Egads! First look at my local PS! - long
queenpamedalah
So my youngest (3) has a speech delay and we went through the
Tennessee Early Intervention System and he aged out so now he's
going to the PS elementary in my neighborhood once a week, etc.
etc. (just the background so you know why I was even there)
Today was our first day and my dh really encouraged me to look at
the school because he still feels that our oldest (5) should be in
PS. So I went in with an open mind... how bad could it be?
I went up to the doors which were locked. You have to press a buzzer
and they buzz you in. - I'm okay with this as a security measure; I
let it slide.
I enter the office, explain I'm there to see the speech therapist
and am told to sign in. A bit indifferent, but, hey, I'm just
another schmo interrupting her day.
While waiting all of 5 minutes, my boys and I saw 2 kids crying
(they had obviously just gotten in trouble for something) and we
overheard a man (presumably the principal) saying quite loudly "you
are both on in-school suspension and I want you two to shake hands
like men and there will be no more of this ever." My 5 yr old was
confused by the tone of the principal (I don't know what the
transgression was, so perhaps the volume and tone were warranted?).
I explained that he wanted to make sure he was heard. (lame, I know)
We were escorted to the therapist's office past a giant billboard -
"We are a No Fight School" Days without fighting - 12. Longest
without fighting 12. You know, like those "accident free" boards at
warehouses? It's right in the main entry for all to see. Are all
schools like this?!?
We walked through the lunchroom where 20 kids were sitting on the
floor in a line waiting to go back to their class while another 30
or so were eating and a teacher was berating one of the kids in
line - "everytime you turn around you're getting in trouble. keep
straight and don't look at anyone else." I'm thinking, What
the?!?! His tone was condescending and unfriendly. Even if THAT
kid somehow had a history that the teacher felt the tone was
warranted, what about his peers? They don't need to know he has a
history and don't need to hear that tone used - ever.
It was all depressing. There was more, but I don't want to ramble
too long. I walked away with sorrow for those kids and started
wording the apology to my husband... I'm sorry. I want to respect
your wishes, but no #^%@^%ing way are my children ever going to be
subjected to that treatment!! I'm not even sure I want to take my
youngest back for therapy there. (the Therapist was great, by the
way, so at least we had a good session)
I know that I live in a city with some of the worst public schools
in the country. I've heard horror stories, usually which I feel are
blown out of porportion and now I feel like I've had a glimpse and
maybe they weren't off base after all.
Thanks for letting me vent,
Pamela
Tennessee Early Intervention System and he aged out so now he's
going to the PS elementary in my neighborhood once a week, etc.
etc. (just the background so you know why I was even there)
Today was our first day and my dh really encouraged me to look at
the school because he still feels that our oldest (5) should be in
PS. So I went in with an open mind... how bad could it be?
I went up to the doors which were locked. You have to press a buzzer
and they buzz you in. - I'm okay with this as a security measure; I
let it slide.
I enter the office, explain I'm there to see the speech therapist
and am told to sign in. A bit indifferent, but, hey, I'm just
another schmo interrupting her day.
While waiting all of 5 minutes, my boys and I saw 2 kids crying
(they had obviously just gotten in trouble for something) and we
overheard a man (presumably the principal) saying quite loudly "you
are both on in-school suspension and I want you two to shake hands
like men and there will be no more of this ever." My 5 yr old was
confused by the tone of the principal (I don't know what the
transgression was, so perhaps the volume and tone were warranted?).
I explained that he wanted to make sure he was heard. (lame, I know)
We were escorted to the therapist's office past a giant billboard -
"We are a No Fight School" Days without fighting - 12. Longest
without fighting 12. You know, like those "accident free" boards at
warehouses? It's right in the main entry for all to see. Are all
schools like this?!?
We walked through the lunchroom where 20 kids were sitting on the
floor in a line waiting to go back to their class while another 30
or so were eating and a teacher was berating one of the kids in
line - "everytime you turn around you're getting in trouble. keep
straight and don't look at anyone else." I'm thinking, What
the?!?! His tone was condescending and unfriendly. Even if THAT
kid somehow had a history that the teacher felt the tone was
warranted, what about his peers? They don't need to know he has a
history and don't need to hear that tone used - ever.
It was all depressing. There was more, but I don't want to ramble
too long. I walked away with sorrow for those kids and started
wording the apology to my husband... I'm sorry. I want to respect
your wishes, but no #^%@^%ing way are my children ever going to be
subjected to that treatment!! I'm not even sure I want to take my
youngest back for therapy there. (the Therapist was great, by the
way, so at least we had a good session)
I know that I live in a city with some of the worst public schools
in the country. I've heard horror stories, usually which I feel are
blown out of porportion and now I feel like I've had a glimpse and
maybe they weren't off base after all.
