Rant... The Three "S'": School, Socialism and ...
At any rate, last year my daughter expressed interest in learning how to build websites. I had planned on teaching her how to do a basic wordpress site. She was so excited! Her first response was , "I can make websites for my friends!" Fast forward to this year when she received notification of participation in a mandatory 5th grade entrepreneurial fair. COOL! We had to submit a proposal and it had to be approved. There was a list of suggestions, but that list was not one that said "you must pick something from here". I suggested building websites for people on the fly (simple Wordpress stuff on a domain that I have for the community, utilizing WordpressMU. ) She would take the orders, help them with user names, customizations, etc. etc. and I would plug it in for her. We submitted a proposal: DENIED.
Here's the email that started this conversation... this is from me:
"Hey there
I want to make sure I understand regarding L's entrepreneur project-- although we can help oversee the fair, we can't help with the delivery?
By now, you've gotten a chance to review her proposal regarding building websites. What I had offered her was to come up to school, bring her laptop, she help customize the orders and explain everything and I would immediately build them on our server for her. Everyone would get their log-in information to change things later on. I have domain that I was going to develop for the community (I haven't had a chance to yet!) XXX -- I was going to have the websites reside there or think of something else. For example, whatever the user name is, it would be username.XXXX.com for their website.
Ls a bit disorganized and she may have lost the form regarding approval, etc for the fair so I am not sure where that stands right now? Also, if you let me know if the above is ok, I can proceed with helping her flesh all of this out and get ready to go. Otherwise, we have to come up with an alternative.
Please let me know at your earliest convenience. I am available for the duration of the fair and would commit to being there for her during the whole process and ensuring everything is running smoothly.
Warmly,
Brandi
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Teacher's response:
"Dear Ms. XXX,
I sent L's form back the day she brought it to me. I didn't approve L's project because it doesn't seem that L is doing the project, you are doing the main part of the work. (Read how many times you say "I will..." in the email below.) The cost is also much more that students will be bringing to the fair. Most students will have about a dollar. I understand that you are available to help her, but most students will not have this help available to them, so we don't feel it would be fair to the others.
I'm sorry she didn't bring her form back. I know this limits your planning time.
Please just think small and simple when coming up with a new plan. Many students are selling baked goods, or other food items. Some are playing a game for a prize, that type of thing.
Good luck!
==========
Ok, this really set me off. Here's my reply:
"Ms. XX
I had wondered about L getting the form- thanks for the explanation.
I have to disagree with just about everything you said. Your logic is really flawed. If you notice the context in which the word "I" is used, you will see this: "I will build them on our server" (akin to "I will boil the water for the rice pudding we are going to sell.") or "I have a domain" ("I have a mixing bowl my child will be able to use to make the cookies they are going to sell in the fair.") In addition, if we applied your logic of "most students will not have this help available.. so we don't feel it would be fair to others..." then we'd never have Christmas programs, because not every parent could attend and it wouldn't be fair to the childrens' parents who couldn't attend. We couldn't have a Christmas party because not all parents could attend. We can't go on field trips because not all parents can attend and it's not fair that those parents that can attend should be able to enjoy experiencing the fun with their children. We should all be the same, equal distribution among everyone. I'm sure you see the fallacy in this logic. After a bit of thought, this is much like the quote, "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need."
In addition, I quoted no cost. I'm not sure why you said the "cost is also much more than students will be bringing to the fair" without knowing the cost? The cost was going to be nominal, within the cost that you had said previously - $.50- $.75. (Also, how about those kids that can't afford to bring any money to the fair? Using the logic above, it's not fair to have something that not everyone can participate in, correct?)
I'm pretty irritated for my daughter-- this is something she has actually been wanting to learn to do way before this entrepreneur fair came into being. (She can still learn, I know this and she will!) When I told her that I would teach her my craft, her first response was "I can make websites for my friends." Again, this was last year, before we even knew about this project.
Perhaps next time you should give a list of activities that they must choose from instead of allowing them to be creative? You did say think "small and simple". That's definitely what children need to be taught in school. After all ,we all know that the world hasn't yet met its quota for small thinkers. We definitely need more!
Understand my frustration with this socialist mindset. I live in the United States of America, a place where, as long as it doesn't violate any laws or rules within the school system, my child should be afforded the opportunity to be as creative as she desires, not stunted by some arbitrary rules of perceived equality. I know, I know, her IEP indicates she has such a low functioning IQ and, therefore, she's completely incapable of any great things so we'll just let her fall by the wayside! She hasn't got a chance at greatness anyway. Well, at least that's what the head of the special ed department within the XXX County School System, essentially said. And, she's the expert, right? She definitely would know.
Brandi XXXX
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The irony... an entrepreneurial fair... where children are encouraged to "think small and simple". Wonder if Warren Buffet's teachers felt that way? Bill Gates? The Google Dude (no I don't know his name and no I don't care to Google it.. ha!)
The small and simple thinkers often become the greatest contributors to technological advances, right?
*rolls eyes in head*.
This was the final nail in the coffin... within the next few weeks, we are starting back homeschooling.
I told my daughter... and she said "well, I guess we will just have to make cupcakes like everyone else!" (I wonder if I'm allowed to help her at all with that process or if she can even use my bowls??)
Thanks for letting me rant.
Warmly,
Brandi
P.S. I welcome any creative ideas... I'm a bit irritated to get creative.... Ha. Start up costs must be less than $20. Most children will only be bringing about $1.00 to the fair.
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