CPS Complaints, Few Answers

[Kyle]

As people start to find and read the postings on this site, they will no doubt be turned off quickly and click on the red X to close their browser. Just as we encounter is so many public forums, there is a whole lot of complaining (hence the site's name) and very little brainstorming to find answers (thanks, Imma, for at least one suggestion).

The politically-correct thing to say these days is, "Children First". In reality, though, we live in a society where many other things come first (business, politics, work, etc.). Of course, parents put their own children first, but that's not everyone's priority, especially when they are someone else's children walking in the hyperbolic impassable snow. If we had cancelled school for a week and a half, this site would be much more congested with complaints than it is now.

How about some answers on this site? As you make your suggestions, remember though that everyone wants free services and extra things, but doesn't want to pay for them (afterall, those charter school students get their funding from the state, not our local money, so are those parents as willing to pass a levy?).

Here is my suggestion: put on your long-johns, grab a shovel and some salt, and dig a path for your child to school (it'll benefit all of the other children who pass that way, too). You could even drive them or put them on a COTA bus (you pay for that already, too). By whatever means, show your child how much YOU care and how much YOU value their safety, health, and education.

Finally, let me tell you about an elementary student of mine. He waited for 30 minutes with his friend at the bus stop last Thursday. Then his friend went home. This boy yelled, "I'm walking to school (over a mile) because I have to get my education!" and he walked it (at age 11). If he can do it then we can all get over it and do it, too.

Have a good day. May the temperature rise and the complaints fall.
Kyle (parent of a child who play in the snow, so can walk in the snow)

[Concerned Columbus Parent]

hey kyle, thanks for taking the time to write that post. i appreciate the thought you put into it very much!

re: "there is a whole lot of complaining (hence the site's name) and very little brainstorming to find answers"
good point i am hoping that answers will be born of this effort. as it is, i put this all together in quite the hurry this weekend, and haven't had a chance to begin to address that issue on here yet, so i welcome this opportunity!

my initial thoughts on this are that there is PLENTY of time that could be used if students need to make up days that go beyond the allotted 5 days. for instance:

1. they could just make it a policy that the school year may need to be extended longer into the summer.

2. they could actually flip the 2-3 month summer breaktime to be a winter break instead. if they had the break in, let's say, from the time the kids normally get out at christmas thru mid-march, it would cover the worst of our winters in most years, and chances are they wouldn't even NEED those 5 allotted days.

3. they could also simply get the buses in good repair (fix heaters and windows) and have them stop at the end of each child's street, considerably reducing the distance the students have to travel to get to their stop. for instance, my child's bus goes right by the streets of all the students that have to get to that stop before it gets to the stop. even the bus driver has made a plea for them to let her stop at the end of the streets due to the dangerous walking conditions the student face, but no dice. they won't budge.

4. or they could eliminate other days they normally get off, either in advance, or only if needed, some of which are a little questionable in my mind anyway, for instance labor day (which they get out for only a few days after beginning the school year), capital day (what the ?!?!), parent conference days (weren't those in the evenings in years past?), spring break, presidents day, etc.

my point being, there IS time and/or alternative solutions available...seems to me the 1st, 2nd or 4th suggestions would be much more proactive and therefore would probably make for an easier transition.


re: "Here is my suggestion: put on your long-johns, grab a shovel and some salt, and dig a path for your child to school (it'll benefit all of the other children who pass that way, too). You could even drive them or put them on a COTA bus (you pay for that already, too)."
I don't think this one's going to work for my family - or many others for that matter. mainly because in my case, it's a half mile to the bus stop (what are ya tryin' to do, kill me? LOL) also, about half that distance, there ARE NO SIDEWALKS, only about a foot of berm on the side of the road, the other side being a huge drainage ditch. after the plows come down the road the berm is non existant (it's barely there anyway, and is extremely dangerous even in good weather). getting to a cota bus from my place requires the same trudge thru that dangerous mess (and actually would be even further). and i DO drive my daughter and have many times driven other students to try and help ensure their safety...but then i'm lucky enough to have a car, and i think i can safely say, that you probably do too, based on your post. did you actually read the details of my challenge? if so, you should have caught the fact that my car is quickly going downhill because of this situation. and let's not forget that not everyone is lucky enough to even have a car...in fact MANY people don't.

