WWTBAM Bored

Emma gets irritated because I volunteer all of the time and know so many people in charge of things at her school district.

Today when she got into the car, she told me that she wanted me to use my influence to get somebody fired because he threatened her because she pointed out the truth and he didn't want to hear it.

PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:Emma gets irritated because I volunteer all of the time and know so many people in charge of things at her school district.

Today when she got into the car, she told me that she wanted me to use my influence to get somebody fired because he threatened her because she pointed out the truth and he didn't want to hear it.

OK...you can't leave us hanging on this one.

And?

I don't have as much power as she thinks I have.

I did let the appropriate person know via email that somebody threatened my child and there were witnesses and relayed the facts as they were relayed to me. Emma thinks that racism was involved, but I did not mention that aspect of the situation because it's a difficult claim to prove.

Let's intend someone get trained from the problem.

Training is generally a better outcome than firing.

Fired people just take whatever had them do the thing to the next job.

Emma has been dealing with this person for a couple of weeks, but has handled the situation.

It's only when he threatened her, did it merit parental intervention.

Call her "Emma Palin" and see what she says...

She can come slap me if she wants!

It IS good to let someone know about the problem right away, though. And it's good she comes to you with important stuff like that.

My son sent me an email this morning headed "I'm bored" and saying he was sitting in the school library and he was bored. I guess he SHOULD have been researching Turkey for the Mock UN....

Hello, Mini! wrote:My son sent me an email this morning headed "I'm bored" and saying he was sitting in the school library and he was bored. I guess he SHOULD have been researching Turkey for the Mock UN....

He should relieve his boredom like you do, by cycling through a bunch of MM with Uncle Beast!


As for Emma's problem, I'm guessing it started out as a difference of opinion (politics, perhaps?) that was a classroom debate not needing outside intervention, until he crossed over the line.

MarleysGh0st wrote:

Hello, Mini! wrote:My son sent me an email this morning headed "I'm bored" and saying he was sitting in the school library and he was bored. I guess he SHOULD have been researching Turkey for the Mock UN....

He should relieve his boredom like you do, by cycling through a bunch of MM with Uncle Beast!


As for Emma's problem, I'm guessing it started out as a difference of opinion (politics, perhaps?) that was a classroom debate not needing outside intervention, until he crossed over the line.

ya think?

Emma's problem has nothing to do with politics.

Some background information, her school has something called "Homework Club." It's at lunch and it's for kids who do not do their homework. Rather than socializing with friends, kids who have been assigned to Homework Club are supposed to take their lunch to a classroom and do their homework.

Anyway, at lunch, Emma gets to the lunch lines first. The line doesn't open up right away and there has been an issue with students cutting in front of her. They say that they have "homework club" to the Adult Supervisor, Jesus, and they cut in front of Emma.

Emma has been noticing that they do not go to Homework Club, instead they sit at the tables. Basically they are using Homework Club as an excuse to cut in front of her.

Emma has been pointing out to Jesus that the kids who are cutting in front of her do not go to Homework Club, so they have no valid excuse for cutting in line. She pointed out that it's unfair for her to wait an extra ten minutes because of these people who lie every day. Emma's group of friends is becoming increasingly vocal about the fact that these kids are lying, but Jesus doesn't care.

The other aspect of this situation is that the kids who cut are Hispanic. When Caucasian kids use the "Homework Club" excuse for cutting, they are sent to the back of the line, but Jesus repeatedly lets the Hispanic kids cut in line.

Anyway, Emma became agitated about the situation again yesterday and told Jesus that it's completely unfair that he lets these kids go to the front of the line every day, even though he knows that they don't have Homework Club. She also said that its unfair that she has to wait an extra ten minutes for her food because of their lies. She gets to the line quickly, but they are allowed to cut. She became quite vocal and pointed out all of the kids who had lied and were eating at the lunch tables so that everyone in line could see the unfairness of the situation.

Jesus threatened to send her to the Homework Club if she didn't shut up and she said that she does her homework, so his threat to send her to Homework Club has no relevance to the fact that he is not doing his job properly. He threatened her again if she didn't stop complaining about the situation and then he told her that she only had to wait an extra six minutes and not ten minutes due to the kids who cut in front of her. She said that she is going to keep complaining because what is allowing is wrong and he knows it.

PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:Emma's problem has nothing to do with politics.

Some background information, her school has something called "Homework Club." It's at lunch and it's for kids who do not do their homework. Rather than socializing with friends, kids who have been assigned to Homework Club are supposed to take their lunch to a classroom and do their homework.

Anyway, at lunch, Emma gets to the lunch lines first. The line doesn't open up right away and there has been an issue with students cutting in front of her. They say that they have "homework club" to the Adult Supervisor, Jesus, and they cut in front of Emma.

