Well, if you do decide to homeschool your children, dharma, I'd be glad to help in any way I could and offer support and encouragement...we've got a LOT of experience in that department.

If I were in your situation, I would forget talking to the teachers, principle, or anyone at the school.  Raise holy hell at a school board meeting.  The schools get funding for those hot lunches and and "lunch Ladies" from the state.  If they continue on their path- write to your State over the misuse of fund and abuse that the children are receiving.

My school is 100% different.  The kids can't leave the table until they have finished 75% of the lunch that is in front of them.  I talked to my daughter's teacher about my daughter's eating habits.  She is a grazer, which her Dr. doesn't want changed since diabetes runs wild in my family.  So, I pack her a lunch and two snacks.  Her teacher now allows other children to also bring in two snack.  They are allowed to eat one an hour after school starts and one an hour before school ends.  That way, they get to eat something if they didn't get a good breakfast, then eat lunch, then eat a snack so they aren't starving on the way home.  We (the parents) donate approved snacks to have on hand for the kids who are not able to bring in their own or who do not have the money. 

I have to admit, I'm not a huge fan of home schooling, but if I were you, I'd seriously keep it open as an option.  What kind of education can they get when they are faint from hunger?  Man....sounds like your kids go to school in Russia or something.  It's just wrong.

What kind of education can they get when they are faint from hunger? Man....sounds like your kids go to school in Russia or something. It's just wrong.

That was my take on it too.

My son just got home from school, and informed us that his teacher said "it's not necessary for your parents to call. If you're late for lunch, you're late for lunch, it's not my fault, and that's just the way it is".

I do hope she realizes that her comments now mean war.

You're right about "procedure." Im sure "certain" teachers who blog on JU would insist that little kids need to learn how to shut up and chow down, and that if they weren't goofing off, 15 minutes is more than enough time to eat lunch.

Can you just lay off and leave the crap on the intended blog? I don't give a shit if you don't like Ryan and I, that's your jazz, but this isn't the place for digs, Miss Maturity.

Reply By: Gideon MacLeish Well, if you do decide to homeschool your children, dharma, I'd be glad to help in any way I could and offer support and encouragement...we've got a LOT of experience in that department.

I'll second this one. Any questions, just feel free to holler! If I don't know, I can sure find out (member of one support group and run another).

Just remember one thing: it's not for everyone and it is a big commitment. Although, based on your reaction here, I don't think the commitment level would be a problem.

Don't you love how at the beginning of the year, they are all for "parental involvement" until it means you actually advocate for your children then they want you to go away in a hurry.

I had an issue with my son's principal at a former school. He is severely allergic to peanuts as in he could die if he is exposed to them. He was in a modular classroom and I wanted them to keep the epipen in the classroom like his former school (in the same school district) did. The principal insisted it be kept locked in the front office in a separate building which took minutes to get to. The thing is you don't always have minutes if you go into anaphalactic shock. Not to mention what if the person with the key isn't there. I told them he wasn't going to school unless he could have it in his classroom. All they care about is receiving the funding for their attendance. They really don't care if they are there and learning. So I called the superintendant and threw a fit and suddenly it was okay for it to be in the classroom but she decided to punish my son my making him eat alone in the classroom (to protect him from his severe allergy). I called my son's allergist and he wrote the most wonderful letter and then all of sudden everything was taken care of. An impartial third party opinion is somehow taken much more seriously than parent concerns. I mean what do parents know?

My point is to hang in there. Your job as a parent is to advocate for your children to get proper nutrition and an education. This really isn't asking too much from the school. I would contact the superintendant, talk to your doctor, write a letter to the editor of the paper, speak to other parents.

It also burns me up when the teachers want to take it out on the kids. She had no business bringing that up in class. Do you think the teachers have to wolf down their meals in ten or fifteen minutes at this school? How about the principal? Don't you wish you could go in their break room and take their lunch from them after ten minutes. They would be horrified.

All they care about is receiving the funding for their attendance. They really don't care if they are there and learning. So I called the superintendant and threw a fit and suddenly it was okay for it to be in the classroom but she decided to punish my son my making him eat alone in the classroom (to protect him from his severe allergy).

For one, they dont care about attendance alone. If they did, they would hold out signs and everything, trying to enroll your child. The location of your residence determines where your kiddo is sent to school. The school gets x amount of money for each child. That helps determine staffing and a whole bunch of other stuff. I didnt care if a kid was added or dropped to my class. I didnt run and say 'oh no, i need that money.' Nobody at school makes a profit from your child attending there. I earn just as much with 18 kids as I do with 36. If your child comes, the school gets money. If your child leaves, they dont get that funding anymore for his attendance. When one student drops out or is added to a school of 500 kids, its like adding a drop of water in a bucket...doesnt do much for additional funding.
We dont hold more meetings and say "oh lookie here, we got one more student, what can we buy?"

