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VENTING - School administrators are spineless. (LONG)
Posted by: Ombligo
Date: November 09, 2011 06:26PM
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Re: VENTING - School administrators are spineless. (LONG)
Posted by: hal
Date: November 09, 2011 06:46PM
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Re: VENTING - School administrators are spineless. (LONG)
Posted by: The UnDoug
Date: November 09, 2011 06:47PM
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Re: VENTING - School administrators are spineless. (LONG)
Posted by: graylocks
Date: November 09, 2011 06:52PM
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Re: VENTING - School administrators are spineless. (LONG)
Posted by: Black
Date: November 09, 2011 06:53PM
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Quote
Ombligo
I understand they mean well and have many weights to bear but sometimes they really need to grow a spine and stand up for something.
What set me off?
Our school has made it known that while English teachers are required to teach John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men" to sophomore students, they may not say any of the derogatory terms.
For those unfamiliar with this classic tale of friendship, loyalty and trust, it is set in the depression and written in the vernacular of the day. It is a gritty tale and includes inflammatory terms such as "@#$%&" and "son of a bitch." It does not glorify the terms and they are used to strengthen the story.
Well after several years of teaching the material with nary a complaint, one parent took exception.
Due to this single complaint, students may now read the words silently. If material is being read aloud by a student, they are to skip over the word. If a teacher is reading it, they may either skip it or use a non-offensive, socially accepted term. There may be no discussions centered on the terms. Teachers may not use a video or audio recording that uses any term that could be deemed offensive.
This is wrong on so many levels I am not sure where to even start.
First - we are censuring a truly great literary work. There is no excusable reason to teach that censuring is acceptable. Students get enough mixed messages without adding to the mix. Steinbeck chose to use these words for a reason. We do him a great dishonor by not respecting his work as written.
Next - Students see worse on television and hear worse in our own hallways. Most of the students use worse language themselves (I'm not excusing that, but it is a fact that teens curse excessively while growing up). My point is, we are not telling them anything not heard before.
Third - we miss an opportunity to teach how language can be used in multiply ways and invoke different opinions. A word can be deeper than it's base meaning. Students will see the word but receive no guidance to it's interpretation.
That a single parent can alter the lesson's for nearly 600 students (our sophomore class size) is a gross injustice. I may lodge a complaint next year when my son is in the class about the lack of depth and explanation to guide students in their understanding of the language in the book.
That a school administrator cannot see this is maddening. Why couldn't have simply told the parent that the book has been approved by both the local and state board of education. There child could be excused from the class during readings and discussions but they would be responsible for understanding all concepts related to the material and be prepared to be tested on it.
Instead the administration caves and politics reign. I guess there is an education there too.
(I'll now count to ten while this is routed to the political side of the forum)
Thanks for listening.
Re: VENTING - School administrators are spineless. (LONG)
Posted by: DaviDC.
Date: November 09, 2011 07:04PM
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Re: VENTING - School administrators are spineless. (LONG)
Posted by: Ammo
Date: November 09, 2011 07:04PM
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Re: VENTING - School administrators are spineless. (LONG)
Posted by: bwicklander
Date: November 09, 2011 07:15PM
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Re: VENTING - School administrators are spineless. (LONG)
Posted by: jdc
Date: November 09, 2011 07:21PM
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Re: VENTING - School administrators are spineless. (LONG)
Posted by: macphanatic
Date: November 09, 2011 07:25PM
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Quote
Ammo
OK, now it's my turn to vent:
So why was there a problem in this case ? Because a parent complained.
School administrators are not spineless - they do the best job they can in a very difficult climate where hyper-sensitive parents scream lawsuit every time they make a decision. Many parents today seem to believe that their child can do no wrong, so if there is a problem at school, it's automatically the school's fault. Schools can afford neither the monetary cost of a lawsuit or the resulting "black eye" that comes with even being accused of something. Public schools are financially dependent upon the good will of the community they serve.
BTW, I believe that the fear of legal action by parents is one of the biggest reason that discipline has become a major problem in many schools, but that is definitely a topic for the other side.
