I hate the Board of Education

[FettsBabe]

I honestly think the people that work there think they have "superior knowledge" in all areas which concern our children.

I called the BOE today to discuss a bill that had been developed which stated the school system would begin the school year after Labor Day. I was informed the bill had been withdrawn because they already have the ability to do that. They have the ability to chose what is in the best interest of children in their system.

I asked them why they started the first week in August. She said they do that in order to satisfy the "block schedule." This is nothing more than a semester system. The children must have exams before Christmas. I told her that I was on the semester system when I graduated, that I started close to the end of August and had exams before Christmas. She said "you couldn't have." I said I know I did because I sat outside in a football field the day of exams (in December) because some idiot called in a bomb threat the day of exams. We sat out there for an hour or two freezing!!!!!!! I asked her why they couldn't do that now. I also informed her the county next to us started a week later than them.

Anyway, she said well we do what we think is best. I explained to her that it is better to go to school until the end of May or the first week in June due to the weather. August is usually the hottest month with temps running close to 100. She thought I was crazy.

Then I inquired about my step-son changing school districts (to the county) that we live in due to a change in custody and she acted like I was insane because the child wouldn't be attending school where the mother lived. Oh, my GOD! The school system where she lives SUCKS. I don't know whats wrong with people these days. Its like everyone I talk to has an attitude. I told her that the father would be given primary (probably) this summer and the child would be with each parent around 50% of the time. She said "well then he can't attend school here." I asked why and she said because he doesn't live here the majority of the time. I told her its like 50.4% with the father. Then she was like...well you will need a SS Card, Birth Certificate, etc. I was like, ok thanks. I just wanted to clarify the steps so we could begin the process and have it completed before school starts.

GRRRR>>>>>>>>>>


I really don't understand why kids don't have a "real suimmer" anymore. THey give them a week in October and a week and a half in April. Why even bother? Pools are closed, parents usually take vacations during the summer, etc. It seems like they would promote family as well as an education.

Did I say GRRRRRRR????????

 

[pyonir]

Wow, good thing you don't live in Arizona. They have no summer vacation. They get a month off, three times a year.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Just remember, teachers hate the BOE just as much if not more...


going for my BA is Secondary Education (History)

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: pyonir
Wow, good thing you don't live in Arizona. They have no summer vacation. They get a month off, three times a year.

uhhh, damn, I knew I shouldn't be working to be certified in Arizona

 

[pyonir]

Originally posted by: DeathByAnts

Originally posted by: pyonir
Wow, good thing you don't live in Arizona. They have no summer vacation. They get a month off, three times a year.

uhhh, damn, I knew I shouldn't be working to be certified in Arizona

hehehe...

I'm not positive all schools do it though. I didn't go to k-12 here, so I speak about what i've heard.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: pyonir

Originally posted by: DeathByAnts

Originally posted by: pyonir
Wow, good thing you don't live in Arizona. They have no summer vacation. They get a month off, three times a year.

uhhh, damn, I knew I shouldn't be working to be certified in Arizona

hehehe...
I'm not positive all schools do it though. I didn't go to k-12 here, so I speak about what i've heard.

It must be fairly new-I went to school in AZ until 7th, then came back for college here and did not hear a thing about it

 

[pyonir]

hmmm weird! ask about it in some of your classes...I'd like to know just out of curiousity. (duh, unless you are done for the summer)

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: pyonir
hmmm weird! ask about it in some of your classes...I'd like to know just out of curiousity. (duh, unless you are done for the summer)

You had to remind me that I only have 9 days left until summer school starts, grrr

 

[BillyGoat]

She was being b!tchy with you because you made her work, the problem in schools is that teachers are over worked and way under payed, while administration does nothing and gets paid threw the nose to do so

 

[pyonir]

Originally posted by: DeathByAnts

Originally posted by: pyonir
hmmm weird! ask about it in some of your classes...I'd like to know just out of curiousity. (duh, unless you are done for the summer)

You had to remind me that I only have 9 days left until summer school starts, grrr

suckah.

hehehe

 

[ATLien247]

You expect them to change the school year just because of what you think is best (well, more convenient for you actually)?

I'm sure they hear day in and day out from parents and teachers about how they are so misguided at knowing what's best for the children.

If you have a problem with it, do something more than ranting about it in an internet forum.

