Help responding to my 9 year old's teacher...

[sherman123]

I couldnt agree more with those saying to keep it civil and not turn it into a yelling match. However, it's definitely not something I would apologize for. I went to a Catholic School so I saw much less of this crap than the public schoolers did and the teachers who did state their anti gun views recieved nothing but blank angry stares from all of us students who disagreed. I would politely explain to them how your son shoots and remind them that guns are not the devil. I agree that home schooling isnt the best option for social reasons and honestly the private school i attended simply brainwashed students on other issues, such as abstinence. Its just a good time to put one's foot down and let them know(nicely, they're probably terrifed of gun people like us) that you won't tolerate this

 

[Gamera]

I'd be interested in hearing from the OP what he ended up doing.

 

[kentucky bucky]

Let's face it, the liberals have taken over our education to the point that now they are making all the rules because they are in leadership roles now. The only thing I can say is you might want to move to a more rural area where the insanity hasn't taken hold yet. My kid's school is more whacky than it was when I was there, but it's not near as bad as it is in bigger cities and some other areas.

 

[MisterMike]

I've been reading through the threads here about how to pussy foot around the problem, how to talk nice to the teacher, hot to this and how to that. IT'S ALL BS PEOPLE! Stop playing nice.

There is a balance to be drawn . . . but only if you're dealing with reasonable people.

Mugsie's rant reminded me of a time when my kid was in second grade. A little twerp was bugging him on a daily basis, doing his best to torment my kid. The teachers weren't much help, and for a while I adopted their "Just ask him to stop" attitude. After a few days passed, my son came home pretty upset. Little Twerp was keeping it up--pushing him, poking him with his finger, just generally trying to rile things up. Outside my wife's presence, I took my son aside: "Here's what you do the next time it happens: First, you tell him to stop. If he doesn't stop, grab the finger that he's poking you with; no one has the right to touch you if you don't want them to. If he keeps it up, punch him as hard as you can."

The next day, we got a call from the school. Our kid had punched Little Twerp. I told them exactly why, and that he was doing precisely what I told him to do. The folks at the school were maybe a little dumbfounded, but that was the end of it. And Little Twerp, cowardly little bastard that he was, never again touched my kid.

My son will be commissioned as an Army officer next week. Learning to stand up for himself at that age was, I think, a lesson that has gotten him to this point in life.

I think mugsie and I would approach the conversation at school a bit differently, but the underlying principle is the same: if someone is jerking your kid around and the person doing the jerking in the wrong, you need to be willing to go to the mat to fight for what is right. It's not only the right thing to do, it will be a lesson that will stick with your child through life.

 

[JWarren]

I agree with mugsie.

Again, as a teacher myself, the only way idiocy can be stopped in the school system is communities and parents becoming outraged and VOCAL to their elected officials regarding socialization/indoctrination in the schools.



I do, however, have to ask neverjeg about this...

Stand behind your kids always and in front of them when necessary!

I routinely see parents defend their children's bad behavior when the behavior becomes indefensible.

Are you suggesting that:

1.) children never do anything wrong,

or

2.) you should defend ANY behavior your child does because, well, they are your child.



-- John

 

[sherman123]

MisterMike's story reminds me of my parents in grade school. In junior high i got crap from ALOT of kids for being small and not having as deep of a voice yet. It was usually a whole group of kids pokin me, pushing me, insulting me... just doing whatever they could to makemy day suck. My mother quickly caught on that telling them to stop wasn't gonna work. All i needed was her advice to punch the next kid who failed to leave me alone after i asked several times. All most of the teachers ever said was "violence doesn't solve anything" and I had that mindset for awhile. This huge kid shoves my on my butt on the playgroun so I jumped up and busted his lip. I honestly felt kinda bad aboutit (though i prolly shouldn't have) but thats was the last time any of those kids picked on me so I can't say it didn't solve anything.

 

[woad_yurt]

....Sister Buchenwald....

