GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (March 15, 2022)(CNBNewsnet)–This past week, the Gloucester High School boys basketball team finished its historic run in NJSIAA State Playoffs. The Lions finished the season 21-10 were able to capture the school’s first sectional title in 51 years of our program’s rich history.
This team’s run started with a win over 13th seeded Clayton by a score of 87-67. Leading the Lions in scoring was Jr. Liam Gorman with 33 points. Also highlighted in that game were 1000 point scorer and Senior Captain, Steven Light, who finished with his first career triple-double (24 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists). Box Score Below.
In 1968 a young teacher came to Alice Costello School. As a 14 year old I fell in love with this young teacher.
We remained friends from that day forward. As my family grew so did our relationship. In the cold of winter or extreme heat of summer we would meet her with my family at Manco & Manco for pizza in Ocean City.
Upon her retirement she spent her winters in Florida where I would spend a week for Austin’s spring baseball game. Then follow the day up eating whole Lobsters.
Yesterday Ms. McCarty / Mrs. Brown, Marion or “The Principal” passed away after months of suffering. Jill and I were fortunate enough to see Marion one last time Sunday. It was hard leaving knowing that may have been our last time together.
We laughed as best we could, sometimes you wonder if laughter was a good therapy.
Knowing Marion was in the loving hands of her daughter, son and grandchildren made our trip back home easier. Rest in Peace Marion McCarty Brown
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Marion A. Brown (nee McCarty) On March 14, 2022 of Washington Twp. Beloved wife of the late Thomas Brown. Devoted mother of Thomas P. Brown (Karen) and Heather Halicks (Robert). Loving grandmother of Nicholas, Hailey, Lucy, and Cody. Dear sister of James McCarty and Nancy Basara.
Marion. Mar. Sissy. Mom. Grammy. Aunt. Friend. Colleague. Principal. Mrs. Brown. Marion was known by many titles. She was a take-charge-never-suffer-a-fool individual. Her strength, courage, and kindness were unparalleled—never hesitating to pitch in whenever, wherever needed. Never one to stand still, she was always on the go: St. John, Ocean City, Florida. Beaches all over called her name. Finding sea glass was an endless treasure. She delighted in casino trips—slot machines were her game. She always seemed to win…even when she lost. Her biggest jackpot was her precious grandchildren. They kept her spirit ever-young. May her strong, independent will live on in them.
Family and friends are invited to attend her visitation Friday 9:00 – 11:00 AM at the Egizi Funeral Home, 119 Ganttown Rd., Washington Twp. Funeral service 11:00 AM.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Marion and Thomas Brown’s memory may be made to WT 5th Quarter Football Club, 67 Clemens Lane, Blackwood, NJ 08012.
Funeral arrangements:
Egizi Funeral Home 119 Ganttown Road Turnersville 08012
Visitation: Friday, March 18 from 9:00-11:00 am
Funeral Service: 11:00 am
In lieu of flowers, donations in Marion and Thomas Brown’s memory may be made to WT 5th Quarter Football Club, 67 Clemens Lane, Blackwood, NJ 08012.
GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ–New Jersey 101.5 announced recently that the graduation exam will be made harder starting with this year’s junior class. Fear not. Despite all the panic there is really nothing to worry about.
The State Board of Education wants the passing grade to be set at 750 but the state Department of Education feels that score is too high and wants it lowered to 725, once again dumbing down our schools’ standards. Even state Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz, D-Essex said “725 is just way too low. It makes me cringe…725 for me I think takes New Jersey [sic], lowers our standards.”
GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (February 20, 2022)(CNBNews)In the past weeks I have been bringing attention to the deficiencies of our school system. Most of the comments have been along the lines of surprise and in some cases, shock. I only got one negative comment and that was from a former GHS teacher. “Why are you trashing Gloucester? STOP IT!” How about “No as an answer?”
GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (February 17, 2022)–The easy answer is “No.” Let’s look at the Pre-K (3 and 4 year old) program first. The state pays 100% for the Pre-K program for all Abbott districts. But what are they paying for? After 25 years in education, I can tell you
Research shows that an estimated $19 million per year is being spent on students who just don’t come to school. (Pinterest image)
“nothing.” It is a babysitting service that is funded as education. Even the Department of Education admits “In 2012 [DOE] determined that score gains in the Abbott districts were no higher than score gains in high poverty” non-Abbott districts.”*
A protester walks in front of parked trucks as demonstrators continue to protest the vaccine mandates implemented by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on February 8, 2022 in Ottawa, Canada. (Photo by Dave Chan / AFP) (Photo by DAVE CHAN/AFP via Getty Images)
DOROTHY PHILBIN | CNBNews
GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (February 10, 2022)(CNBNewnet)Last week when my Social Security check came, I bought double of everything in the grocery store. I may go back this weekend and do the same. Why? What does grocery shopping have to do with Canada?
Even if you have been following the Canadian truckers’ convoy online you probably haven’t gotten the full story. As was the case in America, truckers, health care workers, police, and the military were considered heroes during the pandemic. A year later many of these same people are losing their jobs if they refuse to get vaccinated, regardless of the reason. Canadians, however, are going a step farther. They are not protesting having to get vaccinated, most are vaccinated, they are protesting their right to make their own decisions.
GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (FEBRUARY 9, 2022)(CNBNEWSnet)–These tests, also known as College Boards, have been in existence for 96 years, since 1926. They are standardized tests traditionally used by colleges and taken by about 1.5 million students.* Some colleges are starting to rely less on SAT scores and more on the student’s progress in school and out-of-school activities. Students now have the option of sending the scores to colleges or not.
As has been the case with so many aspects of education, the SATs have also been dumbed down or, as the company prefers to call it “fully redesigned” in 2016 and the results were seen in the test scores of 2017. There are also reports that the tests will be “redesigned” again in 2024.** Once again they are supposed to be shorter, easier, and completely online – FOR THE USA! The article doesn’t mention making the tests easier for the 25 other countries which scored higher than we did in worldwide educational surveys.
Gloucester High School, 1300 Market Street, Gloucester City, NJ(CNBNewsnet photo credit)…The local school district became an Abbott District in 1997. Since that time the school district has received millions of dollars, if not more, from the residents of New Jersey.
YOUR MONEY: After the original ruling in 1985, New Jersey increased spending such that Abbott district students received 22% more per pupil (at $20,859) vs. non-Abbott districts (at $17,051) in 2011.[3] 60% of New Jersey’s education aid goes to the Abbotts.[4] Throughout the state there are 31 Abbott Districts. Despite 40 years of increased funding, the gaps betweenAbbott Schools and the suburban counterparts has widened significantly.[6](source Wikipedia)
Dorothy Philbin | CNBNews Contributor
GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (February 8, 2022)(CNBNewsnet)–Most Gloucester City residents, especially those with children, know that our school district is an Abbott District. Many may know that with the Abbott designation comes a lot of money. Our town couldn’t afford to provide the level of education or the buildings we have without the state’s Abbott designation and funds.
The history behind “being an Abbott District” goes back to the 1980s and the various court cases continue to today. In Camden, NJ a former high school graduate by the name of Ralph Abbott was arrested and in the process that followed it was discovered that he couldn’t read a word. Naturally, the next question is “how did he graduate from high school if he can’t read.” We all know the answer – he was pushed through. Years ago it was called “social promotion.”
(The SECOND of a four-part CNBNEWS series Dumbing Down American Education)
Should students be able to do this? Are they learning as much by taking AP courses online as they would in a college classroom? No, absolutely not! High school is high school and college is college. They are different. They are not interchangeable. Internet courses are not of the same quality of classroom courses. We know that as a result of closing schools during the pandemic. When so many students are in an Advanced Placement program either the school is exceptional or the criteria for the AP program are not college level.
The Advanced Placement program was started in 1955 but didn’t get much traction until the late 1980s into the 1990s. At that time suddenly every parent I knew was bragging that his/her children were in an Honors Program or Advance Placement. Do I have that many exceptional friends? I don’t think so.
Back “in the day” (1960s) the United States had the best educational system in the world. Even if we allow for personal/country pride we were definitely in the top five. Where are we today? It depends on the survey one reads. We are somewhere between 13th., behind Slovenia, and 36th waaay behind Bulgaria. How many American students can find either country on a map?
What happened? Is it just Gloucester City or the country as a whole? The answer to the second question is easy. No, it is not just Gloucester City. It is the country as a whole. We are spending an unbelievable amount of money for our kids to rank between 13th and 36th.
The biggest excuse I heard when getting my Masters in Education at St. Joseph’s University was that the Russians sent a satellite (Sputnik – 1958) into space before the United States. That was more than 50 years in the past and Sputnik self-destructed after three months. America followed with Telstar (including a song) in 1962 and we were successful. Instead of using this as a classroom lesson of taking your time and doing a project correctly, the educational geniuses decided to reinvent the wheel. How many of us with gray hair remember “new math?” My class was the last of the “old math” students. After that parents could no longer help their kids with homework. Parents knew that 7×5=35 but they couldn’t explain the philosophy behind the new way of doing things.
As young as I was (7th grade) I didn’t understand. After World War II both America and Russia made offers to the German scientists that they couldn’t refuse. It was really the German scientists who built Sputnik and Telstar – not the Americans or Russians. No one thought to ask the Germans how they learned. Despite the evil done by some Germans, the average student learned well.
I taught English as a Second Language (ESL) in Philadelphia and I always asked my students about schools in their native countries. In China the names of the students who didn’t do “well enough” were published on a board and they were embarrassed in front of their classmates. No one would have thought that was funny, especially when the student got home. In most West African countries education was a privilege, not a right. If a student got two questions wrong on a test he was beat two times at school. Then you went home! In Cambodia (legally Kampuchia) failure is not acceptable, neither is “getting by.” Only success is acceptable.
When I looked at the list of countries which educated its students better than the United States, I found several which were legally bilingual: Singapore (3 languages,) Canada (2,) Belgium (3,) Ireland (2,) Switzerland (3,) and Israel (2.) No other country coddles its students the way America does. Every other country prepares its students for a world which is tough and not fair.
