Janney Principal politely scolding parents...RANT

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm confused - are you upset about the ticketing, or about the fact that the school's security doesn't have responsibility for monitoring the playground before the start of school each day?

On the ticketing, I'm sympathetic as our daycare (which is at a parochial school where there is a specially marked school drop off area) has the same problem - commuters/workmen/etc who illegally park for hours in the dropoff zone are never ticketed, whereas they watch like hawks during dropoff/pickup hours to get those of us who are forced to park illegally to leave our kids. It sucks, but I'm not sure there's much you can do about it since the law is the law after all. Possibly try your ANC rep or city councillor - ours helped when a construction project tried to block off the entire dropoff zone for the school for 6 months.

However, if you're mad that the security guards aren't policing the playgrounds, sorry I can't even offer sympathy there. I'm a working parent and would love to be able to drop my kids off at their public schools a half hour before school, but the only way to do that is to use (and pay for) a before-care program. You can't really expect DCPS security guards to serve as a childcare service.

Separate question - are you really dropping your elementary aged kids at a playground every day with no adult supervision?

[Anonymous]

I can only find one sentence in quotes to comment on (in your original post - bold).

The tone of that sentence does not sound punitive or heavy handed to me in any way. It just sounds like an institution trying to be organized in dealing with many children and families. In fact, I'd call it responsible.

[Anonymous]

Moving on to colored enlarged letters.

I don't feel like it is heavy handed. You can't leave your children on school property when it is convenient for you. Plus the way you feel attacked is more your problem than theirs. Your child can be tardy. You can go to the conference or blow them off. I have a pre-ker and we are tardy all the time -- along with the older siblings. Not a big deal. I don't feel personally attacked or the need to bold or color my letters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you taken your concern directly to the principal?

No I haven't--by the scolding tone of these newsletter warnings about coming "early" I wouldn't think she'd be very receptive. They are very punitive in this school even if your little pre-kr is late because of emotional melt down and poop attack while there older sib is now late too because of it you are just TARDY no excuses tolerated. And pretty soon they're dragging you in for a conference if your child is sick and you call it in but fail get an OK from the principal. Parents do not have the autonomy to call their child in sick ANYMORE. I find that INCREDIBLY intrusive. I really would like to get a sense here if others are finding the tone to be heavy handed.

The irony, it burns.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you abuse of exclamation points and bolding of type, while I work, is the real sin here.

Please, ratchet down the hysteria.

You have to watch yer kids. Geez.

No one is saying it is easy or convenient or fair.

But that is YOUR job.

YOURS.

Notice my lack of bolding there. Nice, isn't it?

Are you a Janney Parent? Are you? Because the attack I'm feeling is a palpable thing that you have to have experienced at the school to judge what I'm saying. But thank you for your sentiment. In theory, you are correct. I am responsible. But at school on a school day, all I am asking for is a consensus on an accommadation--are there enough parents who need to drop off a little early--say 15 minutes early to warrant a little extra duff movement from the "security guards"? If so, can we not get that? If 25-30 kids on enclosed playground for 15 more minutes in the AM is too much too ask, then the SCHOOL-JANNEY is being unreasonable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you taken your concern directly to the principal?

No I haven't--by the scolding tone of these newsletter warnings about coming "early" I wouldn't think she'd be very receptive. They are very punitive in this school even if your little pre-kr is late because of emotional melt down and poop attack while there older sib is now late too because of it you are just TARDY no excuses tolerated. And pretty soon they're dragging you in for a conference if your child is sick and you call it in but fail get an OK from the principal. Parents do not have the autonomy to call their child in sick ANYMORE. I find that INCREDIBLY intrusive. I really would like to get a sense here if others are finding the tone to be heavy handed.

I don't have kids at Janney, but as a parent and elementary teacher (currently on mat leave), I must say that it is parents like you who make me want to leave the profession. I LOVE teaching. I have had good relationships with 99% of parents. I am lucky to have a principal who is a great leader, whose time and energy are unfortunately drained by parents like you.

It sounds like there is a legitimate issue--perhaps no before-care available at Janney? But your approach is not effective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you taken your concern directly to the principal?

No I haven't--by the scolding tone of these newsletter warnings about coming "early" I wouldn't think she'd be very receptive. They are very punitive in this school even if your little pre-kr is late because of emotional melt down and poop attack while there older sib is now late too because of it you are just TARDY no excuses tolerated. And pretty soon they're dragging you in for a conference if your child is sick and you call it in but fail get an OK from the principal. Parents do not have the autonomy to call their child in sick ANYMORE. I find that INCREDIBLY intrusive. I really would like to get a sense here if others are finding the tone to be heavy handed.

