Will someone (please) tell me one problem that the Cleveland County School Board has dealt with in an effective way and actually solved it?

We see citizens come before the board to air their grievances and usually, if not always, they are ordered from the auditorium or shut-down by an arrogant Chairman. We expect the other members to speak with a response to what has been brought before them. (But) NOT a PEEP! These people can’t even speak unless the Chairman allows.

How can any of us expect to get answers or resolutions to our grievances when we are met with silence and arrogance? What does the CCSB ever do for us??

We need a change with this group on the school board. What do they think they were elected to do? We need some independent thinkers who are leaders and not followers. We’ve had enough of that!

` It’s sad to hear parents tell of problems they have with various issues and they can’t get anyone to investigate the problem or even to listen to them. What do these people on the CCSB ever do except vote however the Chairman votes or leads?

Board members had the opportunity to elect a new Chairman and they blew that by reelecting the worst choice for a Chairman. They DID do that! So, I will give them credit for doing something, even though it was wrong!

Sandra Stroud

Sandra P. Stroud

Editor’s Note: Ms. Sandra Stroud is a fearless Champion of right and proper government in Cleveland County and the US. When Prayer at the beginning of School Board Meetings was the issue, Sandra Stroud stood up and voiced her strong support in front of 600+ citizens. When Shelby Schools refused to teach a deaf child, Sandra Stroud single-handedly made Shelby Schools mend their ways. When the Cleveland County Commissioners surrendered to a Federal Lawsuit against them by agreeing to a settlement that was Un-Constitutional; Sandra Stroud put her name and money behind a Federal Lawsuit and took the Cleveland County Commissioners to the US Federal Courts in Washington, DC and made the Commissioners mend their cowardly ways. When Sandra Stroud sends me her messages, I publish them. Word for Word. Sometimes satire, sometimes prose. When Sandra Stroud speaks, Robert A listens. When Sandra Stroud writes, Robert A publishes. If there is a typo, misspelling or unclear language, that is Robert A’s, mistake, not Sandra Stroud.

Folks, there are more citizens like Sandra Stroud and Robert A in Cleveland County that want bullying stopped in our schools and in our School Board and education improved. We want no more corruption like what was found out about the Catawba Casino, the bribed sale of our hospital for 2 cents on the dollar, endless sales tax increase referendums, endless property revaluations where Cleveland County has deployed drones to peep into our bedroom windows looking for whatever it is that they can use to raise property taxes over. And it goes on and on.

Stay tuned folks. If you want the truth, the whole truth and justified and logical speculation, you will get it here and perhaps not anywhere else in the same detail and depth of understanding. Also, folks, if you want to throw YOUR 2 cents into our knowledge base or just share your opinion, send it to Robert A. Your identity will be protected. It is completely understood that RETALIATION is alive and well in Cleveland County.

Editor’s Note: The Crest High School Future Farmers of America (FFA) provided this Press Release regarding a recent event they hosted in conjunction with Poplar Springs Baptist Church and other sponsors. The Press Release speaks for itself. It is nice to see that some good things are being accomplished by CCS Students.

Also note that there were 51,840 meals packaged for those in need in Cleveland County. Since Cleveland County has a population of just over 100,000 this seems to indicate that over half of Cleveland County citizens are in need of food. Or the meals were provided in multiple amounts for people in need to have multiple meals over time. Either way that is a lot of people in need of nutrition in Cleveland County.

The Press Release has contact information. If there are questions or you want to also participate or help in some way with this project, please give the Crest High School FFA folks a call. And be sure to thank them for the good things that they do.

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Just wondering when the Cleveland County School Board will realize that there are two “dead school” zones” in the City of Shelby. The street and traffic signs are still up indicating that we’re driving through school zones even though they’re “dead.” All of this is a constant reminder of the decline in enrollment in the schools in Shelby. Dead schools, empty buildings and no signs of children or life.

Sandra Stroud

(Editor’s Note: There are indications that the “Dead Schools” in question are Marion and Graham, which both had allegedly received repeated failing grades and were subject to immediate “State” takeover, had their students reassigned to other schools to prevent the State from taking over Marion and Graham. And, in the process, make the CCS Superintendent and School Board look bad. Perhaps the CCS School Board would like to explain this?? To Ms. Sandra Stroud as well as the rest of us.)

