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Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Does this bother anyone else?
Okay, first off, this post is NOT to spark a debate.. but I am genuinely interested on how others feel about this. In the handbook I read how corporal punishment can be administered WITHOUT the parents consent and that you will only get a note that day sent home if your child was spanked at school. It is totally up to the principal (and teacher probably) if your child is spanked or not and that the parents will not be contacted for permission. Does this make anyone else REALLY upset? Probably me more than anyone else seeing as how we do not spank our children. (again, no debates please) Now, Madison has never even been given a warning at school so I'm really not worried that they'll snatch her up and spank her one day, but it just very very much bothers me that it's written that it is not up to me what happens to her should a situation like that arise. It makes me think I should write a letter to the school and let them know that under NO circumstances are they allowed to hit my child. Is it only me that thinks this is not okay? I don't know how I'd feel about others spanking my kids (without my knowledge) if I were a spanker... but I do know how this idea makes me feel now.. sick! And since we're on the subject of school vents.. is there ANYTHING we can do about the 15 min lunch time? I'm being very serious.. Madison is starving everyday and each day she says she didn't have time to finish her food. I've taught my kids to eat slowly (as we all should!) and now they basically want them to scarf it all down! Are we powerless over this?
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10 comments:
As for the debate about for or against I think that point is moot.If you are a spanker then you are constantly told by society and the government that it is wrong to do but the school can do it anytime they please...the result a powerless parent.On the other hand if you do not spank your children the school is still allowed to spank your child...the result a powerless parent.I dont like it,not one bit!!!!!!!I am not sure what any one person can do about it just short of going to the school board or further.
be sure you're reading all of it in context, i'm not saying one way or the other because i don't have one to look at, but seems like when my kid was there, 1. corporal punishment could not be used for 1st time offense, and 2. a note was placed on kynlee's file stating she was not to be paddled unless i was not only notified, but present and agreed. i think communication is a big key in ALL school matters. i found mes to be very open about my opinions and worked well with me. . .i know each case/child is different, and i'm not saying there aren't problems, but we had no problems discussing/working things out WITH the school and her teacher. going in guns blazing has never been a great tactic, but they can't work with you if they don't know what you're thinking.
Brandy, the handbook clearly says that they do not need parents permission to spank your child... there is no mention of a waiver you can sign or anything (though surely there is). The way it is written was just extremely harsh and offensive to me... it made me feel exactly how KT described it.. POWERLESS.
you are so much like me it is scary! i had all these thoughts annd more when val went to kindergarten.i even found myself in the principals office a few times, voicing my complaints. I have always believed that if I feel a certain way then I should voice them. Sometimes it gets me in trouble. Even yesterday I was telling Mark how someone can take you child from school by just pulling up in the circle and saying I want "so and so" children. Who would know? I still think we need a voice in the school system...want to help be one? We don't have to go in with guns blazing but united. Working together we can fix these problems.
don't think i'm not telling you guys to voice your opinion. . .in fact i definitely think you should. obviously i have some issues, or i wouldn't have chosen what i have for my children. mind you, i'm not downing the public school, i've said before i'm not anti-school, but issues like these did play a part in my final choice to homeschool. and hearing these issues solidifies that choice. we had an awesome k year, but that is attributed to her teacher, and their willingness at that time to listen and work with us. there is a BIG problem if they aren't listening to you guys and trying to better these situations. i'm just kind of left wondering what you have tried thus far?
i'm not taking up for them exactly, but you have to remember that over 3/4ths of these kids have parents who do not discipline (and i do mean the act of discipline, not spanking) (in fact, lots of people spank without disciplining) are not involved with their kids, don't help them with their homework and yet cause huge problems with the school day in and day out. too many parents expect the school to do what parents should do. i know you guys aren't who i'm describing, but they don't know that until you prove it to them.
By all means, you should feel welcome to voice your objections to the school about the policies. One great thing about public schools are that they are intended to be run by the community. It irritates me that schools around here respond to critics as if they are just irate troublemakers. It is the school administrator's job to take criticism seriously and work with you, not shrug it off or try to demonize those who make objections. That is wrong.
To play devil's advocate on the spanking issue...I do believe it is a bad practice in elementary grades, but can be very effective in higher grades. I went to a Jr. High school that had a policy of giving "hacks" to students with bad behavioral problems. A "hack" meant that the Vice Principal (an ex-football player) bent the child across his desk and whacked him with a yardstick (in front of witnesses). I went to a pretty wild school, but for the most part the campus remained very orderly...the hack worked as a deterrent.
I'm sure it can be effective at any age.. but in order to keep friends I'll avoid going into exactly why I'm so antispanking, even older kids. lol
Angela, I am all about being a voice, I just am unsure where to start, who to talk to, etc. I don't like many things about the school and I have also mentioned to clayton how ANYONE could say they wanted to pick up madison and just take her! We've had that talk with her.. but how would she really act if a teacher is shoving her into a strangers car b/c God forbid we hold up the line! lol I want the lunch time changed more than anything b/c it directly affects madison DAILY.. one of my teacher friends said we'd have to go to the state on that one! That it isn't up to the individual schools... we'll have to start looking into this! From what I know teachers are JUST as unhappy about a lot of this stuff as we are.
Mandy,
I visited MES during lunch time today and came out with "guns a blazing." I am going to make a appointment with the principal tomarrow for Tuesday. I want to know how I go about setting up a PTA, so that parents can voice their concerns to the school in a reasonable way. Lunchtime gave me an ulcer, just listening to the teachers yell at the kids every 10 seconds. It was ridiculous. Anyhow YOu are welcome to come with me to talk to the principle. Maybe two can make a difference. They may just not know how parents are feeling. I will give them the benefit of the doubt. Now, the teachers who are yelling shutup and stupid on the playground are just ignorant and I will not allow any benefit of the doubt there. So those are my issues, as well as the ones you voiced. Just wait till they take her on a field trip letting you know...all because at the start of school you signed that permission paper for them to take Madison off school property. I was fuming mad when that happened with Val. It may have been just to the dentist office, but at least let the parents know. We are still the ones with the ultimate responsibility of taking care of our children.
Angela, I'd really be interested in the PTA!! Do we not have one here? I was wondering about that the other day. Are teachers yelling at kids to shut up and such on the playground?! Omgosh.. that would REALLY upset madison.. I'm so sad that this is how my baby girl spends so much of her day.. being told to be quiet and hurry up. :( something MUST change. I am learning more and more why parents homeschool!
..or send the children to "Grace Christian Academy"....where we handle problems with prayer. The only raised voices are kids singing in weekly chapel. After 33 years in public school ...it was becoming a zoo. At GCA I have found peace and actually enjoy teaching again. :)
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