Gabby's

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by The Mrs

Just for you Miss Tina...




My daughter called me at work asking me to bring ingredients home to make chicken primavera.

We traded 'chores' this morning. I told her I'd do the dishes if she did the cooking! I hate to cook, and she hates doing the dishes. (Like it's sooooo hard to load & unload a dishwasher! Sheesh!)

In other news...

I have been working for a Real Estate agent for about a year and a half now. I am her listing and marketing specialist. I put all of her houses for sale (listings) online, and have built her online presence.

I've been wanting to do more lately, and after having almost 3 weeks off for Christmas Holiday I had a lot of time to think about what I want to be when I grow up. I'm not content to just be a 'Girl Friday' for the rest of my life. My boss is the greatest at recognizing when I'm troubled, often before even I know it! We talked and she suggested I get my RE license and become her Showing Agent. All I have to do is take the Buyers to tour the homes, and when they are interested in making an offer, then my boss steps in with the legal paperwork.

I thought that would be PERFECT! So here I am, embarking on a new chapter in my life. Not sure how long it will take, but hopefully in just a few weeks I'll have my RE license.

How's that Tina?

My daughter just passed her National Test last week. She's good to go. Working with a great company!!! That will free up her time when the baby comes!!

I was reading the sample questions to her on the way to take the National Test. She might as well have gone into law! LOL!

Good luck to you!!

[missourimary]

Originally Posted by Margies3

MissouriMary, I needed a chuckle today and that sure gave me one. Thanks for sharing your story.

I've had a bug for the past 2 days. Ran a slight fever, had a miserable headache and ached all over. Never got sick to my stomach, but other than that, I sure felt like I've had the flu. I think I am finally getting over it. But guess what! Now Keith has it. Geesh!

Hope both of you feel better soon!

[missourimary]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

My daughter just passed her National Test last week. She's good to go. Working with a great company!!! That will free up her time when the baby comes!!

I was reading the sample questions to her on the way to take the National Test. She might as well have gone into law! LOL!

Good luck to you!!

Congrats to your daughter, PO!

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by missourimary

Congrats to your daughter, PO!

Thanks, Mary. It's a lot of studying! She said, "Okay, stop reading and let's eat lunch. I can't concentrate anymore!" LOL!

She's having her picture taken today and was fingerprinted yesterday. So, much involved!

[Margies3]

Oh my goodness, what a roller-coaster we have been on for the past 3 years! I'm finally feeling like we MIGHT be seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. But I'm certainly not counting my chickens before they hatch.

When Keith was in the 8th grade he suddenly fell part academically. Up to that point he had been able to do pretty well in school. But that year he earned more "F"'s than I thought possible. Seriously! I was on the phone weekly with the school counselor, begging her to intervene somehow. His doctor told me over and over that he needed to be tested for an IEP, but the counselor kept telling me that the school psychologist didn't believe it needed to be done. Finally at the beginning of May, I told the counselor that as his parent, I wanted him to be held back and not moved on to high school. She absolutely refused! She said he had "F"s but that they were high F's. PLEASE!!!

So the next year in the high school, I continue to push for the IEP. with no luck. They did finally give him a "504", for whatever good that does (none!). He failed 3 subjects in his freshman year. One of the subjects (Algebra) we paid for a tutor and for him to do the make-up work in the summer (almost $200). He scored an A!!!! The rest of the work, the school said they will make sure he makes up over the course of this year. (not that I believe that)

Now this year - First quarter he did ok. Not good, but no F's. Second quarter he had 3 F's and completely failed 2 subjects for the first semester.
Then last week, the school counselor called and told me that she wanted to schedule a meeting for both Walt and me and all of Keith's teachers, herself and the school principal. I asked to have the meeting first thing in the morning so Walt wouldn't need to take a whole day off work, but she refused. Said it had to be at 11:00 so that all the teachers could be there during their planning sessions. We get there for the meeting and guess what - the only ones there are Walt, me, the counselor and ONE teacher. NO ONE ELSE. The meeting lasts all of 15 minutes and she dismisses us. We were furious!!! And told her so. And then went to the Superintendent's office to get this fixed (or try to, AGAIN). That was useless.

