Dekalb Schools Rant

[Pamalicious]

When I tell ya'll I'm wore out - please believe me! Since May I've been trying to set things in place to get my daughter into Druid Hill High School. This has been a journey.

I live in what folks say is a very desirable and nice neighborhood Avondale Estates. HOWEVER, the city has three schools and the community does NOT support them and pays to ship all their children to the City of Decatur not to far away. So the community I live in is 90% or so white - but the schools are 90% black. The first few years at the middle school were good for her but this last year - the students just got too unruly for me and the PTA was non-existent I tried to get on it and nobody else would so they just kinda didn't have one.

Anyhoo - I first tried to get her 'out the district' by putting in a transfer - that didn't work - so then I tried the No Child Left Behind because the Highschool didn't make AYP. Well when I tell you that process has damn near killed me - Shittttt. first off bad planning all around. Nasty folks at the offices and a decision to call 2200 parents - I could go on. Then the Superintendent is mad because we keep taking the high achievers out of the 'regular' schools.

So here I am waiting and can't get any information. She's beginning HS so I wanted her to participate in the orientations etc. This is a big deal. They telling me they won't be finished calling until Sunday - SCHOOL STARTS MONDAY YOU IDIOTS. So I'm printing out four schools (I had to pick four places).

I get the call at like quarter to five this afternoon and SHE DIDN'T GET IN!!!!!! They put her in Stone Mt. High. I didn't really research that school alot because it was my 4th choice. So now I'm racing to figure it out and I go on some sites and EVERYONE is like it's the ok corral up there with the students fighting and teachers having to spend too much time on discipline. Well I start to look at the school up the street from the house and having to pick between the lesser evils - I have decided that if I am going to have to put her somewhere - I'd rather her be by the house with some folks that she actually knows than have to deal wayy from my house.

I am so frustrated that they kept us waiting so long, that I just haven't been able to get her out and that quite frankly more emphasis is put on low income kids than those that are achieving.

Now I am going up to her Middle School to try to map out if there is ANYWAY I can get her in after the dust settles and if not she is gonna have to do a year here and we start all over for the 10th grade.

Damn! I look in her eyes and she is crying and now scared to go because she feels like she doesn't belong anywhere cause it took so long.

I did everything I could and looked at all options. She was going to take guitar and you know this damn nigga school ain't got that.

However - and I know someone might start to pick apart my black pride and my educational aspirations for her - but now it's HS and it's time for the education to count so yes she needs to be competetive. She wants to have more clubs and groups and trips and what not and as we know they just ain't pumping those type of activities or money into some of the inner city schools.

I'mma be up early seeing what I can do but School starts Monday. I think we've run out of town. I've been to the county and those idiots - I sure can't wait till it's time to vote again!! :blast

[sistuhchey]

you'll both like..and offer some of the programs of interest........such red tape..and bull shit...sorry to hear this...I can only imagine your frustration....Local politics..is what really, really affects us...you may have to start a petiton...and weed folks out...to jump start their asses...

the 90% white send their children to Decatur???

[Pamalicious]

you'll both like..and offer some of the programs of interest........such red tape..and bull shit...sorry to hear this...I can only imagine your frustration....Local politics..is what really, really affects us...you may have to start a petiton...and weed folks out...to jump start their asses...

the 90% white send their children to Decatur???


yes they actually pay tuition to a public school to send them there. not one family in this community sends their children to the three schools that are walking distance from our home. The school bus route doesnt even come through here.

What a paradox. The same energy they give to those schools up the street, why didn't they stay and take back these schools? and as usual why must we come in and FUCK STUFF UP. Why can't we see an opportunity and take advantage of it. It's not even the academics - this school made the newsweek top 1300 for 2008 - but it's the students and their behavior and quite frankly their low classism (is that a word,lol) which means it's the parents and community where they lay their heads. the school can't cure all ills.

[Babygirl]

I take it your daughter is going to Avondale for the moment? I remember back in my day Avondale was a "good" school, it was about 40/60 then and when the community started to go down hill around Avondale Mall/Memorial-Columbia Drvie corrador it went down hill from there. My old Assistant Princiapal was the principal there for a while, but I guess it got too much for her too. What are the other 2 schools? I am just curious... also check out Tucker High School, and Lakeside High School (my old school) and see if you can get her in there. What side of town do you work on? Back in my day we had the M to M program ( majority to minority) and I chose (well my mom did) to bus me from Southwest Dekalb to Lakeside....at the time Lakeside was 70/30 (other)......I hope things work out to the point of if your daughter has to go to Avondale, she go for the 1 year and do a transfer

[Juicey1]

Whats with the schools in Georgia. My girlfriend lives in Macon (Bibb County I think) and she was ranting this morning via email about the school. She hates that her kids have to attend school there................She says their ignorance is too much for her................Her daughter also started High School yesterday I think. My friend constantly bumps heads with the teachers and the principal seems not to care one way or another. I hope high school is better for her daughter...............she caught hell in middle school.

[HulaSista]

i thought i was the only one having problems with schools and teachers. i'm pretty much sick of my son's middle school. his dad and i agreed to keep him at vallejo middle for ONE MORE YEAR (his last year). if we don't see improvement, we are high tailing it to private school, no if, ands or buts.

[Pamalicious]

Hey folks! Sorry I just got in, lol

Chey - Yes the entire community sends all their school age children up the road to the City of Decatur which is not affiliated with Dekalb Cty.

