Not happy with kids school...i feel trapped! (Tyler: home, transfer)

[kelliebell]

We just moved here from Tyler where the schools were awesome and were told from several people the school was good where we were designated to go. They are enrolled at North Hi Mount and my oldest is already having a hard time. He got a lunch detention the second day of school (my son is in 3rd grade and has no clue what a detention is, they didn't do those at his old school and got a detention for forgetting his homework). Nobody really explained it to him, so he sat there and did his homework during lunch and ended up throwing his lunch away. HE came home starving and in tears. I was more pissed that he didn't eat moreso than the detention itself. Anyway...it seems that the school itself is very rigid and they don't have any freedoms. I'm told his teacher sets a timer for when they make a trip to the bathroom and have 3 minutes and if not back by the time the timer goes off they get a lunch detention? I just am not liking the lack of freedom and what seems to me a sad environment. I was not impressed with the principal either. I'm assuming the extreme strictness comes from the kids they are usually dealing with. I've researched and found out that 80% are disadvantaged. What do I do? We cannot afford to move and cannot afford to go to private school. My only chance is to try and get them transferred out to another district but have been told by someone they may charge tuition? What is the cost of that, can anyone help me out? TIA!

[loves2read]

My experience is that ALL schools/districts have a handbook which goes home the first day of school and explains the discipline measures teachers/schools/the district employ...
You had to register your child before school---didn't you get a handbook of some kind when you told them you were new to the district
Didn't you have a meet the teacher before the first day of school?
That always happens in HEB and most districts in my local area so parents and teachers go over some rudimentary ground rules...and as a teacher I always---Always--passed out a class info sheet w/ rules and required that the bottom be returned with parents' and student's signatures

And Imhave heard comments by friends in Tyler that are not so positive about their schools now although their kids have graduated--- so not everyone there might be so happy...

Ask for conference with your child's teacher
Be respectful but realize that what happenened in Tyler is just that--- a past event
It is only a reference point for u to explain that your son is totally unfamiliar with this schools,policies
This school may be run by principal with concerns about test scores to improve and there may be a take no prisoner attitude from on- high whether teachers really want to be that way or not
this teacher may have been criticized in past for being too lenient and is trying to have strict guidelines that are enforced...

Join PTA
They know the scoop most of the time

[stanwood]

Join PTA. Get involved in the school. That's the best way to really know what's going on at your kid's school. You'll understand the rules better and your kid will learn to work within those rules. OR, you can be an element of change from within.

[Squirl]

I would be upset too. But I bet your kid doesn't forget his homework again.

Maybe check into Charter schools if you want to explore other options....