This is not Disney related, but I feel the need to brag a bit on Miss B. It is the type of thing that makes me glad to be a mom!
Miss B is in the 6th grade in the first year of that dreaded thing called Middle School. Add to that the fact that she attends the worst school in the county. She has the pleasure to be in a school that has the 7th worst reputation in the whole state of Georgia! It has more drugs and violence than many small towns!
Oh wow!
She is also in her first year of band and plays the flute.
YAY!
The week before Thanksgiving, her band director had to be out for a family emergency. She gave the kids assignments for the days she would be out and let them know that if they misbehaved they would not be allowed to march in the Christmas parade on Dec 1. This was to be their first parade. To say they were excited is an understatement!
According to Miss B, there was quite a bit of trouble the first day. It was almost the whole class full of disrespectful children who think they are better than anyone else...typical of middle schoolers. When the band director came back she informed them they would not be marching!
While I was upset that she wouldn't be marching I was happy that the school followed through on the threat. That is very rare at that school.
I don't think I've ever seen a school follow through with a threat.
So glad to hear yours did!!!!
There is rarely any consequence for the wrong doers. In essence, the kids run the school.
Yep.
Evidently, parents were not happy. Many complained loudly! Today we got a letter informing us that to those students whose parents complained, they get to march. They don't get to play, but they get to dress in uniform and march.
I am appalled! Is there any wonder the school is in as bad a shape as it is? It should be very simple...you misbehave you get punished.
Wow... that's ... You know, I'd complain about that! I'm not much for complaining to the source (sure I complain to friends/family, but rarely to the source) ... but I think I would stand up and complain about it.
To those parents who complained, the school should have sent home a detailed letter stating the "threat" given ahead of time, all the students should be able to understand "misbehaving = NO parade", and then detail what some students did wrong (and what some did right) and left it at that.
If they're being allowed to march, what is their new punishment going to be?
Inappropriate behaviour should ALWAYS be punished for. Especially in a school system. No wonder there is so much violence and other negative things about the school. The adults there LET the kids and parents do whatever they please. There's no boundaries. UGH! This just makes me angry.
Now, for the bragging part.
My daughter informed me she was not a part of the problem that day, but she understood that the ones that were cost the whole class the ability to march. In the letter I got from the band director, not only was my daughter not involved in the problem, she tried to get the rest of the kids to stop. She had the strength of character to stand up for what she knew was right.
GOOD FOR HER!!!!!!!
I'm so proud of her for using her voice and doing what was RIGHT! She'll be a wonderful role model for others!
As a parent, one of my biggest fears is that my child will go with the masses just because it is easier. For her attempt at restoring order, she was invited to march. with the rest of the band. While I appreciate the gesture, she will not be marching.
GOOD FOR YOU!
She seems like she has an amazing head, and she will NOT follow the masses. She'll "march" to her own beat and do what is right and best. She'll make some mistakes, but she'll have good intentions at what she's doing. You have an amazing girl on your hands!
I sent an email to the band director informing her of my decision...and I got a thank you email from her for her support.
Love my kids!
Nini
Good! But what are they doing to address the troublemakers?
Nini that is wonderful.
I hate when parents complain and the schools give in. It is part of the problem in this country.
I agree! Last year, I had some issues with my DD's teacher. I felt that some of the troublemakers were rewarded (they had parties to reward the good kids every 6 weeks) because of who their parents were. My DD, while not perfect, was a good kid. She never got in trouble, I never had to be called down to discuss her behaviour, and she got along well with ALL the kids. However, one little girl, who got into several fights, got to go to each party. Why? I'm guessing because her mom is a teacher at the school. The kid was fighting!! My DD would never do such a thing at school. She was never invited.
I asked the teacher once why my DD was overlooked, and he said it was because she talks when she isn't supposed to. I didn't argue with him ... because I was in his class as a volunteer almost daily, and I never saw her talk out of place. While he was constantly on some of the other "good" kids about being quiet. I was livid, and I let her know that I felt she deserved to be at the parties, but we'd reward her at home in other ways instead (and we did).
Not once did I complain and ruin it for everyone else. That's just a dumb thing to do. I feel like I had a valid complaint ... not like the troublemakers. But I didn't push the envelope, because I'm not there 100% of the time, and I can't say she hasn't gotten into any trouble. Sure, I sort of felt like I had "the teacher is out to get my DD" syndrome ... but complaining could have ruined it for everyone, and it could have made issues between DD's teacher and herself.
I'll stick to complaining about the important issues ... like the bullying. Yep. I'll complain about that until I'm blue in the face and the schools get their acts together and resolve it better.