Thanks for letting me vent,
Pamela
Sylvia Toyama
Pamedalah -- are you by chance in Memphis or nearby suburbs? Your description of the school sounds like an elementary version of the middle school my nephew attended for about a month last winter -- in Bartlett, a Memphis 'burb. My sister pulled them out fast when she heard/saw that the middle school was like a prison, and their curriculum was way below what they'd been used to in Texas.
Sylvia
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Sylvia
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Manisha Kher
--- queenpamedalah <swombo@...> wrote:
for speech delay when he turned 3. We decided to wait
it out. He's 4 now. He probably is not as clear or as
verbal as other 4 year olds. But that doesn't bother
me because he has definitely made a lot of progress.
I'm glad we didn't pursue the PS option. He's had a
richer life at home.
Manisha
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
> So my youngest (3) has a speech delay and we wentMy son was also in EI and then referred to the school
> through the
> Tennessee Early Intervention System and he aged out
> so now he's
> going to the PS elementary in my neighborhood once a
> week, etc.
> etc. (just the background so you know why I was
> even there)
>
for speech delay when he turned 3. We decided to wait
it out. He's 4 now. He probably is not as clear or as
verbal as other 4 year olds. But that doesn't bother
me because he has definitely made a lot of progress.
I'm glad we didn't pursue the PS option. He's had a
richer life at home.
Manisha
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
[email protected]
Hey, Pamela. I know how you feel. My son took preschool speech therapy at
two different (and nice) elementary schools and I would sit in the lobby and
wait for him. Although at that time I had no intention of homeschooling, I
was certainly horrified by what passes on a normal day.
There was one teacher who always had a smile on her face and a soft voice.
I noticed as I saw her and her class pass through the lobby three days a week
that they were always quiet and nicely behaved. Another lady screamed and
scowled and her kids were crazy and angry.
They had to wear coats at recess, even when it was warm because the school
had a "wear what you came to school in" policy. So those crazy days when it
is 35 in the morning and 70 in the afternoon, the kids were sweaty and
overheated.
I saw a rambunctious boy of about 10 ganged up on by three teachers who
hissed and shamed so horribly that he fought back tears the whole rest of his
time standing in that stupid line.
And that was just the lobby.
Leslie in SC
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
two different (and nice) elementary schools and I would sit in the lobby and
wait for him. Although at that time I had no intention of homeschooling, I
was certainly horrified by what passes on a normal day.
There was one teacher who always had a smile on her face and a soft voice.
I noticed as I saw her and her class pass through the lobby three days a week
that they were always quiet and nicely behaved. Another lady screamed and
scowled and her kids were crazy and angry.
They had to wear coats at recess, even when it was warm because the school
had a "wear what you came to school in" policy. So those crazy days when it
is 35 in the morning and 70 in the afternoon, the kids were sweaty and
overheated.
I saw a rambunctious boy of about 10 ganged up on by three teachers who
hissed and shamed so horribly that he fought back tears the whole rest of his
time standing in that stupid line.
And that was just the lobby.
Leslie in SC
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
-----Original Message-----
From: queenpamedalah swombo@...
We were escorted to the therapist's office past a giant billboard -
"We are a No Fight School" Days without fighting - 12. Longest
without fighting 12. You know, like those "accident free" boards at
warehouses? It's right in the main entry for all to see. Are all
schools like this?!?
-=-=-
Well, seeing as school's been in session for over five months now---and they've only had 12 days of no fighting, *I* would say it is a "Fighting" school! <bwg>
~Kelly
Kelly Lovejoy
Conference Coordinator
Live and Learn Unschooling Conference
http://liveandlearnconference.org
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
From: queenpamedalah swombo@...
We were escorted to the therapist's office past a giant billboard -
"We are a No Fight School" Days without fighting - 12. Longest
without fighting 12. You know, like those "accident free" boards at
warehouses? It's right in the main entry for all to see. Are all
schools like this?!?
-=-=-
Well, seeing as school's been in session for over five months now---and they've only had 12 days of no fighting, *I* would say it is a "Fighting" school! <bwg>
~Kelly
Kelly Lovejoy
Conference Coordinator
Live and Learn Unschooling Conference
http://liveandlearnconference.org
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Deb
Is there any 'back door' way to get to the therapist's area without
going through all that? Any way you can access the therapist's
services someplace else (since they tend to serve multiple schools
nowadays maybe you could meet up at a different school)? Does the
therapist have a private practice that you can maybe work out
something to meet there?