Re: VENTING - School administrators are spineless. (LONG)
Posted by: zeppo2
Date: November 09, 2011 07:35PM
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Re: VENTING - School administrators are spineless. (LONG)
Posted by: archipirata
Date: November 09, 2011 08:08PM
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Re: VENTING - School administrators are spineless. (LONG)
Posted by: Racer X
Date: November 09, 2011 08:14PM
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Re: VENTING - School administrators are spineless. (LONG)
Posted by: sunfalcon
Date: November 09, 2011 08:19PM
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Re: VENTING - School administrators are spineless. (LONG)
Posted by: Linda2
Date: November 09, 2011 08:26PM
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Re: VENTING - School administrators are spineless. (LONG)
Posted by: bazookaman
Date: November 09, 2011 08:38PM
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Re: VENTING - School administrators are spineless. (LONG)
Posted by: ka jowct
Date: November 09, 2011 10:01PM
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Re: VENTING - School administrators are spineless. (LONG)
Posted by: Paul F.
Date: November 09, 2011 10:20PM
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Re: VENTING - School administrators are spineless. (LONG)
Posted by: mrbigstuff
Date: November 09, 2011 10:35PM
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Quote
macphanatic
Quote
Ammo
OK, now it's my turn to vent:
So why was there a problem in this case ? Because a parent complained.
School administrators are not spineless - they do the best job they can in a very difficult climate where hyper-sensitive parents scream lawsuit every time they make a decision. Many parents today seem to believe that their child can do no wrong, so if there is a problem at school, it's automatically the school's fault. Schools can afford neither the monetary cost of a lawsuit or the resulting "black eye" that comes with even being accused of something. Public schools are financially dependent upon the good will of the community they serve.
BTW, I believe that the fear of legal action by parents is one of the biggest reason that discipline has become a major problem in many schools, but that is definitely a topic for the other side.
If a parent has a problem with what the Public School is teaching, they have the right to send their child to a Private School that will teach what they want their child to be taught. Rewriting history or editing literature to sanitize it or make it PC does a disservice to our children. Should they not learn the truth, how others were enslaved or mistreated? If they don't learn how things really were, will they ever understand some of the issues that our society and the world are still dealing with.
I'm also tired of schools banning peanut butter (or other food item) because a child has an allergy. There are other ways to address this issue than an outright ban on a food product. Had this been done when my one sister was in school, she would have had nothing to eat for lunch. Just another example of the rights/needs or wishes of one (or small minority) exerting undo influence on a group.
Re: VENTING - School administrators are spineless. (LONG)
Posted by: Grace62
Date: November 09, 2011 10:47PM
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Re: VENTING - School administrators are spineless. (LONG)
Posted by: numbered
Date: November 09, 2011 11:29PM
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Re: VENTING - School administrators are spineless. (LONG)
Posted by: decay
Date: November 09, 2011 11:40PM
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Re: VENTING - School administrators are spineless. (LONG)
Posted by: Racer X
Date: November 10, 2011 12:09AM
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Re: VENTING - School administrators are spineless. (LONG)
Posted by: Ombligo
Date: November 10, 2011 03:26AM
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Re: VENTING - School administrators are spineless. (LONG)
Posted by: Mr645
Date: November 10, 2011 06:52AM
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Re: VENTING - School administrators are spineless. (LONG)
Posted by: graylocks
Date: November 10, 2011 09:39AM
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Re: VENTING - School administrators are spineless. (LONG)
Posted by: ADent
Date: November 10, 2011 10:34AM
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Re: VENTING - School administrators are spineless. (LONG)
Posted by: Robert M
Date: November 10, 2011 10:55AM
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Re: VENTING - School administrators are spineless. (LONG)
Posted by: mattkime
Date: November 10, 2011 11:39AM
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Re: VENTING - School administrators are spineless. (LONG)
Posted by: Grace62
Date: November 10, 2011 11:41AM
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Quote
Ombligo
Thanks all. It is heartening to see so many stand up strongly in opposition to this decision.
When I see the principal I will mention my feelings in a professional manner. However my feelings won't count for as much as any other parent. That is because I am a school employee as well and therefore not as important. Further, since I am on an annual contract rather than continuing, I cannot lead the charge. Due to state budget reductions our school district must make at least $5 million in cuts this year. I would prefer not to be one of the cuts.
However I will be placing a few well chosen tips to some friends in the media.
Re: VENTING - School administrators are spineless. (LONG)
Posted by: decay
Date: November 10, 2011 02:25PM
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