This is the WORST school district I've ever experienced.

Published on September 22, 2005 By dharmagrl In Misc

We're having yet another battle with the school.

My son and his classmates are supposed to get an hour for their lunch. However, they only get to spend part of that hour actually eating. A very small part of that hour.....like 10 or 15 minutes before the lunch ladies start hassling them to get out so the next class can come in. Quite often my son comes home hungry because he hasn't had the time to finish his boxed lunch that he brings from home. My friend K's boy is in the same class, and he's come home a couple of times shaking and feeling faint because he's been so hungry.

The past 2 days, both boys have come home with lunches that are untouched. Their teacher has been holding them back in their classroom for 5 - 10 minutes into their lunch hour. When they only get 15 mins to sit and eat, that 5 - 10 mins that they're held back is a significant chunk of time.

So, my husband called the school yesterday afternoon and requested to talk to the teacher. She called back this morning, and after he had voiced his concern she proceeded to talk over him, saying that she has procedures to follow and blah blah blah. He got somewhat stroppy with her and told her that if it happened again he was going to take it up with the school superintendent and then the school district.

She didn't even seem to care that the kids aren't getting adequate time to eat at lunch. The only thing she seemed to give a rat's behind about was her 'procedure'.

If us parents consistently denied our kids the opportunity to eat lunch, the school would call CPS on us. Guaranteed. So why is it okay for them to not give our kids enough time to eat? We're constantly told by the school (via flyers and newspaper articles) how important it is for our kids to get adequate nutrition, how they need to eat breakfast before school and a healthy lunch. Us parents are even asked to provide a healthy snack for the kids to have in their classrooms....yet they don't seem to care that kids are going without lunch because their teachers are holding them back in their classrooms.

This has to be the WORST school district I have ever experienced. If there was another school within a reasonable distance, I'd seriously consider enrolling my kids there. Even homeschooling is looking like an attractive prospect...and I NEVER thought I'd ever say that.

Seems to me that the school is more worried about statistics, numbers and schedules than they are about the kids. That's disgraceful.

Comments (Page 3)

dharmagrl

on Sep 26, 2005

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, it wasn't just about that. It wasn't that simple. I would quote you but it seems that you've hidden or deleted the articles. I recall you writing about a kid that was in your class, and the way you treated him seemed to me (and to others too) nothing better than bullying. If you'd have been MY child's teacher and I'd caught wind of the way you were treating the kids...well, I'd have filed a complaint and then asked for my child to be transferred.

You DID look down your nose at people with disabilities. You wondered aloud how we all managed to sit at computers all day, typing posts for JU, but none of us could work. When we tried to explain to you how being disabled makes a person unreliable, you belittled our injuries and conditions by telling us how ill YOU are, but that you still managed to hold down a job.

I'm not going to let you come here and act like you're the wronged one, like we're all against you for no good reason at all. You dug this hole you're in, and you've done little to nothing to help yourself out. Yeah, you're a teacher, but to hear you talk anyone would think that you have the absolute hardest job in the entire world and that you get paid pennies per hour. I know that you know more than most people about the way school districts work, but you seem to think that the rest of us are uneducated plebs. WE can't tell YOU anything about anything, and I think I speak for a lot of people here at JU when I say that we find that most disagreeable.

I'm tired of fighting with you, Ryan. I'm sure you're a very nice person behind the arrogance...but you're not giving anyone a chance to see that for themselves. Some of us DO know more about things than you do, if you'd just drop the pompous self-righteousness I'm sure that you'd do well with most of the people here.

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."

Good lord.....I'm awed. Marcie......the cracks are starting to show, girl. Get thee to a doctor, and fast.

Ziggystyles

on Sep 26, 2005

I would quote you but it seems that you've hidden or deleted the articles. I recall you writing about a kid that was in your class, and the way you treated him seemed to me (and to others too) nothing better than bullying. If you'd have been MY child's teacher and I'd caught wind of the way you were treating the kids...well, I'd have filed a complaint and then asked for my child to be transferred.

