Subj : Re: School idiocy
To   : Deuce
From : Finnigann
Date : Wed Sep 21 2005 07:50 am

-=> Deuce wrote to All <=-

 De> Well, I've called the school principle onto the carpet.  This is his
 De> first principle position, so his first year (last year) I didn't say
 De> anything.  But, the idiocy continues this year.  My youngest is in
 De> grade eight this year, and we get to spend $12 to purchase them an
 De> adgenda.  Every day, a parent needs to initial his agenda then the
 De> principle (also a teach of course) also initials it.  This ritual gets
 De> the class an "agenda credit" when the class as a whole amasses 80 of
 De> these, they can turn one of their math or science classes into any of a
 De> computer class, a physical education class, or a movie party (three
 De> guess which is chosen most often) it takes the class approximately two
 De> weeks to amass 80 agenda credits.  For a move party, the children are
 De> allowed to take pop and chips to school (which means of course, the
 De> parents are expected to supply them with these) call it about $5 every
 De> two weeks.

 De> Now, the biggest problem I have with this setup is that there is NEVER
 De> anything written in the agenda for me to sign off on.  There is no list
 De> of outstanding assignments, no upcoming school events, not even a quick
 De> note as to how the walk to school was today.  Every single page in this
 De> agenda is blank except for a pair of initials at the bottom of each
 De> days column.  They were blank all year last year and so far have been
 De> blank all this year too.  Of course, everyone knows who didn't get the
 De> credit and who id, so we *need* to initial it or our child becomes a
 De> pariah in the class.  Then we get the priviledge of spending an extra
 De> $2.50/wk so our child doesn't need to get a class in some practical
 De> skill.

 De> Well, I'm fed up.  The first note ever has gone into the agenda...
 De> requesting the principle phone me to arrange a meeting to chat about
 De> the agenda credits.

Ditto. Must be in a hand book somewhere. I wrote a note say contact me, Not a
teacher or a secratary nada. I quit sighning and never heard a thing. I had a
long talk about it (long = 300sec) But nothing ever came of it.

In our case it was presented as a way for teachers to make sure assignments are
done. But I argued if nothing is written, what are we doing? He's a freshman
this year and we had a better talk this summer and he's better able to
understand what the consequnces can be if he doesn't finish and/or turn in his
work. But I am prepared to hound him thru to graduation night, and he beleives
me in this. So he has kept up his school work.

I found that taking a pesonal interest in the details of his day works as well
or better than that stupid signing daily...

To my mind, the carrot/stick thing needs constant adjustment to keep up the
balance.

I'm very luck in the son I have. as I am sure you are too... you care.

anyway good luck.



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