In these cases, I think the student should be expelled and charges brought against the parent for disorderly conduct in a school setting. This should set an example for all that this type of conduct will not be tolerated.

The assaulted teachers have the option to press charges, in my experiences with this issue teachers are encouraged to let bygones be bygones.

Baltimore has a culture of violence that goes well beyond the children we teach, if we are to change the current course of this city parents need to get their proverbial "s" together. There's no reason to assault another person, it solves nothing, but ask a student or many of their parents and they will disagree. Many (not all) children in B'More are taught from an early age that violence is always an option... maybe not the 1st one, but always an option. Teachers alone can't turn that cultural idea around... Hell I really don't know what the solution is at this point.

It's not that I'm any one important or recognized as an expert, but every now and then I wish that somebody - especially someone with authority - would consider my answer to some of the problems in the Baltimore City School system. I've said it before and I'll say it again - get the National Guard and take back the schools from the students and the parents. I know it sounds crazy, but stop playing. On any given day, if you were to lock down certain High Schools and then shake down the students, you would find an incredible amount of weapons and plenty of drugs. Even worse are violations of human rights that the students inflict on other students - like the right to privacy or the right to choose your own sexual orientation. Some of our Teens afraid to go to the bathroom. Our students are being physically and sexually assaulted by other students. And we as the adults who supposedly control what goes on in this city allow this insanity to continue. Stop wasting time send in the guard - take over the schools - remove the students that are not compliant - along with their parents -- and create a peaceful learning environment.

Oh yes, the sacred cow,parents! Once again, teachers can make no excuses about why we can't succeed with kids. Parents accuse, fight, holler, and yell first and ask questions later.

I firmly believe that after a chance or two, students with negative behavior should be sent to the a modern day version of the old fashioned military academy. With so many base closings, there must be real estate somewhere. Get the kids out of their homes, away from some parents, into a program with structure 24/7 and watch the amazing results. Put the military in charge. Forget allowing students to drop out;just give them a new placement commensurate with their behavior and needs.The SEED schools are boarding schools and so this is not a new concept.

When will we get honest, stop believing isolated sob/success stories and realize that what we are doing regarding negative behavior is not working? Recently, I had the chance to teach in a different environment for a short time and I realized what a joy teaching could be if one did not spend all day every day in such a noisy,violent, disruptive, and draining setting. Even when I have my classroom working smoothly, the halls etc make peace impossible.

Recently, after a student told a teacher to "get fu----",the parents only response was"what did the teacher do?" How and when did teachers and parents get so oppositional? The last time I checked, I love kids and teaching, I respect all people, and I teach well.I did not earn nor do I deserve the abuse that I take. Does AAA read this blog? Does he realize how exhausted good teachers are? Please give teachers who love to teach a chance to teach students who want to learn! By the way, our good students are the truly neglected population!

So nothing on the principals who have been removed?

The idea of "controlling" parents really bothers me. Obviously this action is indefensible and the perpetrators should be sentenced to the fullest extent of the law.

With that said, if we assume that the parent-student-teacher-school relationship is a dysfunctional one, it will continue to be dysfunctional. I would rather look at the ideal future and work backwards from there to make it a reality.

Corey:

I can agree that we should aim for the ideal, and any teacher knows that backwards mapping is a great way to plan for success. I think the true problem is that this isn't a parent-teacher-school thing.

Baltimore as a city breeds a culture of violence, immediacy, and entitlement. Our children, and to an extent their parents, have been taught by their culture that they deserve immediate success (usually measured financially) "get money", and that they should use whatever means necessary to get that success "or die trying".

This isn't a school-teacher-parent problem... this is a city-wide cultural problem that seems to extend across Baltimore's lower and working classes (of all races).

Brandon you've hit the nail directly on the head except...the culture of
"me-ism" far transcends our humble city. It is pervasive in our entire country.

I also agree with you that this ideology does not observe socioeconomic lines BUT disagree on the issue of race/ethnicity. It is obvious to me that the vast promotion of African American culture seems to be geared towards how you can clothe yourself in materialism-jewels, clothes, cars, houses, etc.- in order to project a sense of worth. When humans stop using peripheral things to find inner worth they will stop coveting, feeling entitled/cheated, and commiting crimes.

I hope that this trend will change. I think the example set by our president elect will help. Also the examples of many conscious African Americans have been able to rise above this proganda and realize that the worth of a fabric does not equal the worth of the melanin in their skin.

But there are still too many of us who undervalue the fact that we are precious and valuable enough as we are!