I work for a school and I believe I would not have to deal with the behavior problems I do if the parents took a more active role in their childs lives, but I will not start to legislate it as well as being obtrusive as all get out it is totally unenforceable and would only burden our already loaded down law enforcement and court system.
I agree. The parents who are going to come - barring unforeseen circumstances - are going to come regardless. The parents who are not going to come are not going to pay attention to the fine, and won't pay it if they get it. Parental lack of involvement in education is a societal problem, but legal mandates and fines won't change it - only a change in the perceived importance of school attendance, parent/school communication, school behavior, student work habits, and the perception of school as being important (rather than "free" day care, which is what too many parents - and non-parents - think) will change that. This is a "feel-good" law that, if passed, will cause a great deal of ill-will and is unlikely to change parent behavior much, if at all, and will add to the load of law enforcement who must then serve the fine and attend to the warrants for those who don't pay.
If they do that iv got two words for them Home school. I think the government needs to step back and find out what really needs their attention. I am studying to be a teacher, and while i understand that parent teacher communication is important this really crosses the line, and i would home school my children if it came down to that.
It does, in my opinion - and I have Hell's own time getting in contact with some of my students' parents, as their phones (if they have them) are often disconnected, the home and/or work numbers are incorrect or out of date, they are never home when I'm at work (not uncommon - lots of my students' parents work swing or split shift, and they are at work or asleep when I can call) or they don't answer calls from the school (the downside of caller ID).
Can I/we fine the teacher or the school if they call in sick? What if they put an English teacher in for Analytical Geometry? I know there are teachers here and not trying to be difficult or insulting that is not my point.
I'm sorry, Rich, but that
is your point, even if that's not what you intend. I am a teacher, and I have been a sub... and you go where the district assigns you. By law, there has to be a certified person in the room - if the district can get someone who understands the material, so much the better, but think about it... there are a
lot more teachers out there with English degrees than Math degrees, and a shortage of math, science and special ed teachers, because the pay in the private sector is so much better. There just aren't subs
available in some disciplines - so you're saying that I, as a special ed teacher, unlikely to get a special ed sub (they're in even shorter supply than math and science) can
never call in sick? I should come to school with the same symptoms I had the last time I called in sick - a fever of 101, hacking cough, clogged sinuses, and nausea, which, in combination, made driving unsafe, much less teaching - because my sub won't be certified in my specialty? While I understand your intent and concern, what you're really saying is that a sick teacher can't stay home for a day or two because the sub
may or may not be able to accurately understand the sub plans. That's a crock.
If both sides agree to the time and then cancel at the last minute without notice and it happens all the time then yes something to get peoples attention might be in order.
I disagree; see my answer to The Kidd.
Yet as I stated above, I seem to remember some subs telling me they had no clue how to help me with the advanced mathematics, which is ok, as we would work togehter and try to figure out the homework and teach ourselves which was good for college. The bad was when one teacher would nto allow us to talk for it was not right for us to, so we had to just read and do the homework. Where was the penalty to the teacher for not planning ahead for an emergency and having someone in place. Where was the school district in making sure someone could teach the class?
Again, see above. It is a teacher's responsibility to provide appropriate sub plans - and having been a sub, I can say unequivocably that doesn't happen all the time. I can also say that the situation you cite is not the teacher's fault - the teacher, by your own description, left sub plans that dealt with the subject of the class. The district does it's best to provide appropriate subs, but sometimes they're just not available. That is not the teacher's fault, and the teacher should not be made the villian for it. I have been in buildings (high schools) where there was no sub, and the class was sent to the library so they'd be somewhere there was an adult to watch them - at least with an inappropriate sub, you still had access to your education. If you, or your child, finds yourself in the position you describe, complain - to the teacher, to the building, to the district - but don't be surprised when they tell you they do the best they can. Blaming the teacher for the scarcity of subs is hardly realistic.
I know it is difficult for teachers today. I respect them and their profession. Yet if you open a door usually the doorway is not oneway, but can go both ways.
Peace
