Mandatory Saturday School???

[DigiSLR]

OK I am trying my best to not blow my top. Let me first state that my son's education is a top priority and I am very concerned about his academic success.

My son is in 5th grade and his reading is way behind. He is receiving extra assistance at school and has been given some concessions to assist him in classes. He is currently receiving all As and Bs with the simple concessions that he can ask the teacher to dictate the instructions to him, and he receives an extra class to help him advance his reading skills.

Now, on to my problem. Today I received a letter from his principal stating that TAKs tests are upcoming and he has been identified as being "at risk" of not passing the reading TAKs. The Principal has MANDATED that certain students are REQUIRED to attend a program designed to assist students in passing the TAKs. This program is from 9am - noon on four consecutive SATURDAYS.

Here is the posting on the district website...

"Opportunity for Academic Success In School (OASIS)

Brent Principal, Kristi Hargrove, announced a new program called OASIS to help students be more successful in school. The first series of programs, offered on four Saturday mornings 9:00-12:00 a.m. (Jan 31, Feb 7, Feb 14, and Feb 28) are taught by Brent reading teachers. OASIS is designed to significantly strengthen reading skills in an engaging and interesting series of reading activities. Those students who are below grade level in reading or who scored below 75 on the reading benchmark test are required to attend. Breakfast is provided. Parent letters go home to these identified students in Tuesday folders. However, for parents who have students who are not at risk, and want their son or daughter to attend this outstanding program should contact the office for OASIS forms. "



Ok, forgive my anger, but who the hell is she to dictate that she REQUIRES anyone to attend SATURDAY classes? Will she, or the district, provide transportation? What about divorced parents who have legal binding alternate weekend custody agreements? I have no problem with extra AFTER SCHOOL classes, but the weekend is the weekend, and family time away from school. Students and parents have other activities. I in no way want to get my son in trouble, and I do want to see him succeed, but to me this is an outrage.

Am I way off here, or is this something I should fight on basis of principle?

[CaptainTom]

Originally Posted by DigiSLR

OK I am trying my best to blow my top. Let me first state that my son's education is a top priority and I am very concerned about his academic success.

My son is in 5th grade and his reading is way behind. He is receiving extra assistance at school and has been given some concessions to assist him in classes. He is currently receiving all As and Bs with the simple concessions that he can ask the teacher to dictate the instructions to him, and he receives an extra class to help him advance his reading skills.

Now, on to my problem. Today I received a letter from his principal stating that TAKs tests are upcoming and he has been identified as being "at risk" of not passing the reading TAKs. The Principal has MANDATED that certain students are REQUIRED to attend a program designed to assist students in passing the TAKs. This program is from 9am - noon on four consecutive SATURDAYS.

Here is the posting on the district website...

"Opportunity for Academic Success In School (OASIS)

Brent Principal, Kristi Hargrove, announced a new program called OASIS to help students be more successful in school. The first series of programs, offered on four Saturday mornings 9:00-12:00 a.m. (Jan 31, Feb 7, Feb 14, and Feb 28) are taught by Brent reading teachers. OASIS is designed to significantly strengthen reading skills in an engaging and interesting series of reading activities. Those students who are below grade level in reading or who scored below 75 on the reading benchmark test are required to attend. Breakfast is provided. Parent letters go home to these identified students in Tuesday folders. However, for parents who have students who are not at risk, and want their son or daughter to attend this outstanding program should contact the office for OASIS forms. "



Ok, forgive my anger, but who the hell is she to dictate that she REQUIRES anyone to attend SATURDAY classes? Will she, or the district, provide transportation? What about divorced parents who have legal binding alternate weekend custody agreements? I have no problem with extra AFTER SCHOOL classes, but the weekend is the weekend, and family time away from school. Students and parents have other activities. I in no way want to get my son in trouble, and I do want to se him succeed, but to me this is an outrage.

Am I way off here, or is this something I should fight on basis of principle?

My quick answer would be that if you want your child to learn to read you should teach him to read. If you don't have the ability to teach him to read, take the opportunity to have him go on Saturdays (teachers are not paid extra, and probably have other things they'd rather do).
What's more important, your personal convenience or the rest of his life with a reading problem ?

[DigiSLR]

Tom,

I do spend time with my son, and he is improving greatly. I in no way would ever want him to have any difficulties that I may have been able to prevent or assist in rectifying. However, how can a principal of a school mandate that anyone attend SATURDAY classes? I don't even have a problem with voluntary Saturday classes. I'd probably be the first person to drive my son there to assist him, but the mandate that he is required really irks me beyond belief.