Sandra P. Stroud

Editor’s Note: Ms. Sandra Stroud is a fearless Champion of right and proper government in Cleveland County and the US. When Prayer at the beginning of School Board Meetings was the issue, Sandra Stroud stood up and voiced her strong support in front of 600+ citizens. When Shelby Schools refused to teach a deaf child, Sandra Stroud single-handedly made Shelby Schools mend their ways. When the Cleveland County Commissioners surrendered to a Federal Lawsuit against them by agreeing to a settlement that was Un-Constitutional; Sandra Stroud put her name and money behind a Federal Lawsuit and took the Cleveland County Commissioners to the US Federal Courts in Washington, DC and made the Commissioners mend their cowardly ways. When Sandra Stroud sends me her messages, I publish them. Word for Word. Sometimes satire, sometimes prose. When Sandra Stroud speaks, Robert A listens. When Sandra Stroud writes, Robert A publishes. If there is a typo, misspelling or unclear language, that is Robert A’s, mistake, not Sandra Stroud.

Folks, there are more citizens like Sandra Stroud and Robert A in Cleveland County that want bullying stopped in our schools and in our School Board and education improved. We want no more corruption like what was found out about the Catawba Casino, the bribed sale of our hospital for 2 cents on the dollar, endless sales tax increase referendums, endless property revaluations where Cleveland County has deployed drones to peep into our bedroom windows looking for whatever it is that they can use to raise property taxes over. And it goes on and on.

Stay tuned folks. If you want the truth, the whole truth and justified and logical speculation, you will get it here and perhaps not anywhere else in the same detail and depth of understanding. Also, folks, if you want to throw YOUR 2 cents into our knowledge base or just share your opinion, send it to Robert A. Your identity will be protected. It is completely understood that RETALIATION is alive and well in Cleveland County.

Not to belabor the issue of violating state law by the Cleveland County School Board, but wouldn’t it benefit our students more if the board would concentrate on EDUCATION?

What difference does it make when school starts? If this board believes that the date for starting a school year has such a great effect on the outcome/results from testing-show us the proof! Show us how “a calendar date” benefits the education of students. Let us see the proof!!

Sandra Stroud

Sandra P. Stroud

Editor’s Note: Ms. Sandra Stroud is a fearless Champion of right and proper government in Cleveland County and the US. When Prayer at the beginning of School Board Meetings was the issue, Sandra Stroud stood up and voiced her strong support in front of 600+ citizens. When Shelby Schools refused to teach a deaf child, Sandra Stroud single-handedly made Shelby Schools mend their ways. When the Cleveland County Commissioners surrendered to a Federal Lawsuit against them by agreeing to a settlement that was Un-Constitutional; Sandra Stroud put her name and money behind a Federal Lawsuit and took the Cleveland County Commissioners to the US Federal Courts in Washington, DC and made the Commissioners mend their cowardly ways. When Sandra Stroud sends me her messages, I publish them. Word for Word. Sometimes satire, sometimes prose. When Sandra Stroud speaks, Robert A listens. When Sandra Stroud writes, Robert A publishes. If there is a typo, misspelling or unclear language, that is Robert A’s, mistake, not Sandra Stroud.

Folks, there are more citizens like Sandra Stroud and Robert A in Cleveland County that want bullying stopped in our schools and in our School Board and education improved. We want no more corruption like what was found out about the Catawba Casino, the bribed sale of our hospital for 2 cents on the dollar, endless sales tax increase referendums, endless property revaluations where Cleveland County has deployed drones to peep into our bedroom windows looking for whatever it is that they can use to raise property taxes over. And it goes on and on.

Stay tuned folks. If you want the truth, the whole truth and justified and logical speculation, you will get it here and perhaps not anywhere else in the same detail and depth of understanding. Also, folks, if you want to throw YOUR 2 cents into our knowledge base or just share your opinion, send it to Robert A. Your identity will be protected. It is completely understood that RETALIATION is alive and well in Cleveland County.

I wish to use this platform and opportunity to get Robert Queen straightened out about who he and the other school board members are beholding to and it’s NOT Supt. Stephen Fisher.

