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Invitation to come with me to Hunt Middle School
 by greenfringegarden on 2/9/2010 @ 5:51pm |
Dear Fredo:
This is an official invitation for you to come to my son's school with me and see how things roll. He attends Hunt Middle School in NW Tacoma. It is a great school and we love it. Today I volunteered after school in one of the fun things that one of the teachers is doing with the kids on Tuesdays and Thursdays...teaching kids how to crochet and learning about the history of knots and knotting. I did speak to my son's math teacher who has 29! kids in his class. She is an amazing person. 29 kids in 54 minute segments means less than 2 minutes per child. (unless my math is incorrect) I would like you to honestly see the teachers and people that you have said are not deserving of a Levy passing or working in an energy efficient building; and see some of the kids that you sort of have disparaged. This is an official friendly invitation. I'd like you to meet my son as well and hear about his experiences. I am volunteering for a community project involving a "Scotty Rescue". I'd like you to see how hard the teachers work and how nice the kids are, and how they behave when directed. You might change some of your attitudes towards your fellow, Americans. All my best Greenfringegarden: email gardenoforganicdelights@gmail.com |
 by fredo on 2/10/2010 @ 10:01pm | I have nothing but the highest esteem for the fine instructors and students at Hunt School. I hope I didn't say anything disparaging about any of them, did I? As I mentioned previously, I have my own kids in school and am constantly involved with them so I have a pretty good idea what's going on in the schools, but thanks for the invite. Regarding the teacher with 29 students. One reason the head counts are so high is that there is an inverse relationship between teacher pay and class size. The higher we pay teachers the larger the class size has to be, all other factors being equal. Regarding my attitudes toward my fellow Americans, my attitude is that taxes should be lower so that all my fellow Americans will have more money to save, invest, spend, perhaps even purchase a home of their own. Is that attitude really so abhorrent that it must be changed? |
 by Non Sequitur on 2/10/2010 @ 10:49pm | I predict that Fredo will not go |
by fredo on 2/11/2010 @ 6:26am | NS- why don't you attend as my proxy? I'm sure people reading the blog would like to find out some more about "Scotty's Rescue." |
by greenfringegarden on 2/11/2010 @ 10:16am | Fredo, I want to tell you a story...(and all), My son who is 12, has been tussling with some kids at school. Normal stuff. However, last week he and this other student got physical with each other. My son is a student who is shy, introverted and artistic and due to our move to Pierce County has gone through much stress due to changing schools and dealing with more disruptive environments. He is not a tough kid by any stretch of the imagination, however due to physical training and other factors he has gotten to the point where he will defend himself. (I am glad for this) So, the day he tussled with this kid, he got in trouble. (and he deserved to be in trouble) I will say if he survives middle school, (and I survive as a parent) the lessons he has learned will be very useful.
He was very angry because he was provoked and in explaining himself to the principal who was not aware there was a previous problem he swore and said the "F" word a couple of times. Now when I showed up to pick him up...he was in trouble with the principal. I also found out he was not completing some work and this is partly due to fighting at school and getting unfocused. So that Friday he came home with me, was given consequences at home, had to write an apology to the principal and we followed up to make sure the incident was dealt with. The principal who is a great guy...and I chatted and I asked about "consequences" at school for his misbehavior. The principal basically said that my son had demonstrated a shift in behavior and apologized. I did not think this was quite enough. To make a long story short I asked if my son could pick up trash at lunch time, or something that would cement in his mind that he is not to swear...even if he is angry. (similar to how we must behave at work) I have seen kids have consequences via care of the building and grounds, or even what is called "Saturday Crews" where they must complete a task(s) as opposed to being suspended to learn how to behave properly. I am all in favor of it. You would be surprised how quickly they learn to avoid this, as well as learn to care for their campus. The principal told me, (he taught in Seattle at Garfield) that yes, he used that effectively at Garfield High School. However in Tacoma there was an issue with the union regarding allowing students to pick up trash as a consequence. I have an email in to the school board about this, as well as a request to consider a comprehensive "Green Program" to work on teaching sustainability concepts. Part of sustainability is "taking care of" what you have...and "consequences" for negative behavior in the environment. There are really good educational units that go along with this through Pierce County utilities. Today I spoke directly with the Custodian, (he is great) He said the issue is not a union issue...but a "community" issue. Kids used to have to do all sorts of things like picking up trash, and erasing grafitti for "consequences" as opposed to suspension...but some parents complained and the practice was "stopped," He advised me to contact the school board regarding this. Some parents stated they did not like their children doing the "work of paid employees," So, here is a case...where the teachers...the administration is fully prepared to engage in a fully logical behavior that teaches good things to young people...and they are not doing it...because "the community" does not like it. In other words, some discipline that we would all like to see is not being done because one or two people did not like it. So, how do you fix this? I think kids should be taught to respect their campus, their buildings and materials. "We the community" provided it for them, and they are part of that community. We have to empower our teachers and administrators as well as get community members involved. Fredo, lowering funding is not going to solve that problem. ("Trickle Down" tax relief for home ownership does not really fit with passing a Levy do you think?) I invite you to join with me regarding this. In fact you and I together with others probably would give good input to the school board because I think our "goals" are the same. Namely, well run, efficient, effective schools where our children get a first rate education. The Custodian mind you shares the support for "consequences" and teaching the kids goo behavior. He gets to "pick up" after everyone. He works extremely hard at it. I do not know how they keep up. My invitation stands........My email address: gardenoforganicdelights@gmail.com The Scotty Rescue, is an after school program that I am volunteering to work on with a Staff administrator. Today I will be going to work with the kids on the computer as we are setting up a blog first. Hunt's Mascot is a Scotty Dog...great opportunity for learning. Invitation is still on the table Fredo. My best to you as a fellow parent. |
 by Mofo from the Hood on 2/11/2010 @ 11:35am | "The principal basically said that my son had demonstrated a shift in behavior and apologized. I did not think this was quite enough".
