Anther school vent...............

[Minnie_me]

I didn't read through the whole thread, but to the OP: Wow! Generalize much?

Based on your experiences in your hometown with your public school system, you hate all public schools. Ridiculous.

Where I live, the private schools suck, and the public ones rule. Our public school system is great, and I've never had one single problem.

But please, continue whining. Maybe you could run for School Board and help them make some changes? Nah, I think you'd rather whine.

 

[jemgumby]

I know I've seen thread about this on here before, so you may already know this, but there's usually a reason for it if a school requests specific brands of supplies. There are some brands that just really do not work well at all, and it's often easier to specify one good brand than to list the brands you should not buy.

I understand what you are saying about the school systems and the rules, but I wouldn't view it as a matter of being greedy. They aren't trying to get lots of money for the sake of being rich or for frivolous reasons - they really do need the funds. I do agree, though, that it is a bit hypocritical of them to expect the parents to follow rules if they blatently ignore the rules that are supposed to apply to them.

First of all, thank you for seeing the hypocrisy aspect of all this. That is what really gets to me and makes me soooo mad. Do as I say not as I do!!!! As far as certain supplies working better than others I can honestly see that but I guess because I have had such a horrible experience with our school around here that all the pettiness with the school sometimes gets to me and it is like come on enough is enough!!!! Honestly, I really do support the school. I volunteer whenever possible and I am truly ready to give what I can. The point is, it is for the children. However, it would be nice if the scales were a little more even as far as parental rights with the school and if they really did try to be more accomodating just as they expect us to accomodate their requests.

 

[SnowWhite607]

What in the heck do you think schools are doing with the money they recieve. Buying margarita machines for the teacher's lounge so we can all get a good buzz while discussing how to ruin Snowflake's school experience?

THAT MONEY IS SPENT TO EDUCATE YOUR CHILDREN.

Good lord.

Now THERE is a good idea! LOL! But seriously.....

A gym teacher that makes 85K a year?? My DH is a gym teacher and he makes nowhere NEAR that. He also gets paid extra because he coaches football and softball (both of which keep him out till well after dark most days of the week, both sports also involve Saturdays) but still he makes nowhere near 85K. We must be in the wrong state.

 

[Minnie_me]

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.

As a 20+ year veteran teacher, I'll tell you WHY. Rose Art and other brands of crayons SUCK. They just absolutely SUCK. The colors aren't true (the blue usually looks turquoise-ish, etc.) and they're very waxy, and that wax crumbles on the kids' papers making them look like crap. Crayola rocks. They make a quality product, and teachers appreciate the quality. And so do the kids!

Same with glue. (although not to the same extent)

I had a parent question the number of glue sticks I requested. (8 per kid) She thought it was way too many. I told her that I would most likely be requesting more mid-year! Then I invited her to spend a day with us. She soon realized how quickly those glue sticks get used up. It's amazing. You'd think the kids were eating them!

I'm always blessed with generous parents who not only send in the supplies I request, but ask if I need anything else. They send in markers, pipe cleaners, foam shapes, etc. --- all of the kinds of things that I spend about $1500 a year on out of my own pocket.

So, lighten up. Your kids' teachers just want your kids' work to look nice.

 

[hentob]

And don't get me started on how I remember horizontal from vertical! LOL

TELL! I want to share it with my little ones!!

 

[jemgumby]

Tell your friend hello from a neighbor!

Well, I must say that the superintendent can't be the brightest star in the sky to admit that was the reason for the rule change. Our school has the same rule but the reason is to limit the number of people walking around school and prevent just anyone walking into a classroom--so it goes back to safety. I actually prefer the rule; but that comes from the experience of an ex-husband who might get drunk and decide to pick up my sons.

I have to agree with others though, having ACLU on speed dial is probably not the best way to get the school to cooperate with you. You may not mean it that way, but it sounds like you are just looking for an excuse to take them to court. I don't send my child to school to get a religious education either; but I am not going to get that bent out of shape about it. If she was to mention some such poster to me; my responce would be "if it bothers you, ignore it".

Just wanted to say I really like Hattiesburg. I love the mall there. It is sooo nice. It seems like that area has really exploded lately and the little town of Hattiesbug has so much to offer now!!! I love going shopping over there. Anyway, of course I haven't told the schools "I have ACLU on speed dial". They actually know nothing. I didn't say anything because I didn't want them to take anything out on my child. Believe me, I have tried every tactic there is. I was nice and professional when presenting my side. It just doesn't seem to get through. I will say the my DD's school now is better. These horrible experiences occured at the lower elementary and now she is in the upper elementary. They change schools when they hit the 3rd grade. The fact that we have had a pretty good year this year helps out with trying to deal with all of the injustice we have endured. Believe me, it goes far beyond a poster but that was just one example. My DD is a straight A student and has had no disciplinary problems so it's not like I am some angry parent mad because they tried to discipline my child or anything. It is just that I looked so forward to my daughter going to school and being involved with helping out, etc. However, that school didn't even have a PTA...... It was truly a bad experience and I had wanted so much more for our experience especially with just starting kindergarten. At least the school now seems to try to be more accomodating. I really appreciate that. I was just sharing my story to because it seems like the original poster was getting blasted and I was trying to point out that sometimes it is truly difficult dealing with public schools. BELIEVE ME, I KNOW!!!!!!!

 

[luvsJack]

I think what GemGumby is trying to say (and I could be wrong, 'cause I usually am ) 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.

Ok, next time I see my school district's superintendent I am going to thank her for running our distrist so well. She mantra is "educational time".

They have to take into account every minute of educational time that will be missed for almost any activity or day out of the classroom. And if over a certain number of minutes are lost, it has to be made up somewhere. Any and all "weather days" (we don't have "snow" days here ) must be made up and must include the same instructional time.

