This post is from from my other blog here

..but all of you with 3rd-graders, and their teachers, already knew this.

So, the Substitute of the day is introduced to the classroom, with the following instructions...

1) "Here's a walkie talkie, so you can contact us at the front office immediately, and we'll come running, if/when there's a problem"

2) "Here's 2 pages of per-pupil behavior notes and guidelines, i.e. Susie can't sit next to Jimmy, Fred has to go the office every hour, Johnnie needs to be reminded not to throw his sn*ts at his classmates, ....etc..."

3) "Don't turn your back on the scissors bin, and count them all frequently, make sure none are missing".

4) "Don't leave your purse unattended".

Wow - this surely supports the observation of a past LCPS teacher we know, who only lasted a year before leaving the 3rd grade because she "couldn't ever get any teaching done, with all the time spent on class management and disciplinary/babysitting activities".

What's the fix, within the county budget, Virginia Laws and tolerance of the School Board?

Too expensive: smaller classes, another teacher, more differentiation, full-on multimedia learning adventures, guest speakers and field trips...?

Politically incorrect: more discipline, quicker/more frequent sending of children home, the "dunce" cap, hard labor (remember cleaning the erasers?)...?

Won't-happen-without-some-amazing-community-leadership: more parent discipline regarding school behavior at home, better-attended and managed PTA with empowere volunteer force, more frequent commuity-administration forums, more active online and offline collaboration.....?

It seems the answer lies really with some extraordinary parent involvement, with extraordinary outreach on the part of the Principals AND School Board Administration - with "hyperlocal" focus (vs. "County-Wide"). Perhaps the School Board should be expanded, with a community rep for EVERY school - sort of like a "School Parliament"....with a stipend! There's bound to be more like-minded Parents out there just itching to engage, but needing a more stimulating and accountable forum than the PTA or this Blog...