Kevin Elkins incendiary statements for Ratings, promote and incite violence!

Kevin Elkins is a radio talk show host who is not only is a sexist, race baiting, uneducated individual he is a bully. Because I spoke out against how our educational system is run amongst other issues in this corrupt city of Montgomery he is bullying those who stand in my defense. I did go on another radio talk show and asked the Manager of the radio station not to allow him to come to his radio show when he is let go off of his current show because he is stupid. From that he posted a blog on Facebook about what I said. I have no problem with that however when a woman stood in my defense he attacked her with words that in my opinion could cause a crazy follower of his to attack her or even me. As a public figure in the media he should be mindful of his words and choose them wisely. Lest we forget Cong. Gifford's shooting! After Palin posted a map with crosshairs on them it incited a nut to go out and shoot her. Gov. Palin had a map with crosshairs for those districts to target in 2010. Is this comparable? Am I making too much of this? No. We cannot shortchange individuals who promote violence because they don't agree with them. Below is the Facebook conversation between Elkins and the female. AFTER READING PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF WHAT I AM ANGRY ABOUT IS SUBSTANTIAL IN LOGIC & REASONING FOR MY BELIEF THAT ELKINS STATEMENTS COULD INCITE VIOLENCE OR IF I AM MAKING INCENDIARY STATEMENTS FOR RATINGS. YOU BE THE JUDGE. READ BELOW:

• Elizabeth Snider Conner Kevin, it is beyond unprofessional to denigrate the character of a caller because you disagree with her opinions. Karen may not be a radio personality, but she is an engaged citizen who wants the best for the students in Montgomery's public schools. While she and I may not see eye to eye on the best way to approach problems, I have the utmost respect for her passion to improve our schools. I have seen her at many MPS BOE meetings, but don't recall having ever seen you. If you wish to earn people's respect, insulting individual citizens is not the way to do so.

  Sunday at 5:40pm
• 

  Kevin Elkins well elizabeth, i did not throw the first punch, making persnal attacks on ppl, she did, i've akways ben told, if you don't want to get hit, don't get in the ring.. but if one does get in the ring expect to be hit!, my point exactly.. go to all the meetings you want to, what has she changed, "nothing" i have had a child in public schools and was engaged in the battle, again because we take fed. dollars, there are some things that they can't/wont do out of fear of losing that money, "for the free breakfast, lunch , or whatever programs, it is a very simple thing to change he school system, just teach and uncle sugar to put it where the sun don shine, but we won't , education is the giant prostitute , and the "johns are in charge"..

  Sunday at 6:58pm · 1 personLoading...
• 

  Kevin Elkins ps, i have been to plenty of mboe meetings, untill i saw it was a useless exersise and wastge of time, u need a debate on whether to put a disrespectful, unrulely child on the street, but if they wear the confederate ot malcom x shirt to school, or draw a picture of a gun on paper, You Out!!, theres more but you get the point... anyway.. if you cant run with the big dogs, stay your butt on the porch!!

  Sunday at 7:02pm
• 

  Dale Beach Uncle Sugar! I love that name! Kevin you are so right on that one. The Federal Government has become a sugar daddy to the states and local municipalities!

  Sunday at 7:44pm
• 

  Elizabeth Snider Conner Frankly, there's quite a difference between a public figure, such as yourself, who is paid to voice his opinions, and a private citizen like Karen. In my view, it's unprofessional and ill-mannered. You can't demand respect, it has to be earned.

  Sunday at 8:04pm
• 

  Kevin Elkins liz darling, i can tell by the way you wear your hair, cross your t's "you are a flaming liberal", you and i will never see things the same. don't pick fights with public people like me.. because i fighjt in the public arena,,, i am a professional "get in your a - - kind of guy, if you throw at me, my military training wont allow me to just sit there and take, you bring a knife , i will bring a shotgun.. let the games begin.. next caller oh yes, dont forget to tune in to the most exciting talk show in montgomery mon-friday 7-9am www.newsradio1440.com

  

  WLWI-AM -- News Radio 1440

  www.newsradio1440.com

  Sunday at 8:14pm · 1 person

Mr. Elkins timeout for Silly Season,Stupid!

