Reply With QuoteI think there are a number of problems with our school. The way the school system is run is absolutely the biggest problem and that does start with the Board of Ed. I don't feel like they listen to concerns and everybody has their own agenda. I don't see the point in participating or trying to talk to the board because they don't care...I was making it a point to try to attend meetings over the last few months, but I've given up, there is no point in attending those meetings.
However, another huge problem is PARENT APATHY. It is impossible to rally a group of parents. I'm not saying that all the parents don't care. I certainly care, and I know maybe 10 or 15 that feel the same way...however that is no where near enough to accomplish anything. When you have to take a grievance or concern to the Board and you do it alone...why would you be taken seriously. Now if you were able to rally and get a couple hundred parents behind you, that's a different story.
My child is at Truman. It's a great school and the staff there is wonderful. However, when you work on fundraisers or ask for volunteers and see the same small handful of parents who are the only ones that contribute, it's disheartening. I mean you just want to reach out to the rest of the families and shake them! Say these are your kids and this is your future, wake up and be involved. When education isn't valued at home and you have absent parents, it limits what you can do. When a child knows that their parents know their teachers and when you know what's being taught in the classroom it has a positive effect on your child's ability to learn and thrive.
The board and administration see that they aren't going to get push back from parents and so they can continue to treat students like prisoners and put their own self interests above those of the students that need to be educated, all while hiding behind the guise of blaming the parents because it all starts at home. (I'm speaking to the high school here...they don't treat the students like prisoners in the elementary school).
I think parent involvement at every school is the key to turning things around. If you regularly have a large group of parents involved at every school that will go a long way to making sure that the best interests of the students are served. It's just a matter of how to encourage parental involvement at a time when everyone claims to be too busy.
Personally, I'm invested in my child's future and while I remain in Lackawanna I will do everything I am able to do to make sure that he is getting the best education that he can. However, I'm not completely naive. In a few years some tough decisions will need to be made. My family will need to relocate to a better district or we will have to find a way to afford a private education...because if there are not huge changes in this district there is no way any of my kids will continue here beyond 6th grade.
I feel your frustration jenrose.....
Originally Posted by blahblahblah