Supt. Stephen Fisher is an employee of Cleveland County taxpayers; interviewed and hired (and supervised) by the Cleveland County School Board. That’s it! The school board members do not work for Stephen Fisher!

Robert Queen introduced one of his policies to state that school board members must get permission from Supt. Fisher if they wanted to visit a school. WRONG!! Queen is way off base with this policy! It’s too bad that some of the school board members have become “waterboys” and “lapdogs” for Robert Queen. They operate as though they don’t have the intelligence or willpower to rebuff Queen on any of his new policies that are nothing more than a means to hinder Ronnie Grigg and Danny Blanton for doing their jobs as school board members.

That is the whole problem with this school board-they follow the orders of a misguided chairman who is not interested at all about the education of our children, their safety or the success of their education. They just vote “YES” for everything that Queen throws at them. They’ve no minds of their own. Every one of them should have voted, “NO,” when he (Queen) offered up his “PERMISSION” POLICY. Again, I repeat. YOU school board members DO NOT work for Supt. Stephen Fisher, PERIOD.

With the exception of one or two; what we have for a school board are dumb sheep, waterboys and lapdogs! With the next election cycle (2024) we can remedy all of these bad and incompetent actors. Hallelujah!!

Sandra Stroud

 

Sandra P. Stroud

 Ms. Sandra Stroud is a fearless Champion of right and proper government in Cleveland County and the US. When Prayer at the beginning of School Board Meetings was the issue, Sandra Stroud stood up and voiced her strong support in front of 600+ citizens. When Shelby Schools refused to teach a deaf child, Sandra Stroud single-handedly made Shelby Schools mend their ways. When the Cleveland County Commissioners surrendered to a Federal Lawsuit against them by agreeing to a settlement that was Un-Constitutional; Sandra Stroud put her name and money behind a Federal Lawsuit and took the Cleveland County Commissioners to the US Federal Courts in Washington, DC and made the Commissioners mend their cowardly ways. When Sandra Stroud sends me her messages, I publish them. Word for Word. Sometimes satire, sometimes prose. When Sandra Stroud speaks, Robert A listens. When Sandra Stroud writes, Robert A publishes. If there is a typo, misspelling or unclear language, that is Robert A’s, mistake, not Sandra Stroud.

Folks, there are more citizens like Sandra Stroud and Robert A in Cleveland County that want bullying stopped in our schools and in our School Board and education improved. We want no more corruption like what was found out about the Catawba Casino, the bribed sale of our hospital for 2 cents on the dollar, endless sales tax increase referendums, endless property revaluations where Cleveland County has deployed drones to peep into our bedroom windows looking for whatever it is that they can use to raise property taxes over. And it goes on and on.

Stay tuned folks. If you want the truth, the whole truth and justified and logical speculation, you will get it here and perhaps not anywhere else in the same detail and depth of understanding. Also, folks, if you want to throw YOUR 2 cents into our knowledge base of just share your opinion, send it to Robert A. Your identity will be protected. It is completely understood that RETALIATION is alive and well in Cleveland County.

The citizens of Cleveland County were “snookered” into voting for Candidates to be on the school board who we thought to be gentlemen. We believed these men to have the students, teachers and extended staff at the forefront of their minds and they would act accordingly. How wrong we were! We have not elected gentlemen or men of integrity. We have elected real bullies to make up our Cleveland County School Board. Robert Queen is the “Kahuna” among them with Lapdogs Ron Humphries, Joel Shores, Rodney Fitch, Walter Scott Spurling, Aaron Bridges and Greg Taylor following close behind. The Lapdogs take their “marching orders” from their lead Kahuna Queen.

Queen along with the others have cut down Danny Blanton at every turn. Every good idea or motion that Danny makes is met with snooty and hostile remarks discounting his ideas. It’s no secret that Queen and Humphries do not like Danny and have tried to prevent him from being on the school board. Humphries attacks Danny by the training and with direction from Kahuna Queen and doesn’t have the faculty of perception to recognize that he’s being used. Even the newest elected school board members Aaron Bridges and (Walter) Scott Spurling have learned quickly to get in line with Kahuna Queen.

