Ad

This is a very interesting link. Parents be aware of unhealthy school atmospheres. They are more common than you might think. Please recognize it early and speak out, stick up for your children, they need you now more than ever. Your school should be spending their time and your tax dollars more productively than this. Please post any comments or experiences you might have. Suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thank you!

pachildrensnews.org/speakout_031208_01.htm

You must be a member of this group to post a reply. Join

Parent Replies to "Unhealthy School Climate! FOLLOW THE LINK ATTACHED"

RSS View 8 replies: Newest-Oldest, Oldest-Newest
Display all replies
txmomof2
txmomof2 April 10, 2009
Re: Unhealthy School Climate! FOLLOW THE LINK ATTACHED
This article was an eye opener. I had a bad experience with my daughter. She is eight years old and in the 3rd grade. She has been at the same school since kindergarten. My daughter is dyslexic and I had been having a hard time getting the school to test her and help her. I even withdrew her in March of 2nd grade and home schooled her for the remainder of the year.
Anyway, during the first month of 3rd grade...after I conferenced with her teacher. I demanded testing right away this year. My daughter did something wrong on the worksheet they were doing in class and her teacher took her paper and wadded it up and threw it in the trash in front of the entire class.
My daughter came home in tears. She was so humiliated by this. I marched in the school the next day and went straight to the principals office.....normally I would have gone to the teacher, but I was furious and felt the principal needed to be involved in something like this. BUt she sided with the teacher and the teacher said my daughter didn't follow directions on the work sheet. My daughter has a learning disibility and didn't understand the directions.
THen in Feb. after fighting for help for my daughter I put her in a dyslexia program. It is a week long so she missed a week of school. The school then said that my daughter would have unexcused absenses and would get incompletes on her report card.
The school continued to send piles and piles of make up work for her home with my 5th grader.
This was my last straw...I withdrew both of my kids and they are now in a charter school.
ktownmom
ktownmom January 11, 2009
Re: Unhealthy School Climate! FOLLOW THE LINK ATTACHED
Thanks for the reply and I agree it does mirror the real world from time to time. As adults we can make choices, we can fight back, we can do nothing, we can remove ourselves from the situation. Not only do students have very limited choices but many adults do not listen to or believe what they are hearing.
The kids still need us to stand up for them.
Talinna
Talinna January 10, 2009
Re: Unhealthy School Climate! FOLLOW THE LINK ATTACHED
It is sad how those in power over our children tend to stoop to the level of bulling. It is actually blackmail in the purist form. If our children don't jump through administration's hoops, tuck their tails between their legs and simply take it, they get bad references, 'lost' papers, missing grades, and in some extreme cases locked out of classes that are needed for graduation or college admittance.
It is sick and it is twisted, but sadly it mirrors the real world to a T.
ktownmom
ktownmom August 7, 2008
Re: Unhealthy School Climate! FOLLOW THE LINK ATTACHED
I just wanted to add a little more to sirwriter. I forgot to add that getting two or three doctors to testify seems a bit much when the school already had letters from two doctors stating what the health issues are and that running among other things would be detrimental. When appointments are taken months in advance even during emergencies...I highly doubt a doctor would drive three hours for that or devote time... The letters were sufficient.
I also doubt that any lawyer would sit in on any conversation unless they were a personal friend and even then it's pointless, intimidating maybe. A lawyer works best in a courtroom.
Parents really don't speak up. They let it go and start the countdown to graduation. Students will speak up and they have gone to board meetings. We all need to listen carefully to our kids, they are a wealth of information, it's pretty accurate!
Local newspapers, it's amazing what they find as news. A letter to the editor would be the only story published. Now that may spark other input and then there might be interest.
I have friends all over the country, in big cities and small towns. Some are parents and some work in schools. Sad to say this story did not surprise them. Watch those odd stories that pop up every now and then in the news or on the internet. You can believe there is more to the story than you will ever know. It's far too common.
Our public schools should be no more, they should all be private. The staff and administration should work at attracting and keeping students. Money should go to the schools that are doing their jobs. The "other" schools would go out of business and we would have healthy environments to send our kids every day.
I am one of those parents that absolutely adores my kids. They are not spoiled and have an excellent idea of what the real world has to offer. I fight for my children when they need help. I listen to them.
I know it's a difficult balance but sometimes the administrations lose sight of why we are all there in the first place. If you aren't there for the kids then get out.
ktownmom
ktownmom August 7, 2008
Re: Unhealthy School Climate! FOLLOW THE LINK ATTACHED
Those are excellent suggestions. It's very difficult to think clearly when this happens. In the beginning I think there is a shock and disbelief and then anger...hindsight! A venue should be in place to help families at the first sign of trouble. They make it very hard when there is a problem there should be more support. I love all of your ideas and well, we will see what the new school year brings.
Thank you very much for your input.
1 2 Next >

Any contributed content above is the subjective opinion of that member or external author, and not of GreatSchools. GreatSchools does not check for accuracy in community posts or verify the contributor’s identity. If you are searching for health-related advice we strongly suggest you seek professional medical support. View our Community Guidelines for more details.

Local Q&A

Top cities

Browse questions about

Local Q&A is brand new! What do you think? Give us your feedback in our feedback forum.
AD
AD
Join the community or login
Join the community or
Read our community guidelines and FAQ
Community Moderator
Email the Community Moderator for help
tracker