Yay! We have had a semi-normal weekend. I have begun to really love weekends such as this because anything is better than what we are going through right now with the school system. We still have yet another week to get through before the school board meeting on September 8th. and that means getting together with several other parents and deciding who will speak and for how long. We have a total of dive minutes and I think the hope is to get two speakers at least to address the hair issues that were drastically changed from last years code and as mentioned more than once in both my blog and James, The Mahatma X Files , blog.
Anyway, I hope all of you are enjoying your holiday weekend. I know I am enjoying the NHRA races and rooting for my Mom's cousin's son, Brandon Bernstein to win the Indianapolis Mac Tools US Nationals for Top Fuel and Ashley Force for Funny Car... I hate to say it but I am kind of glad to see that Tony Schumacher has not yet made qualifying as of third round he is 14th in Top Fuel
Seriously!!!
Did I wake up in a dictatorship? Last time I checked I live in the USA and we live in a democracy that believes that every person (no matter age,sex, or race) has individual freedoms given to them under the U.S. Constitution and the Amendments that follow that must be adhered to even in the public school.
I have to say that I am not for homeschooling at all but I have looked into at least one curriculum from Keystone National Middle School homeschooling program and I have to say that I would be willing to lift him from school in order to do this alternative education adventure. The only thing is the cost but I am sure that the opportunuties would be more than anything the standardized education could ever give him in the community from which we live. I obviously have different core values and morals I am trying to teach my children and I will not have those compromised for the benefit of teaching the kids oneness under the ruse of pride and respect for the school.
I have to say that I am not for homeschooling at all but I have looked into at least one curriculum from Keystone National Middle School homeschooling program and I have to say that I would be willing to lift him from school in order to do this alternative education adventure. The only thing is the cost but I am sure that the opportunuties would be more than anything the standardized education could ever give him in the community from which we live. I obviously have different core values and morals I am trying to teach my children and I will not have those compromised for the benefit of teaching the kids oneness under the ruse of pride and respect for the school.
Often I Wonder (Spoiler: Talk of Sex Education)
I simply have to wonder what the school officials would think if they knew how open and honest we are with our children. Whenever my son has come up with a question I cannot answer we as parents find an answer for him. I have always taken his age and mental abilities into account but I try to get him an answer no matter what the topic. I remember both times that I was pregnant with his sisters it was a great time to educate him and I am sure that he knows much more than some of his fellow students do in the way a woman has a baby. Of course when he was five we had fun because we told him that Daddy puts a send in Mommy and so he came up with the theory that you buy the send from Wal-Mart -- much like a sunflower seed. We did not correct him then because we felt he was not quite ready to understand but he was happy with the reasoning so he left it at that. When he was eight I got pregnant with my youngest and we had a little more explaining to do but we did it again based on his age and abilities to understand -- you must remember that he is highly intellegent so he could handle a lot more then.
The girls are not ready for any education in that department but when I feel they are I will not leave anything out because I feel that the more one leaves out the more likely they will get in trouble or hurt. We can only protect our children so much but if we give them all the information up front and tell them what our hopes, morals, values and virtues for them then they will make the proper choices that will keep them safe and out of trouble.
The girls are not ready for any education in that department but when I feel they are I will not leave anything out because I feel that the more one leaves out the more likely they will get in trouble or hurt. We can only protect our children so much but if we give them all the information up front and tell them what our hopes, morals, values and virtues for them then they will make the proper choices that will keep them safe and out of trouble.
Link to The Letter to the Editor
My husbands letter to the editor was published today at Controversy brewing in Goodwell ... Please read and if you are a parent (or student) in the Goodwell school system please write your own. Also a reporter is slated to be at the meeting on September 8th at 7 P.M. at the high school.
I talked to a teacher who told me it was not the teachers in the first place who wanted the changes. I do hold high regard for the teacher I talked to and am sure she is not lying.
I have my own theories of who exactly brought it forth and passed it.
I talked to a teacher who told me it was not the teachers in the first place who wanted the changes. I do hold high regard for the teacher I talked to and am sure she is not lying.
I have my own theories of who exactly brought it forth and passed it.