Dharma...its there...I havent looked for it...but I havent deleted it. Maybe it was a reply of mine that got built up upon.

Either way, I was talking about how I took care of a situation where a student broke something of of mine and would not fess up to it. It seems that the general consensus on here is that I should have confronted him, allowing him to 'get caught' by me, instead of what I did which was make him be accountable for his actions. I held the class inside our room and did not allow restroom passes (although I did), and I became more stern with the students than normal. I did this for a couple of reasons. 1) I talked to the class and told them how I expected them to be grown up enough to be responsible for their actions. 2), I wanted this student to realize that he was not getting out of this situation until he told me what he did. After a short time, the student who broke it, came up and talked to me. We shook hands and the situation was resolved.

Now, there was no abuse. If there was, I wouldnt be working as a teacher. If the parents had a problem with it, I sure would have heard about it. Not a peep. "yeah but your students were probably emotionally scarred and scared of you" No. Im one of the most easygoing people out there and my students can tell from me and the energy I have.

The students werent in the classroom any longer than normal. We covered the same subjects we normally did and learned the same amount. It was just quieter. Filing a complaint would get you short of nowhere because nothing happened. All in all, I held someone accountable for their actions. As far as transferring, yeah...nope. You would need a good reason and everything I did was something that was fully....not a big issue. And you would need the permission of the administration and mine as well.

I DID NOT look down at people with disabilities.

You dug this hole you're in, and you've done little to nothing to help yourself out.

Does this count the countless times Ive tried to clarify myself on my own blog only to get shot down further? Ive tried God knows how many times to explain my feelings on those who are disabled, but to no avail. No matter what I say, for however long I say it...people always point to my remarks and say '''''oooooh but lookie here, you said that, so that MEANS you are a SATANISTIC PIG, IGNORANT, DISABLED PEOPLE HATER!"

Yeah, you're a teacher, but to hear you talk anyone would think that you have the absolute hardest job in the entire world and that you get paid pennies per hour.

Dharma, I never said I was the richest. I never said I was the poorest. I have said however that we dont get paid quite what you seem to think we do. I have thoroughly explained this.

I know that you know more than most people about the way school districts work, but you seem to think that the rest of us are uneducated plebs.

Also, never said that either. The issue is when people who have little time in a district (oh, but Ive been in little Jimmys room as a helper....oh but I have children, in schools...so I know alot!) and dont know the vast inner workings of it as well as the teachers do...then I have to dig my heels in and set the record straight. Its like listening to Rush Limbaugh. All the blame is on the Democrats, the liberals...not ONE single thing can be the fault of the republican party. Im the guy on this side of the fence saying "oh for petes sake, people actually believe this line of crap?" There was a guy on here who argued with me left and right, saying that NCLB helped his Sped child out. He wouldnt listen. The plain and simple fact is that NCLB is not for special education students. Only recently has it been revised slightly to help accomodate some special ed issues. NCLB is not a sped law, such as ADA or
IDEA that provide funding and assistance for sped. But still...he didnt care...he still said NCLB helped him out. The fact is, no matter how you look at it, NCLB did not help his child. The same thing happens here, people think one thing about education....which often times can be false. Since I tend to know alot about education, I simply feel the need to set things right.

Ziggystyles

on Sep 26, 2005

LW, why dont you post the link as well to my original article so yes, that people can judge for themselves. I am writing a blog entry as well, but that most likely will get me nowhere.

I was going to write a reply to Dharma about the disability issue, but I decided not to. That and I knew you were going to use that quote you just used as it is one that you use quite often against me.

Texas Wahine

on Sep 26, 2005

How about this?

I don't think anyone without children of their own should be allowed to teach.

It doesn't matter how much formal education they get or what experience they have babysitting, doing student teaching, substitute teaching, or managing their own classroom.

There is NO WAY that you can possibly know enough about the nature of children, how to motivate them, what their fears are, what their emotional needs are, how to engage them, how to comfort them, how to provide for them logistically, how to nurture them, how to instruct them, or how to discipline them without having one of your own.