Well, today the school principal called. I really like him. He is the only one in this whole thing who I believe knows what he's doing and really CARES!!! He apologized all over the place for the way the counselor had handled the whole meeting thing. He was not there because his father had passed away. That was totally understandable. But he said to me that she should have cancelled the meeting when she knew that the key players couldn't be there. And then when he found out what she had told me the meeting was about, he was dumbfounded. Said it was never supposed to be about what she said!!

THEN he drops the real bombshell on me - I say to him that I had been told that as long as a parents puts in writing that they are requesting an IEP, the school then has to follow up and do the testing. He says to me, "Well, I work for the schools, so I can't really say. But write the letter." OK!!!!!!!!! WHY were we not told this 3 years ago? And why is it such a huge secret that he can't come right out and say, "You are right!"?

GEESH!!! I am so totally disgusted with our whole school system. It is such a political nightmare. Everything is about who knows who and who can do what for whom.
Are all small public systems like this?

I apologize for the length of this, but thank you for letting me vent.

[missourimary]

Wow, Margie. That's sad. I used to work for a school (alternative school). I'm trying to remember what the differences in everything were, but if I remember right it all boils down to what testing gets the school extra money, district image, and paperwork-for instance that an IEP might create a ton of extra paperwork or red tape they don't want to deal with. I'm not sure of that, but I'd guess it's about funding and/or additional paperwork... It may also have to do with their ratings as a district, but I would think that low grades would affect their image as well.

Each district has a bit of a different educational philosophy. The schools here are no better (larger district), IMO, but due to discipline issues more than anything. I know several children in different sizes and types of school systems that have faced similar problems, so it isn't size.

At least they didn't pass Keith just to get him through the system. I've seen that, too.

Size doesn't seem to matter as much as educational philosophy, funding... and sometimes how many teachers are tenured. At least that's my experience.

OK, off my soapbox. I wanted to teach, till I saw the mountains of red tape and the enormous amount of politicking. Decided I'd rather not.

(On the matter of politics-we were told in education classes we'd better vote for so-and-so in the next election if we were planning to teach. I would think that campaigning should be kept outside the classroom!)

Glad you finally are getting somewhere!

[Sweet Pea]

Originally Posted by missourimary

Wow, Margie. That's sad. I used to work for a school (alternative school). I'm trying to remember what the differences in everything were, but if I remember right it all boils down to what testing gets the school extra money, district image, and paperwork-for instance that an IEP might create a ton of extra paperwork or red tape they don't want to deal with. I'm not sure of that, but I'd guess it's about funding and/or additional paperwork... It may also have to do with their ratings as a district, but I would think that low grades would affect their image as well.

Each district has a bit of a different educational philosophy. The schools here are no better (larger district), IMO, but due to discipline issues more than anything. I know several children in different sizes and types of school systems that have faced similar problems, so it isn't size.

At least they didn't pass Keith just to get him through the system. I've seen that, too.

Size doesn't seem to matter as much as educational philosophy, funding... and sometimes how many teachers are tenured. At least that's my experience.

OK, off my soapbox. I wanted to teach, till I saw the mountains of red tape and the enormous amount of politicking. Decided I'd rather not.

(On the matter of politics-we were told in education classes we'd better vote for so-and-so in the next election if we were planning to teach. I would think that campaigning should be kept outside the classroom!)

Glad you finally are getting somewhere!

Isn't that illegal ????? - I think there is someone you could have reported this to!

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Margies3

Oh my goodness, what a roller-coaster we have been on for the past 3 years! I'm finally feeling like we MIGHT be seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. But I'm certainly not counting my chickens before they hatch.

When Keith was in the 8th grade he suddenly fell part academically. Up to that point he had been able to do pretty well in school. But that year he earned more "F"'s than I thought possible. Seriously! I was on the phone weekly with the school counselor, begging her to intervene somehow. His doctor told me over and over that he needed to be tested for an IEP, but the counselor kept telling me that the school psychologist didn't believe it needed to be done. Finally at the beginning of May, I told the counselor that as his parent, I wanted him to be held back and not moved on to high school. She absolutely refused! She said he had "F"s but that they were high F's. PLEASE!!!

