I’m glad I don’t have to make these decisions.<\/p>\n
It’s interesting, because someone at my school was just asking me what happened with making us an Academy. It’s a move neither our parents nor our teachers want. We’re not good at change. Thankfully with an interium principal we’ve seemed to be able to delay the change.<\/p>\n
However, in the case of Spruce and Samuell, change has to come. They are not doing it right, and I’m not sure what the problem is. Well, I was talking with a retired teacher from Dallas, and yes, we do know what the problem is — middle school and elementary school.<\/p>\n
QUESTION: Why don’t middle schools and elementary schools get reconstituted? Or do they? Why don’t we hear about them?<\/p>\n
By the way, DMN got it wrong — the correct term isn’t Magnet, it’s Academy. Small difference BUT Magnets require a minimum set of standards to get in and stay in <\/p>\n
I don’t know much about Spruce, but 18 years ago, I observed Sammuell and it doesn’t seem to have devolved. I was there for a chess tournament with our kids last year and met a bunch of the math teachers. They were all very young and apparently life was a mess because they told me that the principal was continually changing schedules — which isn’t good for the kids.<\/p>\n
I keep talking about going to one of the reconstituted schools — which I just found out offended one of my best friends — I can’t help it, I’ve never worked in a stable work environment except for Hillcrest and we were always looking at different opportunities. Weird, as I’ve been in the same classroom now for 16 years, you’d think I’d be used it.<\/p>\n
But back to this.<\/p>\n
First, which kids get sent to other schools? <\/p>\n
That’s been a HUGE problem for us. We have been getting kids from less successful schools for two years now, and they just don’t fit in and they don’t know what to do to be successful. That’s ALWAYS hard for me, because our neighborhood kids know at least enough to do the bare minimum. These kids don’t. <\/p>\n
I’ve got one that is failing my tech support class now, because he chooses to show up for once a month. We met during lunch, so he only comes when someone noticed he’s been in the lunch room too long. I won’t let him stay if he plays games on the computer when I am trying to accomplish something and so far he is really only good at helping with inventory. However, he is MUCH better than the other kids.<\/p>\n
I’ve got another who is on his third week in ISS — he was given 28 days of in house suspension which usually involves either alcohol or a knife. When he does come into class he doesn’t do my assignments. I caught him playing a game early and he lied and said he wasn’t. I sat him down and showed him how I know he was lying, and then he walked out of the room. Every single time I’ve gotten on his case, he just gets up and leaves. My solution: leave him alone, but once in a while talk to him gently about how he is wasting his time.<\/p>\n
Those are the two worse examples, but they don’t get much better. I’m not sure why they won’t do their own part to be successful — you’d think since they took the trouble to come across town to us they would try harder, but maybe that is the best they can do. <\/p>\n