Babygirl - Our home school is Avondale, so that's where she'll be starting Monday. I went up in there and I think at this point they are suffering from a bad case of....reputation. They have made alot of changes and yea there are still some knuckle heads but it seems as if (at least academically) they are turning it around. However, they have that rep AND Avondale itself helps perputuate it. If a dozen white families put their kids in the elementary school for instance - it will make the others feel comfortable.

It's not over - the principal of her middle school is 'making a few calls' but I'm somewhat cool with her going there.

My biggest thing out of all of it is the fact that I want diversity of learning and experience for her - it's not even about being around white folks.

The school has about 6 clubs which are the big national ones like FBLA, Honor Society etc. YET they got four dance squads all kinds of football and ....the band. Why can't we offer up more - everyone doesn't want to sing, dance and play sports. We take alot of pride in being able to drop it like it's hot etc. and it's not getting us anywhere.

She wants to be in Environmental Club and take Guitar - all offered at the school we would like her to go to.

Oh well, I have learned some stuff about the system, about our people, about whitey and actually am doing some soul searching on some of my thought process about...our people.

[sistuhchey]

Oh well, I have learned some stuff about the system, about our people, about whitey and actually am doing some soul searching on some of my thought process about...our people.



I know it will all work out..just knowing you're involved, intelligent parent..she's leaps and bounds ahead of many..and truly destined for good!!

This is why ...I luv the hush..yes my school-parenting days are over...but I luv seeing and hearing about parents that are doing the active duty..and doing it well!!!

Pam, in my humble opinion..this is what the hush is all about...not to side-track your thread...but it's good to have a place to vent, scream, holler or get suggestions....

the juicy gossip..and over the top cussin folks out will always be around...but when it comes to honesty, seriousness..matters of concern (especially for those w/o a mate)...that's why I'm glad the hush is around...

back to the subject at hand...fire those fuckers on the school board...and shake 'em up!!!

[Andre98]

The few knuckleheads always mess it up for the others. It seems everybody knows who they are in the system too. Parental vigilance, or maybe vigilantism, LOL, can at least get the school to fear having certain kids near these low lifes. In my high school, when one of the low lifes picked on those trying to get their work done, the parents would come to the school and raise a ruckus right there in front of them - one father went right to the class and said to their kid who is it? Point him out! And said you gonna have to deal with me if I hear of you trying to push up on my daughter again, just test me, we got enough cops in our family ( a lie) to make you life miserable, just try me. The kid was woofing but he left her alone the rest of the time.

My in laws pay 7 Gs a piece for both of their kids to got to Catholic high school. Its killing them but they say the local high school is a gang stronghold.

[FoxEMomma]

Pam,
dont you hate that something that should be so simply as far as your daughter's education is so damn hard?
damn, I'm sorry you have had to go thru all this bullshit.

[Pamalicious]

Well she is somewhat settled now. The bus driver had to be cussed out for dropping her off in the middle of the community and after a call to the MAYOR because the community 'frowns' about buses in the area - she is being dropped off after school. Her princess behind needs the experience.

The District Meeting is on Thursday and nothing can keep me away!! In the next couple of weeks - we'll be working on transfering her.

She has played the Viola for three years and wanted to play in HS - there are only 3 ppl playing - the rest want to be in the band. So she's looking for a fourth or she has to transfer out because basically they don't have a class. SIGH.

She came home telling me that she had a debate with some classmates who don't see the validity of goign to college and spending all that money because:


The Zaxby's is right by my house and my sister said I could get on and get all kinds of free food.



Once you graduate HS - you can get a 'free' credit card.



The Chickfila doesn't make you work on Sunday


I wish I was making this up - then someone told her about their 26 year old sista who had a baby and come to find out the child is in the 7th grade - they expounded that she got it out the way cause having babies at 26 etc. is too old.

I want like minded and like motivated and diversity of experience. Lawd Help Me! :blast

[FoxEMomma]

Well she is somewhat settled now. The bus driver had to be cussed out for dropping her off in the middle of the community and after a call to the MAYOR because the community 'frowns' about buses in the area - she is being dropped off after school. Her princess behind needs the experience.

The District Meeting is on Thursday and nothing can keep me away!! In the next couple of weeks - we'll be working on transfering her.

She has played the Viola for three years and wanted to play in HS - there are only 3 ppl playing - the rest want to be in the band. So she's looking for a fourth or she has to transfer out because basically they don't have a class. SIGH.

She came home telling me that she had a debate with some classmates who don't see the validity of goign to college and spending all that money because:


The Zaxby's is right by my house and my sister said I could get on and get all kinds of free food.



Once you graduate HS - you can get a 'free' credit card.



The Chickfila doesn't make you work on Sunday


I wish I was making this up - then someone told her about their 26 year old sista who had a baby and come to find out the child is in the 7th grade - they expounded that she got it out the way cause having babies at 26 etc. is too old.

I want like minded and like motivated and diversity of experience. Lawd Help Me! :blast

What in the hell..
Girl, this post made my head hurt. Pam, I know you are too through. I would like to be a fly on the wall when you get up to talk at the meeting.

[Pamalicious]

What in the hell..
Girl, this post made my head hurt. Pam, I know you are too through. I would like to be a fly on the wall when you get up to talk at the meeting.

I'm going to observe at this first meeting. Get the lay of the land etc. see how many parents show up and then interact with them to see what already is in place.

It's a hands tied situation because irregardless of the actual academic issues - the student body is an issue that the school board can't do anything about outside of privatizing and changing the school zone. Not to mention if my epicenter community refuses to have anything to do with the schools - it will stay as it is.

My community is actually trying to get a charter school erected in the neighborhood. As opposed to doing anything with the schools that we have.

I'm going to be informed but quite truthfully - the farther I get Sakinah away from the Zaxby crew the better.