K-12 Education in Tennessee

[Guest ArmyVeteran37214]

Has anyone else seen this video clip?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxjNiSNFI6I

[Guest Oaklands]

Everything always goes back to money. Back in the 80's I visited with my stepson's teacher at his school in East Ridge, TN. I asked to see his records. She was hesitant but finally showed them to me. She had been giving him D's for failing work. He was on the lazy side and had not given my notes to the teacher, where I was asking for an appointment to meet her. Yep, bad father. I was working so many hours at work, I never called an setup the appointment. After our visit, I told her I wanted her to hold him back. She refused. Her reasoning was it would be tough on him emotionally as he would be older than the rest of the students.

I asked her how tough it would be on emotionally when he got pushed through the school system, graduated, and could not read or write. She gave me the "deer in a headlights look." Needless to say, she gave him and held him back. I told her I didn't care if he could shave and play high school ball and was still in the 6th grade. He had to learn he could not get by with not doing his work.

During the summer, he elected to go live with his dad and aunt. Big mistake. He went on to graduate back in KY, but of course was ended up with a low paying job and no ambition.

Is all of it his fault? No! His mother and I did not play a big enough part, I was too busy putting in 14 hour days and working my way up the ladder in my job. However, when I laid the law down after meeting with the teacher and let him know we would play a bigger part he bolted.

Now I am remarried and have a 5 year son of my old and have my own business. My son has been diagnosed with combined ADHD, which means he has both ADD and ADHD and it is going to be a real struggle. Thank goodness I have been able to be a part of his life from the beginning to help mold him, instead of getting him at age 10 like I did with my stepson. It will take a lot of work on our part to help him from home, but as long as the teachers work with us, we will get him through. The school system might get a little tired of me if I feel they are not doing their part. I am convinced, we as parents, have to play a bigger role to assure our kids get the education he deserves.

The primary and elementary schools he is will attend have an excellent reputation in our school system. He could be headed to private school (if affordable) after that. We keep a positive attitude with him about school. He has already been in pre-k 4 for speech and occupational therapy and had the same in pre-k. The have said it will continue on into kindergarten.

Sorry to ramble on so long. Our school systems are failing but many of us as parents are doing the same. We can change this by making it a priority.