I just finished reading Glenn Greenwald’s latest column, and it really hit home. It reminded me so much of what some people have been saying right here on this thread—specifically regarding how ..that whole system basically sidelines kids who don't have a head start in life. Once they fall behind or mature a bit later than their peers, they get pushed onto a side track that’s incredibly hard to climb out of, making it nearly impossible to switch careers or even make it to college later on.
Nicholas King said:Since I’m honestly not entirely sure just how much federal funding can be squeezed out of Washington for basic infrastructure projects, a director's ability to secure budget from local municipal authorities really just boils down to—well, I guess you could call it—their level of political cronyism and family ties within that local government.
In my view, that is hardly a reliable metric for deciding who counts as "incompetent" when it comes to removals.
Oh, you definitely can. The real headache is that most school administrators just aren't trained to handle the mountain of complex project documentation required to unlock that kind of federal funding.
That said, I still lean toward the idea that a principal should focus more on being a great educator and communicator rather than acting like a high-level financial manager.
urbantinker8 said:I'm probably not privy to all the specifics regarding the funding side of things, but from what I can see, the situation seems to be a bit better at the local elementary schools.
urbantinker8, honestly, besides your school, I can't think of a single one that's still stuck using chalkboards.
We’re actually doing pretty well—we've had whiteboards for probably twenty years now, and we even have ceiling-mounted projectors in every classroom. You just grab your laptop from the teacher's lounge and you're good to go. We have about fifteen of them for our 40 staff members, and they're almost never all in use at once.
In my opinion, it really just comes down to how resourceful the principal is. You can squeeze funding out of the local city council, fight the Department of Education (which is a much tougher nut to crack 😁), or even pull in money through rentals or federal grants.
I'm pretty sure my school makes extra cash by renting out the gym on the weekends.
At my school this year, the kids actually went two whole weeks without a chemistry teacher because nobody stepped up to take the job. They were offering a three-year contract with the promise of a permanent position afterward, but still, crickets. :ne zna;
At my school this year, the kids actually went two whole weeks without a chemistry teacher because nobody stepped up to take the job. They were offering a three-year contract with a solid chance at a permanent position afterward, but still, absolutely nobody applied. :ne zna;
I’ve never really sat down and dissected this, but I assume a three-year vocational program in the US is designed so kids walk away with more than just technical skills—they should actually come out with some general knowledge and a sense of how the world works. If they’re just learning a specific trade, why bother with three whole years? You can pick up job-specific qualifications in a few months if you're focused. As far as general subjects go, most of them barely need anything from high school. They don't even need much English instruction since they mastered reading and writing back in elementary school. Math is pretty much a wash too, because once you've nailed addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division in the second grade, you've got the basics covered. Sure, a server might need a little foreign language for the customers, but a line cook probably won't use it at all.
Honestly, it feels like they only really need the lower grades of elementary school; everything from fifth grade onward is basically overkill.😁
I honestly think the required reading list could be a lot more dynamic. There are so many absolute classics that aren't included—books that really should be.
I mean, why have we had Flaubert and Balzac on the mandatory list for a century (and I’m not even exaggerating here 😁), while Stendhal hasn't made the cut once? He was just as vital a national author from that same era. It feels like someone drafted this list decades ago and everyone's just been too afraid to touch it since.
That kind of rigid, cemented canon basically just fuels those "copy-paste my essay" websites.
If you asked me, I’d give students a few core requirements, but leave the rest as electives—though I'd provide a curated list for them to choose from! And those electives wouldn't need to be identical in every school, or even for the same teacher year after year.
The whole "read whatever you want" approach to electives just aligns with that Summerin drawing and parents who act like "my little angel can do whatever they please." 😁 That's just not a serious way to teach.
Tyler Ruiz502 said:Man, that’s just some hallucinatory nonsense. I don't remember much about it—honestly, everything about her felt just... off. Repulsive, even. The whole vibe was just toxic.
