12/09/06 Cruise Continued ~ Pirating Bananas DIS Geekorama Part 2 Part 8

[Jhalkias]

I have never eaten at a Red Lobster in my entire life. I can't stand seafood. Tuna is about the extent of what I'll eat.

I don't even like Tuna Dody. No seafood for me, and I also have never been to dead lobster.

Funny too, because we vacation at the ocean every summer, and I am the weird guy at the seafood restaurant ordering chicken.

John1

 

[MrsMork]

Yes, DD is going over the edge...or driving me there. I know that whatever is happening in the classroom is affecting her but calling DH & I idiots and telling us to shutup when we tell her to do something is totally unacceptable. She missed soccer practice last night & went into time out tonight.

Probably behavior she has seen "tolerated" at school. Or at least in her eyes it is being tolerated, not knowing what is going on behind the scenes.

 

[lbgraves]

 

[lbgraves]

 

[Jhalkias]

That is because Utah is firmly planted in the Republican column. They don't need to spend a dime out there to win so they don't. You should try to live in a swing state! We can't escape the ads....

Tell me about it! From the great state of Ohio . . .

And we have a NASTY governors race, with the Republicans spending money like water, on a guy that Bob Woodward said Bush called a "Nut".

He is an ultra-conservative African American Republican who is secretary of state, and wants to sell the turnpike to pay for education!

We are in full swing of "silly season" here in Ohio.

There are as many signs in yards as leaves these days (I can't comment on them though , because I had to do them too for school board)

John1

 

[Jhalkias]

We bought our Boys theres for the June Cruise ...Looks like they can use them again for the Dec cruise ....On formal the only way to go is TUX

Is it time to make that disappearing family comment again?

(great photo Todd - of ALL of you)

John1

 

[MrsMork]

Caught up! I'm still grumpy from work yesterday, (and the saga continuing today) but the good news is the incident is now in the Chief of Staff office and I hope they are going to do the right thing. And I only cried about it 5 times today!! There is supposed to be a meeting with many mucky mucks and I told them today that I would come in tomorrow (my day off) because I feel so passionate that our institution did absolutely the wrong thing to one of our veterans and we need to make it right. I told them I need one hour notice to get there. I want to be heard by Senior Managers on this one. Hope I can share my feeling without the tears at this meeting. However, our Director of Coordinated Care told me she completely understands and it's ok to cry when I am talking with them.

 

[lbgraves]

I am just going to stay out of this whole discussion, because I don't want to be banned from this site.

I will only say that I strongly believe that "teaching" is still happening in the schools today.

Working in the school I have seen where teachers are under so much pressure to teach for the EOG tests that they have had to cut out some of their former curriculum. They don't like it but it is what they have to do to help more kids pass the tests.

 

[MrsMork]

Ok, I'm off to see if I can scare up a glass of wine. See you all tomorrow morning!

 

[Jhalkias]

Warning - irate mom logged in...with wine in hand!

I wish I could share the weeks of details...but basically, my son's 3rd grade teacher is just not a good teacher. Straight A students, like my son, are now getting Fs....she doesn't finish a chapter and gives them tests..she says a test is on one day and moves the test without telling students or parents. This week, she schedule a test on Wed. She "ran out of time" and didn't get to it so it was supposed to be rescheduled for tomorrow. There were already 2 other tests scheduled for tomorrow. That makes 3 tests on one night for a 3rd grader.

My DS hands me his backpack and heads to football practice and their team pizza party. I open the backpack and there isn't a single book inside. !!!!! INSERT STEAM RISING OFF MOM'S HEAD SMILIE!!!! I'm irate. I'm ready to drag him out of that pizza party that he earned and drag him home to give him a speech about responsibility and the importance of studying...so he can get a good job and read the Dis boards all day (yes, I can still joke!). I speak to a friend who was at the school...got a janitor to open the classroom...she got my DS's books..so...okay..now we have to study...but I'm still so disappointed in my son.

THEN...and this is why the wine was opened I get 2 calls from 2 other irate parents...who tell me that of the 3 tests that were scheduled...their kids are telling them there will be NO TESTS tomorrow. Huh?!!! I mean - okay, nice. But what kind of a teacher is this???? Thank God for other parents! Here I was about to chew into my little innocent child b/c I have no idea there were no tests. I am so grateful that these parents called me.