--Deb
going through all that? Any way you can access the therapist's
services someplace else (since they tend to serve multiple schools
nowadays maybe you could meet up at a different school)? Does the
therapist have a private practice that you can maybe work out
something to meet there?
--Deb
queenpamedalah
Indeed I am in Memphis. It was one of the primary reasons to choose
homeschooling! My boys have been in a private school, but even
there, I wasn't happy with the discipline issues (as I've posted in
the past). I was tired of the "police reports" from my son when I
felt I should have been hearing what he learned!
The sad part is that where we went is "one of the better schools."
Better?!? Then this city is truly in dire straits!
Pamela :)
--- In [email protected], Sylvia Toyama
<sylgt04@y...> wrote:
middle school my nephew attended for about a month last winter -- in
Bartlett, a Memphis 'burb. My sister pulled them out fast when she
heard/saw that the middle school was like a prison, and their
curriculum was way below what they'd been used to in Texas.
homeschooling! My boys have been in a private school, but even
there, I wasn't happy with the discipline issues (as I've posted in
the past). I was tired of the "police reports" from my son when I
felt I should have been hearing what he learned!
The sad part is that where we went is "one of the better schools."
Better?!? Then this city is truly in dire straits!
Pamela :)
--- In [email protected], Sylvia Toyama
<sylgt04@y...> wrote:
>description of the school sounds like an elementary version of the
> Pamedalah -- are you by chance in Memphis or nearby suburbs? Your
middle school my nephew attended for about a month last winter -- in
Bartlett, a Memphis 'burb. My sister pulled them out fast when she
heard/saw that the middle school was like a prison, and their
curriculum was way below what they'd been used to in Texas.
>
> Sylvia
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
> http://mail.yahoo.com
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
queenpamedalah
That's actually what I decided to find out today. I've got a call
in to the program supervisor. I think that if they say "no," I'll
just keep working with him on my own. It's mostly articulation at
this point. He's come a long way this past year.
Thanks for the suggestions!
Pamela ;)
--- In [email protected], "Deb" <soggyboysmom@y...>
wrote:
in to the program supervisor. I think that if they say "no," I'll
just keep working with him on my own. It's mostly articulation at
this point. He's come a long way this past year.
Thanks for the suggestions!
Pamela ;)
--- In [email protected], "Deb" <soggyboysmom@y...>
wrote:
>without
> Is there any 'back door' way to get to the therapist's area
> going through all that? Any way you can access the therapist's
> services someplace else (since they tend to serve multiple schools
> nowadays maybe you could meet up at a different school)? Does the
> therapist have a private practice that you can maybe work out
> something to meet there?
>
> --Deb
>
elizabeth roberts
My stepmom, who is originally from Memphis would agree with you. She and I had quite a few discussions about the schools there and if she should move back there with my sister, who has an ADHD diagnosis and at the time was reading on a first grade level in 6th grade thanks to educational neglect by the schools. Lee decided to stay in KY, push for help for Mandi as well as work with her at home after school...and now she's doing well and set to graduate next year (2007). Lee still intends to move home to Memphis, but not til after Mandi graduates.
Beth
queenpamedalah <swombo@...> wrote:
Indeed I am in Memphis. ... The sad part is that where we went is "one of the better schools."
Better?!? Then this city is truly in dire straits!
Pamela :)
Sing, Dance, Laugh...LOVE!
---------------------------------
Yahoo! Photos
Ring in the New Year with Photo Calendars. Add photos, events, holidays, whatever.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Beth
queenpamedalah <swombo@...> wrote:
Indeed I am in Memphis. ... The sad part is that where we went is "one of the better schools."
Better?!? Then this city is truly in dire straits!
Pamela :)
Sing, Dance, Laugh...LOVE!
---------------------------------
Yahoo! Photos
Ring in the New Year with Photo Calendars. Add photos, events, holidays, whatever.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
Hey, I'm from Memphis! If you don't mind I'd be curious what school this
is. My family there is very unsure of my homeschool decision, they might be
interested to know that one of their "good" schools isn't. (No one there has
little kids anymore).
I feel like I've talked to someone on this board from Memphis
before.....maybe you. :)
My mom and dad went to Central in the early 60's and had this idyllic "Happy
Days" experience. They think I'm robbing my children of those great times.
Ha!
