Picketing at Mechanicsville School Tommorrow

[crabcake]

Wow. I'm surprised they said that . About 6 years back Banneker was "the" school. Now I think the title has moved on. I like MCS. A middle schooler does more homework than I ever had in college, but I like the school. I like the teachers.

Don't get me wrong ... I've heard lots of good things from a couple of the parents who have kids there. But it was just too much hassle with all the stuff they wanted me to do (volunteer-wise) for our schedule. If I worked closer to home, it would have been doable and worth looking past the comments they made to me when I inquired.

 

[bresamil]

Don't get me wrong ... I've heard lots of good things from a couple of the parents who have kids there. But it was just too much hassle with all the stuff they wanted me to do (volunteer-wise) for our schedule. If I worked closer to home, it would have been doable and worth looking past the comments they made to me when I inquired.

Its really hard on the commuting parents unless they have family in the area - not your situation. Some of them have grandparents doing the volunteer hours. I agree it would have been really difficult.

 

[Dymphna]

Now they do 'fall festivals,' 'winter celebrations' (where they acknowledge all holidays), and 'spring flings' or whatever. They find ways around it, but are descreet enough so that parents who object can't get too upset.

The only reason they really objected is they didn't want to bake cookies.

 

[suzeQ]

The only reason they really objected is they didn't want to bake cookies.

 

[Daddy_O]

after reading all this, I really can't wait until my boys are in school, so much to look forward too.....

 

[cholo]

No, my wife foots the bill for those who don't send in money.

That's very generous. Not too bright, but generous.

The teacher didn't ask for money so s/he could supply the class with the snacks s/he felt was appropriate. Our teachers were smart enough to work with what was available to them.

My wife is trying to make her students' time in class as enjoyable as possible. For that, you make two backhanded comments that she is unintelligent. How very kind of you.

 

[mAlice]

My wife is trying to make her students' time in class as enjoyable as possible. For that, you make two backhanded comments that she is unintelligent. How very kind of you.

Sounds to me like she's trying to make her time enjoyable.

 

[cholo]

Sounds to me like she's trying to make her time enjoyable.

Yeah, that's what it is.

 

[mAlice]

Yeah, that's what it is.

Recess is for fun. Classroom time is for learning. Maybe that's the problem with kids these days. By the time they finish elementary school, they think it's all supposed to be fun and they don't know how to deal with gettin' down to business. So they still have teachers assigning book reports painted on t-shirts. I'll never forget the day my daughter said she had to do a book report and needed paint and a t-shirt....stupidest freakin' thing I've ever heard of.

 

[K_Jo]

Nahh, private/christian schools are different. They rely on tuition and parish donations. Even the local ones in St. Marys -- specifically Mother Catherine Spalding -- still require a great deal of "support" from parents ... not only in supplies, but in regular, required volunteer time at the school as well as fundraiser such as bingo. If you don't fulfill your volunteer time, you cough up more money for your kid's tuition.

I loved it when my parents worked Bingo! I had my first French kiss on Bingo night!

 

[FromTexas]

After school acitivity. What a concept!

Funny you mention that. My son had problem with a particular part of math during this year. The middle school teacher told him teachers don't stay after to help students out. When I taught middle school, teachers frequently stayed after (and do everywhere else I had been) to help out students who had problems with the current work and needed some extra help. They stayed until the time the teachers normally got off (4pm in Texas) allowing for 45 minutes of help.

Guess we got to watch our time spent in front of students along with our time off... you know, the important things.

 

[mAlice]

Funny you mention that. My son had problem with a particular part of math during this year. The middle school teacher told him teachers don't stay after to help students out. When I taught middle school, teachers frequently stayed after (and do everywhere else I had been) to help out students who had problems with the current work and needed some extra help. They stayed until the time the teachers normally got off (4pm in Texas) allowing for 45 minutes of help.

Guess we got to watch our time spent in front of students along with our time off... you know, the important things.

My teachers stayed late, too. When I would pick my daughter up from school, it would seem like a race to see who can get out of the building first. The students or the teachers.

 

[FromTexas]

She doesn't need it from you. I'm willing to bet money that you and FromTexas are the type of parents who give your kids' teachers a hard time.

What? Hold teachers accountable? Never... that would be too logical. I hold my kids accountable, too. In fact, usually, I side with the teacher, but if the teacher is in the wrong, they will here from me.

We work with my son every day on his home work, because we are involved. We look out for our kids. Its what any reasonable parent should do.

Teachers should hold up their end. For instance, not just assign pages and meagerly explain the assignment..asking the kids to go to it. They should educate. If there is a problem in their presentation, they should be willing to take the extra time with the student who has the problem and clarify the instruction. I did it. Other teachers can, too. In fact, almost every teacher I knew do that. This would get to the point of staying after with the student to (during your already assigned work hours) and find out what part of your communication/education didn't take and find a new course.

Parents should help kids with homework and should help kids understand why they need to do well -- along with personal responsibility, ethics, etc... However, parents shouldn't be the ones teaching the kid major subject areas because the teachers can't communicate what is desired and how to get there.

So, do I hold teachers accountable? Damn straight. I also taught. I didn't teach average students either. I worked in juvenile detention my first semester (kids jail) and worked in special education after that. So don't come crying to me because your wife chooses to do a little more for her young ones or because I want to hold teachers accountable. They should be.. and anything extra they take on is their own damn fault. Sure, it makes them a great teacher, but they can't then whine about their own choice.

 

[Bogart]

I'm held accountable at my job :shrug:

 

[mAlice]

and anything extra they take on is their own damn fault. Sure, it makes them a great teacher, but they can't then whine about their own choice.

 

[mAlice]

I'm held accountable at my job :shrug:

No way!

 

[FromTexas]

Teachers get ten sick days per year, plus three personal days, if needed.

As I pointed out, it is not always possible to schedule your personal days on days when there is no school. Teachers may use the sick days when they are ill, or to care for an ill person in their family.

Someone pointed out how many times school is not in session a full five days in a week. Many of these days are teacher work days, when staff has to be at school, or at a workshop location, all day. If they are not in attendance, they have to take leave. So just because your child is not at school for five days a week every week, don't assume the teachers are home, sleeping in.

But, teachers get 2 weeks off for Christmas. They get Summer vacation. They get 13 days off (out of 210 contract days to work). Some people don't get but 13 days off a year that work full time.

So, again... WAAAAAAAH!

 

[dems4me]

I'll never forget the day my daughter said she had to do a book report and needed paint and a t-shirt....stupidest freakin' thing I've ever heard of.

WTF???? Please elaborate this assignment.. I could use a laugh...

 

[Mikeinsmd]

But, teachers get 2 weeks off for Christmas. They get Summer vacation. They get 13 days off (out of 210 contract days to work). Some people don't get but 13 days off a year that work full time.
So, again... WAAAAAAAH!

Teachers get no pity from me. Wish I had summers off!!

 

[mAlice]

WTF???? Please elaborate this assignment.. I could use a laugh...

No kidding. 7th grade, book report on Pocahantas. Read the book then paint a "picture report" on the t-shirt.

Oh, wait. It gets better. She painted a picture of Capt Smith and Pocahontas on the t-shirt. A tree in the back ground, a few shoots of grass, a sun. She got an "A". Really.