re: "By whatever means, show your child how much YOU care and how much YOU value their safety, health, and education."
that's exactly why i'm spending this time, that i don't really even have, to try and help draw attention so we can find a solution to this problem that would help keep everyone's children safe, no matter what their family or car, etc. situation might be. in fact, just 2 1/2 years ago, i quit my normal job (that i was at for 5 years) and started my own business because i was unable to adequately address just these types of situations well for my children while working for someone else.

re: "Finally, let me tell you about an elementary student of mine. He waited for 30 minutes with his friend at the bus stop last Thursday. Then his friend went home. This boy yelled, "I'm walking to school (over a mile) because I have to get my education!" and he walked it (at age 11). If he can do it then we can all get over it and do it, too."
ya gotta LOVE that little guy!! poor thing had to be darn near frozen, being as it was way below zero that day!! how dangerous for him! you're sort of making my point here for me though...where were his parents to protect his health and safety? not trying to be judgemental...maybe they had to go to work earlier, maybe they don't have a car, maybe, maybe, maybe. that's exactly my point. children will take extreme and as in this case, dangerous measures in order to get there in these conditions. schools can't anticipate all the kids' situations, so in weather that dangerous, they shouldn't even attempt to try. my suggestion (as stated in the challenge letter) is that they should adhere to a policy that it is simply dangerous weather (another thing that needs to be defined as part of a future plan, and defined with our children's safety & health - and i mean REALLY with their safety and health - as the #1 goal), and that they will not have school when that's the case. period. coming to some kind of resolution on how the extra days will be made up will allow them to do that.

re:"May the temperature rise and the complaints fall."
amen!!! but, i don't intend to let this become a non-issue simply because the temps are about to go up...as it will come up again in the future, as it always does every few years. hopefully we can have a solution in place before it does, at least that's my intention.

thank you again, i really appreciate your post!

[americanmom]

Many Homeschooling greetings to you who are complaining about the Columbus public schools. We used to live in the Hilliard City School District (with past ratings of excellent) who refused to teach my special needs child in the teaching methods that I knew worked for him. Not to mention they refused to let me be involved in his class to observe/help and give pointers on his learning style. Instead I ended up with a 1st grader who couldn't read/or do letter sounds for that matter. All because I thought the "experts" knew better. What a crock..
I brought my son home for education and now My 10 year old has since learned cursive writing, math and is reading since I brought him home... and my 6 year old (1st grader) is also writing in cursive and keeping up with his brother in certain subjects. VIVA la Homeschool.
I didn't think I had enough patience to teach... but it's like anything else ......you learn it as you go.

Let me give you all a hint... Kyle made an excellent point.... Society isn't putting kids first... if we were .... there would be more parents at home with there children rather than entrusting a latch key or day care center while they go off to work for the luxuries in life (for single parent or poverty level families I'm not speaking to you...you've gotta do what you gotta do)

For the rest of you... Let's use this forum to constructively look at how you can eliminate your dependency on government run public schools (which have strayed away from teaching the basics and now teach to the "test" ...proficiency test that is.)


If you have ever thought about homeschooling or need more information, we are a huge network of parents in Central Ohio and throughout the U.S ...like you... fed up with the entire system and have recognized that we can provide a superior education and give our children the one on one they deserve.

Complaints against a government body are futile... believe me I've been there and battled the system for 3 years.

Get freedom, and spend more time with your kids, be intricately involved in their education and you won't need a public school to give you "snow days". or leave your child to fend the cold waiting on the bus.
Check out homeschooling.
Google Ohio homeschool groups for excellent web site and info.

American MOM

[Concerned Columbus Parent]

hey american mom, thanks for your input!! i almost entirely agree with what you are saying in that post...but for one part.

if we give up the fight to make our public schools better (and here's a shocker - my daughter has been pulled from CPS for the last 3 years in order to provide her a better education than they can provide!), then we are just plain old giving up on some of the very groups you mentioned...single parent, poverty stricken or simply neglectful or abusive homes, and i'm sure there's more. those kids deserve a good education. and they deserve to be safe while trying to get it. in fact, statistically, they are doomed to repeat those cycles without one.

every child deserves a chance to excel. every child deserves a chance to rise above their current circumstances - no matter where on the spectrum they currently fall. there are LOTS of children who have no choice but to utilize the public school systems, for lack of finances, lack of attentive, caring adults, whatever. but it's those kids that will lose if we all only worry about our own.

