(no subject)

[mynewplace]

There is so much going on that I've been unable to update due to overwhelmedness. 

Scarlett had one teacher in particular with whom I had much trouble last year.  Her math teacher was quite sarcastic with me when I tried to work with her, and was obviously disgusted with Scarlett's inability to turn in her work, etc..  She is now one of Scarlett's English teachers.  She already has some preconceived notions about Scarlett, and they came through loud and clear when she was asked by the Gifted team to evaluate Scarlett's work during the first eight days of school.  She was the only teacher who indicated that Scarlett's performance was already unsatisfactory.

Scarlett had tonsillitis the week before her birthday and missed all five days of school.  She received her makeup work that Friday, and began on it right away.  There was a lot, so we did it in pieces to keep her from being overwhelmed.  She didn't finish it all on time, but the majority of it was done and turned in within the allotted time frame. The work to this teacher was one of the first batches turned in.

The teachers at Scarlett's school have grades, assignments, etc., online for parental view.  This teacher of which I speak has Scarlett's current grade in her class posted - and yesterday it dropped from a D to an F.  Why? Because the makeup papers were added to the grade page, but were marked with "0's", causing the overall grade to drop substantially.  When Scarlett asked her this morning WHY she had an F, the teacher said she simply hadn't had time to grade the papers yet.  The question screaming in MY MIND is "THEN WHY THE FUCK HAVE YOU POSTED THEM???  MIDTERMS COME OUT NEXT WEEK.  GET YOUR ASS IN GEAR!!"  I really resent this teacher.  REAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLY.

Had a sink clog for two days, arselord finally called a GOOD repairman, who fixed it right up last night.  Before he left Scarlett and I begged him to purchase our building, as he owns several rental properties.  He just laughed.  I hope he will indeed think about it.  We need him.

Hm.  Sarah Palin has had protection from witchcraft prayed over her life and campaign.  Guess lighting candles would be futile at this point.  

Overheard in the Mexican restaurant at lunch today:  

Man:  Did you hear about the guy who got arrested in South Charleston?
Woman: Yeah, it's been all over the national news.  Once again West Virginia is the brunt of laughter.
Man;  I bet he'd just eaten one of these burritos. 

I'm sure there are other things to say, but my mind has been nothing but a jumble for as long as I can remember.  My thought processing center is shot to hell.

Comments

[pasticcio.livejournal.com]

What grade is Scarlett in?

[sapphirescarlet.livejournal.com]

Seventh. She just turned 12.

[pasticcio.livejournal.com]

Not that it matters .. I was just curious ;)

I feel for Scarlett and you .. I really do. It's difficult dealing with obstinent teachers sometimes - I have 3 kids of my own ;) Most of the time doing battle with a teacher doesn't get you anywhere.. and speaking with the administrator (principal) doesn't do much because a lot of times their hands are tied. It's still early in the school year .. hopefully the teacher will get her shit together. As long as Scarlett does her work and hands it in that's all that counts. I stopped looking at the online marks for my kids long ago .. teachers never updated it and it just frustrated me to no end.

I really should read over my stuff before I press enter ;)

[sapphirescarlet.livejournal.com]

I was REALLY worried that Scarlett would fail sixth grade. Then I started worrying that she WOULDN'T fail, because her grades were abysmal and she really wasn't mature enough to handle the change from grade school to middle school. She carried several "F" grades until the last couple of weeks, when they "miraculously" rose to D's. The teacher I'm referring to here is one who appeared to find Scarlett some extra points to get her thru to seventh.

[alfabet126.livejournal.com]

If she hasn't had time to grade them yet, why are they marked as zeros? Nope, that's not right. The only way I could see that is if the program doesn't allow an assignment to be left blank, but still...
See, I was the teacher who was too understanding, to the point that kids took advantage. I'd never give a kid a bunch of zeros if I saw she was trying - even the kids I loathed got a big benefit of the doubt. But I guess that's why I'm sitting on my ass at home instead of teaching.

[sapphirescarlet.livejournal.com]

This school doesn't even have a remedial math class available to any student. They also do not allow a student to repeat a math class if they move up to the next grade.

[alfabet126.livejournal.com]

That's an interesting take on No Child Left Behind. *rolls eyes*

blah.

[fluxi.livejournal.com]

I personally had TWO of such teachers in my junior year of high school. They decided before they ever really got to know me that they were going to treat me shabbily. I never really knew why. I did know that I could do NOTHING right for them. The English teacher (and I know I was not perfect, but that was one of my better subjects) and the Biology teacher.

I had surgery in the 4th quarter. They had an attendance policy that stated you start at an 80% for missed days and that the base grade would drop for every additional day missed. These, of course, were SUPPOSED to be for UNEXPLAINED/UNEXCUSED absences.

I had SURGERY. I had doctor's notes. Because the policy did not specify unexplained/unexcused absences, only INFERRED such, these two fucktards applied the policy to me, leaving me with something just shy of an F in both closes for that quarter, pulling my overall grades in both down to something like a C or D. Something barely passing. I actually grew to HATE biology and could barely stomach English/composition after that.

Frankly, it is never the student that is "bad", it is the TEACHER. There are a million different tools for a teacher that is genuinely concerned with the minds and welfare of their charges. THAT teacher sounds like she needs to retire or YOU NEED TO GO ON A COMPLAINT CAMPAIGN. You need to be in that school, in the PRINCIPALS face, in the COUNSELORS face, the SUPERINTENDENTS face. Bad teachers exist when good parents fail to call them on their fucking bullshit attitudes.

As to Sarah Palin, or Failin' Palin as I like to call her. She's a fucking joke. She is a caricature of working mothers everywhere.

LIGHT THE CANDLE, but light it with the request that all good people are kept safe. Never request harm. Remember, white magic/Wicca/Karma...the Grand Wheel, whatever you choose to call it, has a do no harm policy like any good spiritual thing should. Good comes back to you, bad comes back to you 10 fold.

Negativity brings negativity. Light the candle and send positive thoughts to all those who need uplifting and pray everyone you love is safe and secure.

My candle is glowing brightly. ~grin~