Leslie, who still calls Memphis "home"
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
is. My family there is very unsure of my homeschool decision, they might be
interested to know that one of their "good" schools isn't. (No one there has
little kids anymore).
I feel like I've talked to someone on this board from Memphis
before.....maybe you. :)
My mom and dad went to Central in the early 60's and had this idyllic "Happy
Days" experience. They think I'm robbing my children of those great times.
Ha!
Leslie, who still calls Memphis "home"
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
queenpamedalah
Balmoral Elementary in East Memphis, is, as quoted by several middle
school teachers, "one of the better schools" and "not a bad school
at all" and " we don't get problem kids from that school."
When I mention Balmoral to acquaintances, I always get reactions
like - oh, I haven't heard anything bad about them, I bet it's just
fine.
Newsflash - 'tain't!! :)
school teachers, "one of the better schools" and "not a bad school
at all" and " we don't get problem kids from that school."
When I mention Balmoral to acquaintances, I always get reactions
like - oh, I haven't heard anything bad about them, I bet it's just
fine.
Newsflash - 'tain't!! :)
--- In [email protected], Leslie530@a... wrote:
>
> Hey, I'm from Memphis! If you don't mind I'd be curious what
school this
> is. My family there is very unsure of my homeschool decision,
they might be
> interested to know that one of their "good" schools isn't. (No
one there has
> little kids anymore).
>
> I feel like I've talked to someone on this board from Memphis
> before.....maybe you. :)
>
> My mom and dad went to Central in the early 60's and had this
idyllic "Happy
> Days" experience. They think I'm robbing my children of those
great times.
> Ha!
>
> Leslie, who still calls Memphis "home"
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
[email protected]
In a message dated 1/21/2006 11:29:37 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
swombo@... writes:
Balmoral Elementary in East Memphis
********
Thanks! That was a "go to" area when I lived there, too. I think I know a
handful of people my age that live there, but I'm pretty sure they are all at
private school because they are Catholic. A Memphis thang, you know.
I'll be telling your story when the folks get in their "what's wrong with
Leslie" mood. :)
Leslie in SC
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
swombo@... writes:
Balmoral Elementary in East Memphis
********
Thanks! That was a "go to" area when I lived there, too. I think I know a
handful of people my age that live there, but I'm pretty sure they are all at
private school because they are Catholic. A Memphis thang, you know.
I'll be telling your story when the folks get in their "what's wrong with
Leslie" mood. :)
Leslie in SC
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
S Drag-teine
My aunt just moved from Tennessee (about a year ago?) - I am not sure what
part but I know her kids when to a private school. They loved their school
and hate PS here (Maryland). The middle one's last day was Friday and is
coming home - the other two, though jealous will follow at the end of the
school year.
I haven't seen the no fighting signs in any of the local schools here but I
do know that I hate the fact that I don't know what my son was doing when I
sent him for less then a month (because he wanted to go to school). My plan
was always home school but we must let our children make their own choices
and mistakes.
Shannon
~>|<~.~>|<~.~>|<~.~>|<~.~>|<~.~>|<~
I'm glad we switched!
We are now safer and healthier, using toxic-free products and saving money,
too.
Call (212) 990-6214 for a 10 minute prerecorded presentation or contact me
directly.
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of queenpamedalah
Sent: Friday, January 20, 2006 2:13 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [unschoolingbasics] Egads! First look at my local PS! - long
So my youngest (3) has a speech delay and we went through the
Tennessee Early Intervention System and he aged out so now he's
going to the PS elementary in my neighborhood once a week, etc.
etc. (just the background so you know why I was even there)
Today was our first day and my dh really encouraged me to look at
the school because he still feels that our oldest (5) should be in
PS. So I went in with an open mind... how bad could it be?
I went up to the doors which were locked. You have to press a buzzer
and they buzz you in. - I'm okay with this as a security measure; I
let it slide.
I enter the office, explain I'm there to see the speech therapist
and am told to sign in. A bit indifferent, but, hey, I'm just
another schmo interrupting her day.
While waiting all of 5 minutes, my boys and I saw 2 kids crying
(they had obviously just gotten in trouble for something) and we
overheard a man (presumably the principal) saying quite loudly "you
are both on in-school suspension and I want you two to shake hands
like men and there will be no more of this ever." My 5 yr old was
confused by the tone of the principal (I don't know what the
transgression was, so perhaps the volume and tone were warranted?).