Second, we do care if they arent there. My school had a policy that if my kindergarteners missed 20 days or more of school, I could make them repeat K. No, its not for more funding as you might claim. But, if a student misses that much school, a months worth...they didnt learn that 20 days worth of stuff that was taught and thats missing out on quite a bit of learning. That comment alone is ridiculous and stupid.

You called the superintendent who basically knew the law and straigtened the school out. If your child needs an epipen, they should keep it either in the nurses office (open at all times) or if you are in a seperate building, in your desk. Since you raised such a fit, the super probably chewed the school out who then got really tight ass and figured that since half of whatever is made today contains peanuts or possibly got close to them, they seperated your child. The school should have a seperate table in the cafeteria set aside for peanut allergies.

Do you think the teachers have to wolf down their meals in ten or fifteen minutes at this school?

Yes, I do. I had 15 minutes to eat lunch, the rest was my prep period.

I'll comment as I see fit, if you don't like that, ignore it or respond to it as you choose, but I'd appreciate it if you'd refrain from telling me where to comment or what to comment about.

 

As long as there's no name calling or threatening going on, you can say what you want to here.  

Marcie, I don't think that she's referring to you.  I think she was referrring to Ryan.  I know that when I've made comments about teachers recently I've had Ryan in mind, not you.  You I'd be happy to have as my kids teacher.  Your S.O. - not so much.

Don't you love how at the beginning of the year, they are all for "parental involvement" until it means you actually advocate for your children then they want you to go away in a hurry.

I know, and it aggrivates the crap out of me.  I don't really care who I piss off, I'm there for my kids and that's that. 

That comment alone is ridiculous and stupid.

See, there you go again with the 'I AM ALMIGHTY' attitude.  This is your only warning.....I won't tolerate such behaviour.  Just because you teach doesn't mean you know more about the school system than anyone else.  Locamama is partially right, a lot of what goes on IS because of funding.

 

I have to admit, I'm not a huge fan of home schooling, but if I were you, I'd seriously keep it open as an option. What kind of education can they get when they are faint from hunger? Man....sounds like your kids go to school in Russia or something. It's just wrong.

Actually the situation in Russia, at least as I remember it, is way better than what dharma and others described. I've studied in the 1st and 2nd grades in Russia, and I actually remember that we as kids were forced to eat hot breakfasts and lunches from the cafetiria, without any charge (we could buy extra if we wanted), and actually remember one girl that had to get a doctor's approval, before she was allowed not to eat the school's lunches.

Anyway, dharma, the situation you've described is ridiculous. I can't actually imagine a good reason why the kids are kicked out of the cafeteria after 15 minutes, if they have another 45 minutes they are supposed to spend eating. I hope that you can actually make something to change this ridicilous procedure.

She had not even responded here before I made a comment,

You did make a comment...it was:

Im sure "certain" teachers who blog on JU would insist that little kids need to learn how to shut up and chow down, and that if they weren't goofing off, 15 minutes is more than enough time to eat lunch.

You and he are FAR from being the only teachers blogging here on JU, and while it's no secret that I find Ryan to be utterly devoid of empathy for his fellow man, as well as one of the most consistently childish 'adults' I've ever seen express themselves here

Well I figured when I saw you say "Certain teachers" lil whip, you were talking about Marcie or I...she probably figured the same because, as the rest of JU knows about your responses on my blog.

Also...I dont think I act childish. Maybe moreso than others, but I can act serious when needed. I act like a kid around my students sometimes. As a teacher, I need to understand where they are coming from. I dont want to be that monotone teacher that bores and lectures the students to death. Instead, I want them to get involved with what they are learning and to make it enjoyable and memorable. When I talk to them...I get down on my knee(s) and listen...eye to eye. Id hate to have a teacher that didnt know how to have fun with the kids and actually make them laugh and enjoy school.

and while it's no secret that I find Ryan to be utterly devoid of empathy for his fellow man

I betcha this is coming still from the comment I made where I implied that some people who are disabled can actually be capable of working? You managed to twist my thoughts into "Ryan hates anyone who has anything worse than a broken finger!!!! He is the ANTI-CHRIST! Get your pitchforks....Ill go put on my Captain Flame in my @#@ suit and we can fire this sucker up!"

See, there you go again with the 'I AM ALMIGHTY' attitude. This is your only warning.....I won't tolerate such behaviour. Just because you teach doesn't mean you know more about the school system than anyone else. Locamama is partially right, a lot of what goes on IS because of funding.