Deanimator: I too went to Catholic school and I, too, had my own nightmare nuns. By and large, they were the angriest, meanest, most bitter group of people I have ever encountered.

I can empathize with you as I had Sister Miriam Gonzaga for a whole, horrible, awful year. Today, if I saw anyone treating a child as they did back then, I'd call the authorities and report some child abuse.

To the OP: As a licensed English teacher, I can tell you that most school officials are scared to death of indignant parents, especially those with a lawyer. At t very least, the paperwork, hearings and meetings involved will derail a dozen school officials for a long, long time. First, check your facts to make sure your kid is squeaky clean and, then, go get 'em!

 

[Mike OTDP]

I tend to favor showing up to speak to the principal...with my attorney.

 

[AKElroy]

Shoving your beliefs down your children's throat is different from influencing their beliefs. By forcing your beliefs on them you are no better than the "ridiculous human beings ... idiots ... ridiculous excuse for a teacher, a blind follower of a dangerous, mal intentioned movement, a simpleton lacking any of the common sense"

Something tells me you don't know what self-actualization is, because it's a GOOD thing.

INSTRUCTING children on what I believe and why I believe it is not what I would call "shoving my beliefs down their throats". I would call it parenting. I must be doing it well, because they agree with my views on most things. As for self actualization, letting a child have their own mind, pursue their own agenda would be great, assuming our country could survive all of them refusing to go to school, work, or eat anything other than fruity pebbles. Children need to be guided, not punished for sharing a drawing depicting a belief. As a sideline, this forum has rules that require its members to be supportive of RKBA. Do you honor this belief, or is that too narrow minded for you?

 

[Big Daddy Grim]

Man I would go through the roof

 

[Uncle Mike]

Had the same happen to my child. In 8th grade, over a empty, spent 22 Long Rifle case that somehow ended up in his book bag.
I was civil but didn't back down and pledged to honor his schools code...
Next year I moved him to another school, had to jump through some hoops to do so but...

 

[danprkr]

Analogy to follow hope you enjoy.

mugsie,

I understand your passion, and share it. Don't get me wrong, if this was my kid I'd alread have an attorney on retainer before I went up there to discuss, but I would discuss it in a normal civil manner using logic to absolutely DEMOLISH all of their policies. Trust me this will cause them more frustration and heartache than flying off the handle ever would. I had an aunt years ago teach me this. It's all about keeping your cool so that you can control the situation. It doesn't matter if it's a debate over politics, a fist fight, or an all out shoot out the one that keeps their cool the best normally makes fewer mistakes and wins. I have used this tactic my whole life, and I have never lost with it. It is only when I let my voice rise and my emotions take over that I lose ground.

Case in point: Going to see my 'little brother's' teacher for a conference once I witnessed a scuffle amongst a couple of 7th graders in the hall. I broke it up, and turned it over to the school authorities. The young lady that was involved had to tell her mom because of the detention that she drew as punishment.

Well mom was incensed that I would dare stop her little girl from assaulting another student. So when I went to get my little brother from detention the next day she jumped me. Accused me of everything from assault to molestation. She wanted me arrested for assaulting her little princess. The principal tried to smooth things over, and broker a deal whereby I would appologize to the young lady in question.

Now I'm passionate about right and wrong, and setting an example for our children. So here I am sitting in front of these 2 7th graders my little brother and the assailant (for lack of a better alias), and being asked to set the example that an adult cannot demand proper behavior from a child when needed.

Now I could have either capitulated, gone over the edge, ranted, raved, and made an a__ of myself, or instead, do what what my principals and logic told me was the morally right thing to do: in my normal tone of voice I said, "I don't think that's something I want to do."

I then took my little, and we started home. The mom started screaming and litterally frothing at the mouth about how I couldn't leave she'd called the cops I was going to be arrested. I'm not kidding spit was coming from this woman's mouth.

I just replied that, "The school has my address, and they can come to the house for me if they need me. It's time for dinner and homework so we have to go."