I explained that he wanted to make sure he was heard. (lame, I know)
We were escorted to the therapist's office past a giant billboard -
"We are a No Fight School" Days without fighting - 12. Longest
without fighting 12. You know, like those "accident free" boards at
warehouses? It's right in the main entry for all to see. Are all
schools like this?!?
We walked through the lunchroom where 20 kids were sitting on the
floor in a line waiting to go back to their class while another 30
or so were eating and a teacher was berating one of the kids in
line - "everytime you turn around you're getting in trouble. keep
straight and don't look at anyone else." I'm thinking, What
the?!?! His tone was condescending and unfriendly. Even if THAT
kid somehow had a history that the teacher felt the tone was
warranted, what about his peers? They don't need to know he has a
history and don't need to hear that tone used - ever.
It was all depressing. There was more, but I don't want to ramble
too long. I walked away with sorrow for those kids and started
wording the apology to my husband... I'm sorry. I want to respect
your wishes, but no #^%@^%ing way are my children ever going to be
subjected to that treatment!! I'm not even sure I want to take my
youngest back for therapy there. (the Therapist was great, by the
way, so at least we had a good session)
I know that I live in a city with some of the worst public schools
in the country. I've heard horror stories, usually which I feel are
blown out of porportion and now I feel like I've had a glimpse and
maybe they weren't off base after all.
Thanks for letting me vent,
Pamela
Yahoo! Groups Links
part but I know her kids when to a private school. They loved their school
and hate PS here (Maryland). The middle one's last day was Friday and is
coming home - the other two, though jealous will follow at the end of the
school year.
I haven't seen the no fighting signs in any of the local schools here but I
do know that I hate the fact that I don't know what my son was doing when I
sent him for less then a month (because he wanted to go to school). My plan
was always home school but we must let our children make their own choices
and mistakes.
Shannon
~>|<~.~>|<~.~>|<~.~>|<~.~>|<~.~>|<~
I'm glad we switched!
We are now safer and healthier, using toxic-free products and saving money,
too.
Call (212) 990-6214 for a 10 minute prerecorded presentation or contact me
directly.
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of queenpamedalah
Sent: Friday, January 20, 2006 2:13 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [unschoolingbasics] Egads! First look at my local PS! - long
So my youngest (3) has a speech delay and we went through the
Tennessee Early Intervention System and he aged out so now he's
going to the PS elementary in my neighborhood once a week, etc.
etc. (just the background so you know why I was even there)
Today was our first day and my dh really encouraged me to look at
the school because he still feels that our oldest (5) should be in
PS. So I went in with an open mind... how bad could it be?
I went up to the doors which were locked. You have to press a buzzer
and they buzz you in. - I'm okay with this as a security measure; I
let it slide.
I enter the office, explain I'm there to see the speech therapist
and am told to sign in. A bit indifferent, but, hey, I'm just
another schmo interrupting her day.
While waiting all of 5 minutes, my boys and I saw 2 kids crying
(they had obviously just gotten in trouble for something) and we
overheard a man (presumably the principal) saying quite loudly "you
are both on in-school suspension and I want you two to shake hands
like men and there will be no more of this ever." My 5 yr old was
confused by the tone of the principal (I don't know what the
transgression was, so perhaps the volume and tone were warranted?).
I explained that he wanted to make sure he was heard. (lame, I know)
We were escorted to the therapist's office past a giant billboard -
"We are a No Fight School" Days without fighting - 12. Longest
without fighting 12. You know, like those "accident free" boards at
warehouses? It's right in the main entry for all to see. Are all
schools like this?!?
We walked through the lunchroom where 20 kids were sitting on the
floor in a line waiting to go back to their class while another 30
or so were eating and a teacher was berating one of the kids in
line - "everytime you turn around you're getting in trouble. keep
straight and don't look at anyone else." I'm thinking, What
the?!?! His tone was condescending and unfriendly. Even if THAT
kid somehow had a history that the teacher felt the tone was
warranted, what about his peers? They don't need to know he has a
history and don't need to hear that tone used - ever.
It was all depressing. There was more, but I don't want to ramble
too long. I walked away with sorrow for those kids and started
wording the apology to my husband... I'm sorry. I want to respect
your wishes, but no #^%@^%ing way are my children ever going to be
subjected to that treatment!! I'm not even sure I want to take my
youngest back for therapy there. (the Therapist was great, by the
way, so at least we had a good session)
I know that I live in a city with some of the worst public schools
in the country. I've heard horror stories, usually which I feel are
blown out of porportion and now I feel like I've had a glimpse and
maybe they weren't off base after all.
Thanks for letting me vent,
Pamela
Yahoo! Groups Links