I’ve Got The Elementary School Blues
I’ve got a post up today on LA Moms about the current school budget crisis and one of the Catch-22, Make-You-Crazy-Just-Listening things that our school district does.
My friend Jessica is school shopping and I honestly never thought I would be as well, but I am. Our home school, that we can walk to, has really gone in a direction I don’t want to follow. I always thought we were immune from LAUSD’s craziness because we had a community here that insulated us from the madness, but that’s just not true anymore. Looming budget cuts threaten to make it even worse, and trust me, that’s a scary thought.
I think it’s a bit of a radical notion in this day and age, but I feel that school should be a positive experience. For both the children and the parents. I daresay elementary school ought to even be fun. Am I crazy? There are those who say that — and worse — about me. (Shocking!)
I’ve said this before, but I really believe it’s time for a paradigm shift in the schools: they need to work FOR US. Principals, teachers, downtown HQ — they all need to understand that we — the parents — are their customers, and that if we don’t like their services anymore, we’ll go somewhere else. And that will leave them without jobs. Um, have you made the connection?
Dec 04, 2009 @ 22:45:11
Not using our neighborhood school is really sad for me. It’s a horrible decision to feel like you have to make.
Dec 05, 2009 @ 15:51:03
It’s only going to get worse ;(
Dec 05, 2009 @ 15:57:43
That’s depressing!
Dec 06, 2009 @ 16:11:48
Good luck on your search! You know I agree with you 100%.
.-= April´s last blog ..Friday (already!) Fragments =-.
Dec 08, 2009 @ 17:33:27
I worked for LAUSD as a special education teacher for four years, and honestly, the teachers are just as frustrated as the parents! While there are plenty of parents like you out there, there are an overwhelming number of parents who abdicate responsibility for raising their children to the school system. On top of that, have you ever had a look at the Open Court curriculum that they use for EVERY elementary classroom in the entire district? It’s incredibly boring, difficult to manage, unengaging, and results in kids totally uninterested in learning. Don’t blame (all) the teachers! I worked with an incredible group of teachers–with one or two exceptions–but would never have wanted my own children to attend the school. Not because of the teachers, but because of the students at the school.
.-= Beatrice´s last blog ..When Being a Reader & Being a Writer Collide =-.
Dec 09, 2009 @ 19:59:53
In light of forced budget cuts by LAUSD, certain truths need to be admitted. LAUSD is comprised of largely low-income, non-English speaking students – some with parents that just want a babysitter, others that want their children to be more educated and succesful than they are. Regardless, they are why LAUSD exists and their needs should be met. UNFORTUNATELY, the minority comprised of well-educated parents (because they have more time & money & resources & education and attitude) feel that they can bully their neighborhood schools to meet only their needs, and ignore the needs of the masses. Which group (the struggling majority or the knowledgable minority) knows how to play the Magnet School game, knows how to understand the options available to their children, knows how to demand IEPs for special services, dares to complain about teachers that don’t treat their child like a pampered genuis? Maybe it’s time to start looking elsewhere – or maybe accept the benefits of a public school and work towards making it better for ALL!
Dec 09, 2009 @ 20:48:54
Justine, first of all, public schools are for everyone. Second of all, some of us “minority parents” (your definition) have spent all of our free time and energy (and money) while we’ve had our children in public school working for the good of all children in the school.
Did it ever occur to you that changes made by a few active parents, no matter their ethnic makeup, might improve things for all the students in the school? That’s the way it is at my kids’ school. The funds we raised for our computer lab, for example, insure that all kids get a chance to use computers, not just the white kids. Same with field trips, library acquisitions, and keeping a nurse at our school for more days than the district pays for.
Did it also occur to you that maybe I’m not upset about a teacher who isn’t treating my child like a pampered genius but rather about a teacher who belittles all the children — or a teacher who doesn’t try hard enough because they feel their students aren’t worth it? Please don’t make assumptions about me or my motives based on a few blog posts.
Dec 12, 2009 @ 13:45:17
Hey Sarah, I love your clear very well-stated response above. I do have to say though that many schools do consider parents and students “customers” who DESERVE the best education possible; unfortunately we are in a district that makes that so incredibly difficult. Not to mention a teachers union that fiercely protects teachers and there are definitely some that should not be protected. It angers me that I have a new teacher iat my school who is AWESOME but will probably lose her job due to budget cuts; yet, I also have a “veteran” teacher who is AWFUL who will get to keep her job. So incredibly frustrating to the parents and administration at the school site. What grade is your oldest going into next year?
Dec 13, 2009 @ 06:38:27
I would love to get a list of those schools you know of that treat parents like customers, when you have a chance!! And I feel your pain about losing a good teacher just because she doesn’t have the seniority — it’s not right.