Unfortunately, before we could get away here comes the single unit that responded. He blocked my truck in, and went and listened to the story of the mom and the daughter. Here again she's going nuts because she can't control her emotions.

My reaction was to sit calmly on the tailgate of my truck, call my father to tell him that if I didn't call him again in 2 hours to start looking for me in the city jail. I'm not stupid, I do take precautions.

Sure enough after about 15 minutes of talking to the mom and daughter the cop came over and said, "I told them that if I had witnessed what they described I would have arrested the girl for assault, and to be happy you just cut her loose. You're free to go. Have a good evening."

Bottom line, she didn't have a legal case, but by being so out of control I don't think the cop actually cared what she had to say. I just sat back and let her destroy her own credibility.

That is what is gained by being in control and civil.

 

[meadmkr]

Request a conference with the teacher and the principal as soon as possible (or the teacher's supervisor).

Be polite, be respectful but stand up for your child. Hear the teacher's reasoning but make sure your view in also hear. Most of all do not let them attempt to use THIER position to intimidate your or to force THEIR values on your child.

And if all else fails escalate it to the school board (and any media willing to listen).

 

[Coyote_Hunter_]

Thank God my girls are though school. They gre up shooting, not often but often enough.

Daughter #1 did 6 years in the Air Force and just bought her own Kimber .45. Daughter #2 doesn't own a gun but likes to shoot and goes hunting with me (although she doesn't hunt herself). Daughter #3 has a year of law school left. She's working for the Goldwater institute again this summer and is very interested in Constitutional Law. My Kimber .45 is her favorite to shoot.

 

[cmup273747]

Guns and School

I would say depending on you residing location, would determine how vocal you should be about owning guns.

I'm 20 years old in the military now, but in the 10th grade, upon the return from Christmas break, I was a little too vocal. I was telling my female friend that I got a .22 Mark III Ruger for Christmas. She then said to me "what is that?", and I told her it was a gun. 5 minutes later my math teacher called me out and addressed me by my last name "YOU GOT A GUN FOR CHRISTMAS!?" I said "NO!" and he immediately dropped it. The tone in his voice scared the crap out of me. He later on he lectured how stupid of a parent it takes to buy his son/daughter a gun. The age isn't the only factor in owning a gun in my opinion. When this incident happened,me and my father owned 6 guns....now we have over 30. I guess he didn't realize the effects of introducing this hobby to his son.

 

[luzyfuerza]

One year, my daughter's science project was to graph the velocity corresponding to various charges of Pyrodex in my muzzleloader rifle. The project was her idea, not mine (but I did have to buy a chronograph for the project...tough duty). Nobody at school batted an eyelash. She decided that she was going to be Annie Oakley on dress-up-and-tell-the-story-of-a-favorite-character day. She is still the best trap shooter in the family. All this while attending public schools.

It is possible to keep sanity alive in public institutions like schools, but not if the sane leave these institutions in the hands of the lunatics. We have to stay involved all the time, not just when something goes wrong that incites our emotions.

Pick a part of society that you're going to influence. You. As an individual. Then rally the support of others around you. If enough of us gather together, then we can overcome the lunacy of the left.

 

[RoostRider]

mfcmb seems on the most logical track.... since you apparently have no idea what the picture was of.... I would wait to be upset at least until I get the facts... the proceed with tact...

I do not see how ANYTHING he could draw would warrant this teachers actions. He is 9 years old.

You are either completely ignorant of the drawing abilities of a typical 9 year old, or you think kids cannot possibly draw something inappropriate, or you just didn't bother to really think about what you were saying..... any way you slice it, your logic is WAY off....

What if it turns out that he drew a picture of his mom killing his teacher with a gun? Hows that for "[something] he could draw that would warrant this teachers actions"... the list goes on and on of things that could be inappropriate in this unknown drawing... voids in logic as gaping as this are hard to address... where do you start?

The only advice here that is truly solid is to GET THE FACTS FIRST, and then react appropriately.... (no one can advise you well on a reaction until the facts are presented)

Good luck, and I hope you find your kid did nothing wrong, and with some discussion, the teacher agrees....

