This complaint from a parent is crazy!!!....

[suzannews]

Love the "snowflake" comment!!!

When my daughter was in elementary school, the bus helpers had to be 5th graders, no exceptions. Maybe the school needs to make that a rule also.

 

[Sleepingbooty]

Wow. How obnoxious. I don't think our bus has a helper. At least I've never heard my daughters talk about one. Hmmm, maybe I should call and complain that we need a bus helper, and it should by MY little snowflake.

Did any of you see the bus fight in Belleville Illinois this week? It was all over the national news, but its in our metro area, so everyone was talking about it. Bus driver completely ignored two boys beating another boy within an inch of his life for about 15 minutes! I guess he didn't have a bus helper.

 

[bumbershoot]

Has anyone actually explained to the child what the helper does, and to the parent as well, along with the fact that it's a 5th grader's job (wait, someone said 13...5th grade isn't 13)?

This could just be a misunderstanding that's easily cleared up.

And, by the way, a child-helper for the bus driver? Why not GPS instead? I'll have to ask my friend about if she has a helper...poor girl, she's actually driving the middle school bus this year...her daughter just started middle school...OK, poor daughter, not poor friend.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

Has anyone actually explained to the child what the helper does, and to the parent as well, along with the fact that it's a 5th grader's job?

This could just be a misunderstanding that's easily cleared up.

This was my first thought.

My second thought was that nobody could be that stupid to think a kindergartener could do a 5th grader's job.

My third thought is not appropriate for the disboards...



(eta: not calling bumbershoot stupid, calling the mother stupid)

 

[sunnyday123]

Has anyone actually explained to the child what the helper does, and to the parent as well, along with the fact that it's a 5th grader's job (wait, someone said 13...5th grade isn't 13)?

This could just be a misunderstanding that's easily cleared up.

And, by the way, a child-helper for the bus driver? Why not GPS instead? I'll have to ask my friend about if she has a helper...poor girl, she's actually driving the middle school bus this year...her daughter just started middle school...OK, poor daughter, not poor friend.

Why should you have to? This kid is what, 5-6? You didn't get picked. It's called life. Not everybody gets picked for everything. Is this Mom going to call and complain when this kid doesn't get picked for kickball?

 

[sunnyday123]

Hahahahaha! That's great!

I had a parent last year complain to me that her daughter wanted the blank piece of paper on the top and not the second blank piece of paper under it after another child made it to the coloring center first. "But she knew which paper she wanted," the mother told me, "She really gets her heart set on things."

When the little snowflake told the other student that she had wanted the paper from the top of the pile the other student told her to get her own and went back to coloring. Hence the phone call.

Seriously. We even had a meeting over it. A BLANK PIECE OF PAPER FROM A PILE!!!

Great googly moogly. I would have told her it was ridiculous to have a meeting over a blank piece of paper, and we would not be doing that again. How the heck do you get your heart set on a BLACK PIECE OF PAPER??? I don't know who has more issues, the kid or the mom.

 

[Dancemom03]

Did any of you see the bus fight in Belleville Illinois this week? It was all over the national news, but its in our metro area, so everyone was talking about it. Bus driver completely ignored two boys beating another boy within an inch of his life for about 15 minutes! I guess he didn't have a bus helper.

Maybe that WAS the bus helper...

I'm suprised that kid is allowed to ride the bus. Maybe mom follows the bus to school each morning to watch her snowflake drift into school??

OMG... you SAW me back there???

Just kidding, I was really headed to the McDonalds up the block from school for diet coke & a bagel...

 

[ccgirl]

Oh my goodness. This thread really hits home. My DD is in first grade and there is a mom that is totally a helicopter parent. I thought it was just her, I didn't realize there are others like her. Unfortunately, it is the mother of my DD's best friend. It is never her daughter's fault when they argue. Always mine. I keep trying to tell her to get a new friend but she really likes this girl. We were at a bday party one time and the girl cried that she wanted the gift (it was not her bday party) so her mom stopped at the store on the way home and purchase it for her. Honestly officer, my Susie/Johnny would never do something like that. They are a good little girl/boy. Don't these parents realize what they are doing isn't benefiting the child whatsoever? I just don't get it. My sister is the school resource officer and you would be shocked what some parents complain about.

 

[dawnn12]

I drive a school bus and I have some parents on my run like the op. We dont have "helpers" but if I need a sub to do my run I have detailed directions(very detailed like make a right at 2nd stop sign) I do have some kids on my bus who know my run very well. One of them happens to be a 1st grader(and yes I did put that info. in my directions also) I would totally understand if a sub. driver would choose an older child. I usally ask "who is the last child off this bus" then have them help me if they can.

 

[LuvOrlando]

My first thought was .

My second thought was: Why was your DH told of the complaint? Was the bus company taking this parent seriously or did they laugh too?

My third thought was: WOW is that poor kid in for a very unpleasant life That Mom is teaching her kid No is a form of punishment, not a fact of life. What a mistake that is.