How Much I Love My Son
I cannot really find the words to express how much I love and care about my son but I will try. I will do almost anything, within reason, to make sure he, and his two sisters, grow up knowing that I will fight for any cause that they believe in just so that I can raise a well-round kid. I love him and find that the passion he has put into the cause is amazing since he is only twelve and most kids his age are more worried about the level they have achieved on the latest video game yet he is not only upset about his rights taken away but his friend's brother who has shaved his goatee off because the brother did not want to deal with the aftermath or the possibility of getting in trouble.
I will do the same for my daughters if they are faced with similar issues as they grow into pre-teens and teenagers.
I LOVE all three equally and will do anything to see them happy. Of course, like any parent should I will discipline harshly if they do drugs, drink, or start smoking under my personal care. I have dropped the hair issue on my son because I have more important things, as a parent, I want to accomplish to raise that well-rounded person who can go out into the real world with dignity.
I will do the same for my daughters if they are faced with similar issues as they grow into pre-teens and teenagers.
I LOVE all three equally and will do anything to see them happy. Of course, like any parent should I will discipline harshly if they do drugs, drink, or start smoking under my personal care. I have dropped the hair issue on my son because I have more important things, as a parent, I want to accomplish to raise that well-rounded person who can go out into the real world with dignity.
Passed the Buck, Again
My husband and I talked to yet another board member last night and the buck was passed to it being the teachers and the administration who wanted this new dress code. Who ever it was who wanted it I do not care I just want everyone to know that it is my son's rights as well as other male students in the school that are being violated.
I would like to add that I feel my own rights as a parent are being violated as well because little by little my parental rights and responsibilities, I took on some twelve-plus years ago, are being dwindled away little by little by power hungry teachers and the administration in the school here and across this fine nation we live in. What happened to parents being the major influence in a child's life? I have my own set of morals and values I want to teach my kids and it is awfully hard when the teachers, adminstration, and myself are not on the same page and the things I should be dealing with in the home they are taking away my abilities under the ruse of pride and respect for the school. I will add yet again my son is going to have less pride and respect if these basic rights of his are taken away.
I would like to add that I feel my own rights as a parent are being violated as well because little by little my parental rights and responsibilities, I took on some twelve-plus years ago, are being dwindled away little by little by power hungry teachers and the administration in the school here and across this fine nation we live in. What happened to parents being the major influence in a child's life? I have my own set of morals and values I want to teach my kids and it is awfully hard when the teachers, adminstration, and myself are not on the same page and the things I should be dealing with in the home they are taking away my abilities under the ruse of pride and respect for the school. I will add yet again my son is going to have less pride and respect if these basic rights of his are taken away.
Getting More Towards Normal
I am so thankfully that I am able to breathe easier the last two days and I sure hope things stay this way the remainder of the school year, sigh!
I guess it is back to my boring housewife crap I get to deal with in raising three kids, five cats, three dogs, and a husband.
I guess it is back to my boring housewife crap I get to deal with in raising three kids, five cats, three dogs, and a husband.
As Expected, Nothing New
We are basically sitting on our hands as we wait for the damn next school board meeting currently scheduled for September 8th, 2008. We have talked to a lawyer, finally, and he has stated in an email that we possible have a case if it really comes down to having to go that far – the hope is that things are quickly changed and we have nothing to worry about beyond these next two weeks. I will re-iterate again that the thing that I am most upset about is that the kids in Junior and Senior High School were hounded as of the first day before the parents even had a chance to look at the handbook in the first place. There was no fair warning that the changes were happening and what do you think. There was strict re-enforcement right off the bat.
Will definitely keep you all informed of latest developments. I already have my two calls ready to make this evening in preparation of the upcoming meeting. I would like to thank you all, who have commented here or through my email and phone calls – the support has helped tremendously in keeping my spirits up.
What I'm Trying to Accomplish
As a parent I am trying to raise well-rounded kids that once they leave my house have the tools they need in order to go out into the real world making their own decisions rather than having to call me to help them make the decisions for them. I feel I am making a person with a mind rather than a batch of cookies that all need to look and act exactly alike just so that they act and taste good.
Don't get me (or my husband) wrong we believe fully in teaching our kid respect and responsibility for those in charge and yes, there are rules that we hate but we must follow. What we don't agree with is an authority trying to take away the basic rights under the Constitution of the United States thus abusing their authority just to show that they have power over the little guy.
