So we have this third grader who throws tantrums daily if he doesn't get his own way and refuses to do work. Have you heard of him??!! I am sure you know of one too. I am sure PBS programs have been tried, tried, tried....
You all know the story, suspensions, parent conferences, etc.
So, field trip time! Watch out zoo! Mom pitched a fit that he wasn't being allowed to go due to his behavior- consequences of his behavior. Well, mom showed up the day of the field trip with her son and said she would also go if he could go. Sorry, no can do. Must follow through on consequences. So, guess who signed him out of school that day and showed up at the zoo! Yup, mom and son. She choose a group to follow the entire day even though no one acknowledged that they were with them, but then again what do you think if the child is trying to interact with the other students all day?! Mom couldn't control him- he thew rocks at the animals, tried to climb fences, and long story short, ended up in the emergency room because he tried to crawl over a bathroom stall and tore his leg up. Of course, the entire time they were there, mom was browsing the zoo in her own world while her son was doing this and that leaving the teacher and docent trying to control him.
So what do you do? He is barely a third grader. This has been going on all year and will only get worse.
And I hate to say it, but so many of our parents are like this. The worst part is that these parents are active duty military parents in the army. Our school is essentially a ghetto school with the type of families we serve.
Another kiddo has porn on all day at home. His parents have been busted many times, he has been sexually abused, and he is still at home! Yes, reports have been made, but will someone explain to me why this child is still at home?
I have an illiterate active duty parent. Dad is sped himself and depressed/rarely gets out of bed. How do you get into the military if you can't read?!
Another mother was running a brothel out of the home while DH was deployed. She was never kicked out.
There are more drugs and drive-by shootings on base than elsewhere in the city.
Sorry I am just venting. This isn't the way it used to be and I know there is nothing you can do about the parents. We can only do our best with the kids, work hard at teaching them academics and somehow teach morals and values. I think what really gets me is I read how schools need to let parents be the parent and HOW??! My parents don't make our kids bathe, brush their teeth, wear clean clothes, or pick their child up from school. Our kids sit in the office after school waiting to be picked up for a couple of hours.
AAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHH!