Pages

Saturday, May 20, 2006

Sweet N' Saur

Sweet N' Saur is a blog about local school issues which I started as an alternative to a crappy blog that our local school superintendent (Clayton Wilcox) had. A while ago I turned over the reins to Michelle, although I post in there occasionally.

Michelle and I met through Wilcox's blog, became pen pals, and then friends who see each other occasionally when our busy schedules allow for it. She's a beautiful person inside and outside (seriously!) as well as being highly intelligent. She is much more qualified (and patient) to run the forum than *I* am.

But yesterday morning she called and sent me an urgent message, telling me that the site was in need of a quick revision since Clayton Wilcox had finally decided to take down his long controversial blog.

Why was it controversial?

His blog was simply frustrating. I think it contributed to the general ill feelings people had about him.

No one usually monitored it, least of all Clayton himself. So it became a badly written blog (full of his writing errors) with no moderator.

Most participants felt that they really weren't listened to, and the crackpots were often the only ones which were left. I grew discouraged by it rapidly, feeling that Clayton had created it to pander to the masses, when the reality was that he wasn't at all interested in anyone's opinions.

Finally they announced yesterday that they were shutting it down. So we scrambled to get a message up, letting everyone there know that Sweet N' Saur was open for business. And I dropped everything to redesign the site.

Michelle requests: "Come over and share info about your state and local schools. Maybe our district can learn what we can do better. Maybe you have tried something we don't want to ever do and we can learn from your districts experience."

23 comments:

michelle said...

Thank you! We have had almost 120 people view sweetnsaur in 24 hours. We have a couple new Anon's and a couple new "names" posting already. We are already disagreeing on how to improve education, but guess what? It has been nice. I know I will learn more about teachers, students and the system in general. I have my thoughts, but will change my mind at any moment with new information. I won't tolerate horribly rude behavior toward other posters. A debate is not suppose to be mean and does not need to be insensitve. Come over and share info about your state and local schools. Maybe our district can learn what we can do better. Maybe you have tried something we don't want to ever do and we can learn from your districts experience.

I have to say I know Dr. Wilcox was not grammer frienly, but neither am, so let's not go there Saur. ;-)

Saur♥Kraut said...

Michelle, beautifully said. Oh your typos aren't anywhere near what his messy run-on sentences are, accompanied by interminable elipses and terrible punctuation. You also know how to string thoughts together, which is more than he can claim. I'm not harsh, just honest. I put your invitation to everyone in the main part of this post, now.

United We Lay said...

PA has some of the best schools in the nation (and Philly, some of the worst, though they are steadily improving). We are one of the only states who increased our scores in both Math and Reading, and our science programs have always been incredible. I've been to your site a lot, but sometimes I feel that locals aren't open to the opinions of others (though it could be the way I present them). I'll post about your site when I do my next education post (in a few days.

Saur♥Kraut said...

UWL, Kewl! I know Michelle's going to be excited.

michelle said...

UWL,
You were a local. You have taught in different states and schools. You have info we need.

United We Lay said...

Thanks guys. In other news, I'm starting an education blog myself. It's at www.polancoconsulting.blogspot.com It's knd-of a starting point for my own online homeschool, which I'l be working on this summer, and possibly a business where I create and sell lesson plans with enhancement acivites for parents so that they can do cool stuff wit their kids. Right now, ti will focus on educational law, curriculum, and various issues that concern American parents, regardless of their location. I have no idea how to market it, or even how to make a "real" website out of it, but I'm working on it.

Saur♥Kraut said...

UWL, if you want help or marketing advice, you've got my email addy, right?

BarbaraFromCalifornia said...

A team blog with such a good purpose is great.

Nevertheless, just like in real life, when more than one person is involved in the formula, they can be some rough patches.

Hope it all resolves.

Have a good weekend, Saur!

Valerie - Still Riding Forward said...

Off topic here, how's the assistant's wrist coming? And the rest of the story?

Michael K. Althouse said...

I have visited "Sweet N' Saur" occasionally. I was seriously impresseed ny the new look and re-focused mission yesterday. As I'm sure you're aware, California schools are not performing too well. I'll be stopping by often and perhaps even throwing in my two cents. Great job to you and Michelle!

~Mike

Beaver said...

Love the new look !
(It's great that parents are INVOLVED - that's been an issue in Quebec in the past.)

United We Lay said...

I actually don't think I do anymore, but send it to me again. I think I've adjusted my email so that it goes to my actual address.

Saur♥Kraut said...

TC, hey there! No problem, we like seeing you whenever you have the time. Nice recipe! I only wish I had more time to cook. I am so bad about that lately. My kids think food only comes out of boxes.

Saur♥Kraut said...

Beav, It IS nice that people get involved in the issues. And Michelle's a great moderator; calm and neutral for the most part.

UWL, I sent you an email.

Mike A, Glad you like it! I know Michelle would enjoy your contributions. You have two teenage boys, right? California's still gotta be better than Florida, sadly...

Valerie, Well, I intended the story to stand as it was, but I've been mulling over a sequel. ;o) The assistant's arm is in a cast, and she's pretty miserable (poor thing) because her blood sugar continues to fluctuate. But she was able to work PT for me on Friday and thinks she'll be back on Monday *fingers crossed*. I'll tell her you asked! She'll be thrilled!

Barbara, I see Michelle as the Principal, me as the V.P. I enjoy the design work and the occasional bombastic "drive-by mouthings" but she's the rock-solid, steady moderator who is much better informed on those particular issues than I am.

Hale McKay said...

From what i read of your work in this blog in the paast - I am sure that you will get Sweet n' Saur up and running and up to date.

Dave said...

Saur,

Thanks for all your hard work in the education arena. I admire your commitment to excellence. I hope you some how are honored for your efforts. Thanks again my friend.

Saur♥Kraut said...

Gator, ya old suckup! No, we're not mad at you. Everything's cool.

Hale, thanks! It looks great. As for content, I've been known to be controversial and/or stir up trouble in there, but Michelle's the one who gets to be the one that handles the day to day, consistent stuff. Thankfully!

michelle said...

Since I am the Principal and Saur is the VP....Saur gets to be the disciplinarian. So if you are bad I am sending you to her to deal with.

michelle said...

I emailed you, I need help

High Power Rocketry said...

Yes blogging can very quickly become a waste of time. For a person who is linked at work to a blog, it is even more important to maintain the page or remove it.

Anonymous said...

Those crackpots ruined the classroom blog!

AP posting for AP Nation :)

Jamie Dawn said...

I hope the new influx of visitors brings about some helpful discussion and new ideas.

Anonymous said...

What a great site
ob celebrex oldsmobile Temazepam ultram Ultram tramadol hcl dosages anti software virus celebrex class action lawsuitaction celebrex class lawsuit Need to find out about ultram pills Convertible covers