The whole point of required reading, though, is to force you into picking up books you’d never touch otherwise. They’re unattractive in every single sense of the word. It’s just a chore you have to get through. Good grief, just thinking back to some of those high school English classes at the local public library makes me shudder. 🙂 Samsung Galaxy Note Experience using Tapatalk😬
I JUST finished reading "White Stag." 😂
She wasn't exactly blown away, but she didn't hate it either. I can't quite recall the plot details, but I definitely remember that trippy, hallucinatory atmosphere you're talking about.
Actually, I think he liked it quite a bit—he spent two hours reading in bed (we thought he was still asleep!) and powered straight through to the end. Now he actually wants to read the "Poe" story included in the same volume.
He found "Captain Gaćeša" totally boring and annoying. Just one personality trait after another. 🙂
And *The Great Gatsby*? That's more like something you struggle through in junior year of high school.😉
Nobody’s actually heard anything concrete yet. The new curricula haven't even cleared the review stage. As for the textbooks for these new standards? They won't be ready until September at the earliest. The whole rollout plan is incredibly vague, too. If you try to pin them down with a specific question, they just give you that classic, non-committal "we'll figure it out as we go" brush-off.
It’s all just a disorganized, hit-or-miss mess—if you can even call it organized. Honestly, I have no idea which school is going to be crazy enough to sign up for this total disaster. 🤷
Kate Cox2 said:I never said I didn't believe you; I am simply saying that this needs to be resolved. It can be solved if things were organized differently. What one person finds useful, necessary, or unnecessary is entirely subjective. For instance, I could argue that the specialized administrative services are a total waste of taxpayer money because they don't produce anything concrete—especially the psychologists. Out of all the ones I know, only one actually does what she was trained to do, and she does it with immense passion and expertise. She used to work at a major metropolitan center, and now she is at my child's school. All the other psychologists I have dealt with in schools haven't just failed to do their jobs, they were incredibly unprofessional. For example, in front of eighth graders, they would mock a teacher who had just started working, commenting on how "crazy" it was to give beginners the eighth grade, and then they would sit there with the students for an entire period, laughing along with them while the teacher tries to teach. So, I repeat: everyone draws conclusions based on their own experience. Physics is fundamentally necessary, as is math. Fine. But French, Greek, Latin, technical studies, psychologists, and pedagogues?? Well, everyone will tell you what they think based on their own subjective opinion. It is the same for religion class—those who want it and have good experiences will say it is essential, and vice versa.
I say let's just replace all of them with clergy!🤣
Susan James said:The school—specifically the principal or the scheduler—handles those scheduling issues for subjects like German, computer science, or Latin, but they never do the same for religion. It’s basically set up however it suits the religion teachers best.
It’s great that you’ve had positive experiences, and I believe things might be better managed in your part of the country (like some other things, for example, civics), but please believe us when we say it isn't like that in a major metro area. My child’s friend lives in a small town about 25 minutes outside of the city, and the local kids looked at her like she was an alien when she mentioned she wasn't taking religion. They didn't even realize you had the option to opt out. The parents there are that classic crowd that gathers at the local church every Sunday; every kid in the school takes the class, receives all the sacraments, and gets the blessing at home. (Though if you actually ask them about their faith, they often know very little because it's just a tradition.) I don't have time to type out everything about how religion class looks there or how the teacher handles the kids, but it was really interesting talking to the children about it.
Something I occasionally wonder about is how it will work for someone looking to buy some land and build a house in one of those beautiful locations, but who doesn't want their child to take religion classes. It's easy to talk when you're living in the heart of the city...🙂
Let it be offered at school, but let it have the same standing as German or Italian (both in terms of scheduling and student numbers required to form a class), and it shouldn't need to be taught for more than two years. Honestly, it shouldn't. Maybe four years if it's only once a week.
Religion teachers are paid quite well for their work. Often more than physics or chemistry teachers, even though those seem much more essential to a student's education. And I'll say it again: any parent can teach their child the basics of faith (if they are believers), but you can't exactly teach physics at home. We send our kids to school to learn things, not just to ensure teachers have jobs.
