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Old 10-13-2012, 09:45 AM
 
Location: Finally in NC
1,337 posts, read 2,204,445 times
Reputation: 998

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So, I've shared my opinion about the Wake school system (as a teacher new to the area and someone who didnt move into Wake because of the choice mess) but now i have a couple questions. We were looking for 3 years before moving to NC from WI. We looked at areas, shopping, neighborhoods,etc-both in person and online. I was originally set on Wake Forest or North Raleigh (cant afford Cary). Then I found out that even if we moved to Wake Forest, my kids could be bussed out of WF into nearby cities (I think one was Rolesville) and then I started looking into other areas and found Clayton. I heard good things from people on other sites and it was suggested by a couple Real-estate pros (neither of which was trying to sell us a house). The two schools are next to each other, in our subdivision, and both schools have good reviews, good test scores, etc. Well, we then changed our mind last minute based ONLY on the schools and not having to deal with different schedules, different schools, and busses. Well, I'm so unhappy with the schools. I dont want to say the name of the schools-unsure if I can and dont want to offend anyone. My 5th grader has always loved school-even the year she has a really bad, semi-senile teacher in her last year of teaching. Her teacher shows a lot of movies and they do a lot of just getting lists of terms to memorize. Not an effective teaching strategy and not how we are told to teach these days. Kids are downright mean to her and tell her its because she's new. She is shy so very alone-says the teacher is awful-doesnt teach-reads directions from a book
They were in one of the best districts in our former state We were lucky to get them in there because we didnt live in that city-it as NOT far from our house,but schools go by city there. However, they wouldnt take my son because he has special needs and I refused to put him in the district we lived in. Why didnt we move down the block to that city, you may ask. My job required me to live in that city to teach there. No other teaching jobs there and hated winter anyhow. So, now my kids hate school, are not treated well, and I am unhappy with the curriculum. My son is in a self-contained K-5 (YES 5 year olds with 11 year olds any everyone in between!). I am an advocate for inclusion but was told right off he would not have the support-just be pulled out for 3 hours/day for resource and he would initially need a 1:1 until he learns the ropes.
My middle school child is learning the same topics in one class-exactly-that she learned last year (science and social studies common core not in effect yet) and has one teacher that doesnt know the material and has them watch movies and prints assignments from other school web sites from other states and tells the kids to do them. My child says the teacher is not familiar with the subject she is teaching (its her first year as a science teacher) so she's pushing worksheets and projects from other schools! another teacher that doenst correct ANY work-just has them spend writing class writing until they fill pages-doesnt matter what it says. points per page-not content.
I teach in Wake and the teachers in my school do a great job with teaching using higher-level thinking (Blooms is BIG, as it was in WI).
Is Johnston just behind???
Also, When it is raining hard, thunder,etc. they hold the kids and dont let them leave. They do not contact the parents-I found out one day my daughter was sitting in school (I was at work) until I got home because kids need to be picked up in storms!) By the time I got there the sun was out-still wouldnt let her walk (blocks away) and they held my middle school kid (again, no calls to parents) and she is the only one home to get my special needs 5 year old off the bus!
I'm told it's policy. Principal will not take a note with my permission to let child walk-she says get a friend/neighbor. We have NO Friends and neighbors barely say hello! Is it normal for them to hold kids hostage and deny a parent request to let them walk-and not even call parents who are at work in another city to let them know their kid is sitting at school 90 minutes after release? I'm so frustrated. Any input would be helpful as I navigate a new system.
moving to wake isnt an option. My students are often at school an hour after dismissal still waiting for their busses-and they travel to another city home. I'd hate to see what time they get home! HElp!!
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Old 10-13-2012, 11:37 AM
 
Location: Sneads Ferry, NC
13,361 posts, read 26,915,480 times
Reputation: 6956
Quote:
Originally Posted by goodbyesnow View Post
Principal will not take a note with my permission to let child walk-she says get a friend/neighbor. We have NO Friends and neighbors barely say hello! Is it normal for them to hold kids hostage and deny a parent request to let them walk-and not even call parents who are at work in another city to let them know their kid is sitting at school 90 minutes after release? I'm so frustrated. Any input would be helpful as I navigate a new system.
I am sorry to hear of your bad experience with the Johnston County School system. Your sharing may help others decide where to live. I also think it is unconscionable not to notify parents when they detain your kids. I can only suggest you try to locate a neighbor who is willing to escort your child home (even offer to pay them). Sorry, I can't help further.

