School Dress Codes and "Handbooks"

I am not sure about reference to minors so I will not post articles right off, I will just reference them.

In the last week I have read no less than 3 BS suspensions or punishments.

First was a girl who was wearing shorts, but the code said, "Must be longer than fingertips". She is 5'7 in JHS and lanky. So her ALMOST 5 inch inseam did not reach that length. When she showed how long that is? It would be longer on ME at 5'10 than most of the "shorts style" BATHING SUITS I OWN. It was a few (maybe 3) inches from her knee. My issue on this one is punishment based on a badly and lazily written rule, not the rule it self. Logic says "At least so many inches inseam" or "no more than so many above the knee".

The next one? The District suspends an Elementary aged kid. For what you ask? Well, for liking, at home, a photo of an airsoft gun on FACEBOOK. Because they granted themselves that power in the "Handbook". To punish for things done at home.

The third involved a likely 18 year old student (no age disclosed), a week from graduation. She is a 4.4 weighted GPA. Which tells me she does not have authority issues in general. Now. A few weeks before graduation? In NC? She wore a shirt that showed her SHOULDERS. Now that violates the dress code. I am with the school so far. The Principal told her to cover up. She borrowed a friend's jacket and complied. The principal then demanded, after she obeyed him, that she changed the shirt instead. Now I am turning on him. She was no longer "In violation". Now we get to the interesting part. He is not allowed to execute punishment for HER unless the Mother was ALREADY contacted at least by phone. This tells me on this one that there were "Who are you to question me?!" incidents in the past when he attempted to discipline her. The fact he has to call and speak to the MOM before he can act tells me his bosses on the School Board sided with the Mom in the past. So what did he do? He held her in the Auditorium with an ARMED "Resource Officer" (Police, none of us are stupid District. Stop with the cute names) who had one hand on his gun. He then, in defiance of the "Have to speak to Mom first", told her she would change NOW or he would HAVE HER ARRESTED. He then suspended her for the last week and banned her from the Graduation Ceremony. For? Wait for it. "Insubordination!". Now there are SO MANY issues with this one. Mostly that the solution was to send her home to change. Or let her go to class with the JACKET ON. Not hold her then THREATEN TO ARREST HER for not "obeying his words being spoken". My only issue outside of the Cop even touching his gun, which can be justified to a point, is that the cop did not tell the Principal "Dude. Chill. I can not actually arrest her for not saying "yes sir".". Touching the gun can be read as procedure, or as an attempt to intimidate her.

 

Now the point of all of this? It is past time for schools to get that they are not "in charge. Period. We have spoken!". That said, it is the place of the Parent to challenge the rule. But it is the place of the public employee to know he works for the Parent (Taxpayer). Not to dictate what is what.

I taught my oldest to call me if there is an issue. On her cell or the school phone of she was in the office. The school took it away twice because they "saw it" in her bag. The first time I went that afternoon to get it and they told me "She will get it back at the end of the year. That is our policy!". I responded "Well as the owner of that phone? And someone who is not subject to your 'policy'. Hand it over immediately. I will then hand it back to her. And she WILL CARRY it where I TELL HER." then turned to her and said, "As long as she is not texting and playing on it.". She kept it in her backpack pocket (a mesh attachment that has a TIGHT elastic at the top. Easy to get in. Harder to get out. But mesh that can be manipulated and dialed through. The school "saw it" and took it again and called me, attempting to inform me she WILL NOT have it in school and I can come get it. I did. With a law partner (my BiL) and the Superintendent, a family friend. The Superintendent? He informed them that this was not an approved rule by the Board, and they would not pass it. The rule is "No USING CELL PHONES" not "none present". The reason BiL was there. He lives across the street from the school. The SI told her, "If they do this again? Go to Uncle Jimmy's House and call Dad and I." I then told her, after we left, "This is not a pass to disrespect them. Call us. Be respectful. But remember, you are allowed to question why something is being done. If they do not answer. Tell them you are not saying another word until Mom or I are there.". And they are lucky it never had to be her Mom. Because her Mom would have had Zero restraint. She would have been bailed out for assault.

