Rumor Mill Keeps on Grinding

There is a rumor floating around that there are about to be some major changes coming at the top of IPS. Anyone hear anything?

Protect Yourself

Should self-defense classes be mandatory for all IPS teachers and staff members or would the school district just be asking for trouble?

Two Questions

1. Should school start after Labor Day, stay as is, or should we go to year-round school?

2. Public comment has begun on proposed changes by Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Bennett on how teachers should be trained. Will you comment and what will you say?

Question of the Day

Should schools spend time chasing after truant children and non-caring parents or just use our limited resources and focus on the ones who want to be there?

Breakin'

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 20, 2009

Contact Mary Louise Bewley
or Kim L. hooper 226-4649

Two IPS students arrested for break-in at School 60

Two Arlington Community High School students face multiple charges after they allegedly broke into William A. Bell School 60 and stole more than a dozen laptop computers.

The students, a 13-year-old boy and a 14-year-old boy both enrolled in Arlington's Over-Under Program, were arrested early Tuesday following the three separate break-ins on charges including burglary, tresspassing and fleeing law enforcement. They were taken by IPS School Police to the Marion County Juvenile Detention Center.

At about 10:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 19, IPS School Police went to School 60 on an intrusion alarm and observed that a window in an interior library door had been broken out. Further investigation revealed that several laptop computers had been taken from a portable cabinet in the media center.

School Police returned to School 60, 3330 N. Pennsylvania St., at 2:22 a.m. Tuesday on another intrusion alarm and discovered more laptops had been stolen out of the media center.

When they returned a third time at 3:18 a.m., they observed two bicycles lying on the ground outside a school entrance. The two students came out the door and School Police ordered them to stop. Police apprehended the 13-year-old, but the 14-year-old ran back inside the school, leading officers in pursuit. He fled the building without getting caught.

Police learned the boy's identity and went to his home where officers recovered several suspected stolen laptop computer after a search of the residence. In all, 21 laptops were recovered from the two student's homes.

IPS offers Over-Under Programs for students who are overage but not achieving at grade-level.

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Tough Question

Here is a tough question that we hope will stir some real thoughtful debate. "Are there some children who, for whatever reason, are just incapable of learning or can every child be saved?"

Sick Kids

IPS B.S. is wondering how many kids has your school sent home because of the flu or flu-like symptoms. Twenty kids were sent home from our school today and the bus was half empty. Do you worry about so many kids being absent that you'll have to play catch up or you'll get ill yourself?

Slogans of the Week

Broad Ripple: New and Improved or the same old stuff?

Tech: Style over substance? How does your garden grow?

Northwest: What's new, what is working, what is not?

You can add your own.

Weed Them Out?

The news this morning is talking about how two area school district employees, one in Carmel and one in Lawrence, have been arrested on child molestation charges. Do we need tougher standards on hiring and more background checks to keep these predators out of our classrooms? How does union contracts and discipline? What do you suggest?

Be Positive

Eugene is complaining about the local news media. He says it doesn't write or report any positive stories about IPS. Is he right or just whiney?

Are we teachers or educators?

Andy Gammill has a story in the Star today about individuals who get their teacher certification through alternate means like Teach for America and the Woodrow Wilson fellowship.

Do you think these programs are good ideas or should teachers have to the more the traditional route?

When IPS B.S. got its degree, most of what it learned in college was useless. IPS B.S. got a lot more of an education working in an actual classroom and learning from experienced teachers.

How about you?

"Arlington chaos, true or false?"