You can't love a child the way a parent does unless you understand it from experience. You can't show interest in a child's life, abilities, weaknesses, goals, and fears without first having attempted to guide one of your own.

You simply cannot understand the mind of a child unless you have actually experienced what it's like to try to raise one.

You CAN'T know how to teach a child unless you have one of your OWN. You will never reach the level of knowledge about children that dharma has, no matter how many years you spend in the classroom.

She has you trumped. Period.

Ziggystyles

on Sep 27, 2005

There is NO WAY that you can possibly know enough about the nature of children, how to motivate them, what their fears are, what their emotional needs are, how to engage them, how to comfort them, how to provide for them logistically, how to nurture them, how to instruct them, or how to discipline them without having one of your own.

I never said a parent knows less than a teacher. A teacher without kids doesnt know as much as a parent, that is true. It is also true that a parent doesnt know as much as a teacher that works with kids day in and day out for years and years. There is a great amount of information that can ONLY be gained in each setting. A parent knows alot about their childs abilities and everything at home. A teacher knows alot about that same childs abilities in school as well, and they also learn alot more through testing, peer interactions...etc.

No, im not saying im the ALMIGHTY. But as teachers, we can often see stuff parents dont. I picked out a kid last year who had a vision problem their parents didnt see. I picked out another kid who had a rare mental condition. I picked out kids with allergies, kids with asthma.

Parents spend time with their one, two or three children and yes, they do learn alot. There is nothing that replaces it.

On the other hand, there is also nothing that replaces babysitting, doing student teaching, substitute teaching, managing a classroom...working year after year with 20-30 different kids.

There is the knowlege of being a parent, and there is the knowlege of being a teacher. Neither is better than the other, neither can be switched for the other. Until I become a parent, Dharma will surely have a higher level of knowledge about children...at home. Until she becomes a fully qualified, trained, licensed, contracted educator, with years of experience in a classroom setting, she will never reach the level of knowledge we have as teachers.

She has me trumped...when it comes to being a parent. I have her trumped when it comes to being a teacher.

Texas Wahine

on Sep 27, 2005

Ziggy: I was being facetious. What I said to YOU in that post is what you've said to PARENTS in yours.

Tova7

on Sep 27, 2005

How about this?

I don't think anyone without children of their own should be allowed to teach.

That is it on the nose! Have some points!

Ziggystyles

on Sep 27, 2005

TW,
Then, I apologize. I read it differently.

Whip,
As far as I can remember, I have never made any comment about disabled people, prior to my book on foot comment. After I made that remark, you got all riled up. Youd take what Id say, accuse me of being against those who are disabled. Id clarify, and youd go off even more.

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

Im not going to drop it until you come to the realization that all these accusations you are making against me about hating my own students, being abusive, and what you THINK my attitude about disabled people is, are completely wrong. The plain and simple fact lil whip is that the things that you say about me are just totally false and until that point comes where we reach an agreement on that, I will not stop. I simply will not allow you to continue your own little tirade and let my side, the actual truth, go unvoiced. Although, I did let you continue once (out of force)...mainly because you started your own blog post on the disabled ,using all of my quotations to make a flame blog and then blacklisted Marcie and myself after a while from making comments so I could have my side of the story defended and voiced.

dharmagrl

on Sep 27, 2005

Quit acting like I went off the deep end over a single remark you made

That's the crux of the matter right there. it's NOT about a single comment you made, it's about NUMEROUS comments you made, and are still making.

Yeah, you are. You are here, anyway. Here's the way it's going to work: you post any more comments about how we're all wrong and you're right and I'll delete them and blacklist you. You can go posture and flex on your own blog, I don't want any more of it here. This was an article about children being treated poorly and somewhat unfairly by the local school district, this isn't a 'Ziggy Knows Best' thread.

We are only going on what you tell us, Ziggy. YOU made the statements (and you made them repeatedly), NOT us. We're not putting words in your mouth.