You should probably post where exactly that is, because there are definitely people looking at land near the waterfront who want to build houses.
I honestly can't help myself—it makes my skin crawl whenever I hear people claiming a bad student is actually the fault of a bad teacher. 😱 I remember reading a statement just like that from a famous American pop star once.
Look, I’m a teacher. I deal with the superstars, the kids who just get by, and the ones who struggle through everything. If someone had the nerve to tell me that I’m the reason one of my students failed a class—as if being a "better" teacher would somehow magically force knowledge into their head so they wouldn't get an F 👍—I’d feel like they just spat directly in my face.
EDIT: Okay, maybe the spitting in the face thing sounds a little dramatic😁 after how my day actually went yesterday. I spent 11 hours straight at school, and five of those were dedicated entirely to one single student. I was coaching her, cheering her on during a big competition, sweating bullets, and practically having a heart attack from the sheer nerves of it all. I was right there with her, giving her hugs, wiping away her tears, and trying to keep us both steady. And then I finally walk through the door to my own kids—who were waiting for me in their pajamas because I hadn't even seen them all day.
Larry Walker24 said:I honestly don't get why they can't just let kids swap religion class for an elective in computer science or a foreign language instead.
The real question is, who would actually bother showing up for religion class if they had the choice?
Or call it "Religious Culture." Honestly, I feel like you can't really call yourself well-rounded if you lack a basic understanding of religion—especially Christianity—and don't know the Bible. You won't be able to truly appreciate Michelangelo's sculptures, let alone dive into the works of Dante, Milton, or even classic American poets like Whitman.
We touch on the Bible briefly during freshman year English class, but it’s just not enough. There isn't any real time or space for it in the curriculum. So, learning about stories involving Moses, Jesus, Adam, and Eve gets pushed entirely onto religious studies, which essentially trades actual education for indoctrination.
Susan James said:I think I’m pretty much on the same page as you there. I think I should add one more little detail to this:
When you have teachers like that involved, children end up being the ones who pay the price in these kinds of situations—and honestly, the damage is pretty easy to see. I'm right here! What's on your mind? There are also experts involved who had firsthand knowledge of what was happening during religious education classes but chose to stay silent instead of reporting it.
If the kids were actually going to other teachers to report how he was acting, then they’re in a tough spot. It’s not just about potentially losing an A in religion class; it could easily spill over and impact their grades in his colleagues' classes too. I took a quick peek at his Facebook profile, and man, he’s definitely got that whole "ultra-patriotic" vibe going on. It looks like he’s posted a bunch of those intense, nationalistic rants—though honestly, it seems like his wife might be cleaning them up for him, or maybe he just scrubbed them himself before the police showed up to pick him up. He’s also a huge fan of those old-school rock anthems; he actually went off on some news outlet just for mentioning kids singing patriotic songs on the last day of school. If you take a look at his likes, you’ll notice quite a few of his former classmates hanging out there. They’re basically all part of the same circle, teaching those kids together. You can't see his full friends list unless you click through, but once you dive into the likes, you'll see plenty of staff members from that school popping up.
Even if the District Attorney decides not to call other staff members—though you’d think they’d at least want to interview the homeroom teachers—we're still left with a really tough reality. We have kids who are going to be called in to testify against one of their own teachers. On top of that stress, those same teachers are the ones responsible for grading them in subjects that are absolutely vital for their success and getting into high school. It's a heavy situation for everyone involved.
Look, I’m not trying to be a contrarian or take a swipe at teachers here—I really am—but I just want to reiterate what I said at the start of this thread. If you want to avoid all this unnecessary chaos, the simplest solution is just to not sign up for religion electives in the first place.
