Public schools...do u really trust them with your children
By chigawaga
@chigawaga (592)
Canada
January 11, 2007 2:35pm CST
K..so my son started kindergarton this year..im driving by the school the other day and i see all the kids playing outside at lunch time..i only see one supervisor and i see my son who is trying to get her attention but she is ignoring him..after school i pick him up and he has not only a black eye but bruises on his arm..so i adress it to the principal and the supervisor who both decide to sitting down and talking about this with my son..and of course my son tells him another kid was beating him up and he treid to get the atteniton of the supervisor who ignored him..and i remember that that day i witnessed him doing so and she ignoring him...to which she responds that he never did such a thing..so of course i got pretty angry cause i seen it with my own eyes so now im thinking about changing schools...but it really makes me wonder if our school systems really keep our children safe...and to think that there is only one supervisor outside with these children how can one adult take care of 200 students..just doesnt make sense to me..what are your thoughts and opinions on this situation...have u ever had any bad experiences with our school systems
4 people like this
21 responses
@ktroth (378)
• United States
11 Jan 07
I believe our school district, or maybe just my kids' school is exceptional in comparison to others. It doesn't seem like one supervisor for 200 children is legal. I would check that out with your state's departmet of education. Are there multiple elementary schools in your district? If so, I would speak to parents at those schools and see what their experiences have been. Maybe try to change schools if one seems to stand out above the rest. I've spoken to a number of parents from other schools and am satisfied that we are at one of the best schools in our area. The kids are well supervised and they have zero tollerance for bullies. Our school was even featured on the local news for their anti-bully program. According to our principal, there hasn't been a fist fight at the school in the nine years he's been there. So I don't think our entire public school system is a mess. There are certainly exceptions. However, a lot of it comes down to budget cuts. The lack of supervision is probably due to budget cuts, but it still doesn't seem legal to me.
@chigawaga (592)
• Canada
11 Jan 07
thank u for your responce,,im def gonna have a look at some of the other schools in the area there are a few elementry schools in my community...im glad im not the only one that feels that one supervisor to 200 plus kids is not right and i am def gonna look into that..
rated +:)
@Celanith (2327)
• United States
12 Jan 07
The Public school system anymore is about money, money, money and sports. My six year old granddaughter had to wear glasses for a lazy eye and an eye patch. The kids on the bus teased her and called her popeye, pirate and four eyes. When my daughter discussed it with the bus driver and principle they said they knew nothing about it. Then one day the little girl came home without her glasses, she said three big boys took them and would not give them back. Again the principal and driver said they knew nothing about it. But my granddaughter and her older sister said the driver did know and just yelled at them to shut up. The driver would not let the two girls sit togather but put the with other kids older that harassed and bullied them. There became other issues as well and finally my daughter took them out of public school and now they are homeschooled by me and happier kids
@tnuctipun (24)
• United States
12 Jan 07
Give your grandchild a voice recorder (they can run up to 16 hours nowadays) and that way they will have a record of it and can no longer be ignored.
1 person likes this
@chigawaga (592)
• Canada
12 Jan 07
awww thats horrible....thats good that they were taken outta the shchool especially since they wouldnt do anythign about it..i now pick up my son at lunch time and i have enrolled him into selfdefense classes so the next time someone wants to punch him he can block it adn defend himself..thanks for yourresponse
+
@chalmette69 (3007)
• United States
12 Jan 07
This is terrible for your son to have to have gone through such a thing, my daughter says the same things about the teachers, not doing anything when you tell them someone has done something to you, I have had to go to the school myself and complain about this, my daughter has not had any problems latly, but it does make you wonder about the schools.
@ljcapps (1925)
• United States
12 Jan 07
I can understand your problem. If it had been us we would have gotten very very upset (to put it mildly) in your same situation. Our son is barely four, so we've got a little bit of time to check out the school that he will be going to when he starts, but we've had the discussion of public school, home school or private school. we've ruled out home school because we know he needs the interaction and social skills that school gives, but it's still a toss up between private and public depending on the schools in the area. I also agree with that one supervisor for that many children isn't legal, and you should definitely look it up in your state's legislature and look for other elemantary schools in the meantime that won't ignore your son or the bullies who harass him.