now let me just breathe a little here, and stop to clarify that i KNOW you were NOT IN ANY WAY trying to say otherwise in your post!!!

i just mean that, in my opinion, these are some of the ways that we, as a society, are failing our kids. it can't be about only the one...like it or not, circumstances eventually force us to dictate that we are, indeed, our brother's keeper. and it's usually negative circumstances that eventually bring us to those conclusions.

this fight isn't only about my daughter (although she is, like every child in this area, affected DAILY by CPS decisions - they're the "big dogs" so to speak and others follow their lead). this fight is for every child in this area and the state for that matter...and for me, this battle is dedicated to all the generations past, my mother's, mine, and maybe my grandmother's (not really sure), that have had to endure these same things as children (we're talking 50+ years that i know of!)...and for me, it will be hard fought in the hopes that for the kids of this next generation, it may be a distant memory in the past at some point.

who woulda thought that OUR kids would be telling THEIR kids someday about having to walk to school 2 miles (one way!), in snow 4 feet deep & uphill both ways? LOL... okay, i'm getting slap happy now

how did another poster put it?? okay, i'll get down off my soapbox now

[ConcernedNana]

Kyle - I think Concerned Columbus Parent made valid points. She has presented them well, showing good logic and intelligence. I personally think she's asking for help to find a solution that will be safer for all our kids - for they truly are at risk here.

You're a teacher, judging from the inference in your post. Tough one, I'm guessing! Do you have children of your own? Do your children walk to school every day? In below zero conditions with no sidewalks - IN the street?? I'd be interested in knowing that.. I'm guessing your children either ride a bus or you take them as you go to your job. PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong. I'd like to think you actually have some experience with children walking to their stops or their schools in the dangerous conditions this winter weather has created. You only told of one of your student's experiences, which demonstrates your point, but I'm asking if YOU have experienced this situation with your own kids.

I've lived in Columbus most of my life, I went to CPS all of my primary education years; I used to have to walk nearly 2 miles every school day, whether it was 100 deg's or 10 below. Mom didn't work outside our home, but she wouldn't take us on any day. I remember thinking my fingers/toes were gonna drop off by the time I got there during hard winters, of course they didn't. Nevertheless, it was miserable and dangerous, and we were simply S.O.L. In those days, neighbors shoveled their walks, even looked out for the children on their way to school. I'm obviously speaking of the stone age! Neighbors don't look after the children much anymore, they either don't care or they don't have time.

My grandchildren don't have luxuries, they depend on buses to help them get to school. Their parents/friends/grandparents take them to school on bad weather days, or they walk in THE MOST unsafe conditions I've ever seen [that doesn't even include predators]. Cars that nearly brush them as they walk along streets with no sidewalks; what if they slip on the ice/snow and fall into the path of one of those speeding idiots? Drivers are usually talking on cell phones, putting on makeup, shoving down breakfast - all while speeding alongside these kids. Half of them don't even realize there are children in their path.

Maybe you need to take up this challenge? Maybe you need to walk the paths my grandkids have to walk every morning, so you can actually know what we're talking about? Think about doing that - the experience could help you have more understanding of the real issue here.

It's about the safety of all our children - nothing else. Not about "bucking up" and not about lazy kids or parents at all. My grandkids are always ready to go that extra mile, as were their parents. I'm just not ready to bury one of them yet, because the school system doesn't take these dangers seriously. I'm gonna stand behind change because I'm 57 years old and have personal experience about this danger -- it needs to be addressed!

[imma Columbus mom]

Kyle said:

Here is my suggestion: put on your long-johns, grab a shovel and some salt, and dig a path for your child to school (it'll benefit all of the other children who pass that way, too). You could even drive them or put them on a COTA bus (you pay for that already, too). By whatever means, show your child how much YOU care and how much YOU value their safety, health, and education.

Finally, let me tell you about an elementary student of mine. He waited for 30 minutes with his friend at the bus stop last Thursday. Then his friend went home. This boy yelled, "I'm walking to school (over a mile) because I have to get my education!" and he walked it (at age 11). If he can do it then we can all get over it and do it, too.

Any suggestions as far as getting kids to school with this mornings ice layer, Kyle? Please don't think we wouldn't put on our long-johns, grab a shovel and some salt, and dig a path for our children to get to school, if it was that easy!!! You can't shovel your way to school when the roads are impassable or if ice is the factor. So what now?

