Negativity

Why are so many people so negative, now a days? It seems like a lot of people are complaining about how bad things are, instead of taking a step back and looking at all of the positive things they have in their lives. For instance, many people complain about their job or their car, but quickly forget to realize how lucky they are to still have a job or have a car to get them around! Be thankful! Make it a great day!

Mr. Sand

Pierre T.F. Riggs High School "Sweep" Policy

I know I have only been a student teacher in the Pierre School District for less than 3 months, but I have already formed an opinion of the school's "Sweep" policy that they have already put on hiatus. At the beginning of the school year, the teachers and administration started talking about the problems they were having with tardies. They brainstormed different ways of enforcing the tardy policy by implementing a different procedure. Several of the teachers had came from the Sioux Falls Washington School district where they implemented a procedure called "Sweeps." The "Sweep" procedures really helped to reduce the amount of tardies in that school district greatly, by sweeping students who were tardy and not allowing them to come in and disrupt a class already in progress unless they have an excused slip from the office or another teacher. Another repercussion of being "Swept," in the Sioux Falls Washington school district is that the student will receive a 0% for that class they were tardy for. All the teachers discussed this and believe this would be a good way to reduce the amount of tardies from last year. They believe they should implement this procedure gradually, by letting the student receive up to 75% for the work missed that class period instead of 0%, which I felt was really generous! The teachers and administration agreed on the procedure and implemented it the second week of school. The numbers spoke for themselves. The tardies compared to last year dropped dramatically! Students were able to effectively learn in a classroom without being disrupted several times throughout the class period. I thought everything was going smoothly with this new procedure until........

The administration and school board got together and decided the policy should be put on hold until they get it in writing and in the student handbook. Not having legal documentation of this procedure may lead to legal rammifications down the road, so the "Sweeps" policy was no more. Now, students wander into class 5 minutes late. The bell rings and then they decide to stroll in. It now takes at least 5 more minutes for them to find their seats and settle down to begin class! It is so annoying! Pierre High School, please bring back the "Sweeps" policy! We need it!

~Mr. Sand