Rachel's School

Just to keep people up to date on how things went down since my last rant on how society is teaching our kids the wrong thing here...

We went to Rachel's awards ceremony last week - she had perfect attendance - and right before they began the formal ceremony, the principal stood and was so excited because the parents had petitioned the governor with signed petitions, e-mails, and phone calls regarding the budget cuts throughout the school district. So they gave the district more money, and they realigned the budget so that they were able to rehire all the faculty that they had already given pink slips to, "and it was all thanks to our great parents who wouldn't back down from the governor's office when their kids' education was at risk. Thank you very much." Huh? In my opinion, the education shouldn't have been the first part to look at cutting. They have added new gymnasiums to many of the elementary school buildings - which in some climates is necessary, I am sure - but in Orange County, where they haven't had gymnasiums in Elementary Schools or Middle Schools in - oh, let's see - EVER, the use of gymnasiums for gym class, or for a cafeteria, or any use whatsoever that they are justifying, is a waste of money. Take care of the current buildings, for sure, but don't add unnecessary buildings the same year as budget cuts. A building never taught anybody anything. Use the money more wisely.

Is this too crazy? I just don't understand how this (and possibly others, though I am not sure) society can feel it is okay to require quality entertainment over quality education, and then throw a fit when the education - quality or not - is threatened, AND NOBODY BRINGS UP BACKING OFF OF THE ENTERTAINMENT, because "they deserve it", and "it's what has always been done here in OC", and "the other districts can, so why shouldn't we?" and "well, I went on those trips when I was in school, and that is normal."

Um, this state wonders why it has a high drop-out rate. I suspect there are more things at play than my simple analysis, but HELLO! I suspect at least one reason is that we reward and celebrate mediocrity! Congratulations, you lived to be 14! A birthday party isn't enough for such a great accomplisment, we are going to shower you with class trips, flowers, and all-day events while your younger contemporaries have to go to SCHOOL. Sure, high school graduation is "done up", too. But for 8th grade promotion, everyone gets new dresses - some of them several hundred dollar cocktail dresses - and sequins and they do balloon bouquets, flowers, etcetera, and gifts - some small, but if they do give gifts, they are usually on the bigger side like cell phones or the newest gadget. Strangers ask you what you are going to get your kid for graduation. I told one woman I still had 4 years to think about that. Anyway, in my opinion, when you celebrate HUGELY something that - unless tragedy strikes - everybody does, (because in this state you actually aren't allowed to flunk out of middle school - you might have to go to summer school to get promoted, but you don't miss any of the parties) then kids start to think they have "arrived". They have accomplished something huge. I say give them the parties when they personally can afford to pay for them. Yep, that is when they have arrived. Have a party when they can afford to buy a house, their own car, their own HAIRCUT! Sure, I am proud of my kids when they do well, and when they don't do well but they did their best, and when they don't do well but they didn't practice and did a terrible job! But I would prefer that society not teach them that they have done something spectacular simply because they had the physical fortitude to show up to school 85% of the time, which they are required to do by law. I want them to learn that in the real world, mediocrity begets mediocre results.