School Policy...*(&^&%!!!!!

[Camelot Farms]

I know that you cant please all of the people all of the time, but boy wouldnt it be nice...

DD came home from 1st day of 3rd grade all excited and couldnt wait to tell me everything! lol.

We get through all of the important things like who she sits next to, what BFF's are in her class and who is the highest AR reader etc

Then she brings out the STRIKE SHEET. Apparently, the strike sheet is where the staff will keep track of 3rd grade sins. Which at first seemed pretty okay...you get a strike for talking in the halls, not keeping your hands to yourself etc etc. I'm good with teaching rules and making the day run smoothly.

Then, she starts explaining how if I dont sign her homework folder, she gets a strike. If I dont get her to school on time and she is tardy, she gets a strike. If I dont do this that or the other thing, she gets a strike.

Now my BP starts to rise. Since when do we visit the sins of the parent on the child? Hello. What about the parents who are too busy worrying about the next meal is coming from to sign the homework folder, or the parent who is worried about where they will be living tomorrow...or if their partner is going to use again today....or they oversleep because they worked a double shift for extra money and just didnt quite make it to the bus in time...I could go on, but I think I've covered the biggies...

And, as the strikes add up, different punishments are meted out. 3 strikes in silent lunch, 6 is something else, etc etc.

How can children be punished for this? I truly dont understand.

I just dont get it.......

 

[ChuckenGirl]

No talking in the halls?!
What!
I thought that was old school...

Thats so stupid though, i would call the school and ask why

 

[mamagardener]

I agree, some parents don't really care about their kids school work, and the child suffers for it. If the parent isn't up on everything the kid can really miss out.

 

[The Chicken Lady]

Because it affects their learning...

When you have a kid, whether you have money or not, you need to be in charge of getting that kid his or her education. You need to make sure they have everything they need for school, make sure they get to school on time, and yes, finish their homework. There are plenty of studies out there that prove that having a parent actively involved in a child's school life will help that child be successful.

Anything less, in my opinion, constitutes neglect -- especially in elementary school when kids aren't ready to raise themselves. When you check homework and worry about being late to school, your child watches you and learns that being responsible, following through, and being punctual are important. These things should be taught in the home, and sadly, not always are.

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

It's because they don't know which ones aren't signed because the parents didn't care, or the kids didn't show the parents, from the parents who do care but life got in the way. Or they simply forgot.

They will tell you they are preparing your children for the working world, and well, at a job you can't be late or not do an assignment, etc. and expect to keep your job.

I don't agree with punishing the child for something that was the parent's responsibility to do, but that's how the schools are. It was when I was a kid, too.

I remember my mom, who was a single mother, kept forgetting to sign and return my report card. I was in I think 4th or 5th grade. Everyday that I didn't have my report card to turn in, I had detention. They expected me to tell my mother that my report card needed signed. I did tell her, but my mom's life was so frazzled, that she easily forgot.

It made for bad feelings towards my mom on my part.

 

[Camelot Farms]

I agree Chicken Lady (I am a former Head Start worker, and boy, do I agree!),but the reality is that not every child has this so how does this Strike System ultmately effect the child?

They are being punished for something that is just not under their control at the age of 8/9. I wonder what this really teaches them?

 

[SarahFair]

When I was in 7th grade we had to get our agendas signed evernight. I did my homework and all but getting that thing signed seemed to slip my mind all the time. Id be sitting on the front porch waiting on the bus and remember..
Then I get to panic cause I didnt get it signed. They would make us sit in silent lunch if we didnt get it signed.

Dumb.

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

Its the same here, plus we are not allowed to go to the class room the teacher has to come to you even after school in the hall buy the office,you can't even pull you kid off the bus if you show up at the last minute and this is a country school.

Sorry

 

[Chickenmaven]

I share your frustration with this. Those expectations are very middle class and punish kids for things beyond their control. I grew up in a chaotic single-parent (divorced) household. I got in trouble because my mom was "too busy" (dating) to clean our clothes and send us to school, ready for gym class or such. Not every kid has two parents in the home or even a parent in the evenings...
I have a friend who had an awful time with her son's 5th grade teacher. The woman assigned big projects to be completed over the weekend or mandated "family game night." My friend is a divorced executive. These *assignments* were basically the teacher controlling my friend's spare time, under the assumption that parents have to be forced to do educational activities with their kids. Worse yet, it put my friend in the position of having to direct her ex-husband in completing the projects. Again, if the parent doesn't tow the line, the kid is penalized. Wrong, wrong, wrong!

 

[NGT ANGL]

I would call the school and inquire about this. I can understand that there are rules that need to be followed but who made these rules and punishments? I am not an educator so this is my opinion only but some of the rules seem a bit extreme and archaic and some just unreasonable and silly...I could see a no running or horsepaly rule in the hallway but no talking......good grief....