So the next year in the high school, I continue to push for the IEP. with no luck. They did finally give him a "504", for whatever good that does (none!). He failed 3 subjects in his freshman year. One of the subjects (Algebra) we paid for a tutor and for him to do the make-up work in the summer (almost $200). He scored an A!!!! The rest of the work, the school said they will make sure he makes up over the course of this year. (not that I believe that)

Now this year - First quarter he did ok. Not good, but no F's. Second quarter he had 3 F's and completely failed 2 subjects for the first semester.
Then last week, the school counselor called and told me that she wanted to schedule a meeting for both Walt and me and all of Keith's teachers, herself and the school principal. I asked to have the meeting first thing in the morning so Walt wouldn't need to take a whole day off work, but she refused. Said it had to be at 11:00 so that all the teachers could be there during their planning sessions. We get there for the meeting and guess what - the only ones there are Walt, me, the counselor and ONE teacher. NO ONE ELSE. The meeting lasts all of 15 minutes and she dismisses us. We were furious!!! And told her so. And then went to the Superintendent's office to get this fixed (or try to, AGAIN). That was useless.

Well, today the school principal called. I really like him. He is the only one in this whole thing who I believe knows what he's doing and really CARES!!! He apologized all over the place for the way the counselor had handled the whole meeting thing. He was not there because his father had passed away. That was totally understandable. But he said to me that she should have cancelled the meeting when she knew that the key players couldn't be there. And then when he found out what she had told me the meeting was about, he was dumbfounded. Said it was never supposed to be about what she said!!

THEN he drops the real bombshell on me - I say to him that I had been told that as long as a parents puts in writing that they are requesting an IEP, the school then has to follow up and do the testing. He says to me, "Well, I work for the schools, so I can't really say. But write the letter." OK!!!!!!!!! WHY were we not told this 3 years ago? And why is it such a huge secret that he can't come right out and say, "You are right!"?

GEESH!!! I am so totally disgusted with our whole school system. It is such a political nightmare. Everything is about who knows who and who can do what for whom.
Are all small public systems like this?

I apologize for the length of this, but thank you for letting me vent.

Margie,
How is it that he makes an A with a tutor on Algebra of all subjects? If one on one works for him, why does he need a test. Some kids need special attention and not run through a mill. Sounds like the school has too many kids in the classroom or inept teachers. That is why I am for parental school choice. Private or homeschool.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by missourimary

(On the matter of politics-we were told in education classes we'd better vote for so-and-so in the next election if we were planning to teach. I would think that campaigning should be kept outside the classroom!)

WOW!

[Margies3]

Originally Posted by missourimary

Wow, Margie. That's sad. I used to work for a school (alternative school). I'm trying to remember what the differences in everything were, but if I remember right it all boils down to what testing gets the school extra money, district image, and paperwork-for instance that an IEP might create a ton of extra paperwork or red tape they don't want to deal with. I'm not sure of that, but I'd guess it's about funding and/or additional paperwork... It may also have to do with their ratings as a district, but I would think that low grades would affect their image as well.

Each district has a bit of a different educational philosophy. The schools here are no better (larger district), IMO, but due to discipline issues more than anything. I know several children in different sizes and types of school systems that have faced similar problems, so it isn't size.

At least they didn't pass Keith just to get him through the system. I've seen that, too.

Size doesn't seem to matter as much as educational philosophy, funding... and sometimes how many teachers are tenured. At least that's my experience.

OK, off my soapbox. I wanted to teach, till I saw the mountains of red tape and the enormous amount of politicking. Decided I'd rather not.

(On the matter of politics-we were told in education classes we'd better vote for so-and-so in the next election if we were planning to teach. I would think that campaigning should be kept outside the classroom!)

Glad you finally are getting somewhere!

Mary, that's exactly what they did when I told them repeatedly that we wanted him held back in the 8th grade and they refused. Point blank. Said they do not ever hold a child back. Said it's not good for their ego.
And failure IS??