Communication choices needed for schools (02/14/06)

To the editor:

I would like to comment on the letter about our school system. I can't comment on block scheduling because my child had to take every class three times, but I understand what they're saying. I would like to see more classes the vocational schools have, be offered at the high school level.

College isn't for everyone, and I work with too many top-of-their-class four-year major college graduates that are now working in a factory trying to pay off their student loans. Although everyone I know who has taken classes to be a nurse is a nurse.

What I would like to comment on and agree with completely is, on line communication. I was upset and frustrated with this for years not understanding what was going on with my child. First I should explain that I'm a shy parent with a phobia of teacher parent conferences and won't go to one and believe I'm probably not the only one out there. Although this is about our schools only source for parent teacher communication. I would guess it's kind of a failed tradition.

I would bet more parents of kids with good grades go to them, than the parents of failing students. A lot of the on-going information that parents should have during the year can't be given in one session of meet the teacher.

This isn't a blame the teacher letter. There's enough blame to go around. I work second shift and only see my child for 15 minutes a weekday. I didn't even know my child was failing until their grade card came out and it was to late. One teacher did call at midterm and said the principal required the teachers to call when a grade was at failing. He was the only teacher who called; he did explain the next project coming up and the large grade it was worth.

I tried to understand the project from the phone call. It was confusing but my child was able to fill in some more details and they worked hard on the project, (after we knew about it), and received a high grade and passed the class. Communication is so important, and I just don't see that in Jay County.

I do realize the teachers say call any time, but if you’re like me your not going to do that. This is where I think e-mails could come in so handy. I've been told we don't have the staff, money, time, and technology to do that. I think we should find it. I think it would be a good job for the guidance counselors.

I thought that's what they were there for anyway, I've never really figured out what they do. They've never been any help when I needed them.

I've talked to others in different places that say they have school e-mails and love it. If a teacher can write down a grade in a book why can't they punch it on a keyboard. There seems to be a lot of programs out there for the students who are doing well but what about the ones we can keep from slipping away.

This is my idea for better communication. There are a lot of things that could and should be available to parents. Some of these thing could be easily e-mailed to all parents and other things could be e-mailed to just the students most in need or requested for.

Things I would like to see online are:

•Report cards

•Attendance, (which becomes a problem in the higher grades )

•Behavior issues

•Punishments

•After school events (such as Friday night school, Saturday school and tutoring)

•Printable permission slips

•Weekly progress reports,

•Mid-terms (that don't make it home from the students)

•Assignments

•Directions to projects

•Daily grades

•Spelling lists (for the week, month, or year. I didn't know my child had spelling tests for the first half year and hadn't passed one, now that we know, they bring the list home or be punished to study for the week and has received a 100 percent on all of them.)

I realize these things I'm mentioning are the child's responsibility, but with a child you need to stay on to get them to do it, someone has to know what's going on. Sometimes I think the teachers give up and don't care about the ones who don't try. Parents need to stay on their children but they need information. And they need to know before the grade card comes out.

Some may argue we can't do everything for our children; they need to learn to do it themselves or they won't become responsible adults. I don't believe that. They'll grow up and they'll be fine in the real world, but in the meantime we need to do everything to help the ones who need it.

I think this extra effort and money by the schools could make the teachers' job a lot easier. Because most parents like myself would help or punish our children as they needed it, if we knew what they needed, and our children would do better if their parents knew also.

Penny Collins

Portland

Bryant thanks

To the editor:

Thanks to everyone who attended the fish and tenderloin fry Saturday (Feb. 11) at the Bryant Community Center.

Due to an overwhelming response to this dinner, the board of directors of the Bryant Community center would like to sincerely apologize to everyone that was turned away at the door, plus those who waited in long lines.

The response to this first-time event was so great the food was depleted very quickly.

All proceeds from this even will go into the building fund.

Thank you for your support, patience and understanding.

Norma Whitacre, president, for the board of directors of the Bryant Community Center[[In-content Ad]]