Goodpasture Confidential

[0749]

I am a parent of an alumni who attended Goodpasture for 13 years. I am also a teacher in the Metro school system and I see daily what is in the real world. I sent my child to Goodpasture to get the moral and Christian education that I knew they would not recieve in the public school system that I work and pay taxes toward. The real world is a truly dangerous place and Goodpasture is an oasis of peace and goodness. I did not have to worry about gang violence and peer pressure that is over powering to our children.

Everyone needs to just realize what is real and why you are sending your children to a good, moral and peaceful school. So what that a teacher was fired for putting out TCAP scores on the web, I would be fired if I did that in Metro. It is not our place as teachers to place scores out to the general public, we have a code of ethics that places the privacy of the student above all else. What he did was wrong and he got punished. Now all of those who are upset need to just get over it and realize that this battle between the band kids and the jocks is going to be there as long as people make mountains out of mole hills. In the real world no one really cares about any of this, there are people being killed everyday just because they are wearing the wrong color. There are people living in Mississppi and New Orleans who still have not recovered from Katrina. This is all petty and we need to realize, that even with the problems, Goodpasture is a good school and is giving a good education to a lot of students who are going on to great things. I feel very blessed that my child went to Goodpasture and has been given a good Christian and moral education in spite of all the stuff that goes on there!

[You're in denial]

I think you need to get a grip on reality and realize that Goodpasture does just as much emotional damage to students as Metro public schools do physical. I would rather be punched in the face by a gang member then be told I couldn't do something because I wasnt a blonde haired, blue-eyed Polo Shirt Docker Pant wearing All-American man. You are fooling yourself if you believe Goodpasture to be a moral and Christian school. Ridiculous

[distressed parent]

I have had a hard time with the administration wanting to make our childern into some kind of goodpasture mold. If they have creativity or a personality it seems that they are labled as a "bad kid" I am sorry that I didn't move my oldest from goodpasture when he was in 1st grade. But back then the school had a different reputation. Our youngest is there for 2 more years and I just am now filling out the enrollment form for next year and hope that we are not making a wrong decision.... but we left the decision up to our child...Good luck with all you do.

[Proudpapa]

Dear 0749,

You must have misunderstood what Reed had posted. He did not post any individual student scores. He gave out class averages of each score. These can be compiled by keeping each report you get during the parent meetings in the spring. These are also in a publication by the school to report to each accredidation association. Metro Schools along with some private schools post those averages every year in the Tennessean and now on websites. If Reed would have posted an individual's scores, then he should have been fired. This was not the case. Goodpasture has many good points, but in this case (like in many) the administration over reacts.

I know of several students and teachers that have done far worse (physical/sexual abuse, illegal drugs, etc...) and have not been dealt with properly. They let these bigger issues get swept under the rug. Why? Because if they reported the way they should, then there would be police involved and Goodpasture's "safe" reputation would be shot all to h***... or as my children have said... Goodpasture.

[0749]

I chose to send my child to Goodpasture because I did not trust the public school system to keep them safe. I know how it is in the public system, and I did not choose to send them there. You ( those who send their children to Goodpasture)chose to enroll your children at this school. if you are having a problem with the school, get active and try to change within the system. You are dealing with reasonable people, or send them to Ezell, FRA, or Davidson Academy. I am satisfied with the education that my child received, even with the learning problems, they received scholarships for higher education. Were there problems, yes, and I dealt with them as any parent who is involved with their child. You do whatever is needed to make your child successful . Believe me, there were problems. My child was LD and I had to make their problems heard every school year. You have got to be on top of these things and make sure that your child's rights are being dealt with weather it is public or private. For the the person who felt that they would rather be punched in the face by a gang member needs to be grateful that this did not happen. These kids do not just punch you out, they pull a gun and try to kill you! Have you not read or listened to the news? This is not just the gap between the band kids, nerds and the jocks, it is deeper than that. Kids now think that it is up to them tho retalaiate for any wrong that is done to them. The days of just punching it out are over, guns are now involved. At least at Goodpasture I did not have to worry about the violence that is going on in public schools. I did have to worry about if my child was being treated fairly, this is in any school and if you are a parent then you do what you have to do,

[Proudpapa]

0749,

I was active with my children, their activities, tha administration and with many teachers. The reason that you hear of so much happening in the public schools is that they do report things. Goodpasture has swept things under the rug for years. Sometimes to protect the parties involved, but mostly to protect themselves. I know of several cases where a student and/or their parents were not given proper notification about abuse, drug activity or violence. In almost every case, the duty to report was not followed. These are state mandates!

Maybe our children were safer than many public schools, but not all. Why would I send my child to another "Christian" school? The oppressive climate would most likely be the same. Why should I have to chose? The school should have the duty to protect our children from any harm.

Yes, today's culture is far more complicated and dangerous. And, if that is reflected in every school, then so be it. But do not present a different view to get people to feel "safe" and stay at the school.

[0903]

You seem to be upset because you believe that it is not illegal to post the information that was posted. However, there's legal, then there is policy. It may not be illegal to post information about grade averages and such, but is it against policy?

Does Goodpasture have policies which prevent staff and faculty from making public disclosure of school or student information. If they do, which I imagine they do, then being fired for making such a posting might be an appropriate action against someone who violates such a policy.

[JohnHarris]

Fair enough 0903, now why don't you quit speculating about base facts and establish them. If Goodpasture has a policy, it should be in writing so go get a copy and POST IT! If you do not have the ability to host it, email to me and I will have it uploaded here and POST IT. Actually, if you want to have someone at the school email to me and I will POST IT. Then we can also see if there is an applicable policy and what it says.

Then, once we establish whether there was a written policy in place on that date that controls that issue, we can then determine based upon the school's assertions to the band parents (it was video taped) whether the school is claiming that Mr. Reed was fired for posting on here or not.

Ultimately, I do not see how the school can credibly claim that Mr. Reed was fired for posting here because the administrators have already been caught in so many lies on this issue by the band parents on video. See several posts by Kim Ford as reference.

[Guest]

[Proudpapa]

Dear Guest,

I am pretty sure that they were and are telling lies.

[Guest]