.....just to add...for the last month and a half....8 families have had meetings with the teacher...me included. My meeting was with the teacher and the principal who is now observing in the classroom b/c there have been so many complaints.

....AND .... this is a teacher who supposedly has 18 years of experience but has only been at our school for 1 year and last year she taught 6th grade but there were so many complaints, they moved her to 3rd grade.




okay...sipping wine....sipping....sippping

Thanks for letting me rant. I knew I could come to you guys.
Have I told you guys lately how glad I am that you're here?!!

And yes, no doubt about it, there are some AWFUL teachers and administrators. We have our share too - nothing is perfect - hope you can get it worked out Karen!

John1

 

[lbgraves]

This is an example of what I was talking about earlier . . .

There is so much that can be going on that the average parent is unaware of - and it is getting to the point that a five year old knows their "rights". Teachers and administrators can be trapped in the middle - with parents of the other kids demanding action that maybe they legally can't take, and legally cannot discuss.

That doesn't mean that anyone should tolerate things happening in school that are contrary to school policy - quite the contrary. But some people tend to jump so quickly. My neighbor had a bussing issue - I am the school board president - did he call me? NO. He chose to write a letter to the editor instead. So I paid him a visit, talked to him, contacted our administration, and found a reasonable and fair solution. No need for a letter to the editor - and one that threatened to vote against our levy.

Our schools can only become better if we all contribute to solving problems and working together (not saying any of the comments on these issues meant you did not do that). All too often I see parents focus just on THEIR issue, and not see or get the big picture.

Public education seems to be under attack in America, and that is sad. At the same time, public education is somehow expected to raise the children as well as educate them - that is not their job.

I also get chagrined when I hear people say they will take their children elsewhere. We can all see the effects (especially in the urban centers) when good families leave the schools, and leave the kids who don't have the option behind.

Too often when they talk about "no child left behind" it is not the school that left them behind - but rather the community. We are blessed in our community - while not perfect, we have a great diversity of economics, racial, ethnicity, and religions. We have the wealthiest kids, the poorest kids, and all in-between. Believe it or not, the poor kids, and other kids that need help are raised up by the other kids from good families - they have good examples to look up to, and pattern.

I guess the bottom line of what I am trying to say is work together! Don't just get angry and react - work together as a partner to solve the problem. Be a part of the solution. If no one wants to solve the problem, then take the measures you feel you have to.

Our society needs less division and more cohesion if our children are going to grow up in a world where they can understand each other and solve problems.

Sorry for the book. I am rather passionate about public education - I feel it is one of the shining aspects of our society - allowing the poorest and humblest child the same opportunity as others. We can't lose that!

Hope you understand that I agree with you guys that bad situations deserve immediate attention - in fact we have a zero tolerance policy on weapons and threats in our schools - a child would be immediately suspended for bringing a knife to school - an unloaded gun - would be immediate expulsion.

Like Dody said, you have to wonder what it is like at home for these kids, and what they must be exposed to every day.

John1

John, I think that it is obvious even without observing this child in action that he needs someone to help him whether it is a therapist or doctor. Along with the fact that the other children are not being helped with him remaining in the classroom he is currently in, he needs additional help that is not available in that setting. Getting him evaluated or tested would let them decide how he can be helped. He deserves the chance to get an education however, he may require a different learning environment with less chance for distraction and one on one interaction. My neice has ADHD and is bipolar. She spent 1-3 grade in a special class with an IEP. In 2nd grade she was expelled for attacking the teacher and after being sent home with tutors assigned to her, was sent to a special school for kids with those problems. She tried to go back to the school but it didn't work and was homeschooled for a year...which also didn't work. She went back to school this year but I do not know how she is doing.

I wasn't thinking about taking her out of the school due to this. If nothing was being done to determine what to do I would have requested that she be transferred to one of the other two first grade classrooms. Now with DS's case, DH & I are considering other schools. DH said that if he isn't learning anything at this school we need to find him a school that will teach him something. After the conference, I feel that he will be challenged more but we will have to evaluate the situation in another month.

