Letter to the editor about EvO’s daycare article (written by an 8th grader?)

If any of you have previously read EvO’s article from his newspaper job…. this is another letter to the editor about it… from an 8th grade student at the school in question. The kid is more articulate than any parent that has previously sent us hate mail over the article and it could not make us laugh more. **Editors note at bottom.

Move Early Head Start back to Ringgold High School Campus Dear editor, I am writing this letter in response to the editorials written in response to the article on the Early Head Start Program on the Ringgold Middle School campus. I do not understand why people got so mad over this article. Some have misunderstood this important message. From the responses I read, it sounded like the editorial authors thought that the concerned parents wanted the Early Head Start program completely eliminated. This is not the case at all; they were simply requesting that the program be moved from the middle school back to the high school. The concerned parents were voicing their beliefs that the program can be operated more safely away from the buses and cars, and that the relocation of the preschool would eliminate distractions on the middle school campus. I agree that the relocation of the preschool would provide a safer environment not only for the children but for the mothers as well. The present location sometimes makes the mothers take their children through the busy area while buses drop off and pick up students. Moving the Early Head Start back to the high school would also prevent future disruptions at the middle school. Please realize these parents do not want the community to turn its back on pregnant teens or teenage mothers, but to simply relocate the program back to its original location at Ringgold High School. Joshua B******* – 8th grade Ringgold Middle School

**EvO works for a small North Georgia Mountain town newspaper. Sadly this means lots of ignorant rednecks and hence those who read his stories tend to be on the unintelligent side. He has no opinion on the day care story at hand, just that they should stop telling kids condoms don’t work.

Here is another letter to the editor….

Dear Editor, I am responding to this article with great disappointment that anyone could see a program that is developed to give teenagers a second chance could be labeled an “outrage.” This is a completely close minded article that should never have made any kind of headlines. People often forget what it was like to be a teenager! It’s gonna happen whether we want it to or not, it has been happening for years. If you would have taken the time to pole the other High Schools around I would bet there pregnancy rate would be about the same, the only difference would be the drop out rate! Thats what the Head Start is there for to reassure these teens that life is not over because of one mistake, to tell this teens it is okay we will help you graduate from High School and get started in college. I am a mother as well and can understand some of the views to a certain extent but I was also a teen mother and truely sympathize with all of the teen parents. There was not a program like this when I had my son. I feel this is a blessing for your community and the story should be rewritten so the people who actually benefit from this program can be heard!

Article from EvO’s newspaper gets angry responces, sweet!

Here is the response article is below. response to the daycare facility being in sight of the middle school students, SHAME ON THE SELF RIGHTEOUS PARENTS WHO LOOK DOWN THERE NOSES AT OTHER PEOPLE!!! How does seeing children on the playground cause a middle school child to want to go out and have sex, and a baby? The whole concept is rediculous! Those little ones should never be hidden away because of their parents actions. Speaking of the parents…How much more would you self righteous idiots look down your noses at them if they just gave up and quit school? How about if they choose to murder their babies in the womb, would that make you feel better? Personally, I think we should stop using the “mistakes” of others to build ourselves up, or to use others to train our children to think more highly of themselves then they ought. You said the “gifted students” could see the kids from their windows. If they are gifted they can figure out that children on a playgraound doesn’t equal sex! Why can’t we just look at those babies for what they are…blessings from God! They are wonderful additions to our planet, valuable, and worth loving! I must end by saying, I was one of those teenage moms at Ringgold High School. I was treated so poorly by the self righteous ones. Our principal refused to let me make up work or use the elevator after the birth. I was out of class for only 1 week, then came back and graduated with honors. I went on to college. I married my high school sweetheart (father of my baby). We have been married for almost 20 years now. Our “mistake” graduates from the University of Georgia in December of this year with a four year degree. Oh yeah, he just turned 19 this past May! So before you “high and mighty” ones curse those who don’t seem to fit your mould just remember God has a plan for everyone. Thanks for your time! DK USERNAME: DEBORAH KING Parents concerned about preschool on local middle school campus

