Public Schools and our children......

[DevineMommie]

I live in a nice area and my children attend our local public school.  The teachers, the administration and the curriculum are great for the most part.  The school always test well and has received several awards.

My concerns are the environment in which my children are learning.  For one the class sizes keep getting higher and we receive a note at least twice a year telling us that they have to receive another waiver to allow for larger class sizes.  Technically the school is capped but the schools that take our overflow are now near capacity as well. The only other option is  larger class sizes. 

The next thing is the behavioral issues of other students. Every year my children have a classmate or two who cause constant disturbances. Not the normal like talking or not paying attention.  These children throw chairs, act out violently towards the teachers and students, and they cause constant problems in class because they  have no self control. Not to mention real anger issues.  We have four teachers that only teach ISS and handle these children when they loose control. Our children our even taught how to leave a room with their backs to the wall when these children start being violent.  One child is also assigned to get the Principal if the teacher can not get to her phone to call.  It's ridiculous how many times these children can be in ISS and even expelled before the school can kick them out. 

I hate the idea of kicking kids out of school but if they are putting my child at risk then the parents are ultimately responsible to correct the problem or to find alternative methods of schooling.  The majority of the children should not have to endure this for the convenience of one child and their parents.  If it was my child I would be aggravated but I would accept the fact that my child had some issues and do all I could to resolve it. Even if it meant having to pull them out of school and home-school or find an alternative school who could deal with the behavioral issues.

It seems you can't get away from this anymore in our society. I have looked at the local private schools and for the most part they do not have anywhere near the levels of behavoiral problems as the public schools. They also have policies that will not allow for bad behavior, they do not have ISS so if your child acts up you have to come get them right away.  Not to mention that they have class sizes about 1/2 the size of the public school and the child can actually get help from the teacher when needed in class.

I love all my kids teachers and bless them but their class sizes make their job really hard. You would think more parents would get involved and take the load of the teachers but it's hard to get the parents to send a snack for a party let alone get them in the classroom anymore. I can volunteer because I don't work anymore and I can take my four year old with me. Some stuff I can even take home and do.

Is anyone else seeing this kind of stuff? Are you in a larger city or a smaller town?

I'm outside a larger city in the suburbs but it doesn't seem to make a difference!

 

[360]

Jan. 22, 2009 at 2:49 PM

Welcome to the world of public school -- factories.

I've been complaining about this for awhile.  If you look at my profile you will see that my children are 26, 24, 12, and 6.  I've seen firsthand the degrading of the public school system.    I also substitute as an aid in the school so I know what I'm speaking about.

But, if a teacher tries to discipline or seek help, the parent will be the first one complaining about the teacher.  Teaching used to be a good job.  With NCLB, mainstreaming and the entitlement attitude of today's parents, teaching has become an almost impossible task.

I enrolled my 6 yr old in private school this year.

[DevineMommie]

Jan. 22, 2009 at 3:01 PM

  I see the mentality your talking about all the time. I have heard parents asked the teachers " What did you do to make my child act this way?"  or they just  get angry and blame the teacher.  It's sad but too many parents now lean on day cares and schools to raise their children. 

I do think that the main reason our schools are going down quickly in America is the parents. No one wants to parent or be involved with their school anymore. It's like some parents have this idea that because their child is at school that absolves them of any responsibility for that child while that child is in school.

Another thing is where the money goes?  Parents don't realize how much of our money is wasted every year in the schools.  We keep pumping the money in and we don't seem to care where it's going or how it's being used.

(Original Poster)

[dwinkie72]

Jan. 22, 2009 at 6:01 PM

this is the exact same reason why homeschooling has become our solution to the problem.  schools are great but what about the class size? our son will be attending an online high school in the fall.  it's almost like attending a real public school. they have sports activities, after school clubs, dances, proms, yearbooks etc. but they do their classwork online.