And Now for a Rant

Dear School Admins,

Thank you for the wonderful high school scheduling night.  I can't tell you how overjoyed I am that I took time off my job in order to come be informed about the curriculum and scheduling options for my child.  First of all, it was so helpful to receive several automated calls reminding me of the event. especially since they came at such convenient times like early morning on my day off, or during dinner on one of the few nights I don't work late and the entire family was home.  Also, thanks for noting the incorrect location of the event during the calls.  It made it so much more interesting playing hide and seek as so many of us were trying to get in locked doors.  It was even better when we found the right building and STILL the doors were locked and we had to go looking for the one door that was open.  Logically, you chose an out of he way side door obscured by hedges and a stairwell as opposed to the row of well-lit double doors which led directly to the meeting hall.

I'd also like to commend you on the slick video you put together introducing each department head and allowing them to read the list of electives offered in each department.  Since you're all concerned about budgetary constraints I understand why you opted not to print out course catalogs. I'm sure the video was a far better use of resources than making sure the school website was updated with that information and directing us there.  Oh wait, that would mean the website actually had to be functional...Oh, and the choice of background music, the theme from Forrest Gump, what a great touch!  I guess stupid is as stupid does.

It was so thoughtful of you to remove the pesky need for parents to give any kind of input as to the classes our sons and daughters take. Thanks for telling us those decisions are best left to teacher recommendations and guidance counselor discretion.  Having to communicate with my kids about their future plans and classes that might apply or what might challenge their interests is just such a burden and I'm sure I'm just not smart enough to know what might be good choices.  Also, I couldn't possibly know my child any better than a guidance counselor who couldn't pick him out of a police line-up.  As for the teacher recommendations, I've been so impressed with some of the recommendations in the past...the ones you don't want me to challenge...you know like when my honor roll son is told he shouldn't attempt advanced classes or be allowed to take a foreign language.  Yeah, I really had no idea what I was doing when I waived him into Advanced English, Advanced History, German, and two science electives...where he still makes it onto the honor roll.  Boy, am I glad I have you to keep me from making that mistake twice!

I was really excited to hear about the next phase of the massive renovation project too.  I remember what a great job you did with the new construction a few years ago.  Calypso's education was really enhanced by having three classes with no desks and a school covered in drywall dust because of the incredible planning and execution of that whole project.  I'm reassured by the vaguely hopeful comments regarding next year's stages.  I'm sure tearing down half the school in January of next year will not be in the least bit disruptive to the kids  so...

That's why it's so great that you've already announced the standardized testing dates for next year.  I'm so relieved that all the uncertainty about everything else hasn't messed up the Spring testing schedule.  Life might REALLY come to a grinding halt if anything were to disrupt weeks of filling in bubble sheets with #2 pencils.

To sum up, the welcoming effect  of the substance over style presentation detailing how I shouldn't even bother offering an opinion to my son coupled with blatant obfuscation regarding plans to ameliorate the mess and disorder caused by the next phase of the demolition construction plan was so not worth an hour and a half's worth of my pay.

Scathingly,
Lime