Emma has been noticing that they do not go to Homework Club, instead they sit at the tables. Basically they are using Homework Club as an excuse to cut in front of her.

Emma has been pointing out to Jesus that the kids who are cutting in front of her do not go to Homework Club, so they have no valid excuse for cutting in line. She pointed out that it's unfair for her to wait an extra ten minutes because of these people who lie every day. Emma's group of friends is becoming increasingly vocal about the fact that these kids are lying, but Jesus doesn't care.

The other aspect of this situation is that the kids who cut are Hispanic. When Caucasian kids use the "Homework Club" excuse for cutting, they are sent to the back of the line, but Jesus repeatedly lets the Hispanic kids cut in line.

Anyway, Emma became agitated about the situation again yesterday and told Jesus that it's completely unfair that he lets these kids go to the front of the line every day, even though he knows that they don't have Homework Club. She also said that its unfair that she has to wait an extra ten minutes for her food because of their lies. She gets to the line quickly, but they are allowed to cut. She became quite vocal and pointed out all of the kids who had lied and were eating at the lunch tables so that everyone in line could see the unfairness of the situation.

Jesus threatened to send her to the Homework Club if she didn't shut up and she said that she does her homework, so his threat to send her to Homework Club has no relevance to the fact that he is not doing his job properly. He threatened her again if she didn't stop complaining about the situation and then he told her that she only had to wait an extra six minutes and not ten minutes due to the kids who cut in front of her. She said that she is going to keep complaining because what is allowing is wrong and he knows it.

If she has enough witnesses, and this is important enough to her, she should have ramped it up the chain of command long before now.

Pointless to keep confronting someone who is obviously not going to see things the way she does, whether or not it's the truth or not.

Petty bureaucrats will wield their power unless threatened from on high.

Just my two cents.

Thanks for the background, PSM. I was thinking of interactions with a teacher, not with a cafeteria monitor!

Beyond the specifics of the situation, I find it incredible that "Homework Club" (and let's drop the euphemism and call it what it is--lunch time detention) could be considered by anyone as an excuse to cut in line in front of students who are doing their work.

MarleysGh0st wrote:Thanks for the background, PSM. I was thinking of interactions with a teacher, not with a cafeteria monitor!

Beyond the specifics of the situation, I find it incredible that "Homework Club" (and let's drop the euphemism and call it what it is--lunch time detention) could be considered by anyone as an excuse to cut in line in front of students who are doing their work.

I say implement another layer of bureaucracy-- a signed, dated pass from the teacher stating you are in the Homework Club.

No pass, no cuts. Lose the pass, too darned bad.

Jeemie wrote:

PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:Emma's problem has nothing to do with politics.

Some background information, her school has something called "Homework Club." It's at lunch and it's for kids who do not do their homework. Rather than socializing with friends, kids who have been assigned to Homework Club are supposed to take their lunch to a classroom and do their homework.

Anyway, at lunch, Emma gets to the lunch lines first. The line doesn't open up right away and there has been an issue with students cutting in front of her. They say that they have "homework club" to the Adult Supervisor, Jesus, and they cut in front of Emma.

Emma has been noticing that they do not go to Homework Club, instead they sit at the tables. Basically they are using Homework Club as an excuse to cut in front of her.

Emma has been pointing out to Jesus that the kids who are cutting in front of her do not go to Homework Club, so they have no valid excuse for cutting in line. She pointed out that it's unfair for her to wait an extra ten minutes because of these people who lie every day. Emma's group of friends is becoming increasingly vocal about the fact that these kids are lying, but Jesus doesn't care.

The other aspect of this situation is that the kids who cut are Hispanic. When Caucasian kids use the "Homework Club" excuse for cutting, they are sent to the back of the line, but Jesus repeatedly lets the Hispanic kids cut in line.

Anyway, Emma became agitated about the situation again yesterday and told Jesus that it's completely unfair that he lets these kids go to the front of the line every day, even though he knows that they don't have Homework Club. She also said that its unfair that she has to wait an extra ten minutes for her food because of their lies. She gets to the line quickly, but they are allowed to cut. She became quite vocal and pointed out all of the kids who had lied and were eating at the lunch tables so that everyone in line could see the unfairness of the situation.

Jesus threatened to send her to the Homework Club if she didn't shut up and she said that she does her homework, so his threat to send her to Homework Club has no relevance to the fact that he is not doing his job properly. He threatened her again if she didn't stop complaining about the situation and then he told her that she only had to wait an extra six minutes and not ten minutes due to the kids who cut in front of her. She said that she is going to keep complaining because what is allowing is wrong and he knows it.

If she has enough witnesses, and this is important enough to her, she should have ramped it up the chain of command long before now.