@ugachaka (297)
• United States
12 Jan 07
It definately sounds like that school has some shortcomings, but I still believe in the public school system. I went through it myself and had a miserable time of it, but I think it's made me a more balanced and functional person. We can't shelter our kids from everything this world is going to throw at them. My daughter still has a few years till she starts school, and even though I hated my old school district, it's still my leading candidate for where she'll go. Looking at how I turned out and where my fellow alums are in life, I still have confidence in the system
1 person likes this
@rajee2007 (331)
• India
12 Jan 07
yes i will join my childern in puplic school for fully trust
1 person likes this
@tnuctipun (24)
• United States
12 Jan 07
School vochers would solve this problem in a snap. If you cange schools with your child you also take the money with you. They would feel that and would change.
My son will start kindergarden in Sept. and I am also considering where to send him. To our relatively good public school here, to a private school where I would have to drive him there and pick him up every day (1 hour drive each way), or home school him. I haven't made up my mind yet. I have talked to the principle of the public school and have made an appointment to the private school. BTW, I myself went to the public school here as well as the private school I am considering sending him. Of course that was in the 80's.
1 person likes this
@ephi4real (564)
• Nigeria
12 Jan 07
I feel the school systems really need to undergo some reforms. The supervisors for example should be more. Public schools usually have that sort of problem. Most times, children don't get the required attention and care that they require. Private schools might be better in some aspects but they also come with their own problems. I myself attended a public school and as a young boy, it made me tougher and more resilient.
@Darkwing (21583)
•
12 Jan 07
This is a real problem which I don't think a change of schools will solve.
I suppose it could be classed as bullying, and I would suggest that if it happens again, you go straight to the head teacher, or he does, via the supervisor, and report the incident, so that the other children involved will be reprimanded.
This kind of thing does happen and it happens to others as well as your child. Therefore, I don't believe that your moving him to another school will help. If these bullies see him moved, they will jibe him and things could even get worse.
Make a stand, and tell the school you want more protection for children, not only your son, against bullies and other misdemeanours in the schools.
1 person likes this
@penelope1613 (84)
• United States
12 Jan 07
I THINK THAT THE SAME SITUATION MIGHT HAPPEN IN A PUBLIC SCHOOLS, JUST BECAUSE IT'S PRIVATE DOESN'T MEAN THE KIDS WILL BE ANY DIFFRENT, KIDS WILL BE KIDS, AND THE ONLY REAL DIFFRENCE BETWEEN THE TWO TYPES OF SCHOOL MAY JUST BE THE CURRICULUM.
1 person likes this
@kareng (54553)
• United States
12 Jan 07
Wow, that is bad. Personally, I would move my kids. I'm so glad that my kids are out of school. If I had it all to do over again I would home-school. I definitely think it is the way to go in these times.
Having one supervisor for that many kids is insane. There is no way she could watch them all...even if she tried which she obviously wasn't from what you observed.
@2006mane (77)
• India
12 Jan 07
I think you are taking this problem as headache.
If you are not satisfied with their work just tell head of school.As it happens in allround so don't have to worry about.
They are doing there jobs and your child will get situations where he/she can build him/herself accordingly.It benefit him/her.
1 person likes this
@alon28miami (540)
• United States
12 Jan 07
Hi, I do not have kids yet but if i did i would definately check out the school and faculty very thoroughly since there are many things that goes on these days that werent around years ago everything seems to be getting worse. Just like anything else you have to shop around and do your research and now with the internet it seems to be getting easier to research but people are not doing it much for some reason.
@kamleshsrt1 (317)
• India
12 Jan 07
Well i dont think one our 2 incidences should bias the decision about selecting the school for our children. We can rather consider the pros and cons of individual schools separately and then decide. Public schools arent that bad afterall, atleast not all.
@joan_hazle (127)
• India
12 Jan 07
it looks so 3rd rate. i saw senoir boys playing with cards and money. it looks so cheap.
@feeding11 (222)
• United States
24 Jan 07
Yes i have, and i complained. I was up at the school on a more regular basis, but never told when I was arriving. Made it a point to go to the place where problem persisted to see what was going on. I wasn't antagonizing anyone or being rude to anyone, but principal got the hint and made more staff members and volunteers aware and to also help supervise. My daughter had taken several hits in the stomach as an iniation for a gang group on the elem. school playground. I was irate, but when the school thought they had it under control I was up there again to tell them it was still going on. No, you should not trust anyone all the time. But you have to make sure that the school is aware that you are watching and if you have to will complain to higher if you have to. These are your kids and sometimes if they can't speak you will have to either do it for them in a bad situation with adults involved or encourage them to stand up for themselves and make sure their safety comes first.
