The blogging bus has left the station!

A couple of weeks ago, this blog was just an idea. Then it became an action point and, following a meeting with the principals of the Taylor School District last Wednesday and some work with online personnel at Heritage Newspapers, it became a reality!

We're talking about "Talking Taylor Schools," the newest edition to the online world.

By last Friday, we had set up an internal communications network in the school system with one purpose -- getting the good news into circulation. And the posts were very telling during the opening run of what I like to refer to as "the blog bus."

Principal Tommie Saylor of Truman High, in his "Friday Update" that now lives elsewhere on this blog thread, offered a very interesting read that most knowledgeable educators -- and not enough people outside of the field -- can relate to. It was about the long, tedious experience of standardized testing. The preparation. The frustration. The long hours. The -- at times -- disappointing returns.

Simply put, being an public school educator these days can be a no-win proposition. There are so many things that you can't control on top of the so many things that people want out of you. You can work so hard and, through no fault of your own, come up short of somebody's expectations.

And then, a couple of months down the line, all the scores are published and usually compared. That's not what they are for, mind you, but that little fact doesn't stop the process. If that comparison doesn't look good, it's like having someone kick sand in your face.

What I enjoyed about Saylor's update was that he put it in "real life" terms. He talked about the somewhat never-ending tasks of trying to win the standardized testing battle, but then spent most of his column about all the good things that are going on at Truman High School. Like the 40 DECA students being honored in competitions. Or the symphonic band's recent successes.

He talked about the JROTC and how proud his was of the program. The science department's rocketry program. Even things like lifesaving on the Truman pool deck, ping-bong and Youth in Government. The most I thought about it, the more I remembered my own high school days, not long past. I couldn't tell you many specific test scores I had, but I do remember certain teachers going out of their way to help me at the time. I don't remember too many academic honors, but I do remember so many of the names and face of professional educators -- many who have now passed on -- who lent something very important to my life development.

As Saylor's piece told everyone who managed to read it, there is more to education than just numbers and percentages. It's a message that needs to be told often these days ...

In other places around Taylor schools, good things were happening. Blair Moody Elementary partnered with Tim Horton's to supply hot chocolate to parents dropping off their children at school. The teachers served as the waiters and waitresses. A nice touch.

And look for a nationally-honored workshop coming to Truman soon. It's about helping parents connect with their sons and daughters about sex. It should be worth attending. Just touch base with Mary Logan at the high school for more information -- a complete story is also elsewhere on this blog thread and will likely be published in The News-Herald Newspapers in future editions.

Whatever you do, keeping coming back. This blog bus will have more good news and information on the Taylor School District in coming days ... if not hours!

By Karl Ziomek