[Bella]

Call your regional education center (call your school if you don't know how to contact them, they can give you the number). I don't know the legalities of requiring Saturday schooling, but I do know that principals are allowed in higher grades to have Saturday detentions for students. Perhaps her authority to hold mandatory Saturday schooling falls under the same reasoning as having Saturday detention . . ..and really, to a fifth grader, they're probably pretty close to the same ;)

But I do have to wonder . . if you'd be the first one to get your son there for the assistance he needs, why are you upset? Is it just the principle of the thing?

Cindy

[CaptainTom]

Is it just the principle of the thing?

I suggest it is just the principal of the thing.

[ShaneKislack]

Trouble with authority, huh? What are you some kinda hippy?

Just kidding. I'd make a diplomatic phone call and sort it out. Probably not as required as you may think.

[ShaneKislack]

Nice, Tom!

[DigiSLR]

It's totally the principle. It's the way the word required was highlighted on the letter to the parents. It was the way I read the tone of the letter.

Just this past June I received full time custody of my son, his grades have vastly improved over the time he was with his mother. I spend more time with him assisting with homework, reading, and just generally paying attention and supporting him. I am not going to hinder him in his education.

If the letter simply stated it is requested, or it is advised that your student attend, I wouldn't be upset at all.

[CaptainTom]

I totally respect your feelings about this.
I might suggest that you make your feelings known to the principal as adamantly as you have made them known to this photography forum.
We are like a family, and we have disparate opinions just like a family.

Sometimes what we write isn't necessarily exactly what we meant.
i.e.

OK I am trying my best to blow my top

[DigiSLR]

Thanks Tom, see I was seeing red and didn't even realize I missed my "not" :-)

[BigJon]

I am with you Digi. Being told it is mandatory is crap, the TAKs test has destroyed public schools. The school districts are terrified of this test and I can only assume that it has to do with money they get from the Fed. This no child left behind is crap and classroom integration is junk. My son is in a regular 1st grade class that but the classroom has an autistic child in it. This child is violent and not to mention a major distraction to all students. This student has hit other students, teachers, and has given the principle a black eye and a sprained wrist when he assaulted her with some sort of block. When I raised cain about it I was told there was nothing they could do because of the "No Child Left Behind" legislation and they have to integrate special needs children into regular classes, I wonder how large the lawsuit will be when this kid seriously injures another student. I was told that special Ed classes no longer exist. I do also agree with you and Tom, I think working with him and possibly a tutor would help. I really don't think a 5th grader will benefit from a few Saturday classes before he has to take a test if he is this far behind. I would get him diagnosed for his learning disability and then attack it head on. Good luck on this issue, if it were me, my child would not attend.

[kenw]

realize that the principle has a financial interest in the TAKs results, ie; he/she is rated and may get a bonus based on passing students/improvements/etc.

[CaptainTom]

Jon == please don't get all political and risk getting this thread closed.
good points by the way.

[darrenwilson]

I see two distinct issues here...

1. a child struggling to be a successful reader
2. a principal mandating Saturday school for TAKS prep

...I don't think they have much to do with each other.

First, pull out time during the school day and after school help and help and support at home from you should be plenty for him. I don't mean to be rude, but if he doesn't "get it" in that time, an extra three hours on a Saturday morning isn't going to do it for him. I would look at his reading performance in the classroom during the first semester and on his past TAKS tests in 3rd and 4th grade. These are good indicators of where he should be. Test prep is NOT going to improve his reading performance. It will only serve to get him ready to take the TAKS test.

I can almost guarantee that at those Saturday school sessions, he will be working on reading passages and questions in packets. He will be coached on how to decode and decipher those passages and how to do the same for the questions and answer choices. It is very prescribed and methodical. While those skills can be useful and practical in life, Saturday morning before the "big test" isn't really the best approach. For the principal and teachers, this is their big last push for kids sitting on the line between passing and failing TAKS. Very high stakes for them.

As far as being 'mandatory'...you'll need to gauge this one yourself. I don't see how they could associate a grade on this that would hurt him academically. I also don't see how they could punish him for not coming. I am sure that if you refuse this "offer" they will have you sign something saying so. They can't afford the liability for a child who doesn't pass. They would rather him pass his Reading test, even if it means bullying him and you to come up for a few Saturday mornings. They do want the best for him, but lose perspective in times like this.

I had a daughter take the 5th grades TAKS tests last year. I can guarantee you that if I were in your shoes, we would definitely have other plans on these Saturdays. We would spend the day at the library, or Barnes & Noble or sitting on the couch reading a book together. If reading is the problem don't try to solve it with TAKS prep. Help him enjoy reading for the sake of reading.

My 2 cents. I wish him and you the very best.

[BigJon]

Well said Darren.