I called Kevin Elkins of talk radio (Capitol Buzz) Stupid on WKXN talk show because it is my opinion that he is. I said it because he doesn't deliver anything other than: 1)He's a Black Man Trapped in a White Man's Body 2) he says he only believes in Logic & Reason - If so it is his and his only.

Prior to me calling Elkins stupid I said that we are living in serious times in this city, county, state and US. We don't have time for stupidity. I have a low tolerance for stupidity. I don't get kicks off of playing games, belittling,demoralizing,demonizing individuals for ratings. It is amazing tho' that he made the following post about me on FB:"Kevin Elkins
so karen jones thinks i am stupid, well let's talk about that!!! fire away
ever wonder why, ppl who have really never accomplished much, get on talk shows and act as if they have( karen jones), putting a facebook page up and rasing sand at the mboe supt. is not an accomplihment, it is a nusiance, untill you have rn the race, how can you say who best....
20 hours ago · Like · · Share "

It shows how he exudes Feminine Energy. I don't talk the talk, I walk the walk. What does he think talk radio is about-----how about TALK! If they put guests on who are elected officials or community activists etc then we question them on accountability but it is His friend then we the audience have a problem. I attend Board of Education Meetings. I hold community meetings regarding education and it just didn't start with Supt. Barbara Thompson I was doing this in GA however when I moved to AL I started as well.
Another reason why I call him stupid is because he is, he doesn't research just spew out negative remarks with a couple of words he Googled or used his Thesaurus to get antonym or synonym to elude the audience of his intelligence.

Elkins I am not raising sand only about Barbara Thompson I am raising sand about Supt. Barbara Thompson & MPS Board Members because I attend the meetings and listen to the day to day lies. I read the documents and research to find out the ineptness on several issues that I guess since you don't know are unaware and cannot speak on these things. I have a serious issue with accountability and the financial irresponsibility of this Supt. & Board. I met personally with Supt. Thompson and often send e-mails to Supt. and MPS Board Members which usually do not have replies. Again I say talk what you know. None of our traditional HS made AYP that's an issue to voice concern and use logic and reasoning about well how did they make it as far as HS and cannot make Adequate Yearly Progress none of the High Schools(traditional not magnet). Well when the Supt. in December 2010 didn't make a decision to pay the teachers not until the upteenth hour before Christmas it causes low morale, February the Teachers were on Pink Slip alert and scares with the school closing/consolidation reports,community meetings yet the decision was made last year according to the SIG Grant pg. 5 & 12 on some of the schools. So again I say what logic and reasoning are you using?

Whenever I call in to the Capitol Buzz radio show (AM1440) I usually have some stats,facts,research completed as foundation on the issue. Personal feelings in addition to facts = my ability to be as emphatically passionate about whatever issue I take on. Just as you are passionate about the military I am about a plethora(many) of social injustices.

Elkins incites racism and sexism on a daily basis and when he is let go I told Roscoe Miller of WKXN not to allow him to come over to his radio station with that stupidity. We use talk radio for empowerment & education not to have this man child to figure out that he is Black in a Black man's body and to face facts. I have little tolerance for stupidity. This is not Silly Season Mr. Elkins. I have no problem letting you know or anybody else to their face. I am not just talking the talk for your information I attend meetings, write letters, protest, give praise, recognize, appreciate and thank individuals equally. When you get your mind right hollah. Oh I wonder what the Capitol Buzz sponsors think about you inciting all of this tomfoolery racism and sexism? I may have to ask them and blog their answers.


I am,
Karen Jones
You have my permission to repost and blog on this :)
Making my haters my Motivators.

Tea bagger Over brewed!

Tea Party Rep. Joe Walsh who often criticizes Pres. Obama on not being fiscally responsible finds himself in more than boiling water. No matter how much cream, sugar, or lemon added this Tea Party Congressman has been over brewed which should be distasteful to all no matter which party you belong. It is alleged that he owes more than $100,000 in unpaid child support, well ain’t that calling the pot calling the kettle black? Rep. Walsh said in a video that went viral,” “I won’t place one more dollar of debt upon the backs of my kids and grandkids unless we structurally reform the way this town spends money!” Walsh starts the video by saying, “President Obama, quit lying. Have you no shame, sir? In three short years, you’ve bankrupted this country.” My,oh my Rep. Walsh sounded a little steamed at the President about the debt while he has placed more than $100k on the backs of his wife and mother of his children and his own children. She filed for divorce in December. While he continues to brew over Pres. Obama’s presidency he forgot that he hasn’t paid his debt to his own society of children. No worries, Rep, Walsh will be out of hot water soon because due to redrawing congressional boundaries, he’s been mapped Walsh out of his district. We shall see if he steeps over this.