They do spend a certain amount of time teaching to the state tests, but that is over and above the regular classroom curriculum. They take practice tests and such, but only concentrate on one subject at a time so that they can still teach the other stuff too.

 

[RichNKatHolly]

TELL! I want to share it with my little ones!!

LOL - Nope, you don't want to share it with the little ones.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I realize they are not going to the spa with the money or a fabulous shopping spree. That is ridiculous. 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.

If you don't send in the supplies, the teacher has to pay for it out of their own pocket. This just bugs me to no end, so I send in supplies (yes, Crayola and Elmers, for the little bit in difference in price, the quality is beyond compare. At the beginning of the year sales, Crayola crayons are $.22 /pk at Walmart vs. the crappy waxy RoseArt for $.18 ) for my own kids, and I buy extras on sale which I bring in for the teachers supply closet. At the beginning of the year, the prices are so low I can do this and not even notice it in my pocket. I feel bad that teachers are expected to foot the bill for the kids supplies.


The subject of the schools being greedy is just amusingly sad to me. The money is to teach our children the best way they can with the very tight budgets they are under. I don't envy them for one single minute, except at the end of the day when the kids run up and hug them before they run to catch their bus. And I am sure THAT is one of the big reasons (not the 3 month "summer vacation"-please , the short work days that only start from the moment the children walk into the room and abruptly end at the moment they head out the door home, to all those holidays they get off-you do know that even though the kids are off from school, many of those days are full teacher work days, don't you?) that they stay in teaching-they feel they are making a difference for the kids. It is definitely a calling, which unfortunately usually translates into "thankless underpaid job."


I'm sorry about that really long run-on sentence, I don't have the energy to fix it.

 

[hentob]

LOL - Nope, you don't want to share it with the little ones.

 

[ksjayhawks]

OP--I understand that you are upset with your ds's school right now and have been for a long time. You have alluded to several things that you don't like, but I am wondering what has happened that has made you so mad? You mention things in a general way, so can you be more specific as to what has happened and upset you so? Otherwise I assume (right or wrong) that you are upset about something that doesn't suit you and you just want to lash out because you are mad/upset and those types of vents don't hold a lot of weight.

Did he get in trouble at school? Is the school not happy that he is going to be absent for a vacation? Does it have something to do with the reading program? What specifically is bothering you?


As for your nephew, it really doesn't matter who gave him the gift. The point is that he said it could be a bomb and unfortunately in our schools today, that word/insinuation will get you in trouble. He is old enough that he should know not to joke that way and as such needs to take the consequences.

 

[Nicoleclaw]

The salaries here are not low, 2 nieces started at/ABOVE 6oK without their masters and will certainly increase ( I am talking Right out of college!)
I think teachers are absolutely VITAL and Good teachers are AMAZING, and I have seen and know plenty!!
I hope you ARE getting paid well for your very important job, but really don't understand why the comparison of vacation days when each day, each month is not worked as most outside jobs.

I think ALL jobs should be paid well, I also think that sometimes having Over qualified teachers that have advanced degrees in areas that it is not needed, ie, our GYM teachers average 85K, .

Where the h-e-double hockey stick do you live? Cause I am moving there!

 

[Nicoleclaw]

oops double post

 

[Nicoleclaw]

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 ). 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.

while you make a valid point, I don't think any teacher thinks they will be the one to be buying regular supplies such as pencils and glue for their classes. The mickey d's comment? That is why I have still have student loans 9 years later...so I would not have to work that type of job.

 

[Cindy B]

Where the h-e-double hockey stick do you live? Cause I am moving there!

There is a specials teacher that is retiring this year in my district... the salary for this position was posted at 94,000. Yes, 94,000 for a specials teacher that only teaches five periods a day!

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

OT, but I'm 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

TELL! I want to share it with my little ones!!

LOL - Nope, you don't want to share it with the little ones.

uh...I think I get it...

 

[dipin]

I come from a FAMILY of teachers, elementary, Middle and HS, One is a college professor as well. The salaries here are not low, 2 nieces started at/ABOVE 6oK without their masters and will certainly increase ( I am talking Right out of college!)

National median starting salary for a high school teacher is between 30 and 35k a year.

 

[hentob]

http://php.app.com/edstaff/search.php

Above is the salary of every school employee in New Jersey.


Oh--Here is PA:

http://php.app.com/PAteachers0607/search.php

What a WIDE range!

 

[disneyjunkie]

Has the OP been back?

 

[Tink415]

Public schools can be so different depending on the district, state, etc. There are schools where the administration & teachers attitude is the the majority of parents are undesirable in one way or another, and if you're living that and can't change it, its tough. Good luck dealing with it, my only advise is to move if you can.

Kids don't get to make many mistakes any more without paying for them big time. Parents have to teach kids they can't talk about weapons, wanting to hurt someone, say I hate you, bring a cough drop or tylenol to school without a dr note, etc and on and on. It has to start in nursery school and continue thru HS. Parents have to reinforce it over and over and if they don't both kids and parents will have consequences. Schools can't use common sense any longer. I think common sense is rare nowadays.

I have a friend who is a teacher, and she said she can get her salary in paychecks over 10 months or 12, and she can teach summer school for extra pay. Seems to me teachers and school administrators are salaried and have to work as many (or as few) hours as it takes to do the job. So I really don't get that teachers don't get paid for the summer They get paid for a year of teaching, whatever it takes.

My job is salaried, and I do get 6 weeks off, but I'd need 14 weeks to be off when my kids are out of school. I could live with that and really wish I could arrange my work schedule to that. No such luck tho!