BTW, he read a book last night that is a 6.9 and took an AR test on it today. He got 100%!!!! Before my talk with his teacher that I relayed to him, he wouldn't even look at a book at that level. His confidence skyrocketed!!!

 

[klineyqueen]

When I was at school this afternoon I asked a teacher who works in the same general area if she knew about this student. I asked if she thought that DD was safe in that classroom. She said that the teacher has it under control and is following all of the steps. She believes that it will not be long before he is out of the classroom. One more day is too long for me but at least she is confident that the kid is being taken care of.

That is good news. At least the proper steps are being taken.

 

[lbgraves]

I know this might not float with some people but it may be time to call in the counselor at school. they are most trained to deal with stuff like this. although if you were at my school, I would tell you not to bother with her. my DS had a very hard time with a girl in his class. our school district has a no bullying stance which most do. however this girl was the biggest bully I know of. she would hit DS and call him names and pester him all during the bus ride. I tried talking to the teacher, I tried talking to the principal, I even tried talking to the counselor. she did sit the two of them down and explain why the little girl should not be picking on my DS who had a good 15 pounds and four inches on her. it did not work. I finally told him he had a choice:1. we could switch classes so that he could avoid her, 2. we could switch schools to avoid her more, 3. he could take aggressive action and be kicked out of school, or 4. tell her that if she said one more thing or hit him one more time his mother was going to go to her house and talk to her mother. the incident occurred when DS was in 3rd grade. Our school was butterflying teachers at that time which meant DS would have the same teacher and same class in 3rd as he had in 4th. well he got his point across to her. she stepped back and decided it was not worth the trouble she would get in at home. we have requested each year that he not be put in the same class as her and the principal and teachers were able to do that for 5th & now 6th grade. I know my DS was older and more mature than your DD and that he had other ways to handle the irritation and anger he was having at school. hang in there. the school hopefully is working on this. also be sure to express your concern to other parents in the class. the more parents that talk with the teacher & administration the better.

I already have that on my to do list tomorrow morning when I stop by the school to pick up more paper for the banners. The counselor has been great with DS and did talk to DD last year too when the kids were upset about DH being gone.

 

[lbgraves]

Probably behavior she has seen "tolerated" at school. Or at least in her eyes it is being tolerated, not knowing what is going on behind the scenes.

That is why I am trying to give her the benefit of the doubt.

 

[klineyqueen]

OMG!!!! GA spoiler alert!!!!!!!









Was that check made out to Issy and was it for 8,700,000.00?!?!?!?!?!?!

Yes...yes...I do believe it was!!!!

 

[lbgraves]

Caught up! I'm still grumpy from work yesterday, (and the saga continuing today) but the good news is the incident is now in the Chief of Staff office and I hope they are going to do the right thing. And I only cried about it 5 times today!! There is supposed to be a meeting with many mucky mucks and I told them today that I would come in tomorrow (my day off) because I feel so passionate that our institution did absolutely the wrong thing to one of our veterans and we need to make it right. I told them I need one hour notice to get there. I want to be heard by Senior Managers on this one. Hope I can share my feeling without the tears at this meeting. However, our Director of Coordinated Care told me she completely understands and it's ok to cry when I am talking with them.

Angie, it sounds like crying will not hurt your case in this issue. Good luck standing up for what is right.

 

[lbgraves]

That is good news. At least the proper steps are being taken.

While it only makes me realize how bad the situation is that other teachers in that hall know about the problem, it does help to know that they are all working together to get something done. That has to be stressful to eveyone nearby if kids are running into the hallway in the middle of classtime or when another class is walking to or from class.

 

[klineyqueen]

DD is in first grade.

Sorry. For some reason I thought she was in K...no first.

 

[lbgraves]

Yes...yes...I do believe it was!!!!

 

[klineyqueen]

Speaking of which, look what I just read---

LOS ANGELES, October 12, 2006 - Eyewitness News has confirmed that Sara Evans a contestant from the ABC show 'Dancing With The Stars' will be leaving.

Evans has not explained her reasoning for leaving the show, but she will make an apperance on Tuesday's show to explain her departure. The show airs at 8pm on ABC7.

I wonder why she quit.

Interesting...very interesting. I guess we will see on Tuesday. They will probably hype it up and it will end up being something very undynamic...like a twisted knee or hurt foot...KWIM?