Karen Jones

Gender Neutral wth?

Sweden Preschool tries the Gender Neutral approach instead of using the words boy and girl or pronouns him or her, they teach the children to refer to each other as "friends". Next they will teach these children cats & dogs are animals don't differentiate. These kids will have no sense or sensibility of the "real world" and once they find our that not all people are your friends what in the hell will happen to these children. Pre-K aged children are most impressionable and this set of children will have a notion that the world is a happy place where everything is hunky-dory it doesn't rain, evil doesn't exist and the world has the small world theme playing in their minds each day. If the parents allow for this I hope that they remain in Stockholm,Sweden because when they see and hear the pronouns "him,her,she,or he" being used it will drive them into shock and conversations which may get him or her a black eye by a "friend". lol

Out of Sight, Out of Mind Part 2!

I posted this about a week ago and lo' and behold the story is in the Montgomery Advertiser today wow..Parents of Disabled or Special Needs Children there has been three complaints filed with AL State Dpt of Ed citing MPS for not educating children with emotional disturbance..Instead they are sent to ALTERNATIVE school,Juvenile System or Home.

Below are email correspondence that I started Jun 18 (7 days ago) regarding the aforementioned article and Press Release from the Bazelon Mental Health Law Center about MPS leaving our Special Needs Children Out of Sight and Out of Mind. Instead of allowing them to receive their special needs services they are placed in Alternative Schools, placed in Juvenile Court System and or Suspended (documented and undocumented).

Although I requested in email that this story be published a week ago by the Education Report Annie McCallum it was published today (http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20110626/NEWS01/106260336/Group-calls-MPS-inadequate-some-special-education-students?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Frontpage|s). I received

om McCallum, Annie amccallum@montgome.gannett.com to Karen Jones date Wed, Jun 22, 2011 at 9:33 AM subject Out of Office: Out of Sight Out of Mind mailed-by ent-mocinrl08.gannett.com

hide details Jun 22 (4 days ago)

I will be out of the office on vacation from Wednesday, June 22 until Tuesday, July 5. If you need immediate assistance please contact Matt Okarmus at mokarmus@gannett.com or (334) 240-0117.



The following E-mail Correspondence occurred between me and the Education Reporter who published the story in the newspaper today.

I can't believe that you two great reporters didn't see this information. Well please see the attached.

-- 5.31.11 ADAP-Bazelon Redacted... Due Process Complaint(3).pdf
5-31-11 ADAP-Bazelon Montgomery Complaint Press Release (New Complaint Link).pdf 5-31-11 ADAP-Bazelon Montgomery Complaint Press Release (New Complaint Link).pdf
124K View Download
Out of Sight.doc Out of Sight.doc
Karen Jones
Karen,

Thanks for writing. Jill and I are aware of this information. I was contacted by the Bazelon Center a few weeks ago and have interviewed one of their staff attorneys about the matter. In fact, while the center is based in Washington, D.C., its representative on this particular complaint was in Montgomery last week to meet with MPS officials. I was able to sit down with him, as well as one the other attorneys in the case and representative from Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program.

The paper had planned to run a story about the issue last week, but unfortunately the MPS director of special education was out of town and I am also working to try and speak with the parents of the students involved in the case. We hope to have a story in the paper soon once I can secure these last few interviews.

Please do not assume because you do not see something in the paper we are unaware. At the Advertiser, we all work to gather the most complete information so we can deliver comprehensive in-depth stories to our readers. This particular situation is quite complex and I'm making sure I have each perspective and each detail before going to print.

Thanks so much for your interest. Have a great weekend!

Annie McCallum
Montgomery Advertiser
Education reporter
(334) 240-0132

MY RESPONSE:
Jun 22 (4 days ago)

Good to know Annie however I will post and give notice on talk radio regarding the press release. Information as important as this needs full attention to those parents who have children in special needs programs and not being made aware. In addition to interview the parents and or students probably will breach their confidentiality and while you wait until the Director of MPS Special Ed returns from out of town why not make a statement to this effect or say this story will continue for a response when he or she returns? I'm just saying.
Karen Jones

Out of Sight, Out of Mind!

