Comments on: State-run district gets a split verdict

By: Hills Neighborhood Mom

Hills Neighborhood Mom — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 02:57:17 +0000

Concerned Oakland Parent: Thanks for sharing. I feel for you in this situation. I’d love to hear from others about how similar behavior problems are dealt with. I’m sorry but aggressive behavior and swearing (among first and second graders) is not a “cultural and s-e difference”. It’s a problem! Good luck.

I am very relieved that in my child’s class this year there are no true “trouble-makers”. I expect 1-2 whose behavior is very disruptive, but this year we ended up with a great class – and, for what it is worth – it’s a very diverse class too!

By: Concerned Oakland Parent

Concerned Oakland Parent — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 00:16:30 +0000

Hills Neighborhood Mom:
The principal talked to the parents with the teacher. The teacher was told to handle it because it was a “cultural and socio-economic difference.” Mostly the teacher in first grade successfully used peer pressure to change behavior.

I don’t really know how to deal with it without sounding like it is a racial issue – and to be VERY clear, this is not a racial issue, but a behavioral issue. I also feel for the kid because he is one of the lowest, if not the lowest performer in the class – he knows it, the kids know it, the teacher knows it and most importantly – the kid knows that the other kids know he’s behind. He’s not unintelligent by any stretch, he’s just aggressive, doesn’t fit in because of behavior and has trouble keeping quiet and paying attention – as the work gets more difficult, the differences in perceived ability will become more apparent.

I would love to hear from teacher and others what we as parents and members of the school community could do to help this kid. I want to try to help him – otherwise, if I am not engaged in being part of his solution – in my mind I’ll write him off – and this is not something I do NOT want to pass on to my daughter any more than the daily aggression and cursing.

By: Hills Neighborhood Mom

Hills Neighborhood Mom — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:55:59 +0000

Concerned Oakland Parent: that’s absolutely ridiculous that nothing seems to have been down about this kid. I would be horrified if that child was in my child’s class. Young children should not be exposed to such things. I have no problem with a child being expelled for behavior as long as they have been offered help and given time to improve. If things didn’t get better, I think that the child should be removed for the betterment of the rest of the kids in class. I would like to know what the teacher and the principal has to say about this situation?

By: Concerned Oakland Parent

Concerned Oakland Parent — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:05:35 +0000

An example of a student in my daughter’s class that was a legitimate transfer into the school in first grade: When the teacher said “it’s time for everyone to sit in their seats and read from your chosen book.” The student said “What the F**K you say to me?”

This is not a made up story, but a comment that I actually heard in the class with my own ears. Was the student removed? No, over the course of several months the behavior got better. Then came Summer, and back to school and back to the horrid behavior. This child also pushes in line and gets in kids’ faces (toe to toe, within 3 or 4 inches of another person’s face) and screams, as well as shouts obscenities.

It’s very difficult to be kind and gentle with this student week after week of the same behavior. Should a now second grader be expelled? No, but the behavior should not be tolerated either. This child has two parents who do not show up to PTA meetings or other school events, drops the child off late in the morning and is not there and has not arranged after care. So while every child deserves to have a safe, loving, academic environment, there should be a standard of behavior and my daughter should not have to deal with daily aggression by anyone.

By: John

John — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 04:29:55 +0000

Left: I guess ongoing circumstances fits your definition of a “hypothetical.” Real life experiences expressed by diferent hill area parent contributers to this blog are “not very helpful or useful” to your purposes, in that they contradict the professed hopes of your “pipe
dream.” I would also invite you to quote me at will, if you have the will to do so. However, contemplating what I write may cause you some unwanted pipe free dreams.

By: Hills Neighborhood Mom

Hills Neighborhood Mom — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 02:29:31 +0000

I would not be particularly welcoming of anyone who falsified their address to get into a school AND displaced a neighborhood resident. There are very real capacity issues at many of the hills schools and I have no tolerance for cheaters who contribute to this problem.

I would, however, welcome any non-neighborhood resident who legally transfered into the school AND contributed in other ways (by attending PTA meetings, volunteering in the classroom, driving on fieldtrips and so on).

By: left oakland

left oakland — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 02:25:31 +0000

Hmm, talking about hypotheticals is not very helpful or useful. But if you are talking about a specific instance where an out-of-neighborhood child is being disruptive and is a troublemaker, well then I’m more than likely to agree with you. Please feel free to quote me at will. Cheers.

By: John

John — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 02:11:05 +0000

It’s one thing to “be welcoming.” It’s another thing to stay welcoming when/if those you welcome don’t conform to your school community’s behavioral expectations and don’t recriprocate your welcoming attitude. To expect the continuance of a welcoming
attitude under such circumstances is certainly a “dream,” and “too much to ask” of neighborhood parents at “good schools” where the quality of their child’s education can be impacted by “parents who are not from the neighborhood but are seeking better opportunities,” for, but not better behavior from, their children.

By: left oakland

left oakland — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 20:44:26 +0000

I simply hope that the parent community at any good school would be welcoming toward kids and parents who are not from the neighborhood but are seeking better opportunities. I hope that is not too much to ask for?

By: John

John — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 20:11:37 +0000

Left Oakland: Safety is indeed a primary issue, whether on Maslow’s hierarchy or in an Oakland school. The concerned parent who “noticed that as more children outside the neighborhood are enrolled, the more closely the playground behavior needs to be monitored” has a justifiable concern. A segment of Oakland’s cultural diversity is more prone to using physical aggression as a means of conflict resolution. As a long time teacher in flat land schools and, until recently, a life long resident and graduate of Oakland hill neighborhood schools I’ve seen dramatic changes. In the late 1990’s I attended a Black History Theatrical production at Skyline, my alma mater and my wife’s work site. It was readily apparent, in more ways than one, that a white person was NOT welcome at this Afro American history event. This is by no means an isolated experience or observation from my years of association with the Oakland Unified School District.
You state your “pipe dream” vision of “a more inclusive environment in Oakland. One in which the better off families recognize they are citizens of the same Oakland as the poor of East and West Oakland.” You also note that, “It would nice to see some more outreach and understanding on the part of the hill community that they are citizens of the same Oakland as the poor.” I don’t know what’s in your “pipe,” but your FASCINATING “dream” is that of one community accepting other communities with seemingly no expectation of reciprocation. If acceptance is not mutual it’s NOT mutually acceptable or workable, right Left?