At our baseball practice tonight I heard a few stories about the local schools.  I'm shocked, sad, and 100% glad my kids are at home with me. 

I really felt for the people I was with tonight.  1 was a teacher and 2 were subs.  One other man worked in the schools or his wife did.  Not sure which.  They seemed helpless.  In a dispairing kinda way.  Here is a sample of the long conversation between the teachers, parents and me.

1.  The sexual acts that are going on in the hallways are out of control.  Not just kissing anymore.  Seriously.  She said they may as well be having sex!  This sub said she just doesn't know what to do about it when she sees it.  You can tell them to go to their class, but that doesn't take care of the problem.  She really seemed in despair about it.  I told her that there wasn't a whole lot she could do.  These are morals heart issues.  It made me sad to hear the story.

2.  unoccupied rooms must be locked during the day or whenever they aren't in use to prevent kids from having sex in them.  What shocks me is that this is actually a big enough problem that it had to be addressed in such a way. 

3.  The principal having a list of which students are to report directly to his office upon arriving at school in order to prove they are wearing underwear under their mini-skirts.  I have no idea how they prove this.

4.  The teacher stated that it's very hard because the government expects the kids to reach a certain level at a certain time without taking into account that kids are individuals and learn at different speeds in different ways.  Like they expect them to be robots.  She couldn't seem to find the right words for it.  I said, "Like they're on an assembly line being mass produced?" She said yes.

I asked them to tell me the good stories.  We all agreed that the bad experiences become cemented in our heads, but they didn't come up with any.  Except that they as teachers are trying.  I could tell they wanted to.  One said that the government has so many stipulations placed on them that they can't do it effectively.  It made me sad.  To see so many teachers feel helpless.  To know there is something down in there that's telling them, "this isn't right" and there isn't much they can do, even though they want to.  *sigh*  Made me glad to have mine home. 

By the way, I live in a small town.  It happens just as much here.  My heart goes out to the teachers and administraters who want to make a difference, make a change, and just can't.  I feel for you.