Out of Sight, Out of Mind! Neglected & Rejected Montgomery Public Schools (MPS) Superintendent Barbara Thompson & MPS Board Members (Meadows, Dawkins, Snowden,Briers,Ross, Sellers, & Porterfield) places Special Needs Children Behind. Instead of facing the Special Needs Services that is supposed to be provided to the children evidently they are being placed in "Alternative Schools" for "Disciplinary Reasons" is this why MPS housed two Kindergarten students in Alternative School this past school year, instead of addressing the potential underlying reasons of behavioral, emotional or psychological issues? MPS is only providing a disservice to the children of Montgomery County, Alabama by allowing parents (who may not be aware of their Rights) to assume his or her child is just "Bad" therefore it is in the best interest for the child to attend Alternative School. On May 17,2011 Board Meeting, Mr. Washington gave information about the need to expand our Alternative School Programs with CARE Program a complaint had been in the works against MPS.

There have been three complaints filed with the Alabama State Department of Education as of May 31,2011 alleging systematic failures by Montgomery Public Schools to educate children with emotional disturbance(Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law website).

Although this complaint was filed May 31,2011 there has been no media attention brought to the matter until now. I am taking the liberty to post the Press Release and Complaint on Facebook and with the local television stations as well as newspaper so that the general public may be made aware and if they have similar situations contact the legal firm for further information and possible action.

What is more disturbing to this is that MPS continues to brush problems under the rug instead of addressing them with the community. These and other complaints that are critical to the needs of students acquiring equitable education is placed on the back burner while our Superintendent and Board Members continue to spar over land acquisition, closing schools and firing Teachers, Faculty & Staff. Insult over injury is that the Superintendent and Board Members know full well what's going on yet they slip more ridiculous recommendations in Board Meeting to take our focus off the underlying agenda and underlying issues that are occurring and have pending cases to save their hides.

Superintendent Barbara Thompson per her biography on www.mps.k12.al.us states the following "Barbara W. Thompson has a passion for educating students -- particularly those with learning challenges. Her years of service to the teaching profession are marked by a commitment to excellence, creative teaching strategies, and an unwavering belief that all students can learn. During the two years she has been with Montgomery Public Schools she has made some impressive gains. Thompson has also pursued a number of funding opportunities, which have resulted in roughly $28 million in federal, state and other grants for academic purposes. Superintendent Thompson began her teaching career as a special education teacher for Madison Public Schools in Wisconsin, where she spent many summers teaching students with behavioral disturbances and learning disabilities. She also taught students who were incarcerated in Dane County Detention Center."

If we dissect the aforementioned accomplishments of Superintendent Barbara Thompson's accomplishments and history as an educator it is shocking that

1. With nearly 32,000 students enrolled in MPS the district has only identified 85 students as qualifying for special services (www.bazelon.org), although Supt. Thompson has a passion for working with students with special needs MPS according to this statistic does not have any for her to be passionate about.
   
2. Her niche for pursuing funding has resulted in $28 million of funds from Federal, State and others for Academic Purposes yet the school budget caused the MPS system to close/consolidate 8 schools with additional savings of roughly $2 million.
   
3. Where was the $28 million applied and what serves as "academic purposes"? Would teacher salaries count as academic purposes or paper & supplies?
4. Why is MPS requesting funds from the County & City if her niche for pursuing and acquiring funds is successfully lucrative?
5. If she started out as an educator who served special needs students why isn't providing children of Montgomery County with some of those "impressive gains" by accommodating children with special needs the services that are supposed to be provided for them?

Annual Yearly Progress otherwise known as AYP is not being met at all our schools, according to the statistic given by Bazelon Center 85 out of nearly 32,000 students only receive special needs services which is about 0.002%, there are over 300 over aged students----yet all the MPS Superintendent & MPS Board Members' primary focus is on Magnet Schools and the forthcoming International Baccalaureate Program. Keeping those who need special need services out of sight,out of mind, build on the elite East High School to accommodate affluent neighborhoods, instead of addressing Emotional, Psychological, and Behavioral Issues facing MPS Students no matter the race.