We have told our son that as long as he follows last years handbooks guidlines for dress code that he could grow his hair out but the second he decides that he does not want to take care of it we (as parents) have a right to tell him to cut it. Now here is what the 2007-2008 handbook states in regards to inappropriate dress:
We never thought they would change would happen as drastic as they did especially after all the controversy that happened in Guymon School District when they tried to change their dress code. I have to say though, at least Guymon made sure all involved were aware of the changes and publicly invited to the school board meeting by way of the media and other forms of communication. No one could have claimed being blind-sided by the issue because all the changes were stated before the meeting and given to the public not just posted in the schools where they could get overlooked because the parents and students did not need to be at school that day or could not make it the work day before the meeting. The school board here in Goodwell should have at least posted something in the post office and or town hall because at least more people would have seen it and gotten the world out to others that the issue was going to be addressed. This is a very small rural town so it would not have taken long to spread the word.
Please also see my husbands blog for any updates he has made: The Mahatma X Files. We do have a reprieve thankfully but the issue still remains and they did without the parents and students input seemsa wrong in and of itself.
For those of you still wondering what the new dress code says here is the new code as of the latest handbook 2008-2009:
So there you go. For any of you who have happened upon this and are unaware because your student is in elementary school it is because you did not receive a copy of these new changes. My belief is that they are siigling out the students that would be the most effected. The two astricked articles are the only two in dispute at this time.
Many parents down my own block agree with me that it is the parents (and others) choice as long as the kid is well groomed and is not a distraction in class. My main thing is as a parent I have to choose my battles and I have other battles I want to conquer in regards to raising my well-rounded person (little man).
Don't get me (or my husband) wrong we believe fully in teaching our kid respect and responsibility for those in charge and yes, there are rules that we hate but we must follow. What we don't agree with is an authority trying to take away the basic rights under the Constitution of the United States thus abusing their authority just to show that they have power over the little guy.
We have told our son that as long as he follows last years handbooks guidlines for dress code that he could grow his hair out but the second he decides that he does not want to take care of it we (as parents) have a right to tell him to cut it. Now here is what the 2007-2008 handbook states in regards to inappropriate dress:
Improper Dress/Grooming (7): Dress and grooming must be such that it adheres to general accepted standards, does not inappropriately expose the body, should not be offensive or pose a threat to public or personal health or safety and does not
disrupt/distract from the instructional aspect of the school. Accordingly, the following are deemed inappropriate: bare feet, visible tattoos, see through clothing, clothing with inappropriate or immodest slogans/pictures having profane, violent or sexual connotations, sagging pants, clothing endorsing the use of substances illegal to minors, spandex biking shorts, shorts shorter than finger tip length, swimming suits, shirts that do not cover the chest, shoulders and midriff areas, hats, bandannas, and sunglasses are not to be worn in the school buildings. Shorts will be allowed during designated times throughout the year.
We never thought they would change would happen as drastic as they did especially after all the controversy that happened in Guymon School District when they tried to change their dress code. I have to say though, at least Guymon made sure all involved were aware of the changes and publicly invited to the school board meeting by way of the media and other forms of communication. No one could have claimed being blind-sided by the issue because all the changes were stated before the meeting and given to the public not just posted in the schools where they could get overlooked because the parents and students did not need to be at school that day or could not make it the work day before the meeting. The school board here in Goodwell should have at least posted something in the post office and or town hall because at least more people would have seen it and gotten the world out to others that the issue was going to be addressed. This is a very small rural town so it would not have taken long to spread the word.
Please also see my husbands blog for any updates he has made: The Mahatma X Files. We do have a reprieve thankfully but the issue still remains and they did without the parents and students input seemsa wrong in and of itself.
For those of you still wondering what the new dress code says here is the new code as of the latest handbook 2008-2009:
Improper Dress/Grooming: Dress and grooming must be such that it adheres to general accepted standards, does not inappropriately expose the body, should not be offensive or pose a threat to public or personal health or safety and does not disrupt/distract from the instructional aspect of the school.
No visible tattoos.
••
No clothing with inappropriate sayings, advertisement of alcohol or beer, immodest slogan/pictures having profane, violent or sexual connotations.
