We Don't Need No Education

As the Pink Floyd Lyrics say:

We don’t need no education
We don’t need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the class room
Teachers leave those kids alone
Hey, teachers! Leave those kids alone!

I was disturbed last night when our youngest daughter Francesca told me she was having difficulties in one of her 6th grade classes. I asked her what was wrong and she told me her teacher refuses to answer questions.

Of course my first thought was that she was either exaggerating or felt she was being picked on. I used my keen investigative skills and began to ask her questions.

Q. What do you mean she won't answer your questions?
A. She says no questions, I am not taking any questions.

Q. Is it just you she does this to?
A. No she does it to the whole class.

Q. Is there an allowed question and answer time during the class?
A. No.

So I asked Francesca if she wanted me to talk to her teacher and she said yes.  Now as many of you parents know most children become absolutely apoplectic when you even hint that you may discuss something with their teachers.  Not Francesca, not this time.  She is so frustrated with not being able to get clarifications on assignments that she insisted I contact her teacher.

So today I decided to take action and I went to the school districts web page to get the phone number which should have been easy to find, but no it wasn't.  I had to dig through the cryptic site to find the main information number listed on the very bottom of the page in a very tiny font.

So I called the number and the phone was immediately answered by a very friendly and helpful automated answering system....NOT!  After several useless options were given that didn't seem to make any sense I settled on the Superintendents extension and dutifully dialed the number 8.  I was immediately transferred to Robin.  Who in turn gave me the number to Tracy.  I thanked Robin then called the number for Tracy.  The phone rang twice and a woman answered the phone "Smith, Jones and Brown Law Offices".  I explained I had the wrong number and I apologized then called the main number again.  I retraced my steps through the automated system back to Robin.  Imagine Robin's surprise when she found out she gave me the wrong number.  Of course I had to repeat it back to her to prove I had written down correctly the first time she gave it to me (because we all know parents are morons).  Robin then put me on hold for a brief time while she filed her nails and finished her solitaire game.  She then returned and gave me a new number to try.

Being up for the challenge I tried the new number and spoke directly to Tracy, you remember Tracy?  She is the woman I had to call in order to talk to Francesca's teacher.  Stay with me people.

Anywho I speak to Tracey who informs me that Francesca's teacher is out sick today and could I call back tomorrow.  So I think....hey I have a computer right...maybe I could send the teacher one of those emaily thingies.....  So I ask for the address and Tracy explains the whole email schema employed by the highly technical IT staff that my tax dollars pay salaries for.  First initial then a period then last name.  Hmmmm seems pretty straight forward so I composed the following email:

Ms. N,

I called for you today and was informed that you were not feeling well.  I hope you are feeling better.  The reason for this email is quite simple, I am disturbed by something that my daughter Francesca has reported to me.

Francesca has told me that you are not answering questions in class.  Not just her questions but any questions.  I thought maybe you had a specific format when you teach that would allow for some question and answer period but Francesca tells me that is not the case.  Furthermore, Francesca tells me that you make a blanket statement that you are not taking questions not just some of the time but all the time and that you raise your hand palm out in a stop sign fashion.  Thereby sending the visual signal that you will not entertaining any questions.

Obviously a quality learning environment dictates that the student may ask the teacher or instructor questions.  Questioning and answering provides an opportunity for you as an educator to gain valuable insight into how effectively you are reaching your classes and their understanding of the concepts and information you are imparting.  Therefore, the question and answer process is absolutely necessary to ensure that the student is getting a firm grasp of the material or concepts being taught. 

The children in your classes have a right to communicate with you.  One of the main avenues of that communication is questioning and I find your failure to allow it to be dictatorial in nature.  I also find that your insistence on not allowing them the opportunity to communicate by asking questions absolutely unacceptable.  I would hope that Francesca is exaggerating but I can tell you that is not given to exaggerations. 

I would like an explanation as to why this is occurring.  If you would like I can certainly meet with you in person or we can discuss this over the phone.  In either case you will note that I have copied Francesca's mother, as well as the Principal. 


Thank you,

Timothy L. Boukouris

I believe the aforementioned email will generate some activity tomorrow in the Marple Newtown (Snooty) School District and I will bet you dollars to donuts (cop slang) she will answer my questions now and her classes later.

I will update this post once the real Q and A sessions begin.