And that POOR KID, who was under the impression that he had to walk over a mile to school in un-fit conditions to get his education, should not be held up on a pedalstool. You have just proven the point we are ALL here to make! He shouldn't have been placed in the position to have to make that God aweful decision in the first place! He should have been made to go to school a few days longer in the Summer, so he might live past the day that he would have lost his life, had something happened to him that morning! If he would have been injured or killed due to dangerous conditions walking the route he had to take, what then? All in the name of teachers not having the entire Summer off, or getting all those scheduled teacher days off? This is B.S.!!!! And I stand behind this site 100%.


~ imma ~

[bellemom]

Hello,

I just registered today and posted for the first time on another thread. My commentary was my chance to complain...a moment to vent...and yes...I offered no real solutions and that should be acceptable as it is human nature to first notice a problem, then accept the fact that the problem has effected us. Then, by human nature, we reach out to find like-minded people to express ourselves to and then, after the anger or fear within us has calmed down, I think most people then search for solutions. It's all just a natural process.

I feel this message board can be of great service to everybody. Let's allow some "pregnant doging and moaning", let's give parents a platform to vent and not be criticized for practicing their freedom of speech...it is with problem identification that great progress is made.

Not all of my children have attended a Columbus Public School due to their specific educational needs, and by also being a parent of a non-public school, I have witnessed first hand the powerful impact a group of parents can make in promoting healthy change. Last school year, I was involved in a different concerned parent group at my child's non-public school and learned much about parents in numbers and the effects they can have. My point is, in the start up of our group last school year, we all began by sharing our complaints. Now looking back, this was necessary. It gave all of us insight to what the real problem was and after that, we were able to address the problem as a whole. It only took a few meetings filled with lots of venting before we all became a the proactive group we did.

So, allowing parents to vent is useful in my opinion. By expressing one's disappointments and frustrations, the facts can be gathered and with the facts and accurate documentation, a strong case can be formed. With a strong case and a united voice, change CAN happen.

Seeing that this forum is very new, it is natural that people would be joining on to share their complaints...it's just natural. In a very short time, I'm sure the posts will include more than complaints...they will have more questions posed and more solutions offered.

I believe I'm done venting for now ...thank you for allowing me to freely express myself.

[Concerned Columbus Parent]

bellemom, that was such an awesome post...THANK YOU for bringing up some very important points and taking the time to recount your personal experiences!!!

the idea from the beginning was to end up turning this into a POSITIVE, once we began to be heard, and that appears to be what's happening with now, as a 2nd board member has responded in a positive way. & both so far, have made a commitment to take a closer look at the issues via this site, allowing more time than a 3 minute speaker spot a board meeting will allow. although they declined, or didn't respond to the challenge, GREAT and POSITIVE things are happening as a result.

My hope is the final result, will be a society that not only tells our kids that their safety comes first, but who's actions support that priority.

[Mom 2 The Max]

Gosh, lots of venting and frustrations going on out here huh? It's been a few days, I just wanted to extend the good ole' olive branch to Kyle. Hey Kyle, it's only a few blocks to the bus stop for my child, but it seems quite a mess with big snow drifts that unfortunately are pretty frozen and I'm sure will be solid after the freezing rain and all. Are you ready to put on your long johns and grab a shovel to help out? I'm sure you wouldn't mind being the "do-gooder that likes to play in the snow" that you are. Being a teacher, I'm sure you have the ultimate interest in your students getting to school safely, right? Oh and about them getting to school safely, did you happen to hear about the several accidents some school buses had after sliding on black ice? But I'm sure you have a solution to that too, huh? So please, enlighten us. ;D

Mom 2 The Max

[ConcernedNana]

Well, doesn't look like Kyle is gonna share anymore wisdom with us right now.. But just in case he's reading and not posting, I'd like to say something to him once more:

Kyle - if you ARE a teacher or something of that nature in the school system - you are in a PRIME position to help or guide us in some ways on this safety issue. Since you did take the time to make your first reply, I'm wondering if you were just being "macho"[??] and thought you'd add some fuel to the fires here - sort of stir everything up? If so -- go away.
But if that was NOT your intention, then help us out here.. offer something more constructive! If you have kids in school in this city, SURELY you've heard their gripes about these issues. Share those with us. We already KNOW what the CPS board's position has always been - help us change some things to make our kids safer out there.
I'm hoping you're a nice guy.. tough maybe, but willing to give us some better points to consider. How 'bout that?