Last edited by goldenage1; 10-13-2012 at 12:23 PM..
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Old 10-13-2012, 11:47 AM
 
Location: Raleigh, NC
12,475 posts, read 32,191,857 times
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Hopefully Newmom will pop on here and can give you some answers. She is a teacher at one of the Johnston County schools!

Vicki
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Old 10-13-2012, 12:28 PM
 
Location: Sneads Ferry, NC
13,361 posts, read 26,915,480 times
Reputation: 6956
This may be a dumb question, but do they let kids use cell-phones? If the principal won't call parents when there is a need for someone to pick up the kid, shouldn't they let a middle school kid call her mom? Especially when she is supposed to help out with her little brother.
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Old 10-13-2012, 01:02 PM
 
Location: under the beautiful Carolina blue
22,654 posts, read 36,662,452 times
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How can a middle school principal hold kids every time it rains? My kids are in middle school and they have a pretty good amount of autonomy. I am guessing that the day you are referring to is the day we were under a tornado watch. My elementary age kid was not allowed out for recess but they dismissed at usual. I find it hard to believe they hold kids at school just because it's raining. Who is watching these kids? Unless it's a one room schoolhouse it doesn't sound feasible on a regular basis. Not sure it's legal to hold kids without notifying parents.

As far as the curriculum, NC as a state is using the common core. I do know that some schools even in Wake are looking at what other states are doing. Sounds like somethng you need to get with the principal about, maybe the school board.

I think your story is a good cautionary tale about letting the Wake County hysteria cloud one's judgement. Thanks for posting.
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Old 10-13-2012, 01:03 PM
 
Location: Finally in NC
1,337 posts, read 2,204,445 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by goldenage1 View Post
This may be a dumb question, but do they let kids use cell-phones? If the principal won't call parents when there is a need for someone to pick up the kid, shouldn't they let a middle school kid call her mom? Especially when she is supposed to help out with her little brother.
My kids dont have cell phones-they're not in the budget right now. Plus, I'm a teacher in Wake CO. so it's not like I can just leave when they do hold them.
The last time, I called home to make sure everyone was home ok (the day there was a short tornado warning). My middle-school child was released as usual, said she got an automated call that 5 y.o. was going to be detained as they were holding busses, and as she was hanging up, his bus was pulling up! So, they not only made a contact (that one time) but it was inaccurate. Then I asked about the 5th grader, which is when I found out she was not home. I have to stay on bus duty every day after school, so leaving was not an option. I called the school and was told she was being held until an adult could come pick her up. No call, nothing, she was just sitting in the office. Luckily there was another teacher at school that didnt have duty that night that took over my duty so I could leave to go get her (she had a night job she called in and switched nights for, just for me!) and by the time I got there, my kid had been held 90 minutes! That's a long time for a kid to sit-especially since she's always starving after school!
I asked why she wasnt allowed to walk when I called since there were no longer any weather concerns and was told that once there is a concern, no one walks-period! How can there not be a way to at least contact parents? I cant be the only parent who works in Wake Co. (where the weather is often different, so I might not even know if it is storming here). My husband works in North Raleigh, and its a new job for him too, so leaving is not an option (he starts work at 2 or 3, so he's just getting to work).
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Old 10-13-2012, 01:10 PM
 
Location: Finally in NC
1,337 posts, read 2,204,445 times
Reputation: 998
Quote:
Originally Posted by twingles View Post
How can a middle school principal hold kids every time it rains? My kids are in middle school and they have a pretty good amount of autonomy. I am guessing that the day you are referring to is the day we were under a tornado watch. My elementary age kid was not allowed out for recess but they dismissed at usual. I find it hard to believe they hold kids at school just because it's raining. Who is watching these kids? Unless it's a one room schoolhouse it doesn't sound feasible on a regular basis. Not sure it's legal to hold kids without notifying parents.

As far as the curriculum, NC as a state is using the common core. I do know that some schools even in Wake are looking at what other states are doing. Sounds like somethng you need to get with the principal about, maybe the school board.

I think your story is a good cautionary tale about letting the Wake County hysteria cloud one's judgement. Thanks for posting.
No, the day they held the middle school child was just this past week-RAIN only. No tornado, no thunder/lightning! They held them in the gym.
The tornado day she was released as usual since the warning was lifted prior to the end of the day, BUT that is the day the held the 5th grader until I got there after 5-even though the weather was long done.

