Odd. I have a 12 year old, just left 6th grade, heading to 7th.
Friends, a solid 20 of them, all in a close circle since pre-school.
All doing well.
None bribed, none beaten, none ignored. All the parents in this small group attend every school event, every awards ceremony, every opportunity to interact with the school and staff.
All kids have the best squeal when they play, smile and are simply a pleasure to be around, all are welcome to our home any time, mine is welcome to any of theres.
No singular church is attended, no strict moral guidelines. Some of the kids have 2 "dads" some have 2 "moms" some have lost their father or mother, some are hetero couples, some have large, mixed race siblings, others are only children, some are adopted.
One thing in common, we all participate.
Another thing in common, the school district, administrators, staff love us, as we do them.
The Government is irrelevant in what we are doing. Also, each child knows we know who they are, who their parents are, and are fiercely polite and respectful when we see them anywhere.
We succeed in spite of the Government, not because of it, we do things at our local school that are contrary to "state" or "federal" regulation but you know what, it's our school, we show incredible scores, and frankly if they wish to come down to our level and discuss what we are going wrong then I'm more than willing to meet with them.
A teachers options are severely limited as to what they can do to encourage the students
Incorrect. Many use the rules as a reason not to do what they need to do. First Hand, I know they can do good things. Our Public school, they can and will fail, they can and will hold back, they can and will expel. The schools can and will do what the parents of the students support.
Of course, maybe we are just lucky, but I'll go with that. Our students say the pledge, our teachers say Merry Christmas during the Christmas Season, and Happy Hanuka during the Jewish Holidays, and recognize all the other holidays. Staff says if the State doesn't like that, come on down and tell them about it. They won't, not with the scores our kids produce. We tell those families that say they are offended by anything to grow a spine. We are not forcing anyone to observe, only allowing those to observe as they wish.
Simple solutions for a problem that doesn't exist but demands to be created. Parents get involved with their Kids. Parents get involved with their schools. You'd think it was something difficult to comprehend at times.