Mr_Frog

on Sep 27, 2005

Of course, you will have to "kiss" my "shiny white ass" if you want me to look

Shiny?

-- B

Chaos Manager

on Sep 27, 2005

She has me trumped...when it comes to being a parent. I have her trumped when it comes to being a teacher.

You know something? It's arrogant, know-it-all bigots (see below for the definition used here) that made my decision to homeschool a lot easier.

I've seen bigots like you over the last 25 years. From the time I entered elementary school, I was in classrooms that had bigots like you for teachers. I've volunteered in classrooms (and in administration offices) with bigots like you. My mother has been a professional educator for years. Dealing with her coworkers (some who were very professional), I ran into a bunch of people who were bigots, like you. Working as a substitute teacher for the local school system (one year), I ran into bigots like you on a regular basis.

Can you tell me, an experienced educator, that I have know idea of the politics going on inside a school? Forsooth and forshame. You're parroting the NEA line.

If your arrogance and bigotry here is anything close to what you display in a classroom environment (to the students or parents), it's a wonder that the kids can tolerate you, at all.

Just because a person currently works as a professional educator, doesn't mean that they know more than others. I've seen too many "professional" educators that are completely clueless about how things work in the school system, and too many "outsiders" (read: parents) that actually understand what's going on very well.

big·ot
n.
One who is strongly partial to one's own group, religion, race, or politics and is intolerant of those who differ.

dharmagrl

on Sep 27, 2005

It's arrogant, know-it-all bigots (see below for the definition used here) that made my decision to homeschool a lot easier.

*stands up, cheering and clapping* YES!!!!!! Preach it!!!!

If your arrogance and bigotry here is anything close to what you display in a classroom environment (to the students or parents), it's a wonder that the kids can tolerate you, at all.

If he were my child's teacher, I'd have pulled my kid out of his class. As a matter of fact, it's a teacher who has much the same philosophy as him that's my main issue with the school disctrict right now. She thinks that I don't know anything either.....

Gideon MacLeish

on Sep 27, 2005

She has me trumped...when it comes to being a parent. I have her trumped when it comes to being a teacher.

You don't have ME trumped in EITHER, ziggy...just for the record.

And, frankly, I'd venture to say Tex knows more than a little about the teaching profession...so I'd take her word for a lot of it over yours, frankly.

As for dharma, I can't speak for her credentials, but she's pretty much been right on on these discussions.

Sorry, but there are a whole LOT of people out there with WAY more experience than the two of you COMBINED...in both teaching AND parenting. A little humility really wouldn't hurt you, ziggy.

dharmagrl

on Sep 27, 2005

And, frankly, I'd venture to say Tex knows more than a little about the teaching profession...so I'd take her word for a lot of it over yours, frankly.

Yeah, Tex has some qualifications that she DOESN'T feel the need to rub people's faces in.

As for dharma, I can't speak for her credentials, but she's pretty much been right on on these discussions.

I'm not a certified teacher, but that doesn't mean that I'm green and naive when it comes to the workings of school districts. It also doesn't mean that I'm a novice when it comes to dealing with groups of children together, kids that are NOT mine.

A little humility really wouldn't hurt you, ziggy.

I think that Ziggy has some huge isues with inadequacy. That's why he feels the need to play the big "I AM" all the time.

Ziggystyles

on Sep 27, 2005

**Dharma, please note that for some reason...my last few lines at the bottom seem, to me on my side, to be caps. I dont know why that is...didnt do a caps lock or font change on my side. **

That's the crux of the matter right there. it's NOT about a single comment you made, it's about NUMEROUS comments you made, and are still making.

Then if this is the case as you claim...how come my numerous attempts to clarify myself and set the record straight havent done jack? Its started from one single comment, go back and read it...it snowballed from there. If you can prove that I said one thing about disabled people before my book comment, then prove me wrong. If you can prove that the whole disabled comment did not start from that comment and LW, then also...prove me wrong.