Its like saying you know less about the military than I do Dharma. Just because your husband is in the military, that is a BIG part of your life and you know a butt load more about it than I do. Just the same...I work in the education field so I would know a bunch more than Locomama about school funding because my field is impacted and based on funding. Im not saying I know everything...but I know a whole lot more about school funding than her because I am in the education field and work as a teacher.

She said:

All they care about is receiving the funding for their attendance. They really don't care if they are there and learning.

She basically said, the only thing that matters to us is not learning, but funding. That is just plain false. No matter how you look at it, that is just plain false. Its like me telling you that your hubby is actually going to the Banana Republic on vacation with his buddies instead of going to the front lines. You know thats false because you know what he is actually doing...you are involved. I am involved in my field and I know many of the laws focused around education. To say that administrators and teachers care more about funding than the learning of your child is just as I said above.

I know that when I've made comments about teachers recently I've had Ryan in mind, not you. You I'd be happy to have as my kids teacher. Your S.O. - not so much.

Dharma, I wouldnt mind emailing you or whatever because Id like to set this straight. It seems my posts and comments on here have given you an impression of what I am NOT like as a teacher. I know those impressions are based on what I write...but Im not an evil teacher (despite what some people say) and Im not a teacher that, I feel, a parent wouldnt want their child to have. Im half tempted to post scans of my evaluations on here to help clear me out...but I can see that not working in my favor for some odd reason.

I wouldnt mind if you told me a few things of what you have an issue about with me so I can clarify myself. Although, I try to do that on here and that doesnt work out well either...hmm.

Sabrina!~

I'd appreciate if you'd keep your assumptions to yourself. I do NOT have a guilty conscious, NOR do I bully my students.

I don't have to be mature, I'm responsible for no one but myself

No. You don't. And you're not. You're the rudest kind of condescending there is.

If you don't like being held to a higher standard because of the nature of your work, I'd suggest you seriously rethink your career path. Have a nice weekend. Thank you, dharma. She had not even responded here before I made a comment, so why she swooped in with all that hostility is beyond me. I've tried to be helpful to the girl, even trying to talk her into staying in JU when she was threatening to leave. Oh well, like the saying goes, no good deed goes unpunished.

See...you're a passive-agressive martyr. You act like you've bent over backwards, emailed me, made me feel a little better, etc., etc. But no. The only way I could have been deemed "okay" by you is to have followed all of your advice and then sing praises to you because you helped me dig my way out of my deep, deep pit of depression. So now you act like Christ, holier than holy, with all this wrong done to you in all your righteousness, and I'm sorry darling, but that's just not the case.

You make all these assumptions about me--that I bully my children. That I absolutely loathe my great thinkers. That I shove my heel up their asses when they misbehave. I think you even think my high expectations for my students' academic and social performance is just too much.

But here's the reality of it Sabrina: The only things you know about me are what I write on my blog. You only see my outlet of frustration. And you take the frustration to mean so much more than it means. And that is wrong of you.

When I started out last year, I was REALLY wet behind the ears. I didn't know what to do with some of my kids. And you know what? I listened to JUers. I went to my literacy specialist, told her I was drowning, and asked for advice, and took hers. Why? Because she's taught for over 30 years and has her master's degree.

I appreciate all the comments and viewpoints I've gotten, but you don't know my class, don't know their needs, don't know my state and district standards. If I see something useful, I take it to the bank and use it. And I appreciate that.

But your martyrdom, your "poor me...I didn't do ANYTHING....I"m innocent" act isn't useful. Neither are snide comments about "some teachers" smattered about JU. Your condescension isn't useful either. And while you seem to think that *I* think the world and the JU world revolve around me, I argue that the reverse is true.

Because you know who you are? You're DABE in a way. Granted, you're a much better thinker and writer than she is (has she written anything original?), but the way you make assumptions about who people are and what they care about, and the way you carry those assumptions--that's very dabe-ish.

You're a smart woman, Sabrina. And I usually respect you, but not when you play this game.

Well I figured when I saw you say "Certain teachers" lil whip, you were talking about Marcie or I...she probably figured the same because, as the rest of JU knows about your responses on my blog.

Why don't you call it what it is....You assumed something. And "you" know what happens when you "assume" something.

If your child needs an epipen, they should keep it either in the nurses office (open at all times) or if you are in a seperate building, in your desk

And btw ziggy, this comment tells it all. If someone....child OR adult needs an epipen then it's considered "life threatening" and there is NO time to run to a nurses office. My wife is "highly" alergic to bee stings (which is quite common) and I've seen what can happen when she gets stung. According to the doctor, if she doesn't get the shot within 2-3 minutes you might as well forget it. Anything after that is too late. So unless you are a medical doctor (which you aren't, you're a teacher right?) maybe you should refrain from responding to questions like this unless you have first hand knowledge.

