"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing. " -Helen Keller

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Fucked up school schedules

or, the latest reason every school board member needs to be voted out.

A little background on the seriously fucked up logic of the Wake County School System...some of our schools are on a year round schedule. The school board feels the need to do this to more efficiently use the resources of our school system. This part I can accept. What I don't accept or understand is that with all the power of a modern computing system, the school board refuses to accommodate families by making sure all the students in a family are on the same year round track. The school board claims there is NO WAY to make sure siblings end up on the same track. What a total load of bullshit. Can you imagine having two children with 2 completely different school and vacation schedules? You would have no family life. Also, this school board redistricts or reassigns kids to schools EVERY YEAR. Yes, this really does happen. And, yes, this means there are a few kids who get bounced from school to school.

The latest stroke of brilliance is to add 10 minutes to every school day (50 minutes gain per week) in order to dismiss the kids 1 hour early every single Wednesday. That hour is to be used by the teachers "to collaborate and discuss ways to improve individual student academic performance". I somehow believe that extra time could be used to improve academic performance by, oh, I don't know, TEACHING! And, to make this plan even more brilliant, they are going to let the students out 2 1/2 hours early on 6 Wednesdays. This doesn't replace any workdays or half days. This is in addition to them. Can anyone explain the logic behind this fucknuttery?

Hell, at least ths Wake County School Board has made my decision making easier come election time. As it stands, if someone is a current member of the school board, they WILL NOT get my vote.

14 comments:

Shelly- Mom Files said...

That is crazy!! You have every right to be steaming mad. That sucks and I know it is hard enough for me having 2 at different schools with different schedules but at least they are out at the same times for holidays and such. Damn, sorry you have to go through that crap!

Anonymous said...

Wow, Kristin that is fucked up. What ever happened to caring about the kids?

These things seem to be going on in all school districts and if they aren't they will shortly when they hear what other school districts are doing.

I'm sorry your going through this. I just don't get it.

AnotherDreamer said...

Yikes, that doesn't even make sense! It's like they aren't even taking the children and families well beings into perspective here.

Ungh. Damn the man!

Indigo said...

OMG that is so f'd up! My daughter's school was moved back by 10 minutes this year, but my nephews was pushed up by and hour. INSANE!

battynurse said...

Sounds like a pain, especially the moving schools part which can be pretty traumatic for kids.

Cara said...

Oh girl - I feel your pain although ours is more consistantly abnoxious.

It started out as 'early release at 12:30 every tuesday so the kids could go skiing in the winter'. Makes sense, as we live 2 miles from one of the biggest and best resorts in the north east.

Then, somewhere along the line the schoolboard said somthing like, 'hell - let's just release early EVERY TUESDAY OF THE YEAR!"

And they do. And the first day of school this year is..you guessed it... a TUESDAY. So, *sigh* - frustration abounding and more childcare expenses accrued!

Flying Monkeys said...

So, I have used the word fucknut before but fucknuttery will now be added to my vocab, thank you! I laughed out loud when I read it.

It seems like it should be fairly easy and makes you wonder if your putting your children's education in the right hands if they can't figure a simpler less disruptive system out.

Anonymous said...

Wow...sounds like someone skipped a little too much class back in the day.

(am desperately trying to catch up on my blog reading...all I did was take a weekend off!)

MrsSpock said...

Our school system does that teacher time once a month on Wednesdays. Why do they need once a week? Can't they stay late for an hour instead of crapping up everyone's schedules?

Siblings on different schedules? Hell no. When the hell can you take a vacation?

Soralis said...

That is messed up! (They can't schedule familys on the same schedule... well if they are to stupid to use a computer try some paper!)

Little Miss Flossy said...

That's the most insane excuse for educational scheduling I've ever heard! Totally off topic... the market bag pattern:

http://rosylittlethings.com/janemarketbagpattern.html

Anonymous said...

God I am glad I am happy with the changes my son is going through at school. We is changing high schools. Old one had metal detectors and cops(with guns) walking around during the day. He had 6-7 seperate classes there. New school...NO COPS...NO DETECTORS and to boot he has 4 classes a semester. They are 90 minutes long. It may mean the same homework but at least it is only in 4 classes instead of 6-7. Makes more sense that they can concentrate and do more (like experiments in science). It takes kids a bit to settle down and get ready to learn and by the time that happens and they start it seems time to leave....so this change is good

niobe said...

That is bizarre and unbelievable.

There was a school district in our area that had half-day kindergarten -- which is perfectly normal, though kind of a pain, and people can plan their schedules and day care situations around it.

However, half the kids were assigned to mornings and half to afternoons and in January the two groups switched -- so that the kids formerly assigned to mornings had afternoons and vice versa. Never did understand the logic behind that one.

Alana said...

Different schedules----that is ridiculous, I've NEVER heard of that! And such bullshit that the county won't ensure that students from the same family are on the SAME schedule.

My county started the Wednesday thing 4 years ago. They are called "early release Wednesdays." Bascially every-other-Weds the students leave an hour early so that we are able to have collaborative work time.

As a parent it sucks because of childcare issues.

As a teacher, I like it. I am the only 8th grade reading teacher at my school. I do not have common planning periods with the 8th grade teachers. The Weds meetings enable us to collaborate and discuss individual student needs.