Bad Kids in Class [Palm Beach teachers: 'We leave teaching because of kids' bad behavior.']

The Palm Beach Post ^ | April 14, 2002 | S. Colavecchio and K. Miller

[BluH2o]

School officials attribute the deepening problem to a variety of factors: district administrators afraid they'll be sued for disciplining too harshly ...

A point I've made mention of several times in this forum ... the U.S. has more lawyers per capita than any nation on earth. Understandably, we are the most litigious nation on this planet.
We need major tort reform in this country immediately ...

[Ditter]

I would not have made that statement if I was isolated. I have 3 grandchildren in 2 different Catholic schools right now. The discipline is excellent. When problems do happen they are delt with immediately. I have had children or grandchildren or nieces & nephews or close friends children in a dozen private schools in Houston over the last 20+ years & the problems like the ones in this article do not happen. Sorry you have not had success in private schools, maybe you should move.

[not-alone]

My home had the same rule. I was at first worried this school was a hotbed of liberal teaching. Meeting the ex-marine ass. principal changed my mind. Many of the teachers were educated outside the USA, but their love of this Country is wonderful. They inform the students how lucky they are.

[Rebelbase]

Tie kid's behavior in school to their driving priviledge, make the wear uniforms in school, bring back paddling, enforce and modify truancy laws to fine parents who allow excessive student absences.

[Ditter]

Your experience is with one private school, mine is with 12, maybe you should not be calling me a idiot.

[Lizavetta]

Ahh yes....the joys of compulsory attendance.

But we must have that, you say, or else these kids would be hanging out on the streets, getting into trouble.

To which I say, They're already doing that in the classroom, effectively stifling learning for the rest of the kids and wasting everybody's time and money.

[Richard Kimball]

Bump for later

[Logophile]

And waiting in the wings, of course, are the trial lawyers, just itching to sue any teacher who tries to discipline any of the little darlings.

A few years ago, I taught a calculus course at a state university. The father of one of my students threatened me with a lawsuit because I gave his daughter the F she had earned. He blamed me that she lost her scholarship.

[frmrda]

I am not calling you an idiot. I am calling your statement that private school kids do not behave like the kids in the article idiotic.

Your view of the situation is extremely myopic. I do not know, but I would be willing to bet that you don't think public school is ever better than private school.

What you need to realize is that not every private school is good, and not every public school is bad.

Our child is going to go to public school because the one in our area is superior and has much more to offer. And yes, I can compare because my wife has worked in both.

If, however, I lived 10 miles away I would send my kid to the private school, as that public school district is not as good as the private school.

Open your eyes and don't make such ridiculous blanket statments, as you have not been in every public school district or private school in the country. Until you have, your statement that every private school child does not behave a certain way is foolish.

[chriservative]

Oddly, we were told these problems would disappear when the paddle was removed from the schools because it taught that violence was OK. Of course, the experts were wrong.

So let me get this straight Pappy - you want to protect the children from violence on TV, but its okay to beat the crap out of them in school? - This just gets better and better. Have you ever considered defenestration?

BTW, I was watching "The Shield" last night and thought of you. Toodles.

[BibChr]

I feel so guilty for HSing my kids, keeping them away from Government schools and being handled by The Experts!

NOT!!!!!

Dan

[Frumious Bandersnatch]

I was a real punk in school and stayed in trouble, but the thought of slugging a teacher never crossed my mind. If I ever did, and the school had told my dad about it, I would not be here today.

Man, the mind boggles!.  The thought never even crossed my mind either.  My imagination breaks down it trying to decide what punishment I would have gotten from my parents for doing such a thing.

[AppyPappy]

Your logic is similar to saying that the Heimlech Maneuver should not be used on children because it amounts to violence against them. Or that you shouldn't push a child out of the way of a moving car because pushing is wrong.

I'm glad you enjoyed "The Shield". Many people enjoyed the two men humping each other on the couch last week. I guess us Heteros just don't get it.

[frmrda]

Again, your experience was with 12 of your own family. You have not seen the behavior of every family's child. There were excellent students in the private school, as well as some bad ones. (A sixth grader threw a chair at my wife - nothing happened to him).

And don't forget, the public school has to take the kids the private schools kick out. So before you go making blanket statements, you should relate that your opinions are based on YOUR observations. Just because it is one way where you are doesn't make it true same everywhere else.

[PLOM...NOT!]

Without having actually read the posted artice, but only the title, my initial reaction is you reap what you sow. The NEA needs to take full credit for the dumbing down of America. Their lack of responsibility is generational now and my what a fine mess they've created.

[Kermit]

Bring parents into the classroom.

[summer]

Re your post #18 - Thanks for the post. I'm glad your wife is safe now!

[AppyPappy]

I never implied you are a homosexual.

[summer]

The parents must then sign a form stating that they will abide by the schools decisions & not sue in the event that their child is disciplined. Refusal to sign sends their child to a "special school" which in form resembles a state prision where the teachers & students are "protected" from each other.

I strongly agree with you on that. Parents should be required to sign such a form. That would help teachers and administrators a lot. And, such forms are already required in many other types of situations.