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10月2日 Life in the big (but small) cityWe live in what has become a suburb of New York City. We've been told that this area has exploded in the last 10 years and there are a ton of people who live here in the weekends and commute to the city during the week. There are also lots of parents who want their kids raised in a "rural" environment while they work in the big city. I've even been told there are children living with oldersiblings here alone all week while their parents stay in the city and return only on weekends.
I am from a school district with a graduating class of 180. I taught in a public school that was even smaller. In New York Hannah went to a large school district but it was still small town-feeling. Her school was very family friendly and warm and I had nothing but good things to say about it. Parents were invited to come eat lunch in the cafeteria with their children, to stop by the classroom to watch their children give presentations, or to come to music class to hear them play in a "recital." I made sure I did all of these things to show my support and because I know it makes my kid's day to see mom at her school. We made friends with other families in hopes to invite them into our home and invite them to church.
Hannah's current school is only 3rd and 4th grades and there are over 850 students. That fact alone made me nervous. A friend of mine pulled her kids when they hit 3rd grade because the school was just so big and she feared they would be lost. We wanted to give it a shot. We really liked the primary elementary school Hannah had been in last year. It is the beginning of October and so far I have noticed that the biggest shock is that security is like Fort Knox. Parents can't just stop by school anymore. Students are not allowed to hand out birthday party invitations in school because someone may be excluded. There are no school directories to look up friends for playdates because home addresses can't be publicized. There are half a dozen security officers after school every day directing traffic...if you pull in at the wrong time or park in the wrong lot you fear getting arrested!
So far all of this "culture shock" has been just that...but all in all it is for good reason. I want my kids to be safe. I want my kids' school to be on top of things and be wise and care about the students. Although it seems VERY inconvenient to me, it is all for good reason so I can't really complain, can I??
Then I went to a meeting last week. This was a mandatory meeting for any parents who want to volunteer in the course of the year. Volunteering in classrooms for parties, homework help, cafeteria help, popcorn machine attendant, die-cut person, etc. Not exactly rocket scientist jobs. I found it crazy that we were being called to an "important meeting" just so we can help at school...but I attended as I was asked to. At the meeting I found out that in order to volunteer at school AT ALL, in ANY CAPACITY, no matter THE TASK, every person needs to secure background criminal checks, child abuse checks, finger prints, and TB tests.
Are you kidding me?
Now, these are the same things we had to do to become certified teachers in PA. Steve and I both went through it 10 years ago and it cost an arm and a leg back then. When we moved here and needed money, I looked in to substitute teaching in the district but decided against it when I learned I had to do all the clearances again.
Now they are requiring all of that just to serve your child's school.
I don't know what to think.
On one hand I am offended and appalled. I have to pay out of my own pocket in order just to help out. I thought I was trying to be a good parent and a good citizen yet I feel like I'm being punished. Isn't the goal to foster MORE parent involvement? How can this system be setting forth the right messages?
On the other hand, my point from before still stands...isn't it a good thing to have security in this day and age? So many horror stories of child molesters and abductors...I guess my stance is that I absolutely cannot believe that we have come to this. My stomach is churning. I need some outside counsel and perspective here because I am absolutely at a loss.
What do you think? 评论 (1)
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