I have a good friend who lives up in Laurel/Hattiesburg area and her school is great. She can't believe the junk that goes on at my DD's school. So I am certain there are some great public schools in MS, however, I just don't have one near me!!!! As far as the "petty rules" I was personally referring to here is an example: We as parents could walk our child to their classrooms in the morning, which, was so nice because as a parent your are a little nervous your child's first year of school and for me personally it was peace of mind actually seeing her walk into her classroom. Ok that was great. However, during Christmas when I walked DD to her classroom I noticed a huge poster supporting her teacher's religious beliefs. Now, I am not talking just a poster saying something like God is great. No I am referring to a poster that one would find in a Sunday School Classroom. It had scriptures all OVER it. Don't get me wrong, I believe in God and we attend church, however, I do not send my DD to school to receive a religious education. Well, I went to the principle and asked her if teachers were supposed to have things like that up and she got such an attitude with me and said "fine, we'll take it down." Then she just walked off. Well, this was right before Christmas break and lo and behold when the kids returned to school after the break there was a nice little memo saying parents could no longer walk their children to their classrooms. I called the Superintendent and told him I took this personally and he said," Well, Mrs. ___________ , I am not going to say it was not personal. Mrs. __________ (the principle) explained to me you had a problem with the poster, etc., etc. blah, blah." Hhhhhmmmm, that is a petty little rule. So the fact is they don't want parents to walk their children to their classrooms in a PUBLIC school because they don't want us to see what they are really doing. Soooooo, how else can I take that? It was not a safety issue. It was just because I actually had the guts to say something and they couldn't take it. So in effect, they made their rules but they chose to break the rules of our on government who plainly makes it clear that public schools are to be neutral and no religius belief is to be promoted. This is because not everybody believes the same way and this way it makes ALL the children feel comfortable at a PUBLIC school that is being paid by our tax dollars. So this is just one of the horrible experiences I have personally endured at our school around here. So my point is, it is greedy to benefit from government funding when they are not willing to abide by the rules to receive that funding. It is greedy and dishonest. I know they can loose their federal funding if I took this high enough. All I am waiting for is one more instance where they break the law and believe you me ACLU will be more than happy to right this wrong!
Doesn't matter that he recieved the present from the school or that he was joking around. By your logic the student that pulled a fake gun on me should not have been punished. He was punished and should have been. Had he pulled that fake gun on someone in the community he could have been killed.
I absolutely do not mean this in a hostile way, but I don't know of any teachers who are lookong for any pity.However, I also don't know why people always bring up "all that time off teachers have". We don't get paid for it so how does that pertain to anything?
(P.S. I have to add that we generally go in at 7:15 and don't even have lunch off - somebody has to be with the kids at all times, but that's just part of the job.)
). And speaking of salaries, since teachers only get paid for a 10 month year, then a $30-$60k salary doesn't sound bad for 10 months out of the year. Trying griping to someone working 10 hour shifts in McDonald's who is making significantly less than that and having to put up with nasty customers during the lunch/dinner hours. It's all a matter of perspective.
No, you're right, they don't look for pity, but I also don't want to hear how they don't get paid during the summer, work long hours, have little budgets to work with. YOU KNEW THAT BEFORE YOU BECAME A TEACHER. It's like a fireman complaining that they make him run into burning buildings, or that they have to work 3-24 hours shift. You know that before you go in. If that doesn't sound like something you're cut out for THEN FIND ANOTHER JOB. Everyone is frustrated with their job at times and everyone would like to get paid more, but these are things you consider before taking any position. Can't work weekends? Then don't get a waitressing job. Can't work 24-7? don't become a lawyer in a major law firm. I completely agree that teachers are underpaid, spend much of their own money and are sometimes unappreciated. But teachers shouldn't spend the rest of their lives complaining about how bad they have it when they knew that before they took the job. And, at least where I'm from, the public school teachers are paid MUCH better than the Catholic school teachers, although they are trying to rectify that. My cousin is a high school teacher in Newark, NJ -- an extremely poor school district so I know what teachers are up against. Again, she knew that before she took the job and she took the job because it's truly what she wants to do and loves being with the kids and feeling like she might make a difference in their lives. (And she doesn't mind having the summers off
I am referring to the fact that it is greedy to receive money that is contigent upon certain criteria and when you are purposely not complying with that criteria and still accepting the money that is what makes it greedy. Funny, at the beginning of the year I am given a list and go buy what is on that list of school supplies. Oh and let me point out on that list it doesn't say just crayons no it says CRAYOLA crayons. It doesn't say glue. No it says ELMER's glue. Also during the middle of the year we get little memos from the teachers asking to please send in various other supplies as well.
I realize they are not going to the spa with the money or a fabulous shopping spree. That is ridiculous.
Principal.
It's principal---
Remember, he or she is your "pal"
) is you always here talk about the number of school days and attendance in direct corrolation with government funding (i.e., the school must be open "x" days per year in order to obtain funding). You never hear them say, school must be open for "x" days per year in order for the children to get the full education they need. Snow days and such all need to be made up for funding purposes, never education purposes. Most of these school days are made up at the end of the year, when the kids aren't doing anything anyway, so it's not like they're spending that extra day or two learning. Same with standardized testing -- it's always teach for the test so we can get more funding, not teach so the children learn and become well rounded student and individuals. The test should be to see how much the children have learned overall, not what you can cram into them in the weeks leading up to the test so they can do well on the test (again for funding purposes only). Obviously, that's not the policies of the individual teachers, but rather the school districts and state and federal governments.Principal.
It's principal---
Remember, he or she is your "pal"
because that is exactly how I was taught to remember the difference. And don't get me started on how I remember horizontal from vertical! LOL
As far as "winter themed" crafts I have no problem with that and would LOVE that. However, a nativity scene can in no way be neutral can it? I have talked to these teachers/administrators about trying to do just as you have said neutral activities like "winter" crafts, etc. but it is a no go. They are pretty much like if you don't believe like we do too bad for you. Honestly I have never seen anything like it!!!!
I realize they are not going to the spa with the money or a fabulous shopping spree. That is ridiculous.
I think what GemGumby is trying to say (and I could be wrong, 'cause I usually am
THAT IS MY POINT and as well that receiving that money is contigent upon certain criteria and sadly my school is not complying with that so I do view that dishonest and greedy.
First off, I am in no way categorizing all public schools in MS as bad.