Folks, I think we all can agree that Kahuna Queen has a serious problem being that he can’t get along with the school board members unless they allow him to control them. His (Queen’s) aggressive, authoritative and menacing behavior toward citizens who come to appear before the board is evidence that something is amiss with Robert Queen. He has ordered a citizen from the auditorium after a board meeting was suspended! What authority did he have to do that? It was a public building with no business was being conducted at the time. I’m telling you-he-s a Bully. Too many times we have observed his (Robert Queen’s) aggression toward Danny Blanton to the point that he tried to bully Danny Blanton to the point that he tried to bully Danny into a physical altercation with him!

Is it any wonder why the school board doesn’t show any seriousness about student bullies in our schools when we have bullies running our school board!!??

We have seven (7) big bullies on the Cleveland County School Board running over our citizens who voted for them to be there. We shall NOT make that same mistake again!! 

Sandra Stroud

Editor’s Note: Once again Ms. Sandra Stroud has hit the nail right square on the head. Especially in the statement above that states “Is it any wonder why the school board doesn’t show any seriousness about student bullies in our schools when we have bullies running our school board!!??.”

Also, some recent votes and statements from School Board Member Aaron Bridges shows what may be a bit of growing independence from “Kahuna” Robert Queen. Also, Aaron Bridges voted against Robert Queen for the School Board Chairmanship in what turned out to be a 5-4 vote for Queen when Queen was running unopposed. We will see if this opening of his eyes by Aaron Bridges continues or not. The CCS School Board has lots of big issues in the days, months and years ahead and the “lunatic-like” actions of Chairman Robert Queen are wearing very thin in the opinions of the most casual of observers in Cleveland County. Much less the “eagle eyes” of people like Ms. Sandra Stroud. Who is always an advocate for a good, responsible and a thrifty government.

The Genuine

Sandra P. Stroud

Ms. Sandra Stroud is a fearless Champion of right and proper government in Cleveland County and the US. When Prayer at the beginning of School Board Meetings was the issue, Sandra Stroud stood up and voiced her strong support in front of 600+ citizens. When Shelby Schools refused to teach a deaf child, Sandra Stroud single-handedly made Shelby Schools mend their ways. When the Cleveland County Commissioners surrendered to a Federal Lawsuit against them by agreeing to a settlement that was Un-Constitutional; Sandra Stroud put her name and money behind a Federal Lawsuit and took the Cleveland County Commissioners to the US Federal Courts in Washington, DC and made the Commissioners mend their cowardly ways. When Sandra Stroud sends me her messages, I publish them. Word for Word. Sometimes satire as well as prose. When Sandra Stroud speaks, Robert A listens. When Sandra Stroud writes, Robert A publishes. If there is a typo, misspelling or unclear language, that is Robert A’s, mistake, not Sandra Stroud.

Folks, there are more citizens like Sandra Stroud and Robert A in Cleveland County that want bullying stopped in our schools and in our School Board and education improved. We want no more corruption like what was found out about the Catawba Casino, the bribed sale of our hospital for 2 cents on the dollar, endless sales tax increase referendums, endless property revaluations where Cleveland County has deployed drones to peep into our bedroom windows looking for whatever it is that they can use to raise property taxes over. And it goes on and on.

Stay tuned folks. If you want the truth, the whole truth and justified and logical speculation, you will get it here and perhaps not anywhere else in the same detail and depth of understanding. Also, folks, if you want to throw YOUR 2 cents into our knowledge base, send it to Robert A. Your identity will be protected. It is completely understood that RETALIATION is alive and well in Cleveland County.

Over the years Robert A has not paid much attention to the CCGOP conventions or meetings. This was mostly because of some simple realities and keen observations. Back in the very early 80s and 90’s, it was the joke that you could hold CC Republican meetings in a telephone booth. The Republican so-called “leaders” all had Shelby Country Club addresses and all stuck together in their elitist mentality. Robert A always called them the Country Club Good Ole Boys and paid them no never-mind. As did most voters as in those days. Democrats, WHITE Democrats, ruled. There were NO Republicans in local elected offices back then. And only a very few anywhere else in NC.

