Oh man! I left out one of the best parts. I guess I thought it was in that post, but it wasn't.
The structure. At the time I received that cordial letter from Mr. W My daughter and her bf were in the middle of trying to overturn the school board's capricious decision to switch from block scheduling (4 classes per day w/ a switch of courses at mid term, just like college) to the more common 7 classes per day. The board had done this without even informing, let alone consulting, teachers, parents or students. The teachers found out when they got their Fall schedules late in the year. Some found themselves nearly jobless.
So about the time my letter hit Mr. W's desk, that singular force of nature cleverly disguised as a wide eyed 16yo girl and her bf had gathered signatures on a petition, made the front page of the local paper and were set to deliver the petitions and a short speech at the school board meeting that night. I never did hear a word back about the letter. Mr. W publicly sided w/ the board but privately praised both of the kids. The school board snorted and snuffed and acted all indignant. Mr. W. had his hands full and it was a couple of days from the end of the year. Timing isn't everything, but it is worth consideration.
My kid is getting maybe just a little less guff from the schoolpeople, but not much. She just got suspended again last week for getting her homework out of the car after the bell rang. Started out as suspected possession of a cell phone. But in that particular school district, once they've got a kid in process, they'll find something to stick. It's how they show their love.
That one is tough and well established in her personality. She's sticking it out, though the scheduling change really limits the number of credits she can rack up in the time remaining and she's really just more interested in the social aspect of school anyway. The younger one, now 10, just couldn't stand the environment. They're just mean to kids in that shitty little town. But I'm liing in the next town over which, for some silly reasons owing to small town history and prejudice, just seems to be more in keeping with the philosophy of Fred Rodgers and less like that of Phil McGraw.