According to the Montgomery Advertiser, "About 300 students in the system are over-aged. For example, some middle schools have students as old as 16 and 17 still attending. Such students need additional assistance and resources. Officials have said they envision having the building become a one-stop shop for students to receive tutoring, counseling and various social services (McCallum,June 15,2011)." It seems clear to me that what seems a critical need to close and consolidate schools, build a East High School, Terminate Teachers, Faculty & Staff is not as critical as providing the services as outlined by the State of AL Constitution. "

Section 16-39-1

Short title.

This chapter may be referred to as the "Alabama Exceptional Child Education Act."

(Acts 1971, No. 106, p. 373, §13.)

Section 16-39-4

Implementation of program.

Within 120 days after July 22, 1971, each school board in the State of Alabama shall take a careful and thorough survey of persons who (if thereafter certified by a specialist) would probably qualify as exceptional children residing in its school district, which survey shall show the name, age, sex and type of exceptionality of each exceptional child found by it. All such data descriptive of an individual person (as contrasted with compilations made therefrom which do not reveal information about specific individuals) shall be maintained in strict confidence and shall not be made available to anyone except to the survey-takers (in connection with those individuals who are reported by them), the appropriate superintendent and his staff, the appropriate school principal, the individual child's parent or guardian and such other persons as may be designated in regulations adopted by the State Board of Education and under such conditions as may be provided therein. Within 120 days after the completion of said census, each school board in the State of Alabama shall prepare and adopt an incremental five-year plan commencing with the school year beginning in September 1972 for the implementation of appropriate instruction and special services for exceptional children residing in its school district, including a reasonable procedure for obtaining certifications of exceptional children by a specialist. Such plan shall upon its preparation and adoption be submitted to the State Board of Education for its review and approval or disapproval in accordance with regulations promulgated hereunder by the State Board of Education. If approved by the State Board of Education, such plan shall be binding upon the school board submitting it and shall be adhered to unless subsequent modifications of said plan shall thereafter be approved by the State Board of Education, in which case such modified plan shall be adhered to. If the State Board of Education shall disapprove a plan submitted by a school board, representatives of the state school board shall consult and advise with said school board in an effort to formulate a plan which can be approved; provided, that disapproval of a plan or any amendments thereto shall be only because of failure of the plan to meet minimum standards set out in regulations of the state board adopted in accordance with Section 16-39-5, and any such disapproval must specify in detail the reasons for such disapproval. If no such plan can be agreed upon, the State Board of Education shall provide a plan which shall be adhered to unless the school board shall within 30 days thereafter file an action in the Circuit Court of Montgomery County, Alabama, to restrain the enforcement of such plan on the ground that it is arbitrary, impracticable, detrimental to the education of exceptional children, or invalid. Only the said court specified above shall have jurisdiction of such actions, and all such actions shall be given a preferred setting.

(Acts 1971, No. 106, p. 373, §4.)

Section 16-39-5

Responsibilities of State Board of Education.

The State Board of Education shall adopt regulations covering:

(1) The qualifications of specialists for each type of exceptionality and standards for certification of exceptional children;

(2) Minimum standards of instruction and special services to be provided for each type of exceptionality at each age or grade level;

(3) Reasonable qualifications for teachers, instructors, therapists and other personnel needed to work with exceptional children;

(4) Guidelines for suitable five-year incremental plans for implementation of the program set forth in this chapter for various types of typical situations likely to be encountered by school boards in the State of Alabama; and

(5) Such other rules and regulations as may be necessary or appropriate for carrying out the purposes of this chapter.

Said regulations may be amended from time to time, said amended regulations to be effective 90 days after written notice of said amendments has been transmitted to each school board in the State of Alabama.

The State Board of Education shall receive, review and approve or disapprove plans submitted by school boards hereunder and shall consult and advise with school boards whose plans are disapproved; provided, that disapproval of a plan or any amendments thereto shall be only because of failure of the plan to meet minimum standards set out in regulations of the state board adopted in accordance with this section, and any such disapproval must specify in detail the reasons for such disapproval. If an approval cannot be worked out satisfactorily, the State Board of Education shall provide a plan which shall be binding on the school board unless its enforcement is restrained as provided in Section 16-39-4.

