Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Pastimes : WHY?? Littleton Colorado -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: MulhollandDrive who wrote (261)	4/26/1999 4:53:00 PM
From: aleta	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 368

bp, IMO the fault lies with not only the parents, who obviously didn't pay attention to what was going on with their children, but also with the school system that didn't care enough to do something about the behavior of the bullies. We were blessed to have been witness to a first class public school system in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana for the first three years of our son's education. They valued not only athletes, but those who were gifted in the arts as well. The children that were talented in art, drama, and music were sent to a special school within the system starting at a very early age. Our son was in 1st grade when he was tested and given the opportunity to join the Talented Drama program. Instead of being treated as odd or different, these children were celebrated. This school system was also highly disciplined and had a school uniform program. Parent involvement (volunteers) was encouraged. The PTA meetings were always packed (standing room only), due in part to the requirement that all teachers attend. Parents knew that they could get to speak to their child's teacher at least once a month if only casually. Homeroom parents were organized and efficient with the lists of parents who could help that were given to them by the teacher at the beginning of the year. It was my understanding in speaking to other parents with older children that this sort of parent-teacher involvement continued on through high school. What a shock it was when my husband was transferred to SE Texas and we were told that the Lumberton Independent School District (LISD) was the best district in Texas. Pity Texas if that's true. Instead of being encouraged to continue the pursuit of his goal to have a career in the film industry either in front of or behind the camera (hopefully both) he was told in front of the entire class by one 5th grade teacher, who had asked what the children wanted to do with their lives, that he'd better pick something else because he had no talent. A science teacher in the 4th grade told us that our son, who had made all A's in science prior to her becoming his teacher, wasn't capable of A work. She graded his papers in such a manner to insure that he had an 89 average each grading period. At a parent-teacher conference we were told that we were "over educating" our son. Apparently he knew more on some subjects then the teachers and it was an embarrassment for them. Parent involvement in the school was a big no-no. Volunteers weren't wanted and PTA meetings were a joke. The PTA board was lucky if enough parents showed up for a quorum much less have any teachers there other then the one that was assigned to be there at the beginning of the school year. I'm sorry if this seems like an awful lot of venting on my part (some of it is), but it is to make a point that the right school system can make a world of difference in a child's self esteem. We witnessed our happy, hard working boy begin to turn into a depressed, losing all hope child under this school system. Perhaps Mike is right, and we should seek some sort of redress for the failure of the LISD to work as it should. It's something we are going to certainly think about for not only our child, but the future of others who live in this district. Schools, as well as parents, must be held accountable.