So, word got out that there was actually a teacher's assistant working during that specific period. I have to say, I’m a little surprised by that. From what I’ve seen with assistants I know, they don't usually get paid to cover elective classes. One assistant I worked with once told me her religion teacher actually told her there was absolutely no point in her sitting in on his class, even after she offered to step in and help him out for free just to support a student. If he’s really that much of an extremist, I’m honestly baffled. The only thing that makes sense to me is that he feels completely untouchable—like he doesn't care who he's talking in front of because he thinks he's bulletproof. Honestly, the only thing that could have actually tripped him up was that video. Now, I can already see the lawyer jumping in to argue that the footage isn't admissible evidence and trying to flip the script to get the person who filmed it in trouble. 😢).
Teachers aren't signing some blood oath in the faculty lounge to protect one another.
The vibe in a teachers' lounge is just like any other workplace in the States—people have their favorites, they have their rivals, they grab coffee and gossip. I don't see any reason why a group of teachers would go out of their way to tank a student's grades just because that kid blew the whistle on a colleague!😲 Do you honestly think that's how it works? That they'd sabotage a kid just out of "loyalty" to a coworker?!
Larry Walker24 said:As far as I know, using your phone during class is a total violation of the rules.
🙂 That’s just not true. My students use their phones all the time during my lessons, and honestly, there are some periods where I wouldn't even be able to run the class if they didn't have their phones and internet access at hand.
northerncobra27 said:I honestly can’t wrap my head around this whole idea that you lose a best friend just because they aren't religious. When I sit back and actually look at my own life, most of the friends I grew up with were believers, and whether it was because of my family's values or theirs, it never once put our bond in jeopardy. Even looking at my young child right now—who is a believer—they have a best friend who doesn't participate in any religious studies at all.
The other thing to consider is that we are talking about seven-year-olds here, and let's be honest, friendships at that age are incredibly fragile. These little bonds tend to fracture over all sorts of trivial nonsense, and if you ask me, religion shouldn't be the catalyst for some massive drama. It’s all very much the same whether they are bickering over someone being a little chubby, wearing glasses, rocking certain designer sneakers, or debating religious education. What they really need is for us to explain that judging someone like that isn't okay, and that a friend who evaluates you based on those things isn't truly a friend, even if they were your absolute best friend just yesterday.
Linda Price5 said:There is a fundamental distinction between presenting a myth to a small child and having an adult authority figure insist that it is objective truth. Furthermore, there is a massive difference between a child stumbling upon a cartoon on television and actively recruiting that same child for religious education against a parent's explicit wishes.
Refusing to enter Notre Dame Cathedral because you find churches distasteful is one thing—though being entirely ignorant of Christian mythology is certainly awkward given our cultural landscape here in America. However, none of that is relevant to the core issue: a parent standing their ground against a teacher who is relentlessly attempting to save their child's soul. 😁
Look, nobody ever said the cartoon came with a side of lectures or that watching it involved any kind of verbal indoctrination.🤷 From what I gathered, the issue was the cartoon itself.
I mean, I wasn't exactly well-versed in the whole "saving souls" theology.
Personally, I don't think religious studies belongs in the standard school curriculum. But honestly, the sheer amount of prejudice and paranoia surrounding this topic just leaves me speechless.
Think about it: what would you actually do if your kid started watching a cartoon about None on TV? Would you yell, "No! Stop!" and frantically cover their eyes to shield them from some supposed biblical horror story? I'm being dead serious here—I’m not trying to be edgy or stir the pot. I had this one friend who grew up in a strictly atheist household, and she had that exact same reaction to anything even remotely religious. We were traveling together through Paris during college, and when we walked up to Notre-Dame, she actually refused to go inside because she "didn't want to step into a church"!😲
Look, no matter how intolerant or closed-minded someone might be, Christian mythology is essentially the bedrock of our culture. How can you expect a child to truly grasp literature or art history if you strip away that foundation with your own biases?
Throughout my life, I’ve made it a point to visit all sorts of churches, temples, and mosques 😁 and, out of genuine curiosity and respect, I’ve picked up a decent understanding of various faiths. I really want my kids to grow up with that same kind of open-mindedness.
