And then we moved here.
Since that time, I have come to strongly believe that test scores don't matter all that much. One of my first encounters was with Boo's 2nd grade teacher. Boo was new. She hardly ever talked to anyone. And she was having a hard time finding friends (kind of hard to do when you don't talk, I know).
Being the conscientious parent that I am, I talked to her about how to make friends (talk to people). We even did some role playing. But she just couldn't do it at school. So I went in to talk to her teacher. Her teacher was completely stunned that Boo didn't have friends (very observant, I know). I asked and then begged and then pleaded to come in and volunteer so I could get a sense for the class- the other children's names and what they were like, so I could further encourage her. And, I wanted to see her interact with others.
Absolutely not. There is no volunteering in 2nd grade (and I have since found out, in most of the other grades either). If I wanted to help my daughter, I should put her in girl scouts.
Fast forward 3 1/2 years. I must first admit that most of the other teachers my children have had I have actually liked. But, it is kind of a "school policy" that parents aren't allowed to really volunteer much in the classroom. My big problem comes with the office staff and the principal. They can just be so "fascist" (as Super L puts it).
Here are a list of rules- honest to goodness rules at this school. And these are just the ridiculous ones I know about!!:
* No running on the black top (which means in the winter, you can't run at recess)
* When there is the slightest bit of snow on the ground, you may not even go near the snow without having your coat, hat, gloves, snowpants, AND snowboots.
*If you happen to remember all of the above, you may not even pick up the snow because there is a possibility that you will make it into a snowball and throw it at someone.
* You have 10 minutes to eat. The first 5 minutes you may talk. The second 5 minutes it must be completely silent in the lunch room.
*If someone at your table talks and the lunch lady can't figure out who it is, your whole table has to stand against the outside wall for the duration of lunch recess.
* If you forget your ketchup as you are walking through the lunch line, you aren't allowed to leave your seat and go back up to get some. NO SOUP FOR YOU!!!
Some of you know, but some will be surprised... OK, you all probably know, that I have a streak in me that is...defiant. It doesn't come out much anymore. But when I even get near this school, this defiant streak flares out and I just don't even care to repress it.
I was surprised, however at my reaction to a new speed limit sign put right by the school a few weeks ago. It is a digital speed limit. It has what the speed limit is on top and then tells you your speed right below it. Contrary to how fast I drove as a teenager, I usually don't speed these days.
The first time I was going one mile over the speed limit, the darn thing started blinking at me.
ONE mile over?! The principal and/or office ladies must have programed this digital sign! And since then, I find that if the sign blinks at me, I simply go faster. In fact, if you go 5 miles over the speed limit, it displays: SLOW. I can't go slower. It would prove that the school is starting to control and take over my life and tell me everything I can and can't do. So I speed. Especially when the kids aren't with me (if they are with me, they point out that I'm speeding. And I don't want to be a bad example- right?)