The State Board of Education shall have the primary responsibility for enforcing compliance with such plans and with compliance of school boards with its regulations and the requirements of this chapter. If any local board fails or refuses to implement the plan provided for under this chapter, the Attorney General shall, upon request of the State Board of Education or upon the request of any private citizen, bring civil injunctive actions to enforce the implementation of such plan. If the state board fails or refuses to carry out any duties required of it by this chapter, the Attorney General shall, upon the request of any private citizen, bring civil actions in Montgomery County to require that such duties be performed.

(Acts 1971, No. 106, p. 373, §5.)

If you have not gathered my theory that I am posing which is the notion that Superintendent Thompson and MPS Board Members do not care about your child with Special Needs and only since they have been under fire for discriminating against children with mental illnesses by recently offering to keep Hayneville Road Elementary Open to house the Alternative Students as a smoke screen to the public please keep your eyes and ears open. We must follow this case and offer parents who are experiencing similar issues with his or her child not being adequately provided the services that they are due and instead are placed in Alternative School primarily for behavioral problems is an injustice that the MPS Supt. and Board Members (aka Injustice League) are providing. Let's keep their foot to the fire! No Child Left Behind program which was supposed to help further a child's education by providing supplemental educational services seems like a joke when MPS is putting kids behind educationally, emotionally, and psychologically. Most of the kids who are overaged, have disciplinary issues because of behavior disorders lack the proper services and are usually placed in the Juvenile Court System because MPS is not addressing the children's critical issues and needs. MPS is not providing the required services and placing them in Alternative School which makes the child even more despondent and or disruptive because they do not understand what is going on and will continue down a destructive path which usually leads to youth violence, crime or increase in the drop out rate.

THIS IS A CALL TO ACTION FOR ANY PARENT/GUARDIAN OR COMMUNITY ACTIVIST TO STAND UP AND SPEAK OUT IF YOU CARE FOR OUR CHILDREN. ACCORDING TO AL CONSTITUTIONAL LAW SECTION 16-39-5 THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS TO :" have the primary responsibility for enforcing compliance with such plans and with compliance of school boards with its regulations and the requirements of this chapter. If any local board fails or refuses to implement the plan provided for under this chapter, the Attorney General shall, upon request of the State Board of Education or upon the request of any private citizen, bring civil injunctive actions to enforce the implementation of such plan. If the state board fails or refuses to carry out any duties required of it by this chapter, the Attorney General shall, upon the request of any private citizen, bring civil actions in Montgomery County to require that such duties be performed.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO SPEAK TO AN EXPERT FROM ADAP(ALABAMA DISABILITIES ADVOCACY PROGRAM) OR THE BAZELON CENTER ON THEIR ISSUE CONTACT James Tucker, at jtucker@adap.ua.edu or call (205) 310-5906, or Dominic Holt, at Dominic@bazelon.org or (202)-467-5730 ext. 311.

The Press Release can be downloaded and read at: http://www.bazelon.org/News-Publications/Press-Releases.aspx


The complaint can also be found at www.bazelon.org

Separate but Equal?

"Montgomery Public Schools officials will host another public hearing on Wednesday, June 15,2011 to gather community input about potential changes in the alternative education program in the area.

According to the Montgomery Advertiser, the public hearing will center around the discussion of moving the two secondary education programs into the old Hayneville elementary building. The school closed down in May as part of a system-wide plan to close and consolidate several area schools.

The second issue to be discussed is the proposal to divide the Fews elementary secondary education program in three different hubs within the city, says the report.(Friday, June 10, 2011, 2:21 PM Updated: Friday,June 0, 2011,2:22 PMKneidinger, al.com" width="40" height="40"> By Christine Kneidinger, al.com)."

