I have been Called to the Principal's Office

[Foxfyre]

My son is a senior this year. I've checked his grades daily since they put the sytem in when he started 7th grade. I don't need to check it but about once a week since it gets updated so infrequently........its just I never know WHEN it will get updated. As a concerned and involved parent, I want to know ASAP.

I think it is wonderful that parents are able to log into their child's records now in some school systems. And knowing the grades helps. But to complete our parenting obligations, though, I think we have to appreciate Samson's concern that he know WHAT is being taught and know whether his child is being educated. Grades don't always provide information about that.

Well I guess we've been lucky with our public school system. At the beginning of each year the teachers send home documents to be signed by the parents that list their classroom/grading policies and procedures along with what they will be teaching. Then of course all we have to do is tell our son to bring his textbook home if we want to see what material is being taught. I don't think he has had a single teacher that I have not been able to communicate my questions or concerns to by email or conference since he began school.

Public education is not equal across the board. Some are good and some are bad.

The system in your school is the way it should be though I really also liked the parent orientation system we had. And because they were so informative and really let the parents know how and what their kids would be taught, they were very well attended.

Here in the Albuquerque school system, I don't think they even have parent teacher conferences. We lost the battle to even institute some kind of reasonable dress code for the teachers and the way some dress is scandalous.

Back when my kids were in school, such was not a problem. A dress code for kids and staff was reasonable and pretty non restrictive, but did require appropriate dress and it was enforced. The worst battle we fought was with a fundamentalist Christian group that was attempting to get a number of books banned from the school library. It got pretty ugly before it was over but cooler heads prevailed and no books were removed.

And those folks left their kids in the school system, so all's well that ends well I guess.

 

[xotoxi]

Situation Update:

On Friday, October 8th, Six (6) weeks after my original request to see one graded paper/week/class, I received graded papers from every teacher.

I thanked them and looked forward to this week's issue.

It isn't easy to get what you want from schools, but it is possible if you know how to play the their game: DOCUMENT EVERYTHING.

What did you learn from the papers?

 

[saveliberty]

There are other schools.

True, then I could be another of the love-it-or-lump-it croud.

I've already invested too much time and effort to abandon the fight now, but I'm encouraging my 14 yo to go somewhere else next year.

It is your kid's future. Some teachers might retaliate with low grades. I'd ask for all the Biology tests, quizes, assignments and papers.

 

[Cecilie1200]

My son is a senior this year. I've checked his grades daily since they put the sytem in when he started 7th grade. I don't need to check it but about once a week since it gets updated so infrequently........its just I never know WHEN it will get updated. As a concerned and involved parent, I want to know ASAP.

I think it is wonderful that parents are able to log into their child's records now in some school systems. And knowing the grades helps. But to complete our parenting obligations, though, I think we have to appreciate Samson's concern that he know WHAT is being taught and know whether his child is being educated. Grades don't always provide information about that.

Well, try fighting THAT BATTLE!

I'm having trouble simply getting a piece of paper that shows work on it that has been graded to determine whether or not anything, ANYTHING, was learned, much less anything that may be relative to the course of study, or the revelance to curriculum.

Goddamn I've never encountered such a stubborn institution. When I was teaching there is no way in HELL, I, or my principal would have challenged a parent over something so fundamental, and easily implemented.

Honestly, I think it's just a sense of arrogance that's offended by the idea that you would feel entitled to question or check up on ANYTHING they're doing. It's apparently a very easy mindset for people to fall into, because I'm encountering the exact same thing in my life right now, in a different setting.

 

[saveliberty]

Your party running into some issues?

 

[Cecilie1200]

Your party running into some issues?

You could say that. It's really involved enough that I should give it it's own thread, if only because it would make me feel better to vent. Go check "General Discussions" if you're interested.

 

[saveliberty]

Your party running into some issues?

You could say that. It's really involved enough that I should give it it's own thread, if only because it would make me feel better to vent. Go check "General Discussions" if you're interested.

Your interesting, so sure I'll check.

Your not on the first three pages. You pulling my chain? (So to speak)

 

[Cecilie1200]

Your party running into some issues?

You could say that. It's really involved enough that I should give it it's own thread, if only because it would make me feel better to vent. Go check "General Discussions" if you're interested.

Your interesting, so sure I'll check.