 

[DrPizza]

Fettsbabe, you sound like you're from the south? I searched high and low down there for a teaching job that I wanted (I don't think I can count the number of job offers). I was really bothered by how different two districts could be that were right next to each other.... one would be outstanding, the other was horrendous. I saw one school with brand new computers in every place they could squeeze one in, and 20 miles away, a school without enough books for all the students. In the end, I got tired of looking around and stayed in NY.

And, I have a pretty good board of education. (not all teacher's hate the board)... my board possesses that thing, what's it called? Common sense.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: DrPizza

And, I have a pretty good board of education. (not all teacher's hate the board)... my board possesses that thing, what's it called? Common sense.

Common sense? You must be mistaken---common sense is outlawed in the US

 

[MrBond]

She was being b!tchy with you because you made her work, the problem in schools is that teachers are over worked and way under payed, while administration does nothing and gets paid threw the nose to do so

Boy isn't that the truth. I went home a couple weeks ago and was reading the town newspaper. Apparently my old highschool had to hire a temp superintendant for a short time. It seems the old one had gotten his 30 years in, so he was going to retire. But he wanted re-hired after the state required "cooling off" period before teachers who retire can start teaching again (ie: he gets full retirement if he retires, then waits a month to start back, but if he retires and keeps teaching there's a penalty).

So he's earning like 86% of what he made originally, plus another full salary as superintendant. Not too bad for a balding fat man who spent most of the time on the phone trying to get people to donate money for the "spring sports complex."

Meanwhile, the school's quality of classes has not changed, there's no math beyond trig, and the football team can gang rape a girl and get away with it.

 

[FettsBabe]

You expect them to change the school year just because of what you think is best (well, more convenient for you actually)?

No, actually I don't. I expect them to be able to explain to me why they can't change the schedule when another county right next to them starts school later. The words "because we do whats best for the kids" isn't appropriate or right!

I graduated in 93' and was under the same "block system" she said prevented them from changing the date. I told her I had exams before Christmas, started school later in the the month and was under the block system.

Secondly, why is it in the students best interest to start school during the hottest month of the year? Not all rooms in the county are air conditioned. Therefore, if it goes above 95 they have to dismiss early. However, it counts as a full day. How is missing a half day of school in the students best interest?

Thirdly, how is the "end of grade test" in the best interest of the student? How come a student can make straight A's all year long and then not score high enough on the EOG and be forced to attend summer school? Hello, is no one paying attention as to what is currently happening in Florida? The EOG is not the best way to determine if the students have "learned enough."

Teachers spend almost all their time preparing their students for the EOG instead of teaching their students. Teachers can't have fun anymore. They are forced to a day in and day out routine of boredom. There are several teachers in my hubby's family and each one will tell you that they are forced to "access" their kids instead of teaching them their ABC's, etc.

Now, what am I doing? I'm going to call and write my county legislatures.

Lastly, I am not asking them to change for me. I want to know why they give kids a week in October and a week and a half for Easter when they could use that time to start school later. Think about it...do kids need a week off in October? Heck, bad weather hasn't even arrived yet, so we can't even use them as "snow days" or "make up days." Oh, right, they know whats best for the kids. Doesn't seem that they know very much to me.

A little common sense will go a long way.

BTW, yes, I'm in the South. We have a good school system, but the common sense factor regarding the schedule is lacking tremendously.

As a lasting note, there are many parents complaining about this. No one listens. Quite frankly, they ought to talk to the teachers and get their prospective on the schedule.

 

[Darein]

I went to high school in Hawaii, and maybe because of that I don't really see the big deal for people going to school during the hottest part of the year. I have sat in classrooms over 90 degrees and while uncomfortable, didn't hurt. We had block schedules and had PE for 90 minutes in the early afternoon, blazing hot in the sun, which, while uncomfortable, didn't kill anyone.

 

[ATLien247]

Originally posted by: FettsBabe

You expect them to change the school year just because of what you think is best (well, more convenient for you actually)?

No, actually I don't. I expect them to be able to explain to me why they can't change the schedule when another county right next to them starts school later. The words "because we do whats best for the kids" isn't appropriate or right!

I graduated in 93' and was under the same "block system" she said prevented them from changing the date. I told her I had exams before Christmas, started school later in the the month and was under the block system.