This Public hearing will center around the discussion of moving the alternative school-PACE into the old Hayneville Road Elementary Building. Again another waste of time and ridiculous recommendation from our Superintendent and Board Members. This is a waste of time because why now is Hayneville Road Elementary "fit" "cost effective" "a conducive learning environment" for Alternative Education and couldn't stay open for the children who live in the community? How much savings will this be for the system? If they are going to bring the Alternative School Program over why not just keep this school opened for those who live in the community and use the space that is not being used for the Alternative Program. How students many are in the Alternative Program at PACE and at any given time the numbers change because some of the students placed in the program do not have yearly punishments usually called expulsion. According to the DeJong Report pg. 40 Hayneville Road Elementary is under capacity by 236 students. Pg.41 of the report says "Hayneville Road Elementary and MacMillan International Academy are in need of major renovation and replacement. Approximate cost to replace = $4.9 million. Therefore it is again my opinion that if Hayneville Road Elementary is in need of major renovation so much so that the school was voted in a 6-1 decision to close how much of that $4.9 million dollar major renovation will be completed by Monday, August 22,2011 THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL?! There are so many questions that are not answered and while the Superintendent figures out and plays with her different notions it is ultimately putting the children of Montgomery County further and further behind.

al.com

When I saw the Weiner confession I said,"Hot Dog" he's lying. He couldn't even 'link' his story together. I used to love watching him rant and rave and his antics in the House however, this is just embarrassing to his wife and family. I apologize to them on behalf of all deli meats and jerks all over the world. Watching him at this press conference reminded me of an episode of the Simpson where he was impersonating Mr. Burns. Seriously, when will our elected officials understand that they cannot use their title for sex or sex acts? They threw Charlie Wrangle under the bus and censured him for ethics violation. I hope that Weiner resigns, which is the only appropriate thing to do. I must admit, I was a fan not on Twitter or Facebook only on CSPAN and other news media however, he orchestrated a scapegoat story that could have had some innocent person to blame. Out politicians must start completing ethics courses with supplemental readings: Tweeting for Dummies, Facebook for Dummies.

No Klass excuse me Showing No Class!

I was very disappointed to see the picture of G.W. Carver students attached to the Montgomery Advertiser's article, "Online hits: Why do so many people watch violent videos?" written by Kym Klass on Thursday, May 26, 2011. This article in my opinion was published and posted on G.W. Carver High School's Graduation Day which was classless for a Class Act group of individuals. Carver had 96% of its students to graduate. Family, Friends and Out of town guests who arrived in Montgomery on Thursday to witness their loved one graduating and who read and saw this article on the graduation day probably were shocked to see Carver students on the front page as if they are a group of Klassless (pun intended) individuals. I think that this article is an insult to what was supposed to be a momentous day to the G.W. Carver's Class of 2011, Faculty, Staff and Alumni(as I am). Pictures speak volumes and if I didn't know this Class of 2011, if I wasn't involved in Carver's PTSA and if I wasn't an Carver Alumni I would think that this was a wild bunch of individuals. I would like for Kym Klass to go to G.W. Carver High School and interview our principal, Mr. Gary Hall, to find out some statistics on this Class of 2011. I would like it to be printed on the front page with a picture of the 2011 Graduating Class. We should NOT have our family,friends and out of town guests leave this city without seeing and knowing that the G.W. Carver Wolverines Class of 2011 are a real Class Act.

A word of advice to Kym Klass is to think before you write as well as for the Editor of the newspaper. It is fundamentally important to understand that although these young adults who are 18 years of age are still children in our eyes. Once you take what I consider a low blow to a child or a child's success you have crossed the line and should do whatever it takes to right the wrong. I am not asking for a Correction Blurb on page 4A but on the FRONT PAGE there should be a picture of the Class of 2011 and an article of accomplishments and a formal apology to the parents, faculty, staff and alumni for this very inappropriately written article on a day that was supposed to be filled with joy and happiness.

WALKING FOR AN EDUCATION? WHY?