Pointless to keep confronting someone who is obviously not going to see things the way she does, whether or not it's the truth or not.

Petty bureaucrats will wield their power unless threatened from on high.

Just my two cents.

She wanted to make sure that she had plenty of witnesses before she caused a stink, because she didn't want it to be a "he said, she said" situation.

Hello, Mini! wrote:

MarleysGh0st wrote:Thanks for the background, PSM. I was thinking of interactions with a teacher, not with a cafeteria monitor!

Beyond the specifics of the situation, I find it incredible that "Homework Club" (and let's drop the euphemism and call it what it is--lunch time detention) could be considered by anyone as an excuse to cut in line in front of students who are doing their work.

I say implement another layer of bureaucracy-- a signed, dated pass from the teacher stating you are in the Homework Club.

No pass, no cuts. Lose the pass, too darned bad.

Utterly unnecessary.

Emma just needs to use another tool in the great toolbox of dealing with people.

PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:

Jeemie wrote:

PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:Emma's problem has nothing to do with politics.

Some background information, her school has something called "Homework Club." It's at lunch and it's for kids who do not do their homework. Rather than socializing with friends, kids who have been assigned to Homework Club are supposed to take their lunch to a classroom and do their homework.

Anyway, at lunch, Emma gets to the lunch lines first. The line doesn't open up right away and there has been an issue with students cutting in front of her. They say that they have "homework club" to the Adult Supervisor, Jesus, and they cut in front of Emma.

Emma has been noticing that they do not go to Homework Club, instead they sit at the tables. Basically they are using Homework Club as an excuse to cut in front of her.

Emma has been pointing out to Jesus that the kids who are cutting in front of her do not go to Homework Club, so they have no valid excuse for cutting in line. She pointed out that it's unfair for her to wait an extra ten minutes because of these people who lie every day. Emma's group of friends is becoming increasingly vocal about the fact that these kids are lying, but Jesus doesn't care.

The other aspect of this situation is that the kids who cut are Hispanic. When Caucasian kids use the "Homework Club" excuse for cutting, they are sent to the back of the line, but Jesus repeatedly lets the Hispanic kids cut in line.

Anyway, Emma became agitated about the situation again yesterday and told Jesus that it's completely unfair that he lets these kids go to the front of the line every day, even though he knows that they don't have Homework Club. She also said that its unfair that she has to wait an extra ten minutes for her food because of their lies. She gets to the line quickly, but they are allowed to cut. She became quite vocal and pointed out all of the kids who had lied and were eating at the lunch tables so that everyone in line could see the unfairness of the situation.

Jesus threatened to send her to the Homework Club if she didn't shut up and she said that she does her homework, so his threat to send her to Homework Club has no relevance to the fact that he is not doing his job properly. He threatened her again if she didn't stop complaining about the situation and then he told her that she only had to wait an extra six minutes and not ten minutes due to the kids who cut in front of her. She said that she is going to keep complaining because what is allowing is wrong and he knows it.

If she has enough witnesses, and this is important enough to her, she should have ramped it up the chain of command long before now.

Pointless to keep confronting someone who is obviously not going to see things the way she does, whether or not it's the truth or not.

Petty bureaucrats will wield their power unless threatened from on high.

Just my two cents.

She wanted to make sure that she had plenty of witnesses before she caused a stink, because she didn't want it to be a "he said, she said" situation.

Oh...good...then my reply to mini was incorrect. She is going to another tool in the toolbox.

Hello, Mini! wrote:

MarleysGh0st wrote:Thanks for the background, PSM. I was thinking of interactions with a teacher, not with a cafeteria monitor!

Beyond the specifics of the situation, I find it incredible that "Homework Club" (and let's drop the euphemism and call it what it is--lunch time detention) could be considered by anyone as an excuse to cut in line in front of students who are doing their work.

I say implement another layer of bureaucracy-- a signed, dated pass from the teacher stating you are in the Homework Club.

No pass, no cuts. Lose the pass, too darned bad.

That's what Emma thinks as well.

I detailed Emma's issue to the principal, as I knew it. I also gave her suggestions from Emma how the situation could be solved. The kids in line won't feel as though favoritism is being shown, if somebody produces a pass.

MarleysGh0st wrote:Thanks for the background, PSM. I was thinking of interactions with a teacher, not with a cafeteria monitor!

Beyond the specifics of the situation, I find it incredible that "Homework Club" (and let's drop the euphemism and call it what it is--lunch time detention) could be considered by anyone as an excuse to cut in line in front of students who are doing their work.

I think so too, but she realizes that she can't fight that rule, only the kids who take advantage of the rule.

By the way, I have offered to make her lunch every day so that she doesn't have to deal with this crap, but she doesn't want to carry it around all day. (The don't have lockers because of drugs.)

PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote: By the way, I have offered to make her lunch every day so that she doesn't have to deal with this crap, but she doesn't want to carry it around all day. (The don't have lockers because of drugs.)

Oy!

PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:

Hello, Mini! wrote:

MarleysGh0st wrote:Thanks for the background, PSM. I was thinking of interactions with a teacher, not with a cafeteria monitor!

Beyond the specifics of the situation, I find it incredible that "Homework Club" (and let's drop the euphemism and call it what it is--lunch time detention) could be considered by anyone as an excuse to cut in line in front of students who are doing their work.

I say implement another layer of bureaucracy-- a signed, dated pass from the teacher stating you are in the Homework Club.

No pass, no cuts. Lose the pass, too darned bad.

That's what Emma thinks as well.

I detailed Emma's issue to the principal, as I knew it. I also gave her suggestions from Emma how the situation could be solved. The kids in line won't feel as though favoritism is being shown, if somebody produces a pass.

I still do not believe an extra layer of bureaucracy is required because one idiot is acting up. But that's the "limited government conservative" in me!!!

This fellow is rather easily dealt with now, IMHO.

Unless the school administration is corrupt itself...in which case, extra bureaucracy won't help anyway.

MarleysGh0st wrote:

PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote: By the way, I have offered to make her lunch every day so that she doesn't have to deal with this crap, but she doesn't want to carry it around all day. (The don't have lockers because of drugs.)

Oy!

Double oy!

Gotta be a better way of dealing with the drug issue than that!

Jeemie wrote:

MarleysGh0st wrote:

PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote: By the way, I have offered to make her lunch every day so that she doesn't have to deal with this crap, but she doesn't want to carry it around all day. (The don't have lockers because of drugs.)

Oy!

Double oy!

Gotta be a better way of dealing with the drug issue than that!

The absence of lockers costs the schools a lot of money. They give each student a set of books for home and then they have an extra classroom set so that students don't have to bring books back and forth to school. From what I understand, each textbook averages around $125, multiply that by five or six classes per student, then multiply that by the number of middle and high school in our district. Plus some of the textbooks have new adoptions every three years.

PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote: The absence of lockers costs the schools a lot of money. They give each student a set of books for home and then they have an extra classroom set so that students don't have to bring books back and forth to school. From what I understand, each textbook averages around $125, multiply that by five or six classes per student, then multiply that by the number of middle and high school in our district. Plus some of the textbooks have new adoptions every three years.

UN-BE-LIEVABLE!

PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:

Jeemie wrote:

MarleysGh0st wrote: Oy!

Double oy!

Gotta be a better way of dealing with the drug issue than that!

The absence of lockers costs the schools a lot of money. They give each student a set of books for home and then they have an extra classroom set so that students don't have to bring books back and forth to school. From what I understand, each textbook averages around $125, multiply that by five or six classes per student, then multiply that by the number of middle and high school in our district. Plus some of the textbooks have new adoptions every three years.

Good grief!

Compounding a bad decision with a worse one!

Did these people ever hear of online textbooks?

Our school system uses them...from what I have heard, that's much cheaper than actually buying the real things.

Or do you have a lot of people that don't have online access in your system?

Jeemie wrote:

PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:

Jeemie wrote: Double oy!

Gotta be a better way of dealing with the drug issue than that!

The absence of lockers costs the schools a lot of money. They give each student a set of books for home and then they have an extra classroom set so that students don't have to bring books back and forth to school. From what I understand, each textbook averages around $125, multiply that by five or six classes per student, then multiply that by the number of middle and high school in our district. Plus some of the textbooks have new adoptions every three years.

Good grief!

Compounding a bad decision with a worse one!

Did these people ever hear of online textbooks?

Our school system uses them...from what I have heard, that's much cheaper than actually buying the real things.

Or do you have a lot of people that don't have online access in your system?

Some families in our district probably do not have access to the internet or to computers.

PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:

Hello, Mini! wrote:

MarleysGh0st wrote:Thanks for the background, PSM. I was thinking of interactions with a teacher, not with a cafeteria monitor!

Beyond the specifics of the situation, I find it incredible that "Homework Club" (and let's drop the euphemism and call it what it is--lunch time detention) could be considered by anyone as an excuse to cut in line in front of students who are doing their work.

I say implement another layer of bureaucracy-- a signed, dated pass from the teacher stating you are in the Homework Club.

No pass, no cuts. Lose the pass, too darned bad.

That's what Emma thinks as well.

I detailed Emma's issue to the principal, as I knew it. I also gave her suggestions from Emma how the situation could be solved. The kids in line won't feel as though favoritism is being shown, if somebody produces a pass.

What was your thought process that you didn't have Emma go to the principal?