But, as time went on, the elitists grew older and weaker and an elitist Republican and later two won elections in Cleveland County and things picked up for the CCGOP. The elitists, over all, still had influence, power and control and were determined to keep it. This they did by deciding to charge big money ($100) to be on the CCGOP Executive Committee, where things get decided to this day. Most of us country Republicans refused to pay $100 to be on a CCGOP Executive Committee that had no authority to do anything except recommend a replacement to fill a vacancy when some Republican passed away in office. There just wasn’t many Republicans in office until the early 21^st Century. And those that did get elected mostly did it 100% on their own. Going straight to the voters at political forums and such.

Also, during this transition period, Robert A and other “outsiders” (close to 20 years ago) attended a CCGOP convention with the intention of throwing out the “Old Guard” Cleveland County Good Ole Boys, only to be thwarted by what appeared to be a classic case of voter fraud. But, after being PO’d for a bit, we decided, so-what?? These CC Good Ole Boys don’t elect anybody. We the People do! And that was good enough for a very long time because the big problems were the tax and spend Democrats.

Now, fast forward to the 2020 and 2022 Elections. Democrats were totally eliminated from all School Board and Commissioner local and state offices in Cleveland County But oh what a pack of tax and spend and lying and feuding Republicans we ended up with. The School Board Rogue Republicans were especially egregious. They even stooped to recommending Democrats to defeat Republicans Danny Blanton and Ronnie Grigg in the 2022 General Election. Bringing us to the sorry state we are in in this 2023 CCGOP Convention. Having to get rid of Rogue Republicans such as Dennis Bailey, Kevin Whisnant, David Allen, Robert Queen, Ron Humphries and others from CCGOP leadership positions this coming Saturday, March 4, 2023.

Sherry Yocum is the only advertised candidate for the CCGOP Chairmanship that Robert A is aware of. Sherry’s posted Qualifications are attached to this message. Sherry certainly seems to have most of the attributes and qualifications necessary to be a good chairman for the CCGOP. Which historically has been determined only by the person that was willing to take the job. At least Sherry is NOT Kevin Whisnant or Dennis Bailey and has not been directly associated with the Rogue Republicans. Robert A has some questions about her affiliations with the Guardian ad litem programs as most of them are liberals, big time. And her doing a big part of David Allen’s job in the 2022 Elections leaves me in doubt about just how much she might have helped David Allen with his Rogue Republican activities that have caused such a scandal. Could it be that the Rogues, knowing that they will be defeated, have put up Sherry Yocum as a front. That they will pull her strings from the shadows if she is elected. That would be their MO. But, at least Sherry Yocum seems to know how to do the day to day chores of the CCGOP Chairman and has the work ethic to do so. And the Rogues seem to all be lazy men that all they want to do is scheme and connive against somebody.

So. folks, check out Sherry Yocum’s qualifications and show up at the LeGrand Center, Saturday, March 4, 2023 between the hours of 9:30AM-10:30AM with $10 in your pocket. Mill around to catch up on all the gossip and politicking. Then get yourself where you need to be to vote on the CCGOP leadership offices. If you have a favorite, nominate them. Then watch closely those that are counting the votes. Do what YOU have to do to keep down any vote count shenanigans.

Then, remember this. In the 2024 Elections, the CCGOP does not decide who gets elected, it is WE THE PEOPLE who decide who gets elected, And the only thing the CCGOP gets to do is recommend candidates to fill any vacancies. Hope and Pray there will be no vacancies.

And, if Robert A runs for the Cleveland County Commissioner’s Office in 2024, vote for Robert A and two more good and like-minded conservative Republicans. And see the changes for the better that will be made.

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More Drama!! (CCS School Board Member) Ron Humphries told Danny Blanton that he (Danny) is “sick,” insinuating that Danny (Blanton) is mentally ill. Danny scheduled an appointment with his physician for a mental evaluation. We’ll all see if Danny Blanton is mentally fit. Danny Blanton IS mentally fit. I can guarantee!

Who does Ron Humphries think he is by making such a demeaning comment? It just proves what a nasty bully he (Humphries) is. With his reputation he won’t be receiving awards for “Good Citizen” or “Man of the Year.” I guarantee! 