Just because a person currently works as a professional educator, doesn't mean that they know more than others. I've seen too many "professional" educators that are completely clueless about how things work in the school system, and too many "outsiders" (read: parents) that actually understand what's going on very well.

Chaos...I once again, never said I know it all. Im certainly not trying to be on a pedastal. The only time I get defensive about education is when people blatently starting tell me how the school system works when they arent even involved in it. Involved meaning, working inside of it...not volunteering or helping out. Simply put, as a teacher...I know more about education than a parent does. A parent knows more than I do about many various things. I never said Im a better parent than a childs parent. But when people come on here and start saying totally false statements...then I give my side of the story from a educators perspective.

Time after time, when I comment on how I do something, I get torn apart. Id love to see these people try to manage a class for one day in a school setting. Right now, im subbing in the local high school. What is your classroom managment plan when kids come to class late, and dont care? What would you do hen a student comes up to you and says "FUCK YOU" and walks out. What would you do if a student told you they cheated, copied off someone elses homework and simply didnt care because 'Im going to flunk anyways?'

"Well easy, Id make them get a tardy slip, Id ask them to apologize...Id give them a zero and give them a pep talk about how school is so important." Yeah right. The problem is Im being told by backseat teachers how to do my job. BUT, when I as a teacher offer anything of importance from my side of the fence...I get shot down from people who are not teachers. I have umpteen people telling me how I should do my job or this or that...these same people who have no idea what its like in a classroom outside of volunteering; or substitute teachers whose only job it is (most of the time), is to go in, teach, or do what the teacher wants, and leave...with no responsibilities outside of that.

If I was a fraction as bad of a teacher as some of you claim, then I would certainly had parents like you who would make sure Im no longer teaching. I get evaluated multiple times a year to make sure Im doing a job...by people whos job it is to find my mistakes and point them out. There is a reason Im probationary...because if I didnt fix my issues, they could let me go...which occurs more often than youd think.

Sorry, but there are a whole LOT of people out there with WAY more experience than the two of you COMBINED...in both teaching AND parenting. A little humility really wouldn't hurt you, ziggy.

I know that. I once again, never said I know everything. I just know more about education than many parents out there that think they have the system figured out. I know as well that Im a brand new teacher and I have a lot to learn...but I simply draw the line when people say things that are false about schools. My mother has been teaching for 39 years. She is one of the most tenured people in her district; she is high up there in her standing with the union, fighting for the rights of the teachers. I hear the good AND ugly of the school system...some of which you wouldnt even believe. I have made it a point to learn from my mother and from my previous teachers to be the best teacher I can be; and on here...my comments, not actual obvservations of my classroom...have garnered me insult after insult of my ability to teach. If I knew anyone of you were in my area, Id in a heartbeat, invite you to come into my classroom. But then that would mean that youd actually see how I run my room, how I treat my kids, and what kind of person I am...but that invitation standing...I dont feel Id get one taker.

Yeah, Tex has some qualifications that she DOESN'T feel the need to rub people's faces in.

I dont rub it in either. I just talk about how I am qualified and use the knowledge, education...etc that I have to make my point. That eduation I have, doesnt replace being a parent. But, on the same hand, being a parent and raising kids, does not make you more able, capable, qualified to be a teacher. Many teachers out there are NOT qualified to teach...only teaching on a voucher.

I think that Ziggy has some huge isues with inadequacy
Nope. Im Italian.

Anyone else who wants to see the issue discussed can visit the link I posted and decide for themselves.

Well yeah...if I ripped into people big time, started my own blog entry and blacklisted that person from posting...Id want people to see my one sided entry that only allowed my voice to be heard as well, compared to the actual full schpeal.

Don't forget, either, that you are on DHARMA's blog right now--and if she wants you to stop, then stop you will. At least here.
Then that would be, not your choice then, wouldnt it. As far as I know...Marcie and I are the only vocal teachers on JU. We give our stories, our sides and opinions. Thats all Im doing. You Blacklisted us, Karma (the "Admin") blacklisted us as well. If Dharma wants to stop me from replying and making my side of the profession heard, then so be it.

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