Problem #1: You seem clueless about men. Problem #2: You've taken an issue of private responsibilty, parenting---teaching children responsibility for their own behavior, and parental punishment---and asked TPS take on your parental authority to perform your parental task and responsibility at the public's expense. |
by fredo on 2/11/2010 @ 12:19pm | Could you explain to me again how my posting about the School District levy proposals is related to your son's tussling and f-words, and custodians, and teaching kids "goo" behaviors and all that?" I really am afraid I've missed someting. |
by greenfringegarden on 2/11/2010 @ 1:19pm | MOFO Problem #1, not sure what your commentary means. I did not explain the situation fully. The principal actually thought a consequence was a good idea...the issue was not about that, just that he did not have the power to enforce what I was asking. He basically let my son off the hook, partially because my son had demonstrated some good behavior but also because he could not enforce a consequence, and he gave a reason that to me made no sense so I followed up on it and found out the real issue was not a union issue but a parent complaining about discipline actions.
Having kids pick up trash and other details would not cost TPS or the public a dime...so I am not sure I understand your comments. The school in my opinion acts on my behalf as a parent when my child is their jurisdiction. Or do you think kids come to school well behaved all the time? They misbehave to the level that misbehavior is allowed, just like at home, especially K-8. ? Or do you not know that? Discipline and structure are part of what we expect in school until kids are mature and old enough to discipline themselves...and without proper cues they do not learn it. I may be "clueless about men" but it does not seem related to this incident. The problem is: whether or not a teacher/administrator can enforce a rule or behavior without community support and backup. I gather not and I see it again and again. In private Catholic schools, children are supposed to meet certain expectations...it is not based on race, creed or income levels...it is based on the fact you cannot be efficient and effective with disruption and disorder. My son misbehaved at school and while at school he is under the jurisdiction of the school and its authority. (Staff) He can have consequences at home...which he did. He can also have consequences as part of the school community to cement the educational aspects at school. I am not asking the school to take on the "private" parenting...I am asking about the community responsiblity that my son needs to follow. AND I want it enforced if possible. However because as a community we cannot agree that kids need discipline and "consequences" public school teachers and administrators lack the teeth to follow through. (unless you believe schools/staff do not have the right to carry out discipline with kids?) The custodian put it this way...schools have rules...but without enforcement they carry no weight. Suspension is frequently the way public schools carry out discipline, or other ways like having kids pick up trash...or other things like writing, or detention. I am in favor of all these methods and I would empower the teachers even more. As a parent, I support the rules, and I recognize if my son misbehaves he will have consequences at home as well as school and I will not interfere with that because I am in the school community. The principal, the custodian would all like to have trash pick up as a consequence of misbehavior. However it is up to the school board and the community to allow that to occur. At Hunt Middle School I have seen really good consequences for kids, but I would argue that unless children are cued again and again, from the time they are P-8, they simply do not get it. Fredo: You stated that your reason for not supporting a levy had to do with inefficiency of the schools and other factors like discipline. Here is an example where "we" working together could help that...I think the schools perform to the best of their ability given the real lack of authority and autonomy they are allowed to have. Put your money where your mouth is: Come and see it with me. |
by Mofo from the Hood on 2/11/2010 @ 1:55pm | Personally, based on your story about your son defending himself, I don't see a problem.
I'll bet you five-cents that if your son finds the biggest kid at Hunt and then thoroughly kick his ass, from that time forward your son will never be bothered again. |
by greenfringegarden on 2/11/2010 @ 7:34pm | Hey, Mofo, you are probably right...in fact a person I know who is a trainer for military operations said exactly the same thing...however I am trying to encourage polite behavior until it comes to that. He is going to be a tall, larger person so all the polite behavior I can get him to do...now I am going to encourage.
Here is a clip from youtube that the kids think is quite funny. I guess the kids that say the F' word can be the film makers of tomorrow. The 12 year olds absolutely "scream" when the see it... www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhmdUfkqcFQ&feat... However it does illustrate why kids do get confused when the "adults" behave so badly. |
by greenfringegarden on 2/11/2010 @ 7:37pm | And if you know a polite child kid...you can always print out the poster on this link!
www.rudebusters.com/etikid.htm |
by Mofo from the Hood on 2/11/2010 @ 8:16pm | I don't doubt that you want the best for your son.
He sounds like a lot of guys who just don't want to listen to other people's S---. Other guys can pick up on that and cause some grief. Just for fun. Don't make a school drama production out of it. |
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