What the !@@#$ is going on with FWISD???? (Fort Worth, McLean: low income, homes)

[dhallam]

This post is for parents and others who have children in this school district. I have had many problems during my children's years in public school. I have a 9 year old, an 11 year old and a 12 year old. The 11 year old's homeschool is Meadowbrook Middle. The school has not had an acceptable state accountability rating for 5 or 6 consecutive years. When my child was there he complained of teachers making racial comments, a teacher hit him and kids bullied him. I talked to principal many times. He did a half as44d investigation and nothing was done to my knowledge. I requested that my child be put in another class. Well, it also seems as if one of his math teachers thought it was okay to play rap music in the classroom. I listen to it but, even I know the lyrics of some songs are too offensive to be played at a school. I have even had my child come home and tell me that his teachers blamed the students for their failing ratings. I am a very involved in my children's education and I make it a habit to call their teachers, principals, etc. and check up on them periodically. While this child has faults, I have not received any infractions for his behavior. I always talk to him and discipline accordingly when he messes up and I have in fact had some of his teachers at his former school come up to me and compliment him on being a respectful student, so I don't think the main problem lies with him. Needless to say, he no longer attends that school. Now that he is in another, I am told that he can be sent back to the homeschool if he continues to report incidences to the principal. This is without the principal placing him on a probationary contract which is something I have heard happens from the principal at the former school. It sounds to me that if my child is labeled "a problem" for any little reason then he will have to go back to a failing school. I am a single, low income parent. Is this the best the district offers in this area? I seriously wonder why this school is still open. At the new school I run into a similar situation where the principal seems unwilling to discipline the kids when they get out of line. I have tried to meet with him and he has told me that he feels that he is being unfairly scrutinized and that he does not think the meeting will accomplish anything. As he explained to me his job was not to administer discipline. Mind you this school is not exactly exemplary itself. It seems to teeter between acceptable and unacceptable. I cannot believe that school leaders are allowed to get away with this type of behavior and avoid meeting with the parents. I actually had to detail my reasons for wanting to have an in person conference with him to which he reluctantly agreed. I have even called the administration building. It is almost like you become blacklisted and made to feel as if your are becoming a bother to them. They are of little help and often refer you back to the principal. I was wondering if any other parents have horror stories about fwisd? What in your opinion are some of the better schools as far as academics and leadership? I have signed my children up for the programs of choice next school year so I am hoping that they can concentrate on learning and have a better school experience. I would rather have my kids get bussed across town than to have to continue attending schools where the staff seems more concerned with keeping a paycheck rather than helping the students.

[Dark Serge]

I happen to be a product of Fort Worth ISD. Morningside Elementary, McLean Middle, and Paschal High. I learned a lot, but the experiences from bullying and staff apathy jacked me up more than a redneck's truck.

[ChristieP]

Sadly, this seems pretty typical of a large, urban school district. That is why most parents who are concerned about their kids' education head to the suburbs...