10/27/08 Elliot S. Volkman Respond to this story Email this story to a friend Early Head Start located on the Ringgold Middle School campus A program designed to keep teen parents in high school has begun to draw attention from the community for more than just the convenience it provides to young parents. Early Head Start daycare, currently located on the Ringgold Middle School (RMS) campus has drawn concern from parents associated with Ringgold Middle School because of its current location, safety for the Early Head Start children and the students in classrooms surrounding the daycare. “Early Head Start is a federally funded program for teen mothers and their infants and toddlers,” said Catoosa County Public Schools Communication Specialist Marissa Brower. Ringgold Middle School Council member and parent of a student currently at RMS Vicki Harris said there are currently several issues with the daycare: “safety of the children, moms who have to walk through the bus area, and sending of mixed signals to the eighth grade students,” who are able to see the daycare from their classrooms. Location issues Concerns about the location of the daycare began to emerge from RMS parents at the beginning of this school year. According to Ringgold Middle School Principal Lamar Brown, the situation did not appear to be an issue with parents until the parent analysis visit at the start of the school year. “We brought in 16 parents not affiliated with the school (these individuals are parents of RMS students, but were not employed with the school), putting them in groups of four and each group analyzes a different area of the school,” said Brown. During the visit, parents sat in on classes, took in depth tours of the school, and got a behind the scenes view of the school. “One group saw that (the location of the Head Start Program) as an issue,” said Brown. He said the matter was reported to the school council, and the members suggested bringing in Catoosa County Public Schools Superintendent Denia Reese. Reese proposed a plan to move the location back to its original placement on the Ringgold High School (RHS) campus, Brown said. The current plan to move the Early Head Start program back to RHS is set for December of 2009. According to Brower, the daycare program came to reside on RMS grounds because the original daycare trailers located at RHS were condemned and had to be moved. “In 2006, the Catoosa County Public Schools Operations Department and the North Georgia Family Resource Agency determined that the portable classroom that housed the program needed a major renovation due to structural concerns,” stated Brower in a release. The program was moved to RMS because two vacant trailers were available, there were none left over at the high school. When asked about her feelings toward Early Head Start returning to the RHS campus, Ringgold High School Principal Sharon Vaughn said, “I am certainly not negative toward the Head Start program itself. I think there is a public perception that the Ringgold community has more pregnant teenagers than other places simply because we have the Head Start facility on our campus. Of course, that is not the case. I believe we just do more to meet student needs, and having the facility available is one of our strategies.” Ringgold Middle School is just one of four schools that houses a Head Start program in Catoosa County. Tiger Creek, West side and Could Springs Elementary schools each have Head Start programs, according to Brower. In addition to Head Start, there are also Lottery-funded preschools, located at Ringgold Primary, Battlefield Primary, Boynton Elementary, Tiger Creek, Woodstation and West Side Elementary schools. Safety issues For RMS parents and school council members Donna Jackson, Toni Chow and Harris, the main two issues are the well-being of the children in the program and the impressionable minds of middle school students. On http://www.careerdepot.org, a statement provided by the Head Start Program reads, “Children who attend Head Start participate in a variety of educational activities. … and enjoy playing indoors and outdoors in a safe setting.” The Head Start program is located between the eighth-graders’ wing, across from the track and a stone’s throw away from the public tennis courts. The tennis court and track are only open to the public after 5 p.m. according to Brower. According to Brown, Ringgold Middle School was not informed that there were three registered sex offenders less than a two minute walk from the school, one of whom is registered for child molestation. Reese and Catoosa County Sheriff Phil Summers were aware of the situation. Statements from school system representatives indicate the situation is under control. “According to Georgia law, a sex offender cannot live within a certain distance of a school or playground, and at no time may that individual step on the school property or the playground,” said Brower on behalf of Superintendent Reese. “This is a law enforcement issue and is monitored by the Sheriff’s Department.” The law preventing a registered offender from living 1,000 feet from a school was overturned in 2007 and later reinstated, but allowed those individuals who had previously lived within 1,000 feet to remain there. “If a parent determines that a registered sex offender has moved into their neighborhood, the school system will provide bus transportation to ensure the student’s safety coming to school and going home,” said Brower. According to Summers, there have been no reported issues with a registered offender repeating a crime. “We are aware of where they are, and we do sporadic checks on the area and yearly check to see if they are still living there,” said Summers. “We can’t tell the community where they are as a law enforcement agency due to privacy issues, but it is public record, and a citizen may do so.” Brown indicated the middle school is fully secured. “We have student resource officers on campus, who are deputies with the sheriff department,” said Brown. “We have all of our doors locked, and students and teachers are advised not to open the doors for anyone.” RMS has a process for all visitors requiring them to sign in at the front office, and according to Brown, Early Head Start has a similar process. Emergency situations In January of 2008, a suspicious package found at RHS caused the two schools to have to evacuate, and transport the Head Start children using their buses. “When additional programs are housed on our school campus, the program is included in the GEMA approved safety plan for the school,” said Brower. “There is no additional burden for the school, and the program does not take resources away from the schools’ students in an emergency situation.” Reese additionally said, “When the school system can partner with state and federal agencies, at no additional cost to the local taxpayer and no additional burden to the school, to provide programs that prepare preschool children for success in school, I believe it is a good use of extra space in our facilities.” On the other hand, Brown said that in cases like the bomb threat that the middle school would be and has been responsible for using their buses to help evacuate the children from the Head Start program to another location. “There should be other options; they shouldn’t have to deal with it if there was a tragedy,” said Jackson. Another safety concern includes the fact that buses run in the general area of the program, which may cause an issue for the children and their parents. “It’s just a walk away from the buses; high school seniors drive in the area, and there have been cases where the child would get sick and have to be brought back to the high school with the mother during class,” said Jackson. “I applaud the mothers for going back to school; it’s just not a safe location.” According to director of the local Head Start programs Rebecca Hunter, “the area is fenced in, and there is no way they (the children) could get out.” There are other daycare programs located near the Head Start program; however, they are not fully federally funded. Gingerbread House Child Care has a waiting list and has a government food program, and Schoolzin, Schoolzout Christian Learning Center has a 10 percent vacancy and accepts child care assistance, which pays for half of the services. “It needs to be moved from where it’s at; there is space available at county offices not much further away,” said Harris. In addition, county offices located across the street have reported vacancies. In August of this year, Gov. Perdue issued a state budget cut that also affected the Head Start Program. “We would like to have more centers, but we are waiting for more funding,” said Hunter. “We have only had a 1 percent cost of living allowance increase in the last six years and have had cuts the past three years.” Moral issue for students and parents Safety for the children and students is among one of the largest concerns, but there is another issue which contradicts abstinence teachings in Catoosa County according to parents. “If we are going to teach abstinence in school, seeing the children around is counterproductive,” said Chow. The eighth grade and gifted student classes surround the daycare at the middle school, where there have been reports of distractions to teachers and students. “My daughter came home one day and told me how cute they were all bundled up in their winter jackets,” said Jackson. “It just says if you want a kid they can stay here for free.” The Catoosa County Board of Education Web site contains a statement that it is mandatory that schools teach students about sex and AIDS. “Parents have the prime responsibility to assist their children in developing moral values,” the Web site states. “I really do care for the kids and children,” said Chow. “But once you become a parent you’re not just a high school student, you must care for the safety of those children. The current plan from the Catoosa County Board of Education to move the daycare from the Ringgold Middle School campus a short distance back to Ringgold High School can be found in this article online at http://www.catoosanews.com. On the web: Catoosa County Board of Education Sex Education policy Statistical information on condoms Where you can see registered sex offenders in your area