Elementary school children walking two miles to school unsupervised, in all types of weather, and expected to perform at their maximum? Today, unbelievable, especially in metropolitan Montgomery, AL, the pace-setting capital city! This unbelievable stress on elementary school children walking this fall two or more miles to school, in the 36105 zip code of west Montgomery, was revealed in a walk on last Saturday, April 09, 2011, by parents, their children, and concerned community leaders and workers. They learned that the strain and imposition on the children, who are expected to take this walk twice a day—morning and afternoon, is overwhelming. The adults, with longer legs and a greater understanding of purpose, found themselves exhausted from the turnaround walk from the Chevron gas station, on the corner of Court Street and South Boulevard, to Davis Elementary School on Rosa Parks Street. This overwhelming taxation on these targeted and victimized children is cruel, heartless, and simply inhuman. To expect these children to walk past a familiar neighborhood school, i.e., Harrison Elementary School, to attend Davis Elementary School, where they are unfamiliar with most, if not all, the teachers, administrators, and staff, is abusive and brutal. How are they to rationalize and understand that they are having to suffer, because responsible adults refuse to procure the funds needed to keep them in a more accessible and comfortable school setting? Further, these elementary school children will not be able to function academically at their maximum, given the circumstance of an unreasonable condition and an unanswered question of “Why?” Since the standards of education are much higher today, nation-wide, than they were in the twentieth century, what kind of atmosphere is this condition creating for the education of the west Montgomery elementary school children? Back in the day (pre-‘70’s), when walking to school—even a great distance—was the norm, the children grouped themselves with older children—their siblings and relatives, as guides and supervisors, and they walked the distance. This was when gangs were not ruling the community and many of the high schools included the other grades. Today, buses that used to pick up school children, who lived over two miles from the neighborhood school, will no longer be accessible to these children. Rather, we are told either money is not available to fund the cost of picking them up, or the buses are accessible to students living in a different section of Montgomery, versus west Montgomery. If this is true, does this identify a race or class of people who are the less cared for and most vulnerable to being disfranchised, manipulated, and used? If so, is this the America we are striving to keep sovereign and concerned about the masses? This letter is an appeal to concerned MPS and city elected officials to “wake up and smell the stench” being created by this over imposing, irrational, and overwhelming task upon school children to walk past a familiar school to an unfamiliar school where they cannot justify or rationalize the change. Ultimately, we are saying that this change from neighborhood and familiar school is programming the children to fail educationally and to become a liability to the community and state, and, maybe, the nation, if they are not dead before they reach their teen years. Two choices we offer to remedy this unfair and unintelligible condition to our west Montgomery elementary school children are: (1) First, reinstate the school that is already accessible to these children, and with whom they have identity with through their parents and other relatives, who are alumni(ae) of the school; and (2) Find the money to restore the bus pick-up of the children for transporting them to and from the school. William Larkin Montgomery Educational Improvement Association

A Predators Path

Elementary school children fresh “prey” to predators! In a narrow section of west Montgomery, AL, alone, according to the Alabama Department of Public Safety Community Info Center’s website, there are 48 registered sex offenders (plus several hundred arrested, but not registered) in zip code 36105. The location of these sex offenders is either on the route or within a dangerous range of the planned new walking route of these elementary school children each school day, the 2011-12 school year, from their communities to Davis Elementary School. The Montgomery Public School System (MPS) is not providing school buses along this route, which, if done, would countermand or nullify the “sex predator” condition and provide a non-stressful condition for the children who will need to be mentally prepared to study when they reach the school. In essence, what would ordinarily be a 6 minute ride for our children, now shall become a 45 minute nightmare for them. The playground for these predators in this section of west Montgomery consists of a plenty of clandestine and concealed cover provided by poorly police surveillance, insufficiently lighted streets, abandoned houses, unpaved streets for safe walking against moving vehicles, and streets aligned with shrubbery and overgrown bushes and ditches. Even for “street smart” elementary school aged children, this is an untenable, indefensible condition in which to subject them. Obviously, the parents are not doing this; rather, the higher educational officials of MPS are doing this by taking the children out of their familiar community school environment and transferring them to a foreign environmental school. In this situation, they will, undoubtedly, have mixed-emotions, rendering them uncomfortable and uneasy, which will not condition nor prepare their minds to be focused on the task at hand. This is what is commonly known as “built-in failure.” Building on to the built-in-failure concept, what about children with a variety of disabilities, physically and mentally? These are conditions aside from the ordinary predator issue raised above; rather, these students constitute a significant number of elementary school enrollees. Yes, these are human beings with special needs. Have they been forgotten in this process of change? What are at least two alternatives to this faulty, illogical, and unreasonable condition to which the school children in this narrow section of west Montgomery are being set-up for? First, money should be, and can be, found to keep the neighborhood schools open. Second, where this cannot be done, for bona fide and justifiable reasons---with the parents and community’s buy in, walking partners, for security, and school patrol guards, for safety, will be needed. Is there anyone out there, as a change agent, to hear this clarion call for help? Our children need educating, not dissipation.

Karen Jones Montgomery, AL