 

[Sir_William1]

I say walk in there wearing a T shirt that says Guns Don't Kill I DO, on the front, and on the back have don't shot be in the back, My son is behind you with his gun trained on you. lol Joking

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

LETTER. Strongly (but nicely) worded LETTER. To the principal. CC the Board of Ed, Superintendent, and the Teacher. Certified mail, return receipt requested. Letter should include, among many other things, a threat of lawsuit if such nonsense is not immediately corrected.

 

[neverjeg]

I do, however, have to ask neverjeg about this...



Quote:
Stand behind your kids always and in front of them when necessary!

I routinely see parents defend their children's bad behavior when the behavior becomes indefensible.

Are you suggesting that:

1.) children never do anything wrong,

or

2.) you should defend ANY behavior your child does because, well, they are your child.

Of course not - my kid spent plenty of time in detention.

 

[jaybr]

I've raised 2 kids and both went to public school, I had 1 problem when my son was in 10th grade.

My son's high school was new and was a pilot for a new system where all students recieved laptops and all work and assignments was done with the computer. I got a call one day that my son was being suspended because they had scanned his laptop and found inappropriate material on it.

I won't get into technical details, but after proving to the school and school board the flaws in their policies, the suspension was dropped and the policies changed.

Guns where never an issue, my son wrote most of his school papers on hunting or shooting in one form or another. He took the first day of deer season off from 1st through 12th grade, with my permission of course since he was hunting with me.

 

[JImbothefiveth]

Detention? Yes, Suspension? No problem

I think that's a great way to make your kids hate guns.

 

[kilo729]

INSTRUCTING children on what I believe and why I believe it is not what I would call "shoving my beliefs down their throats". I would call it parenting. I must be doing it well, because they agree with my views on most things. As for self actualization, letting a child have their own mind, pursue their own agenda would be great, assuming our country could survive all of them refusing to go to school, work, or eat anything other than fruity pebbles. Children need to be guided, not punished for sharing a drawing depicting a belief. As a sideline, this forum has rules that require its members to be supportive of RKBA. Do you honor this belief, or is that too narrow minded for you?

There's a difference between informing your kids of your beliefs and saying that their beliefs are your beliefs.

You don't understand what Self-Actualization is. Might I suggest you do some research?

As for this so called rule that requires its members to be supportive of the 2nd amendment, you are wrong. The hypocrisy of you insulting the width or narrowness of my mind is mind blowing.

Most people reading your posts would disagree.

Well, it's good to know that instead of providing a counter-argument backed up with information you just insult me. I find it amusing when people do this, it would be easier just to admit you where wrong and thank me for helping you.

 

[DWH]

Update?

 

[Racinfan83]

UPDATE X2??? I read through the whole thread and no answers yet. I just know that something is really messed up nowadays - and it isn't just the "anti-gunners". It's the lack of morals and lack of proper punishment in the schools and the home. It's the lack of PROPER education about guns, how to use them, and why it is our right to have them.
25 years ago when I was in school - we came to school with guns in gun racks in the back window of our trucks. Left the windows down too. No worries. Nobody ever DREAMED of walking into school and shooting people. Never even thought about. Probably because they knew that they would be facing one p.o.'ed ARMY of shooters that had managed to get out of the school to GET their guns and fight back - IF they tried it. Different time and different world - and I DO believe it was much better then. There was more than one shop project done where the student brought in his rifle or shotgun and handmade a stock for it. Imagine that today.....
I know if it were my kid that this happened to - and IF it were just a simple picture of his mom with a gun - there WOULD be a lawyer walking in to school with me. Two reasons - lawyer = firepower without the guns - AND if this story is as we think it is, the teacher and the school will be served with a harassment suit - just to prove a point. Left wingers are slowly destroying this country - and every time they do something like this and get away with it - the country is destroyed a little more. You MUST stand up and fight this!!!