Common Core is only currently required for reading/lang arts & math. Their other areas seem very "delayed".
While the Wake hype is something to worry about as far as assignments, at least they have a good, solid, district-wide curricular map for EVERY subject-down to the day of what to teach, which is how it was in WI. I'm not sure why Johsnton isnt quite there yet.It's a bit unsettling.
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Old 10-13-2012, 01:40 PM
 
1,243 posts, read 2,234,090 times
Reputation: 1370
Please contact Dr. Ed Croom edcroom@johnston.k12.nc.us as concerns your school issues.
2 schools side by side in Clayton? Must be Riverwood. Both have great reputations and great staffs. Have you met and talked with the school principals? You being a school teacher it would seem you would want to talk with applicable principals before airing complaints on a public discussion board.
Have you and your husband attended PTSA meetings? This is great way to meet neighbors. Have you met with teachers to discuss these issues?
Does your neighboorhood have a HOA? If so, attend HOA meeting. Another great way to meet your neighbors.
Do you and your family attend church? Great way for kids to meet and make life long friends.
Most Clayton residents believe Clayton is a great community to live in and raise a family. I hope you resolve the issues you have discussed on the board in the near future. Best wishes!
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Old 10-13-2012, 01:48 PM
 
Location: under the beautiful Carolina blue
22,654 posts, read 36,662,452 times
Reputation: 19848
Do your kids take the bus in the morning? THat's a good way to meet people in the neighborhood. Being a teacher it may be difficult for you to get there, but if you can swing it, do it. I met a lot of my neighbors at the bus stop! Even now that my kids are old enough not to need the escort, I'll sometimes go out....good way to get a feel for what's going on in the neighborhood as well. You may find people have similar concerns to you. Check to see if your neighborhood has a website with a message board too.
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Old 10-13-2012, 01:54 PM
 
Location: Finally in NC
1,337 posts, read 2,204,445 times
Reputation: 998
Quote:
Originally Posted by bluecomet View Post
Please contact Dr. Ed Croom edcroom@johnston.k12.nc.us as concerns your school issues.
2 schools side by side in Clayton? Must be Riverwood. Both have great reputations and great staffs. Have you met and talked with the school principals? You being a school teacher it would seem you would want to talk with applicable principals before airing complaints on a public discussion board.
Have you and your husband attended PTSA meetings? This is great way to meet neighbors. Have you met with teachers to discuss these issues?
Does your neighboorhood have a HOA? If so, attend HOA meeting. Another great way to meet your neighbors.
Do you and your family attend church? Great way for kids to meet and make life long friends.
Most Clayton residents believe Clayton is a great community to live in and raise a family. I hope you resolve the issues you have discussed on the board in the near future. Best wishes!
I dont want to mention school names as I dont want to upset anyone. I am just disappointed so far. I have talked to a couple teachers (very defensive-we need to treat 5th graders like middle school kids to prepare them to do middle school work and thats how it is there" to "it's my first year here, so I'm not sure") Principal has blown me off, ignored letter sent in and an email. Stopped her at school, said he'd call-didnt. Emailed her a week later, emailed back a day/time (the next day) that didnt work for me. I have not contacted the other principal yet-that's next on my list.

I am not trying to air complaints but rather see if this is typical as I tend to have high expectations of schools and maybe my thoughts are out-of line? Before moving here, I lived in the same city my whole life, so I have nothing to compare to and do not know what is typical/ordinary. Yet Wake CO. schools seems like what I'd expect (curriculum wise-not assignment wise!)

My husband and i work opposite shifts so unless I take 5 year old to a meeting, I cant go (and it's like taking a 2 year old). I havent heard of PTSA meetings. Kids dont bring home like a weekly folder of school notices-didnt know about some things until a phone message the night before. Once I get home, make dinner, feed them, they are doing homework the rest of the night-often past bedtime.
There is a neighborhood HOA. IF they have meetings, I'm not sure I could bring a child and if I'd be welcome. I'm renting the house I'm in-with the option to buy when the lease is up. I never heard anything negative about Clayton, I just have these school concerns.
I did run into someone at a yard sale who used to live in this neighborhood and moved because the people were not "neighborly". We go out for nightly walks and spent time at the pool this summer, but havent met anyone.
No, I hate to say it, but we do not go to church-no lectures please! I get calls from my oldest daughter from FL lecturing me about that already!
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