 

[EthansMom]

Oh my goodness. This thread really hits home. My DD is in first grade and there is a mom that is totally a helicopter parent. I thought it was just her, I didn't realize there are others like her. Unfortunately, it is the mother of my DD's best friend. It is never her daughter's fault when they argue. Always mine. I keep trying to tell her to get a new friend but she really likes this girl. We were at a bday party one time and the girl cried that she wanted the gift (it was not her bday party) so her mom stopped at the store on the way home and purchase it for her. Honestly officer, my Susie/Johnny would never do something like that. They are a good little girl/boy. Don't these parents realize what they are doing isn't benefiting the child whatsoever? I just don't get it. My sister is the school resource officer and you would be shocked what some parents complain about.

We've stopped opening presents at the kids' birthday parties in part to eliminate this problem (kids throwing fits because our child got a toy as a gift they he/she doesn't have at home). I give out goodie bags at our BD parties... good ones with lots of fun things and I make sure to have a few extras for any kids that forgot to RSVP. I've seriously had attendees ask "Is this all?" after I've given the kid a bag full of toys and candy, a craft item that they made, and a helium balloon. Also, I've had parents ask "Do you have an extra goody bag for the attendee's sister/brother who didn't attend (wasn't invited) the party (because it will hurt their feelings if they don't have toys/candy too)?"

I've pretty much had it up to here with kids' birthday parties (both throwing and attending).

 

[ckay87]

My friend is an elementary school principal, so of course deals with this stuff all the time. She said her worst was when a mother very vocally complained about a 1st grade teacher who marked things wrong on tests. The mom felt that the correct answers should be marked with a red pen, not the incorrect answers. Oh my.

 

[dislal]

That is just sad

I have been helping out in my kids school this week with the book fair and I really feel bad for the teachers, I have seen a lot of things in the 5 days that I have been there that just make me go

 

[joyjoy]

Ugh. Parents like that make me crazy. When my snowflake was in 1st grade, I showed up for the parent/teacher conference. Another mother was still in the room when I arrived, so I waited quietly outside the door. When she had cut into MY time by 15 minutes, I stood inside the door so she knew I was there. She didn't care, and I got to hear all of the things she wanted the teacher to do for HER snowflake.

1) Please allow Jeb to use his own markers, and not the ones in the community marker bucket. He said to me, "Mom. Some of the children bear down SO HARD when they color with markers. I will take much better care of mine!". Right, lady. Whatever.

2) If Jeb gets anything less than an S on his report card, please do not write it on the card. I know he would be devastated to see anything less than perfect marks, so if he is having trouble in any area, please call me but go ahead and put all S-es on his card.

3) Jeb has mentioned to us several times that he doesn't like the little boy in the desk next to his. Please have that child change places with Nathan, Jeb really likes Nathan.



I wonder how Jeb turned out? He'd be about 20 now.

 

[joyjoy]

My friend is an elementary school principal, so of course deals with this stuff all the time. She said her worst was when a mother very vocally complained about a 1st grade teacher who marked things wrong on tests. The mom felt that the correct answers should be marked with a red pen, not the incorrect answers. Oh my.

Wow. She met Jeb's mom!

 

[Disney Doll]

My friend is an elementary school principal, so of course deals with this stuff all the time. She said her worst was when a mother very vocally complained about a 1st grade teacher who marked things wrong on tests. The mom felt that the correct answers should be marked with a red pen, not the incorrect answers. Oh my.

I have a friend who is a teacher and they mark incorrect answers with a purple pen because red looks too "angry" and hurts the child's feelings.

And yes, this was a directive that occurred because of parental complaints.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Just think about what would happen if this parent posted their side of the story. In all likelihood they would characterize the bus driver as mean when their perfect child (who is always pleasant and cheerful, is gifted, and was taught perfect manners) asked to be a helper. No doubt the bus driver was "rude" and gave the child "dirty looks."

I am sure that some on the DIS would advise the parent to write a note to the school, file a complaint, have a conference with the principal, demand that the bus driver be fired, and send the child to counseling.

You forgot to mention calling the police to file a report because it was clearly harassing behavior and who knows what he might not allow next!

 

[maxiesmom]

I have a friend who is a teacher and they mark incorrect answers with a purple pen because red looks too "angry" and hurts the child's feelings.

And yes, this was a directive that occurred because of parental complaints.

That is just crazy! And yet we wonder why so many people are self centered jerks???? We are not doing these kids any kind of good by making them think life is all puppy dogs and kittens. It hurts them that much more when reality steps up and smacks them a good one.People are raising kids without any kind of coping skills, and that is so not good.

 

[disykat]

I have a friend who is a teacher and they mark incorrect answers with a purple pen because red looks too "angry" and hurts the child's feelings.

And yes, this was a directive that occurred because of parental complaints.

I'm pretty sure I've seen threads on this topic on the DIS saying the exact same thing. IMO, people have a lot of "red marker hangups" from their own childhood and they try their darndest to make sure their kids have the same hangups.

People use red because it's easily available, it's not some big conspiracy to ruin lives!

 

[luvmy3]

This is the Age of Entitlement, how sad for our future generations that will have to deal with the children of these parents.