Muscatine

Give me a break Nigel.

Both my boys didn't learn to spell, till after they graduated. I taught them how to spell before they went to kindergarten. The school taught them to spell a word out the way it sounds and enforced it. Later, after I confronted them on my children's bad spelling, they finally admitted that "it was a new thing" they was trying and it didn't work. Bad spelling was accepted till they graduated.

I also taught them them that if someone swings first, pound the crap out of them so it doesn't happen again.

Fair enough DF.  Our experiences with the system were apparently a lot more positive than yours.  Phoenetic spelling, while successful at lower grades, is not a good theory for older students, and I didn't think the Muscatine Schools endorsed it at the middle and high school levels.  Could be wrong, but wonder what years you refer to as being "accepting" of bad spelling.  Both kids left the system well-prepared for college, and fared well against students from other in-state and out of state locales. 

As for the fighting, both of my kids were athletes, one a wrestler, and both involved in lots of activities, but just never had the problem with threats and such.  Maybe we were just lucky.  I'm sure the problem exists, but we didn't have that experience.  I am left to wonder that the fighting seems to be such a problem for some, but non-existant for others. 

Nigel, is that what it is called? Phoenetic spelling?? My oldest was in 3rd grade when this happened and I noticed his spelling getting worse. A couple years later, they quit teaching it. Well, that ruined him and his little bro. So, yes, in jr. high and high school, they would come home with papers and the teachers would give them good grades. I would read the papers and the teachers circled misspelled words, but would never hold it against their grade. Lazy teachers in my opinion. No child left behind.....I worked with my kids on their spelling at home, but why should they care if it was acceptable at school?

P.S. One son was a wrestler? No wonder nobody messed with him. Any smart kid should know you never mess with wrestlers. I taught my boys wrestling, as well as putting them in the sport when they were younger.. Good to know if you get into a fight. A boxer can fight on his feet, but if he is on the ground....a wrestler will make you cry like baby.

I owned a business for fourteen years.  Was the customer always right?  No but it was my job to find a way for them to be satisfied and me to  get paid.  And to get them to come back.   It's called compromise........ You MUST be willing to LISTEN to the other side of the story.  An absolute is Never right.  We are humans and there are different situations for as many different people as there are.  Each one of us brings something different to the equation 

 IT still comes to this ,does someone who is attacked have the right to fight back?  A boy did not fight back a year or so ago and ended up in a coma.  The united States Government says we have the right to defend our self.  They teach that in government class at MHS.  Yet the school says you don't.  And if the student is attacked twice by the same kids.  Why arn't those kids removed entirely from the school.  Why is the VICTIM being punished?