No clothing depicting gangs, gang signs , or gang association.
No tank tops, spaghetti straps, or low cut revealing neck lines
No Spandex biking shorts, shorts or skirts shorter than finger tip length, swimming suits, unhemmed cutoff shorts. Shorts are only to be worn during designated times throughout the year.
No shirts that do not cover the chest, shoulders and midriff areas, hats, bandannas, and sunglasses are not to be worn in the school buildings.
*No facial hair will be permitted.
No unnatural hair color and/or attention getting hair styles
*Hair should be neatly cut, clean, and combed. It should be off the eyebrow, above the collar, and (boys) no longer than the bottom of the ear lobe.
Girls-No visible body piercing except in the ears
Boys-No visible body piercing except in the ears
Students violating these rules will be sent home to change clothes and will receive an unexcused tardy or absence. Decisions made by the administration will be final.
So there you go. For any of you who have happened upon this and are unaware because your student is in elementary school it is because you did not receive a copy of these new changes. My belief is that they are siigling out the students that would be the most effected. The two astricked articles are the only two in dispute at this time.
Many parents down my own block agree with me that it is the parents (and others) choice as long as the kid is well groomed and is not a distraction in class. My main thing is as a parent I have to choose my battles and I have other battles I want to conquer in regards to raising my well-rounded person (little man).
Yesterday Afternoon
Both James and I went into the principal's office right before school let out and were told that nothing would happen on Monday if our son and others do not comply to the changes to the dress code as of this year. I know that some of the members of the school board have talked to lawyers who probably advised them that the new rule regarding length of hair for boys and the other rule that stated boys had to be clean shaven would never fly and without substantial proof that discipline problems are correlated exactly to the length of the boys hair or facial hair then they have no leg to stand on. I am happy to say that my husband does a lot of research both meta and in some of his classes at the University directly related to violence and aggression and there is nothing that has yet to be found that long haired boys are more likely to be violent. Now they may become violent if they are forced to change their appearance and thus look like everyone else. I would definitely understand if my son was in a private parochial school with all these rules and my son would definitely conform to their every wish in those terms but this is a public school in a rural area.
Anyway, when James talked to a member of the school board last night he said that he could not get an emergency meeting convened so we have until September 8th to get the parents together and select a spokesperson and whatever else we need to get done before that particular board meeting.
I still have to say that I never wanted to have to get this involved in the politics of education and will be thankful when in a about sixteen years from now I will no longer have to deal with them ever again. James has already said that he is throwing the biggest party ever when our youngest, now three, graduates from high school. I agree it is going to be a big party but it won't be for the our youngest it will be for ourselves who managed to get through the many years of hell the school/school board has put us through wherever we are at the time.
Anyway, when James talked to a member of the school board last night he said that he could not get an emergency meeting convened so we have until September 8th to get the parents together and select a spokesperson and whatever else we need to get done before that particular board meeting.
I still have to say that I never wanted to have to get this involved in the politics of education and will be thankful when in a about sixteen years from now I will no longer have to deal with them ever again. James has already said that he is throwing the biggest party ever when our youngest, now three, graduates from high school. I agree it is going to be a big party but it won't be for the our youngest it will be for ourselves who managed to get through the many years of hell the school/school board has put us through wherever we are at the time.
From Worry 4 Hours Sleep
Yes, that is what I got last night. This whole thing with hair length which should not be an issue at all is killing me. I woke up at 2:30a.m. and then could not get back to sleep until after five a.m. and of course I was up by seven to get kids up and off to school.
I ran into one of the teachers who had an assignment in her class which was titled: Who are You? Thus my son brought up his reasons for wanting long hair for a charitable cause and several kids in class without the teacher stopping them saying he has to get his haircut by Monday. He knows that and until Monday the school should be saying nothing as The Supreme Court of Oklahoma has already dealt with a very similar issue in a different county and school district in 1976:
INDEPENDENT SCH. DIST. NO. 8 OF SEILING v. SWANSON
1976 OK 71
553 P.2d 496
Case Number: 48253
Decided: 06/01/1976
Supreme Court of Oklahoma
The school says again and again that they are only enforcing the rules and regulations the school board set -- the school board members we have talked to said that there is nothing they can do unless they have a board meeting either next month or an emergency one to discuss the issue. The other hurdle we are dealing with is the fact the board will be away in OK City the rest of the week and Monday is the deadline set by the school.