Sandra Stroud

Editor’s Note: Folks, Ms. Sandra Stroud has been awakened by all the corruption and dirty tricks pulled by the CCS School Board and the Cleveland County Commissioners. She was also infuriated when Robert A published her first set of comments regarding Robert Queen improperly driving away with an EMS ambulance during a medical emergency at a Football Game and then Robert Queen incorrectly blamed Danny Blanton for collusion with Robert A for sending an email from the County Manager to Robert Queen scolding Queen for moving the ambulance.

Upon learning what Robert Queen had done, Sandra Stroud immediately scolded Robert A for trying to protect her identity. USE MY NAME, said Sandra Stroud. I’m not afraid of Robert Queen or anybody else. OK says Robert A. Send me a picture too, a Glamour Shot and I will use it too. So, Sandra Stroud sent me a picture. A Glamour Shot. Only thing is, Robert A has not been able, as of yet, to get Ms. Stroud’s pic scanned and converted in such a way to get it imbedded in the article. So, I have added a “file” pic that I have used before as a placeholder until I finally get Ms. Stroud’s pic in such a format that will work with my software. Please Excuse the delay.

In the meantime, Folks, Ms. Stroud is fired-up about getting rid of the corruption in Cleveland County Schools as well as on the Commissioner’s Board. We expect to hear a lot more from Ms. Sandra Stroud and hopefully others who feel this very same way. Thank you, Ms. Sandra Stroud, for all that you do… Robert A

Sandra Stroud

Criminal Background Checks were asked for by School Board Member Greg Taylor at a recent (School Board) Meeting or Melee at which time he questioned whether members Ronnie Grigg and Danny Blanton had been cleared to enter school properties without having a sterling criminal record. Mr. Grigg and Mr. Blanton followed-up by proving their worthiness to enter school buildings with reports of clear records,

Greg Taylor got his drawers in a twist because Ronnie Grigg and Danny Blanton were invited to visit Burns High School and they happily accepted the invitation, therefore, Greg Taylor wanted them checked out for no reason but for spite and jealousy. He (Greg Taylor) wasn’t invited nor has he shown any interest about the faulty gym floor at Burns.

I want all the other members of the (Cleveland County) School Board checked if it hasn’t (already) been done. Maybe one of them has something criminal in his past that needs to be aired!

Furthermore, I want Superintendent Stephen Fisher to have a criminal background check since he has unfettered access to all school campuses. According to Greg Taylor and his petty “fit” it seems it is EVERYBODY who enters a school should show their “all clear” criminal record! How much sense does that make? I see another Policy coming!

Sandra Stroud

Editor’s Note:

Robert A would add that School Board member Greg Taylor as well as School Board Chairman Robert Queen be required to take the Minnesota Multi-Phase Inventory (MMPI) assessment. Both, as well as Commissioner Kevin Gordon, seem to all have a large dose of aberrant behavior about them that needs some major checking out. And associated therapy if necessary.

Note that MMPI assessments are required of all employees in the US Nuclear Industry cleared for unrestricted access to a nuclear plant. Criminal Background checks too. Perhaps Ms. Sandra Stroud has the right idea here. Our children are our prized possessions. No effort is too large to ensure the health, safety and well-being of our children. Perhaps a few perverts may be discovered and gotten rid of prior to our children becoming victims of bad people with bad intentions. Google: “MMPI” for more information.

(CCS School Board Chairman) Robert Queen is quick to use the Holy Bible and its Scripture to his Convenience. When he used a Bible Story to justify breaking a state law of the North Carolina Education System, he hit an all-time low. What makes his actions so repulsive is that the entire school board agreed with him. That makes all of them appear as “Waterboys.”

If other school systems in North Carolina can operate successfully under state law; do the necessary testing, have mid-term exams, take holidays and seasonal breaks and have graduation exercises, why can’t Cleveland County? Why must this school board break a state law? Before this present (school) board took over the schools had always operated under the same law.

Union County in North Carolina tried breaking this law and a lawsuit pursued. That is what will happen here, eventually costing taxpayers money.

Keep on carrying water, boys!