Your not on the first three pages. You pulling my chain? (So to speak)

Just took me a bit to finish writing it. Try now.

 

[Samson]

Situation Update:

On Friday, October 8th, Six (6) weeks after my original request to see one graded paper/week/class, I received graded papers from every teacher.

I thanked them and looked forward to this week's issue.

It isn't easy to get what you want from schools, but it is possible if you know how to play the their game: DOCUMENT EVERYTHING.

What did you learn from the papers?

Is this a serious question, or is it some attempt at rhetorical humor?

 

[Samson]

There are other schools.

True, then I could be another of the love-it-or-lump-it croud.

I've already invested too much time and effort to abandon the fight now, but I'm encouraging my 14 yo to go somewhere else next year.

It is your kid's future. Some teachers might retaliate with low grades. I'd ask for all the Biology tests, quizes, assignments and papers.

Meh..remote possibility.

At any rate, I've asked to see the graded papers: Low grades are better that false, inflated, or missing grades.

 

[Samson]

I think it is wonderful that parents are able to log into their child's records now in some school systems. And knowing the grades helps. But to complete our parenting obligations, though, I think we have to appreciate Samson's concern that he know WHAT is being taught and know whether his child is being educated. Grades don't always provide information about that.

Well, try fighting THAT BATTLE!

I'm having trouble simply getting a piece of paper that shows work on it that has been graded to determine whether or not anything, ANYTHING, was learned, much less anything that may be relative to the course of study, or the revelance to curriculum.

Goddamn I've never encountered such a stubborn institution. When I was teaching there is no way in HELL, I, or my principal would have challenged a parent over something so fundamental, and easily implemented.

Honestly, I think it's just a sense of arrogance that's offended by the idea that you would feel entitled to question or check up on ANYTHING they're doing. It's apparently a very easy mindset for people to fall into, because I'm encountering the exact same thing in my life right now, in a different setting.

Ah, yes, I see now.

Academia will not accept any opinion that is not "research based."

Happily, I have already offered much "research based" evidence to support frequent, regular measurement of learning as a necessary component of successful students.

I have even given the principal the sources of these research findings.

If given the opportunity, I look forward to quoting them to the School Board.

 

[Ravi]

A teacher's job is to teach...it is not to cater to the whims of a single idiot parent that apparently never talks to his kid and teaches his kid that his failures are someone else's fault.

 

[Samson]

This message is hidden because Ravi is on your ignore list.

But, I'm guessing its her usual frothy idiotic babbling.

 

[Cecilie1200]

This message is hidden because Ravi is on your ignore list.

But, I'm guessing its her usual frothy idiotic babbling.

I have her on ignore, too, but I'll go in on that guess with you.

 

[Samson]

This message is hidden because Ravi is on your ignore list.

But, I'm guessing its her usual frothy idiotic babbling.

I have her on ignore, too, but I'll go in on that guess with you.

Does she also send you a lot of PM's which you delete without reading?

 

[Synthaholic]

Since the beginning of the school year about a month ago, I have requested that:

Teachers send me ONE graded paper per week per subject

I stipulate it must be a paper, graded, as opposed to their practice of simply showing the grade in an online gradebook called "Infinite Campus."

My intent is to SEE whatever the hell they're teaching, and if it is being learned. You cannot do this just by looking at the grade

I also stated that if I didn't see graded papers, then I'd need to see THEM AND the graded papers, and we could arrange a meeting.


WELL, apparently this is proving to be An Issue for which I must see the principal!!!???

It seems some teachers are just overwhelmed with the prospect of teaching anything that may be worth assessing the value on a weekly basis!!!!!

GODDAMN? WTF??

Am I being completely unreasonable???

Yeah, but you're an asshole, so . . .

 

[Ravi]

I've never sent you a PM.

 

[Cecilie1200]

This message is hidden because Ravi is on your ignore list.

But, I'm guessing its her usual frothy idiotic babbling.

I have her on ignore, too, but I'll go in on that guess with you.

Does she also send you a lot of PM's which you delete without reading?

No, but I would if she did.

 

[kwc57]

This message is hidden because Ravi is on your ignore list.

But, I'm guessing its her usual frothy idiotic babbling.

yes

 

[Annie]

Samson, have you gotten a response yet from district offices?