Just because your husband is in the military, that is a BIG part of your life and you know a butt load more about it than I do.

Yeah, and I also have... let me see.....7 years experience with the way school districts work. I've got three kids, all of whom attend public school. I've been on the PTA, I've volunteered in their classroom and in the school offices....so whiklst I'm not and educator and I don't know as much about it as you do, I do know more than most.

You assume that I know nothing, Ziggy. You assume that you know more than me, than every parent....and that's your downfall.

You deleted the thread, Marcie. Or is your memory going downhill along with your reading skills?

Yeah, but *I* still have access to it.  What you want to hear from it?  Of course, you will have to "kiss" my "shiny white ass" if you want me to look    Ah.....the way people dig their own pit of despair.  You won't see her responding to your articles.  My shiny white ass got irritated and confined her for awhile.  Shouldn't matter, though, since she already said "goodbye".

For those who don't know where my quotes come from, here is a quote from a response to me from her (on her now deleted article): "And because you're an admin I should kiss your shiny white ass? Screw that shit! I couldn't delete the article because half the time the "delete" option doesn't show up on your shitty ass site. So whatever. You've made assumptions about me UP THE ASS, and you lose credibility that way as well. So...assume all you want. I don't give a fuck." 

Why don't you call it what it is....You assumed something. And "you" know what happens when you "assume" something.

Doc,
I think everyone on JU seems to know about Lil whips utter hatred (despise, angst.. whatever you call it) against us. She manages to think to know what its like inside an elementary classroom and when we write our own views on it, and she doesnt like it...she gets in her flame suit and goes all out. My mention of how I managed my classroom during one issue was transformed into her blaming me of abusing my students. Another topic where I mentioned something sarcastically in a reply, managed to get her to call me everything in the book, saying Im against people who have disabilities. No matter what I do to try and clarify myself, that doesnt matter. She is off to set herself Blog Gog. If any damned bit of what she claims about me would actually be true, I can guarantee you that I wouldnt be allowed anywhere near a classroom OR the disabled kids that Ive been working with for the last 3 weeks.

And btw ziggy, this comment tells it all. If someone....child OR adult needs an epipen then it's considered "life threatening" and there is NO time to run to a nurses office.

I know that. I never said I didnt know that. I said that the epipen should be in the nurses office or in a desk if the classroom is in a portable. By saying that, I didnt say the epipens werent important. Most schools are set up like this as far as from a security standpoint and for the sake of confusion. Never said it was right. If the pen is in the classroom, it might get lost in the panic of what is going on. If a child is outside and get stung and has a severe reaction, the most likely will not be an epipen nearby. Then what would happen is that someone would try and run to the classroom, only to find it locked and they would be spending a considerable amount of time trying to look for the teacher, instead of having it readily avaialable in the nurses office at a moments call where someone can run it to the classroom. As a middle school or high school teacher, the teachers dont have their desks filled with epipens for each student and I highly doubt that the students carry it around with them waiting for an episode to happen. Some do, I think that many dont.

So unless you are a medical doctor (which you aren't, you're a teacher right?) maybe you should refrain from responding to questions like this unless you have first hand knowledge.

No, as you have pointed out...I am not a professional doctor. I am a professional educator. No, I dont have sever allergies. You dont need to have severe allgergies to understand the importance of getting help and aid damn fast. Im trained in what to do in case of situations like that. Im not a doctor, and you as well, are not a educator, so maybe you should refrain from talking like you know it all when it comes to the inner workings of a school.

You assume that you know more than me, than every parent....and that's your downfall.

Once again, never said I know it all. Im just telling you how it actually is. And when people like Locomama start saying we only care about funding, Im going to set it straight. You say you know more than most when it comes to schools. If that is true, and you still believe she is right...then something is messed up.

Schools do care about funding a great deal...but not more than education. Often, the funding they get is not what they need, so they do extra funding to help pay for other various things. Last year, our PTA for whatever reason they had, had the kids selling junk every month. Stuff from poor candies to clothes to student pictures, to class pictures, to computer games to coupon books...etc. Hardly anything of actual value. Finally, the principal said that next year, the school will be in charge of fundraising because the PTA was having the students sell unwanted and unpopular things and keeping the money to let it sit, instead of putting it to use. Its called Fundraising beacuse they need to raise the Funds. NCLB makes a huge impact in how we run the school, but we dont see one flipping dime as we are entitled to. So while schools might seem to care about funding, its because they do...but they NEVER care about it more than the students.