hope for remain just out of reach.

The Problem With Georgia Schools

Recently Maureen Downey presented Wake-Up Call for Public Education, an editorial in the Atlanta Journal Constitution. In the piece she bemoans the fact that many education honchos resist change at any cost.

She doesn’t understand why Governor Perdue calls for a 3% pay raise across the board for teachers and not utilize merit pay tied in with test scores. Many boardmembers actually complain about the raises because they have to then dig into their system's pockets to come up with the same raises for other school support personnel. I don’t mind merit pay if it happens, however, it won’t turn around test scores at the rate many think it will because teacher performance isn’t the main problem.

Downey doesn’t understand why certain special education students aren’t given vouchers for their children to attend schools better suited for their needs. She contends that many board members and policy makers don’t want this to happen because it would jeopordize the programs that are in place. Quite frankly I would love for this to happen. It is very rare for a special needs child to actually receive the type of services they need. Those in special education are very well trained and they do an admirable job, however, many special education students are placed in regular education classes for part of the day and regular educators do not have the types of training (i.e. and additional college degree) to handle issues that come up. I find that many of my special education students have needs that require one-on-one assistance for the full class period...this is basically impossible when I have 25-30 students, and I’m the lone adult in the room.

Finally, Downey advises many administrators and policy makers argue seventy percent of Georgians currently have no ties to our schools because they don’t have any children that attend them. Downey advises the disinterest doesn’t occur because a large majority of Georgians don’t have children in the schools. Instead, it’s the fact that these people have lost interest in a mediocre product. I agree that the product is mediocre and I know many teachers who feel the same way. We are at our wits end to have the support we need, but rarely do we get it. Often when we have an administrator who tries to help they often find they don’t get the support they need at the next level.

I understand the disinterest and the unwillingness to support Georgia’s public schools. However, many of the things that are put out in view for the public rarely paint a true image of the real problem with education in our state and across the nation.

Today in the Atlanta Journal Constitution the Get Schooled blog posted Should Public Education Advocates Abandon Ship I won’t repeat the post and all of the 37 comments here, but I implore you to take a look.

You see many people who have an opinion about education in Georgia haven’t actually stepped foot inside a school building since they graduated high school. They think school is still like it was way back when. Sadly the place I remember as school and the place where I work today are at vast ends of the spectrum. Even the best of students are often borderline when it comes to the respect issue. For every parent I have who wants their child to be held at a high standard I have five others who want me to dumb things down for their children. For every parent who thanks me when I call I have five more telling me to f-off and that the school day is my problem not theirs. Actually, I’m lucky when I get these types of parents to the phone. I leave a lot of messages in efforts to contact parents. Most of the conferences I hold are for students who don’t really need a conference. It’s the ones where I desperately need the parent’s help that are “no shows.”

Hopefully you will take a look at the comments over at the AJC. For every Georgia teacher that commented over there there are many, many more with similar stories. Dangerous students are not just in the high schools. They are also in the middle and elementary schools as well. They start young these days as early as pre-k. Screaming fits, biting, smearing feces all over a public restroom, and beligerance toward any adult in charge can occur at this young age. I’ve personally restrained a violent four year old and learned quickly if you don’t do it right you will get hurt. Personally, during late bus duty I’ve had a student in K stick his head up under my skirt and say, “Hey, what ‘cha got up there?” His head was actually between my legs and I could feel the hair on his head against my leg. It was everything I could do to get him away. He had my legs in a death grip. My assistant administrator at the time said, “Oh, that’s just ****. He does things like that all the time.” Nothing was done.

I’ve had students throw books, rocks, chairs, and pencils at me or other students. I’ve had a student get right up into my face and threaten me by stating, “I’m going to womp you right up side your head.” That particular young man had terrorized my classroom all year as well as most of my students. I told him to go right ahead and I would call the police because I knew it would be the only way he’d ever be removed from my class. Luckily for me he backed down because he would have done some damage. More than likely if I had called the police before calling the school office if wouldn’t have done any good. The young man would have been moved to some other classroom where he could start terrorizing another batch of kids.

I’ve had students throw tantrums in the middle of my floor because I won’t let them lay in the floor, come and go from the classroom as they please, or because I (gasp) ask them to read something or write something. I have students who interrupt me constantly with off task, inappropriate comments to gain attention for themselves. The same students never bring anything to class and never finish an assignment. Yes, I encourage them to no avail. I’ve had female students writing notes back and forth about oral sex. The notes were so explicit you could tell they had done it or had seen it being done. Please remember I teach nine and ten year olds.

I’ve seen a student have major issues all the way through elementary school and once in middle school the young man began touching female students improperly. It finally took the threat of a law suit before the student was finally removed from school. One of the young girls involved was traumatized, and her parents now have the added expense of private education in order to provide a safe place for their daughter. Many of our problem students have had at least 30-50 write ups for disrespect, fighting, bullying, etc. by the time they have gotten to middle school. Many are well into their first year of middle school before they are finally removed so that others can learn.

Over at the AJC one commenter in an attempt to help was concerned that Georgia educators are not receiving the type of training they need to handle disruptive students. My first thought when I read the comment was, “Gee, why should I have to have special training? Why can’t we just handle the problem and get it out of the maintstream classroom so others can learn?” The person who wanted more teacher training was thinking that perhaps then teachers would be able to tell a student’s hot buttons and avoid them. Many times educators are not made aware of the past problems a student may have. Usually we are the last to know if the student has a violent record, has a juvenile record, or has any kind of psych problem that might be useful knowledge. I’ve actuallly been told because of confidentiality I can’t know certain things. Many times I learn about juvy records because the student tells me.

If you are a parent and have a student in a public school understand this…..the major disruptive students in your child’s school have more rights that your child. These students take up far too much of the teacher’s and administrator’s time----time that could be better spent working with your child. They disrupt lessons, class changes, and lunch time. They terrorize recess, rest rooms, and the bus ride home. They continue with their behavior because they know nothing will be done.

Many policy makers, researchers, and administration types actually blame the teachers for these major discipline problems. They state the teachers make unjust demands on students, the teaching methods don’t sufficiently engage the student, and we aren’t empathetic to the student’s problems. Students who don’t pass “the test” fail because the teacher fails. They state the student has no fault in the matter at all.

I agree with Maureen Downey and many of the points she makes, however, many educators across our state including myself understand the major problem behind Georgia's mediocre education product. Educrats continually run from the issue of out-of-control students and major discipline issues by sticking their heads in the sand anytime the issue is brought up.

Students who continually disrupt have real problems and I do have feelings for them. My environment simply isn’t the best one for them. Many of them come from very chaotic environments. To place them in orderly surroundings such as a school classroom where there are expected behaviors and boundaries is too much for them. It’s no wonder they act out and attempt to restore a more familiar environment for them which is chaos. They are doing this though at the expense of others…..and therein lies the rub.

Until we have order in Georgia’s classrooms things will remain the same.

What say you?