Yesterday I got an e-mail from my son's school teacher about two minor issues with my son in school.
One - He sold a hand held toy skateboard (TechDeck) to a friend for $4.00.
Two- His cell phone rang.
Now you may think I want to complain. I do and I don't. The school has rules and I did my part at home to help them honor the rules. I instructed my son he couldn't take his TeckDecks to school anymore and I'd be checking his pockets and bags every day. No fun, but it is part of being a parent. As for his phone... my son is 11. Only his mother and I have his number. The phone company gave him a re-used number and he gets stray calls from time to time. I'll get his number changed now. But being 11, he doesn't remember to turn his phone on after school, so I told him to leave it on. Now I have to turn his phone off every morning and hope he turns it on when he leaves school. This is important as once he walks out, I can call him if it's cold or raining and I intend to pick him up. No one likes driving around for their child when they got a ride with some other parent. Now you are anxious and concerned for safety when you shouldn't have to be.
The reality is these issues shouldn't be issues. They are a big deal to schools because they have to cover their butt with everyone. I'm told, "If the other parent doesn't want their son buying the toy, they could be liable." As for the phone, that makes sense to me. Hundreds of kids phones ringing all day would be a disaster. But on a whole... you end up with uptight school rules. We've seen them all.
On the heels of my own school concern, today I read that a child Class President was suspended from school and stripped of his title because he purchased a bag of skittles candy from a classmate.
It does seem our children are being denied the ability to turn left or right in schools. They can only look forward as if they lived in a Pink Floyd video. I speak to my son every day about school and as we drive up to school these cold winter mornings I asked him, "Why do the kids have to wait on the buses instead of being let into the warm school?" He answers, "No! The school doesn't allow that." I continue, "But then they could socialize a bit, finish homework or work on projects, visit the school store..." "No dad, you are not allowed to do anything other than sit at your desk. If you talk you get in trouble." We went deeper into this but he soon had to exit the car as we approached the curb. I've since begun to explore that whole issue. It seems you can only learn so much in PTA meetings.
We can blame the schools, but they are just reacting to the creed of this new world our country has evolved into. When you sue over ANYTHING such as spilt coffee in your crotch, or fast food being the cause of you being over-weight... It only makes sense that parents or students would then sue schools over things such as getting caught cheating.
Here are other examples:
Student Sues School over Pledge of Allegiance
Student sues and recieves $117,500 from school after student posted critical website
Alledged Student Gang Member Sues School
Student Sues School for NOT Catching Him Plagiarizing
So if you are a school... what do you do? You cover your butt. You make a rule for everything. You outlaw everything so when a rule is broken you can point the finger back at the student rightously. But by this time... you are trapped. Now you have rules YOU made and must abide by them. The circle has begun the cycle is complete.
Now you schools punishing children for things such as:
Kindergarten Student Suspended for Mohowk Haircut
Student Suspended for Talking to Parents in Iraq War During Lunch
Student Suspended for Not Liking Some Other Students
Student Suspended for Selling Sandwiches
Student Suspended for Wearing School T-Shirt
Student Suspended for Catching Principal Smoking on Campus
FYI: You should learn a bit about how to protect yourself in this "system" where Schools need to protect themselves by killing a fly with a hand grenade. Learn about your rights here. Also read these Details on the School Disciplinary Process - Suspensions and Expulsions.