 

I will say this as well. We are falling behind in STEM subjects because parts of the nation are playing "Well some have a belief that Sky Daddy snapped. SO we have to present "alternative theories" like "God Willed it so"." Every SECOND wasted on that is one that actual practical science is not covered. Tell me folks. How does "or God willed it" help a future doctor in a Bio class.

That said. Enrichment is BS too. And Understanding Classes.

School should be the same length. Now take out Gym. Sorry athletes who are not great at academics. No easy booster grade now. Music and art I am ok with. Now taking out the Understanding crap? Extend the 5 majors to longer class time. No religion outside of how it impacted History in that class. Or its impact on lit and art in those.

 

When I went to school, we had to take 6 classes each semester. They were 1 math class, 1 english class, 1 science class, 1 social studies class (geography, foreign language, government, or history), 1 gym class, and 1 practical class (home economics, shop, music, or art). If you wanted to take any other class like sensitivity training or such nonsense you took a seventh class after normal school hours.

 

ESL is needed. You cant expect a child to speak perfect English when they enter school if they were not born here.

As to exercise? That can be achieved outside the school day.

Now I used a Doctor to make my STEM point of "Science in Science Class, religion at home". I did, not intentionally, leave out shop. That is a practical useful use of funds.

 

My senior year those began to creep into the school. It was, luckily, shot down quick. And I never thought I would do this. I am congratulating my old district Board. They had parents and people who never had kids in a meeting demanding "Alternative Theories" also known as Bible Theory in Science. The Board told them to, and I quote, "Sit down, shut up, and if you want them to learn that? Send them to a Catholic School."

 

At least in NY you have to take a licensing exam and part of that is the specialty you are teaching. I also want to say that the "education degree" is a little broad. Most teachers I know, outside of elementary level where one teacher teaches it all, have specialized teaching degrees. Science teachers with science and ed dual majors.

 

Replying to penpal_andrew:
(making the assumption we're talking about high school here, not post secondary)

That's interesting.
Why does foreign language cost so much?

Because it's an elective, it requires a dedicated teacher, and not as many students take it, therefore the cost per student is higher.


I personally think schools are too high-tech. We don't need a computer in every classroom.
Many teachers use technology as a crutch and no longer teach their subjects. They just follow a script.

Yes, you do. Computer literacy is an absolute must in todays world. We don't teach kids to multiply anymore because we have computers to do that, just like we haven't taught them to shoe horses since we invented the automobile.


They should do away with education degrees. Teachers should have specialties.
English and Literature should be taught by English majors.
Science and Math should be taught by Science and Math majors.

That's exactly how they are taught.


It's a shame that the Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry is not qualified to teach Chemistry to High School students because they lack a teacher license.

He's not qualified. To be a teacher you get a degree in your field, as in a BSc in Chemistry, then you get a BEd, which is where you actually learn how to teach.

I think teachers get an unfair rap from a lot of people. Sure, there are bad ones, and lazy ones, but there are a lot of very good ones. But don't forget, teachers don't set the curriculum - that's a political decision. Teachers teach what the course precribes.

Don't forget, that you can always be like me, and go bitch at the school board!

 

A lot of schools have computers for each student. Some teachers probably do use technology as a crutch, but if properly used, it can be of great benefit in learning.

Being able to teach is a skill separate from the subject that is being taught. I have know several experts in fields that would make terrible teachers. Those that know so much about a subject sometimes cannot relate to someone who knows nothing about it. Some experts take for granted that the other people already knows many of the basic and intermediary concepts on the subject and when they try to teach those that don't, get met with a sea of blank faces. This in turn frustrates the expert which make him less capable of teaching. The opposite is also bad, if you get a person who can relate with the pupil but has no idea of the subject they need to teach, the results is the same, nobody learns.

 

Exactly. The reason I cant teach Math to my own kids. It came so instinctively to me.