Okay so I slept on it and I am still burning mad this morning after my 11-year-old daughter (grade 6) brought home this lovely piece of I don’t even know what to call it song from school yesterday.
Abby returned from school and said “Hey mom, listen to this song we had to change into a positive song at school today”. I sat back ready to listen to maybe a sad song and then their happy version of it, boy oh boy was I not ready for the words that would stream off my 11-year-old innocent daughters tongue as her mouth opened.
Set fire to your hair … excuse me?
Use your private parts for piranha bait … umm well that is inappropriate!
Invite a psycho-killer inside … WHAT … do we not teach our children to stay away from strangers?
Scratch a drug dealers brand new ride … okay this is enough!
Eat a tube of superglue … really? really?
Stand on the edge of a train station platform … Run across the tracks between the platforms … OMG!
Okay I had at this point stopped her right around the drug dealer bit and read the rest of the “song” my daughters teacher felt appropriate to give a bunch of 10 and 11-year-old kids. I am sure if it were possible steam would have been bellowing out of my ears and I am pretty sure my face was bright red with anger as it sure felt like it was on fire!
I am unsure of what state of mind this teacher in any way shape or form thought this type of crap was appropriate to introduce to children, I for one don’t shelter my kids in any way but I definitely do not expect my children to be signing and reading this type of garbage at school.
This was completely inappropriate and aside from the fact I get what the task at hand was, there are a bazillion and one songs in the world that are “negative” that these children could have been given to change into a more positive song than one that lays out some pretty age-inappropriate things. Not to mention the amount of childhood suicide that has been on the rise, what in the world are you doing giving kids a list of things they can do to die?
Since moving to our new home, in a new school district I have to say I have been nothing but disappointed. Not only is my 11-year-old daughter being taught crap like this but she was on an IEP at her old school due to some learning issues that stem from her younger years where her hearing was impaired and she fell behind and when we registered at this new school (2 weeks prior to moving here) I brought in her IEP which they photocopied and were well aware of and assured me Abby would get the help she needs. Well it is nearly two months since we have been here and the girls have been attending their new school and guess what, Abby’s first progress report came home and she is failing everything! She has not been given any help, she has not been visiting a special classroom like she had at Brown Public School and when I spoke to her teacher she basically told me that she would most likely not be given the help or be put on an IEP this school year?!?! I nearly lost it on the phone with her but kept my cool and told her that was unacceptable and I would be calling the school board and my local MP if need be because they were made aware of Abby’s needs prior to her starting at this school and it is THEIR job to insure each and every student has a SUCCESSFUL school year. It is her job as a teacher to get Abby the help she needs within the school not dust her under the rug and make it not her problem.
So needless to say on Monday I now have more than one issue to bring up to the school board and I am so completely disappointed in this school compared to my children’s previous school. I will not stand back and allow my child to fail, to not succeed, to be shoved aside. She still at this point is enthusiastic about school and does not get discouraged when she doesn’t understand something, I don’t want that to change, I don’t want her to feel unimportant and I definitely do not want this to continue as she nears high school she needs all the help she can get to be ready and able to be a more independent learner.
Stay tuned for an update … hopefully the school board isn’t as inappropriate as this teacher and school!
What is your opinion on this song, do you think it is appropriate to be given to children in school? Leave a comment below and weigh in!
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Brandee says
That is horrible!!! How could a teacher think that song is okay??? You can also try your schools superintendent, the Person who runs the Special Education department at the board, contact any local oeganizations in your community and see if there is an advocate who can help you. Often just mentioning that you’ve spoke to an advocate will put some fear into a principal. And if none of this works try contacting the Ontario College of Teachers!!! Completely unacceptable that the IEP is being ignored! Good luck!
Abby says
I can’t even believe this….. I’m sorry to hear how much trouble you’ve been through with this new school! I hope everything gets straightened out!! Honestly, a person who would hand out this to students shouldn’t be working as a teacher. In your position, I would definitely contact as many people that could help me, as possible! Good luck.
Amanda says
I’m a teacher and I can’t even begin to understand why that song would even remotely have been used for ANYTHING or any reason in ANY classroom, regardless of age.
I have a question about the IEP…I’m guessing you stayed in the same school board…as in stayed public, or Catholic. Through experience, IEPs don’t follow when you switch between those two. Also…don’t necessarily follow between different boards , i.e TDSB and YRDSB – don’t ask me why, but that just seems common. Based on the song anything I would normally suggest about a teacher/new student relationship I will completely throw out the window. The IEP is a legally binding document so the teacher is bound by it…the caveat, so long as they create it. The teacher is not bound by the IEP created at another school, by another teacher. Definitely advocate for it…have you had a meeting with the teacher/admin/SERT at the new school? May seem silly to ask, but going through the steps will help if you end up having to go to the school board. Another issue is how long it takes for the OSR (Ontario Student Record) to get there…sadly, it can take WEEKS! All depends on how quickly the previous school sends it out. It took 3-4 weeks to get one to my school this year.
My comments are by no means meant to say it’s okay that your child isn’t on an IEP at the new school…more just to try and make things easier for you in getting the IEP back in place.
Johnm says
If you’re having trouble with your girls school, try a catholic school. They don’t usually teach this sort of stuff. I’m not sure, you might have troubles with catholic teachings, but you sound like you dislike this school enough that you should give one a try.