Secondly, why is it in the students best interest to start school during the hottest month of the year? Not all rooms in the county are air conditioned. Therefore, if it goes above 95 they have to dismiss early. However, it counts as a full day. How is missing a half day of school in the students best interest?

Thirdly, how is the "end of grade test" in the best interest of the student? How come a student can make straight A's all year long and then not score high enough on the EOG and be forced to attend summer school? Hello, is no one paying attention as to what is currently happening in Florida? The EOG is not the best way to determine if the students have "learned enough."

Teachers spend almost all their time preparing their students for the EOG instead of teaching their students. Teachers can't have fun anymore. They are forced to a day in and day out routine of boredom. There are several teachers in my hubby's family and each one will tell you that they are forced to "access" their kids instead of teaching them their ABC's, etc.

Now, what am I doing? I'm going to call and write my county legislatures.

Lastly, I am not asking them to change for me. I want to know why they give kids a week in October and a week and a half for Easter when they could use that time to start school later. Think about it...do kids need a week off in October? Heck, bad weather hasn't even arrived yet, so we can't even use them as "snow days" or "make up days." Oh, right, they know whats best for the kids. Doesn't seem that they know very much to me.

A little common sense will go a long way.

BTW, yes, I'm in the South. We have a good school system, but the common sense factor regarding the schedule is lacking tremendously.

As a lasting note, there are many parents complaining about this. No one listens. Quite frankly, they ought to talk to the teachers and get their prospective on the schedule.

All valid points. But why not go a step further and take this up with the Board in a more direct manner? PTA, maybe? Form a group of like-minded individuals to lobby the superintendent?

You know, a squeaky wheel kind of thing...

 

[FettsBabe]

The PTA groups usually only work with grade levels and what is specifically needed in each classroom. ex. donations for parties, etc.

 

[BDawg]

That's what you get for living in Davidson County.

IMHO, it wouldn't be such a bad thing if kids went to school year-round.

 

[Gage8]

Originally posted by: BDawg
That's what you get for living in Davidson County.

IMHO, it wouldn't be such a bad thing if kids went to school year-round.

*shutter*:Q

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

[ViRGE]

FettsBabe, what's the big deal with getting exams done before Christmas? Where I went to school, we started after labor day, and didn't have semester exams until the middle of January, and it was no big deal. I can't see why there'd be such an issue about getting them in before Christmas. Also, could you give us a little more detail on this "block system," it's a very generic term around here, so I'm not familar with what it is where you are.

 

[sciencetoy]

First, I don't know where you are, but every place I've ever lived the school board is elected. If you have a problem with the school board, stop bitching and run for office.

Second, the school board is not "the administration". The school board hires the administration, and the teachers.

Third, the school board has the job of making the amount of money that they collect stretch to cover all of the things that they are mandated by law to do. By comparison, peace in the middle east is a piece of cake.

I'm not saying school boards are great, but please understand that they have a lot to do under difficult circumstances.

Also, the summer closing is so that children can work in the fields during growing season. If your children and most of the other children in your local school are doing farm work in the summer, then you may complain about the summer schedule. Otherwise, please enjoy their vacation that other children have worked hard for.

I'm an ex-teacher, my mother is a retired teacher, my father was on the school board, my daughter is soon to finish her schooling in order to teach. And I did grow up on a farm and (shudder) worked with the crops & animals in the summer, and that's why I got an office job when I grew up. Thank you, computers.

 

[Mallow]

Just be glad you don't live in kansas... they don't even think evolution a possibility on that panel.

 

[FettsBabe]

IMHO, it wouldn't be such a bad thing if kids went to school year-round.

I would never send my child to a year round school.

The county said exams had to be taken before Christmas. We started school around August 26th and still took exams before christmas.

As to the block system....Its nothing more than a semester system.

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: FettsBabe

IMHO, it wouldn't be such a bad thing if kids went to school year-round.

I would never send my child to a year round school.

The county said exams had to be taken before Christmas. We started school around August 26th and still took exams before christmas.

As to the block system....Its nothing more than a semester system.

In that case, they should just forget about taking the exams before Christmas, and start after labor day. As the traditional end to the summer/camping/outdoor season, it's really the best time to start, I believe. I don't know of any good reason to go through this madness just to take an exam a bit sooner, when there's nothing to my knowledge of kids doing significantly better before Winter Break as opposed to a few weeks after.