The irony, it burns.

Yes, my tone is intense right now in response to what I am being put through. You can be dispassionate here (borderline trolling) because you're not being put through the $50 dollar ticket trap-drop-off your kid for school--piss off your principal--treadmill.

[Anonymous]

Hahahaha. Ok. So it's just me.

[Anonymous]

Janney has before-school care that you can pay for. Why not just do that?

[Anonymous]

OP - this is not good for you or for your kids. You are sounding more and more crazy as your posts go on. Stop. Take a breath. Drop your shoulders. Now try to do something about your problem.

Don't park illegally and you won't get a fine. Perhaps a longer walk would do your stress levels good?

[Anonymous]

OP,

I'm assuming you chose to have three children. This is what it's like, being a parent of more than one. They all don't go to the same school. All schools, public and private, have rules. Their rules are not tailored to accommodate you. DEAL MY DEAR!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I'm confused - are you upset about the ticketing, or about the fact that the school's security doesn't have responsibility for monitoring the playground before the start of school each day?

On the ticketing, I'm sympathetic as our daycare (which is at a parochial school where there is a specially marked school drop off area) has the same problem - commuters/workmen/etc who illegally park for hours in the dropoff zone are never ticketed, whereas they watch like hawks during dropoff/pickup hours to get those of us who are forced to park illegally to leave our kids. It sucks, but I'm not sure there's much you can do about it since the law is the law after all. Possibly try your ANC rep or city councillor - ours helped when a construction project tried to block off the entire dropoff zone for the school for 6 months.

However, if you're mad that the security guards aren't policing the playgrounds, sorry I can't even offer sympathy there. I'm a working parent and would love to be able to drop my kids off at their public schools a half hour before school, but the only way to do that is to use (and pay for) a before-care program. You can't really expect DCPS security guards to serve as a childcare service.

Separate question - are you really dropping your elementary aged kids at a playground every day with no adult supervision?

They're 10 and 11 and there are usually other kids on the playground.

And yes, I am objecting to the rule about forcing parents to accompany a 10 year old on an enclosed playground when there has been no parking because of construction and if you leave your car for 30 seconds anytime between 8:00-8:30 to accompany your child during the drop off or pick up between 3:15 and 3:45 you will have a $50 ticket. This is not "K" Street--or even Wisconsin Ave or Nebraska Ave. It is a little side street in Tenelytown for an elementary school.

[Anonymous]

OP, you need to enroll your Janney kids in Before Care.


From the Janney website:

Janney in the Morning Hours are 7:45 – 8:45 a.m.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you need to enroll your Janney kids in Before Care.


From the Janney website:

Janney in the Morning Hours are 7:45 – 8:45 a.m.

More $$.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I'm confused - are you upset about the ticketing, or about the fact that the school's security doesn't have responsibility for monitoring the playground before the start of school each day?

On the ticketing, I'm sympathetic as our daycare (which is at a parochial school where there is a specially marked school drop off area) has the same problem - commuters/workmen/etc who illegally park for hours in the dropoff zone are never ticketed, whereas they watch like hawks during dropoff/pickup hours to get those of us who are forced to park illegally to leave our kids. It sucks, but I'm not sure there's much you can do about it since the law is the law after all. Possibly try your ANC rep or city councillor - ours helped when a construction project tried to block off the entire dropoff zone for the school for 6 months.

However, if you're mad that the security guards aren't policing the playgrounds, sorry I can't even offer sympathy there. I'm a working parent and would love to be able to drop my kids off at their public schools a half hour before school, but the only way to do that is to use (and pay for) a before-care program. You can't really expect DCPS security guards to serve as a childcare service.

Separate question - are you really dropping your elementary aged kids at a playground every day with no adult supervision?

They're 10 and 11 and there are usually other kids on the playground.

And yes, I am objecting to the rule about forcing parents to accompany a 10 year old on an enclosed playground when there has been no parking because of construction and if you leave your car for 30 seconds anytime between 8:00-8:30 to accompany your child during the drop off or pick up between 3:15 and 3:45 you will have a $50 ticket. This is not "K" Street--or even Wisconsin Ave or Nebraska Ave. It is a little side street in Tenelytown for an elementary school.

i don't get this--why not park legally further down on Albermarle or on 43rd or 44th street? We manage to do this every morning and there is lots of parking. We park at 8:20, get to the school door at 8:30 exactly and then I RUN down the hill to my car and am off at 8:32.