Opinion- How to use your small office bathroom

Everything is going great for your morning at work, until those three cups of coffee finally hit your stomach. Whether you work in a large office, living in a dorm with shared bathroom, small office or anywhere that a person may enter your restroom of choice, we all know how uncomfortable and embarrassing relieving ourselves of our natural bodily functions can be.

While not working with Play This as my pet project, I work in a rather small office for my newspaper, which has relatively thin walls. So any noise or sound thrown through this building reverberates with great verbose sounds, removing any possible privacy. (Not a good thing when working with journalists, we tend to be nosy).

Now I’ll make this clear and also mention that this is not any direct influence of experiences I currently have as nobody needs or wants to hear about. Just understand that this is a simply hypothetical on how to prevent embarrassing situations all for the humor of our human race. All of this information is compiled from research that comes with age.

Whether it’s simply going number 1 the common number 2…. or the dreaded number 3 (use your imagination), chances are you don’t want a person hearing you. Oddly enough my editor is placed directly on the other side of our restroom, the thin wall leaves little to the imagination so here are some tips of experimentation done to prevent the awkward spread of sound.

1. If there is a fan, turn that shit on!
2. A sink near by? Although it is a waste of water, turn that on full blast. The fish can do with out one more glass of water to reduce any awkwardness and to remain polite to co-workers.
3. For men its much easier, if you have to go number 1, just don’t let it hit the water; no sound, no problem!
4. The silencer: Place several sheets of TP on top of the water, it will prevent items such as the Watermelon (listed below) to occur.
5. If you have to go number 3, there is little to nothing you can do to prevent that awkwardness. What sounds like the endless spray of gunfire from a world war I Gatling gun and for whatever reason the toilet has been made to make any sound that hits it twice as loud, a mix between the fan, sink and silencer are your only hopes. You were pretty much DOA, so try to avoid any foods that upset your stomach… or if all else fails go to a local place around that you don’t care to embarrass yourself at.

Listed below is a description that could easily be applied to your everyday work life/Class life. (This info has been floating around the net for quite some time, our additions are listed in bold at the top).

Work Poop

We’ve all been there but don’t like to admit it. We’ve all kicked back in our cubicles (or offices) and suddenly felt something brewing down below. As much as we try to convince ourselves otherwise, the WORK POOP is inevitable. For those who hate pooping at work, following is the Survival Guide for taking a dump at work.

The Silencer: Placing of several sheets of Toilet Paper on top of the water gently so it muffles any awkward sounds or the back splashes.

CROP DUSTING: When farting, you walk briskly around the office so the smell is not in your area and everyone else gets a whiff but doesn’t know where it came from. Be careful when you do this. Do not stop until the full fart has been expelled. Walk an extra 30 feet to make sure the smell has left your pants.

FLY BY: The act of scouting out a bathroom before pooping. Walk in and check for other poopers. If here are others in the bathroom, leave and come back again. Be careful not to become a FREQUENT FLYER. People may become suspicious if they catch you constantly going into the bathroom.

ESCAPEE: A fart that slips out while taking a leak at the urinal or forcing a poop in a stall. This is usually accompanied by a sudden wave of embarrassment. If you release an escapee, do not acknowledge it.
Pretend it did not happen. If you are standing next to the farter in the urinal, pretend you did not hear it. No one likes an escapee. It is uncomfortable for all involved. Making a joke or laughing makes both parties feel uneasy.

JAILBREAK: When forcing a poop, several farts slip out at a machine gun pace. This is usually a side effect of diarrhea or a hangover. If this should happen, do not panic. Remain in the stall until everyone has left the bathroom to spare everyone the awkwardness of what just occurred.

COURTESY FLUSH: The act of flushing the toilet the instant the poop hits the water. This reduces the amount of air time the poop has to stink up the bathroom. This can help you avoid being caught doing the WALK OF SHAME.

WALK OF SHAME: Walking from the stall, to the sink, to the door after you have just stunk up the bathroom. This can be a very uncomfortable moment if someone walks in and busts you. As with farts, it is best to pretend that the smell does not exist…… can be avoided with the use of the COURTESY FLUSH.

OUT OF THE CLOSET POOPER: A colleague who poops at work and is damn proud of it. You will often see an Out Of The Closet Pooper enter the bathroom with a newspaper or magazine under his or her arm. Always look around the office for the Out Of The Closet Pooper before entering the bathroom.

SAFE HAVENS: Seldom used bathrooms somewhere in the building where you can least expect visitors. Try floors that are predominantly of the opposite sex. This will reduce the odds of a pooper of your sex entering the bathroom.

TURD BURGLAR: Someone who does not realize that you are in the stall and tries to force the door open. This is one of the most shocking and vulnerable moments that can occur when taking a poop at work. If this occurs, remain in the stall until the Turd Burglar leaves. This way you will avoid all uncomfortable eye contact.

CAMO-COUGH: A phony cough that alerts all new entrants into the bathroom that you are in a stall. This can be used to cover-up a WATERMELON, or to alert potential Turd Burglars. Very effective when used in conjunction with an ASTAIRE.

ASTAIRE: A subtle toe-tap that is used to alert potential Turd Burglars that you are occupying a stall. This will remove all doubt that the stall is occupied. If you hear an Astaire, leave the bathroom immediately so the pooper can poop in peace.

WATERMELON: A poop that creates a loud splash when hitting the toilet water. This is also an embarrassing incident. If you feel a Watermelon coming on, create a diversion. See CAMO-COUGH.

HAVANA OMELET: A case of diarrhea that creates a series of loud splashes in the toilet water….. often accompanied by an Escapee. Try using Camo-Cough with an Astaire.

UNCLE TED: A bathroom user who seems to linger around forever. Could spend extended lengths of time in front of the mirror or sitting on the pot. An Uncle Ted makes it difficult to relax while on the crapper, as you should always wait to poop when the bathroom is empty. This benefits you as well as the other bathroom attendees.