I ran into one of the teachers who had an assignment in her class which was titled: Who are You? Thus my son brought up his reasons for wanting long hair for a charitable cause and several kids in class without the teacher stopping them saying he has to get his haircut by Monday. He knows that and until Monday the school should be saying nothing as The Supreme Court of Oklahoma has already dealt with a very similar issue in a different county and school district in 1976:
INDEPENDENT SCH. DIST. NO. 8 OF SEILING v. SWANSON
1976 OK 71
553 P.2d 496
Case Number: 48253
Decided: 06/01/1976
Supreme Court of Oklahoma
The school says again and again that they are only enforcing the rules and regulations the school board set -- the school board members we have talked to said that there is nothing they can do unless they have a board meeting either next month or an emergency one to discuss the issue. The other hurdle we are dealing with is the fact the board will be away in OK City the rest of the week and Monday is the deadline set by the school.
Sigh, more of my rant!!!
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A picture of my son on 8-6-08 ... His hair is about on the shoulder but according to the school board it should be no longer than under the ear lobes. I hate to say this but his hair looks better then it ever has and he is taking care of it. The main thing is he does not have an Alfalfa sprout for the first time in his life. I guess there are a few other livid parents whose kids came home just as upset about being told they too need to get a haircut by Monday. Some are even looking into lawyers as well as we might as well because this is an issue that should be a non-issue in the first place.
If the board thought there would be no backlash then they are kidding themselves. The other dress code issues I have no problem with just that one and one about facial hair not being aloud for high school boys. Junior high and high school students have enough adversities as is and now this -- don't they understand that the teenage years are turbulent enough. I remember quite well days when I would cry after school because of the way my fellow students treated me as different at school because of my disability I will not put up with the adults in the school putting pressure on my son... Unless he joins a sport or the band (or maybe even when he is asked to be on their academic team) and is in competitions then there are no worries or if his grades are suffering from it then I have no issue.
My son is a pre-teen and within the next seven to ten years he could do much worse, but he more than likely won't because he is scared of getting on my bad side as he has seen when I get pissed. All of this is a parental issue that until poor grades are an issue then they have no leg to stand on... Schools need to stop taking away parents responsibilities. I am trying my hardest to raise well-rounded kids who respect others but the adults at the school are not treating him with respect in by excepting him for what he looks like and the good things he wants to do for others. He is not doing this for attention -- he is just trying to find himself.
Anyway, I am still livid as hell over the issue and have spent all day trying to get someone in charge to listen more than five seconds. My husband only got the 'it's not me that put this rule in place,' from the administration this morning.. in other words, 'the school board pays me so I must enforce their rule.'
My son was told by the principal today he has til Monday to get his haircut.
Unbelieveable!
The school where my son (and daughter) have gone to their whole life just tried to tell my son how long he can wear his hair. They are not going to get away with this there are laws on our side that say a school cannot do such a thing . The fact that my son is a straight 'A' student and is wanting to grow his hair out for a legitimate cause (Locks of Love) is reason enough to go to bat for the boy. He has also rarely gotten in trouble at school so it is not like he is a problem child or anything.
As I write this his long-haired dad is at the school discussing the issue with the administration. We have also thought about getting something put on the school board agenda next month as well as doing a student/parent petition. We are even thinking of options outside of the school. Heck, maybe one of the three national morning shows would like to hear about this.
The school board may have thought of this as a non-issue but it is not... It will be a great life lesson for my son as we are teaching him the proper channels to getting things resolved in a way that will not upset the proverbial applecart or in this case the wild bull since we are in a cowboy/rodeo friendly atmosophere.
As I write this his long-haired dad is at the school discussing the issue with the administration. We have also thought about getting something put on the school board agenda next month as well as doing a student/parent petition. We are even thinking of options outside of the school. Heck, maybe one of the three national morning shows would like to hear about this.
The school board may have thought of this as a non-issue but it is not... It will be a great life lesson for my son as we are teaching him the proper channels to getting things resolved in a way that will not upset the proverbial applecart or in this case the wild bull since we are in a cowboy/rodeo friendly atmosophere.
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