Been in a public school lately?

I'm wondering how many have been in a public school lately, to see the awful mess they have become. Or to see, first hand, what kind of children we have coming up who will be running things one day. I teach at a public high school in a large south-central metro area. I started here this year. Before this, I had been teaching in the military system, which I now realize is very different from the regular public schools. The difference being that where parents actually have something to lose, they WILL control their children. I want you to know something of what it is like. Our "children" are beasts. They are rude, disrespectful, full of themselves, pretentious, out of control, sex obsessed and stupid. They know they don't have to behave because there isn't a thing on God's earth we can do to them. The teachers cannot control the classrooms and we can't MAKE them learn anything. These little savages breeze through the system learning as little as possible. It isn't a stretch to realize that if a few of them can write their name, play ball or recite the words to the latest rap song, that is enough to graduate them. I WISH everyone could see an example of their reading, comprehension and writing "skills". I can promise you, you would be outraged. What's even worse, they DON'T care. They don't want to hear about the future. They don't want to hear about excellence. They are stupid and proud. We spend a fortune on Special Education- would you like to know how most of that money is being spent? The resources of special education are being spent on kids who are too disruptive for a regular classroom. These kids aren't "differently-abled" for the most part. I had one little darling tell me that he was there because he didn't want to do the work. That's all. I would love to bring you all in for an afternoon with an "honors class". I MUST wonder what, exactly, are the standards for "honors". There are a precious few kids in these classes who actually ARE brighter than the rest and, for them, I feel a great deal of sympathy. The atmosphere in these classes, as well, is not the least bit conducive to learning. One cannot teach when one cannot control the classrom. One cannot control the classroom when one if faced with parents who view discipline for their children as a lawsuit better than winning the lottery. One cannot teach or control the classroom when one is faced with parents as stupid and worthless as their kids. I will be leaving the public school system at the end of this year. The very people who have allowed this state of affairs to continue will remain in place until the people of this country learn to stand up to the left wing education establishment who have helped to create this abysmal "black hole" and until parents are forced to take responsibility for their horrible kids. Until then, I urge the parents of young kids to get them OUT of it- private school, home school. There are other,FAR better, choices. I'm heading for some OTHER type of job. I wanted to teach; I wanted to make a difference. Now, I am just bitter and angry. And more conservative than ever.

You sound like a great kid. If I had more like you, perhaps I wouldn't be so down on the public schools. Interestingly enough, in this area, the few classes that I have had with good kids were all honors classes with a majority of Asian students.

The schools here (in this county) have moved to a majority of black and hispanic kids with many of those the children of illegals. It amazes me with what pride these kids refer to themselves as "wetbacks".

Keep up the good work. Your mother (father?) sounds rightfully proud of you.

Thanks Fury, I appreciate your help.

I have never had a complaint with the school administration before this, and I am not one to simply complain. Two teachers from two different classes conducted this project together. One teacher issued zero's and detention for his students which included my son, while the other chose to understand that his direction may have caused the confusion, and chose not to punish the students.

My son's teacher avoided our requests for consultation. He lied to us, which I found out by putting his answers together with the answers given by the Vice Principle. The Vice Principle admitted the instruction document was unclear and that the school was already in the process of revising it in order to avoid future problems.

She admitted that this has happened before and why they chose not the revise it then I'll never know. She said that even though the document needed revision, it did not justify the students work. I don't know how she feels able to separate the two issues.

We have already met with the teacher and the Vice Principle. We have another meeting this week with the Vice Principle, because we asked her to show us proof that our son's work on this project was different from the other lab projects this year as she and the teacher claim.

They are accusing my son of cheating but our view and our son's view is the teacher changed directions without notifying the students. The teacher informed the students after they completed their work and refused to allow them to redo the project notes which are at the heart of the issue.

According to my son and the parents of 17-19 other students, the school has accused the students of cheating by copying notes aka plagiarism. My son told us that this was standard practice throughout the year and that the students had repeatedly turned in their work in this fashion. One person took notes as the others carried out the experiment. They reviewed their notes, cleaned them up, and turned a copy of the original notes individually in their lab notebooks.

The school does not have a rule that separates those who cheat or fail to complete their work from those who misunderstand directions. So, if you are unclear of a teachers instructions it could cost you detention, not just getting a zero for the quality of your work.

Sorry for the rant, and thanks again.

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