Sandra Stroud

Editor’s Notes:

Ms. Stroud is 1,000 percent correct regarding the funny business by the School Board that breaks State Law. Except it is NOT funny. It is entirely a complex, clever and devious deception by CCS to attempt to cover-up for a failing school system that is NOT properly educating our children. As always, the TRUTH in a complex deception by CCS is very often hard to find. But it goes as follows.

North Carolina Laws related to public schools have been clearly defined by the North Carolina Supreme Court. Public Schools are to provide the OPPORTUNITY for a sound basic education for every child. Testing of Public-School Students are required to determine whether or not the Public-School students, our children, are actually RECEIVING that sound basic education.

A secondary consideration for the provision of a sound basic education for our children is that this “education” is to prepare our children to become able to use that education to become a productive member of our society for the remainder of their lives after graduation. Therefore, the education of our children is an investment that, over time, benefits not only our children, but the state and our society as a whole in the process. So, a proper testing program during a child’s time in Public Schools should concentrate on long-term retention of the lesson materials taught to them and NOT just a test of simple short-term memory. And to be consistent, all testing of public- school students across North Carolina and the USA should be as consistent as possible. With the goal being to maximize long-term learning.

Historically children have always had to work on the family farm to help feed the family. Planting in the spring and harvesting in the fall. Summers, with its long and hot days were a bit less involved with farming as was the winter’s short days and cold weather. So, summers and winters may have been the best times for schooling, except for certain other factors. It was too hot in the summers to be indoors all day long. Christmas and New Years Holidays in the winter were too family oriented to allow for full time schooling. Then mechanized harvesting, using machines too dangerous for children to operate also became a factor. So, all and all, it worked out that school terms became standardized as starting in the early summer and finishing in the late spring. With a break between the Christmas and New Years Holidays. And short breaks for Thanksgiving, Easter, July 4th, etc.

Now, back to testing. It would be foolish to teach students all year long and only have a test at the end of the school-year. If a child fell behind early in the school year, that child might sit there all year long before anyone would ever know. So, periodic testing and pop quizzes were developed. These tested short-term memory learning mostly, but provided a general indication of a child’s progress. Now, throw in the Christmas and New Years Holidays. A long break that doesn’t occur exactly at the middle of the School Year. The first part of the school year to the big Holidays was a bit shorter that the second part of the school year. So, it came to be that teaching from the beginning of the School Year to the big Holidays would be devoted to teaching throughout and the second part of the School Year, after the big Holidays would first include more comprehensive testing and then go into full time teaching until the end of the School Year. Thus, helping to equalize actual teaching days between the first part of the School Year and the second part of the School Year. This schedule has been followed for years and years and has mostly served Educational processes well.

Until communication equipment became more sophisticated and the State Board of Education became much more aware of the 100+ School districts in North Carolina and discovered major differences in mid-term and end-of-grade test results. And realized some school districts were operated much more poorly than others. And demanded improvements from the districts with the lower test scores.

Now, the deception kicks in. With poorly performing school districts now becoming more and more identifiable and the nepotism and other corruption related factors that leads to less than expected student performance, the poorer performing school districts had some explaining to do. And were expected to do what was necessary to show a better performing educational system.

So, School Superintendents over the poorly operated School District found themselves in a bind. Stick with their standard MO and standard (and often highly corrupt) practices and find themselves shown out the door, or become deceptive and basically a liar all around.

Also, knowing that testing as soon as possible after a student has been taught a lesson (short-term memory) provides the best test scores has become the change method of choice for the poorly performing school districts. Move the mid-term tests up to before the big holidays and test scores will surely substantially improve. Then falsely claim that the School District has substantially improved its educational program. When the facts are quite different when objectively evaluated. If ALL the School Districts would do the same, then ALL the School Districts would show an improvement. And the poorly run School Districts would quickly return to the hot seat as they are once again identified as a poorly run school district. And those in charge may have dodged the bullet long enough to draw a better retirement and the children under their so-called “care” are damned to a future with a lesser education than promised and paid for by taxpayer dollars.

Folks, who do you believe is correct in this matter? Sandra Stroud or School Board Chairman Robert Queen and his best buds, SuperintCTendent Stephen Fisher and the “Waterboys.” Robert A’s vote goes to Ms. Sandra Stroud.