I haven't seen any posts from you yet! If you have something to share, feel free to jump in. I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts. kaže: Honestly, I’m not quite sure why you're pushing for a deferral. I was chatting with a mom recently whose son had a delayed start in preschool, and she mentioned quite clearly that she just wanted him to have an extra year to play and be a kid. She wasn't alone in that feeling, either. Of course, that doesn't mean every parent is looking for the same thing—some definitely have much more pressing reasons for wanting to wait.
Honestly, I don't think that reason is bad at all. In my book, it actually makes quite a bit of sense. 🤷 If a daycare center is actually stimulating and engaging, I honestly see nothing but upside. If my little one can pick up extra skills and learn more while they're there, that’s a huge win in my book! I see you guys haven't really gotten into this yet (and honestly, whatever). 😂Back when I was in my penultimate year at the little rhino group, this kid joined us after taking a gap year. He ended up studying English right alongside the rest of us in our mixed group, and he really made the most of that year before heading off to college. She hit it off with him almost immediately. Honestly, I was so relieved she had him as a buddy this year because he’s such a great kid. He’s doing awesome in school, too! If my memory serves me right, I didn't get the feeling at all that the kid actually needed the delay, but then again, it didn't seem like he was bored or understimulated at preschool either.
Quincy:
I noticed that proab hasn't weighed in on this yet! I'm really curious to hear what they think about the current situation. It reminds me of a discussion I had over coffee last week where we couldn't quite agree on the best way to move forward. I'd love to get their perspective whenever they have a moment to chime in. kaže: I started school just under the age of six, and honestly, I was already hitting that 6.5 mark. Looking back, I never had any trouble keeping up with my classes. Plus, we never really missed out on those early preschool years, and it wasn't like we suddenly had to stop playing just because we started formal schooling. It all felt very natural. 🤷
The kids are going to be at school from 8:00 to 4:00 today—at least—and they’ll probably have some extracurricular activities running late after that, too. It’s pretty rare to see them out on the field playing. That’s just the reality of the situation. Lunch is at noon, followed by some outdoor time until we head back inside around 2:00 PM. Sometimes they get out a little earlier, though—it’s funny how the teacher tries to motivate them by promising an early finish if they work fast, but that almost never actually happens! There are always a few kids who just struggle to wrap up their assignments, and they end up needing extra time to finish writing. I usually find myself waiting around for them, which means I'm often stuck sitting in the car waiting for them to be ready for pickup.
I honestly don't judge parents one bit when they decide to hold off on sending their kids to school just so they can play more video games. I get it—sometimes you just need that extra time to unwind or enjoy a little downtime. It’s especially tough when you're dealing with parents who work those standard 9-to-5 shifts, only to rush over to pick up their kid from after-school care at 5:25. It just adds that extra layer of stress to an already long day.
Even if this all feels like a bit of a whim right now, that kid is clearly bright. I honestly think we can make this final year count. It’s a perfect window to dive into a new language—something they don't cover in the local school district, but kids at that age soak up like sponges. Beyond that, there are so many cool extracurriculars to explore. We could look into some robotics clubs, or maybe sign them up for swimming lessons, skiing trips, ice skating, or even horseback riding. There's so much potential to turn this time into something really productive! I was thinking about how much easier things would be if I could just practice ball tossing with my kid to help them catch up on what half their class has already mastered. It’s one of those little things that makes such a huge difference in coordination! 🥳
In our after-school program, they tackle homework from 2:00 to 3:35. That's an hour and a half right there. Before and after that block, they get to play. The kids who power through their assignments early spend their free time playing string instruments in the classroom. My son absolutely refuses to leave when I come to get him. 😁
EDIT: I'm not sure if this is totally on-topic, but I honestly feel like the jump from preschool to elementary school here in America happens way too fast.
In the Netherlands, kids don't even start formal schooling until they're four!😲 In those early years, it's mostly all about play, with just a tiny bit of structured work. As the years go by, that balance between playing and studying shifts gradually. They start learning letters around age five, along with basic math, but they actually push off many other subjects much later than we do here in the States.