ThomasDenton

As I mentioned earlier, there is a psychological reason for what you felt. As for the psychology thing you mentioned, there are numerous psychological theories, philosophies, classroom management methods, and such and this, I'm sure, is just one of them. You have the original guys who didn't really do research for education in schools, but who's work is used anyway, who's names are Pavlov, Skinner, Thorndike, and Watson. Then you have specific classroom management plans like Assertive Discipline, Discipline with Dignity, Building Community, Character Education, and more. Many different views on education and what students can do and are capable of. Really depends on the individual students. Statistics mean nothing. Each teacher just has to see what style works best for their individual classes and students.

For the regular core classes, I don't know how it'll pan out. Could be good, could be bad. The teachers will definitely have to have a little more educating on how to teach a longer class. Whole new classroom management style for some. That'll be an obstacle that only devoted teachers will overcome (those that don't probably just don't want to teach for longer periods of time). As for art classes, I've been doing observations and internship at different schools across Washington County and Bristol and the one thing I ask the students and teachers about is how they like the amount of time they have in each art class. Every time I ask this, it's always the same answer: they all want a longer class, even the kids that aren't that serious about art, mainly because it gives them more time to work on their projects. Everyone I've come across in these classes hates having only about 20-30 minutes of work time after you consider time to take roll, announcements, setting stuff up, and cleanup. I think the block schedule will work out for electives like art and I think it will also work out for PE (who wouldn't want a longer PE class, even if you're not the involved type? Less sitting around in some other class listening to lectures and more time either sitting around on the bleachers, which I hope most kids won't do in PE, or more time running around playing games/sports). For the core classes like English, Math, Science, and History, the teacher is just going to have to change their teaching style to keep the kids interested for longer periods. This could involve taking breaks during class to break things up or doing lessons that gets everyone more involved and even more physical (like some of those History Jeopardy games or something on the overhead/smartboard). It'll be a bit rough at first, but if the teachers are willing to adapt and put a little more effort to make this work, I think it can.

http://www2.tricities.com/news/2011/may/07/block-scheduling-washington-countys-high-schools-m-ar-1022710/ What's everyone's thoughts on this? Like it or not? Personally, I think it'll work well with some classes and not so well with others. Classes like art (which I'm studying to teach) and gym may benefit, but I just can't see kids sitting through a longer math or government class with no problems.

I really don't like that gas station anymore, but if you notice, the shell station right next to it is almost always higher. I've seen the gas prices at that exxon change multiple times in one day (some days I've seen it just go up, some it goes up and down and back up again). Just doesn't seem right sometimes.

Either $3.73 or $3.75 at the stations at Exit 5 in Bristol (I ran out of gas there today and found out the prices the hard way, lol).

I just know that last season, Coach Witten had the football team do a LOT of 7 on 7's over the summer. I think the 7 on 7 craze started at Battle when Strong became coach (only thing I liked about that was that we actually had some of the tournaments at Battle). Just ask the Virginia High people. I don't know how many times we played them at 7 on 7 last year, but it seems like 10 times or so, lol. Camps would probably work better anyway and I think the new rule said that college camps don't count toward practices so that's good.

I'm guessing you can still do as many 7 on 7's as you want like before, but they count as your practices so you may not want to do so many.

It's true that she was in the wrong according to the law and this could've been avoided, but it just seems like the penalty is way too much for the crime. I mean, possible 20 years in prison and $15,000 fine?! There are murderers, rapists, and drug dealers who get less of a sentence. About the only people who get worse (other than something justifying the death penalty of course) are tax evaders. That's insane! Also, she probably didn't want to use the homeless shelter as her address because how would the teachers look at that or any of the boy's classmates if they found out? I'm sure she thought it would be less embarassing for him and her if she used the address of her friend's home. It also sucks that her friend lost her home because of this too. All she wanted was for her son to go to a better school and this is what they get. I wonder what will happen to the boy now if the mom goes to jail? And what about her now possibly homeless friend?

http://www.wcyb.com/news/27641924/detail.html

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20110422/us_yblog_thelookout/homeless-woman-prosecuted-for-enrolling-son-in-conn-school

So in Bristol it'll be the battle of the new coaches....again. Wheeler for VHS vs. Wright for JSB.

BREAKING NEWS: Paul Wheeler named as new VHS football coach By Allen Gregory Published: April 18, 2011 BRISTOL, Va. -- As expected, Paul Wheeler is making a return to Virginia High. During the Monday night meeting of the Bristol Virginia School Board, Wheeler was approved by a unanimous vote as the new boss of the VHS football team following an extended executive session. According to Bristol Virginia School superintendent Mark Lineburg, Wheeler was recommended by a committee of parents, teachers, school board members and administrators.

Still better than the mens bathrooms at Battle's football field, lol.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ys-forbes-most_and_least_cost_efficient_teams_041511

Does anyone know how Honaker is doing this year so far for soccer? And do they have a boys and girls teams or just coed?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/ap_on_re_us/us_spending_showdown

http://www2.tricities.com/sports/2011/apr/06/prep-football-battle-fans-and-players-optimistic-a-ar-955738/

Thanks for the info!

That's good to hear. I really hope that he can stay for many years. It'll be rough for the first 2-3 years but if we could just keep a coach for 10 years or more (or just even 5 years) I think we could really turn things around. I'd like to see a little tougher schedule also. It'd be nice to drop Abingdon, PH, and Holston at least for a couple of years and try someone different, but unfortunately that'll never happen.

The double wing would be interesting to see at Battle. I'd like to see him try it.

I'm not so sure about a run game for next year. We lost the bulk of our running game due to graduation, but we'll be set up for a pass heavy game with Rogers, Tipton, and others. Not saying we can't run, we'll just be better with a pass game next year, though I really don't know what young'uns we have coming up. Also, we really didn't run the Spread exclusively. Witten used it some, but also tried to use Power I and something else (can't remember what it was). But I don't know that much about formations, so I don't know what worked for us and what we ran the most. Just going by what he talked about doing and assuming he tried it. I hope this guy from Marion is a good coach. Can anyone give me a little info on him?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110403/ap_on_re_us/us_gop2012_budget

http://www2.tricities.com/sports/2011/apr/03/prep-roundup-john-battle-sullivan-east-collect-bas-ar-946588/

Honaker beat Battle 2-1 yesterday, but Battle won over Abingdon today 6-2.

So their just gonna boycott businesses who don't put their signs on their property? Sounds like they are just trying to bully people around.