Whose Child Is It Anyway?

19 Jun 2000 - Whose Child Is It Anyway?
I heard about this family on the radio. They have a son. I think he is about 14 years old. He was consistently getting into trouble at school. The majority of the trouble came about during the lunch break. So the parents decided that the mom would pick him up at school everyday when his lunch break began, have lunch together, then take him back to school in time for his next class. Some days they would get Burger King at the drive through, some days it was leftovers from home and other days a sandwich at home.
Immediately the trouble at school went from 2 or 3 times a week to nothing. The boy appeared to need this one on one time with a parent. Then the parents got a letter from the principal. The letter said that it was disruptive for the boy to be taken out to lunch everyday, and that it would be no longer allowed. DISRUPTIVE!? NO LONGER ALLOWED!?
It is my understanding that the child was never late for his after lunch class. So what was disruptive. And as far as being “no longer allowed’, I pity the person, principal or no, who tells me I am not allowed to take my child to lunch.
I respect and admire teachers and principals. They have a very difficult job. But some people forget that the teachers and principals are hired employees of the taxpayers/parents. When a person drops their child off at school they are not relinquishing parental rights and responsibilities. I have gotten some comments from people who don’t know me when I say certain things, the comments are along the line of, “if you don’t like this situation you can put your child in a private school or homeschool.” Those of you who know me know that I have always homeschooled. So I don’t need to be told to homeschool. Although, I do welcome comments.
I told Calvin about this yesterday. We disagreed about it, which is very rare. So I feel sure a lot people won’t agree with me.
I don’t know the outcome of this. I was driving in the car when I heard it on the radio. I hope the family stood up for themselves.