Who's the real slim shady?

I often run into school board members at functions or parties, and naturally as a concerned parent (but really I'm just curious), I talk to them about the quality of education, and sometimes lack of it, at ISK. I'm sure some of you have done the same.

To my surprise, I've been told by every school Board members that the School Board is not responsible for "education". Well fancy that, by now I'm wondering who's responsible for education at ISK? Their answers were the same, "The Director". Well fancy that, then who's making sure that the Director is doing a good job? Obviously, not the School Board because they are not responsible for education!

Anyway, to satisfy my curiosity, I visited the ISK website and stumbled upon the ISK Board Policy Manual (surprise, surprise!!), and to my surprise (again), the policy manual states the following:

1.3 School Structure and Organization
1.3.1 The School Board
The Board is the governing body of the School. All matters that pertain to the making of policy for the School will rest with the School Board. The School Board’s primary responsibilities are to provide:

• Education for the Students
• Constructive work environment for the teaching and non-teaching staff
• Facilities for the operation of the School
• Financial leadership in all matters

Hmm, it seems to me (if I can actually interpret this into simple English), that according to the Policy Manual, the School Board is responsible for education and it is their "primary" responsibility. But why do these Board members tell me otherwise?? Are they really that ill-informed?

Seriously, who is responsible for Education at ISK? I quote from Eminem: Will the real slim shady please stand up!

Take a poll.

online poll by Opinion Stage

What? Half day of school!!!

My husband and I were not happy to say the least, when we received an email to inform us that our children will be having half day of school because of a Parent/Teacher conference.

Ok, I have nothing against a Parent/Teacher conference. I think it's commendable that ISK is hosting one. Plus, it's a great way to get a verbal report on how crappy my kids have performed at P.E.

What we are dissatisfied about is that the meeting is taking place during school hours. Isn't that the time that my children are suppose to be learning? What is the point of my children going into school for 3 hours, and then back home again before I can say, "Boo!" How about, who will babysit my children when they arrive home?

Did the school ever consider about the parents (their primary customers)? Probably not! Did they think about the students? Probably not! So I wonder who they were thinking about when they made the decision to have a half day? Hmmm....I'll let you figure that out yourself.

Wouldn't it be more considerate of the school to conduct an after school hours Parent/Teacher conference over 2 or 3 days (say from 3.30pm - 5.00pm)? This way -

• The children's learning is not disrupted
• It caters for working parents
• It gives parents choices of which day is more suitable for them
• Teachers only need to answer questions from parents for 1.5 hours instead of 6 hours straight 

Am I alone in thinking that half day is not the best solution to conduct Parent/Teacher conference? Is what I've suggested a better alternative or are there other ways that is more effective, without disrupting the children's schooling?

What are your thoughts?  Take a quick poll below.

online poll by Opinion Stage

Surprise, surprise...

Before going public with this blog, I thought that ISK might want to link this blog to their website to show that the school:

• has a strong connection with parents
• is open to parents' opinions
• listens and responds to parents' collective concerns
• embraces constructive criticism/feedback, and use it as input to initiate further improvements to the school

So I approached one of the Board member. He thought it was a wonderful idea and said that he would ask the School Board for approval.

Well, guess what? A few days later, I received a simple response stating that most of the Board members rejected it because it's just one person's opinion. Surprise, surprise...

This is exactly what happens when parents (that I speak to) bring up concerns to the school - they are treated and dismissed as a single case, which is unimportant to the school.

I'd like to see this blog unite parents in a common interest - our children's education and well-being. Now is a good time as any for us to come together and voice our opinions on how school should help shape our children's future. 

Edward Gardner once said, 

"If we would just support each other - that's ninety percent of the problem". 

Bullying

Bullying is so prevalent in our society today, especially in schools, and my child is no stranger to the endless lists of victims. For the past couple of years, my child has endured bullying in the form of isolation, back stabbing and dirty looks by some classmates. My husband and I know that we cannot protect our children all the time from the ugliness of society, and we often talk to our children about their problems and encourage them to try and deal with the situation themselves.

Late last year my child came home from school one day soaked in tears, because it was too much. It was the first time I ever saw the stress and heartache that my child has hidden all this time. My protectiveness kicked in, and so I emailed my child's teacher explaining the situation, and that I would appreciate it if he could intervene. I had a brief response stating that bullying is not uncommon among young children, but that the matter will be dealt with. My child told me that all this teacher did was make the bullies apologize and that was that.

Unfortunately, making the bullies apologize wasn't enough as my child endured the whole scenario again. It seems to me that there are teachers who will see bullying as a minute problem (I put it down to lack of awareness and understanding of the consequences of bullying), and as such an apology (with or without sincerity), is sufficient.

This year, my child wrote an email to her teacher and told him that making the bullies apologize is really not enough. She proposed a solution to conduct a class project that will educate the students about the effect of bullying. This teacher agreed to conduct a project and in doing so, empowered his students, giving them a voice to express their feelings and thoughts about bullying, educating them about the effects of bullying, and how to deal with the problem. This very same teacher could have stopped at the class level, but instead, he encouraged his students to help educate the whole school through hanging posters around the school and giving presentations. Now that, is a teacher worthy of respect!

I'm not deluded to think that bullying will be stamped out indefinitely at ISK (or any school for that matter), but I liked that a teacher took the initiative to be an advocate for his students by being proactive in trying to change the mentality of the school.

Action speaks louder than words, that's what all teachers should instill in their students!

Has your child experienced bullying at ISK? Take a quick poll.

online poll by Opinion Stage

online poll by Opinion Stage

Why I started this blog...

My children have been attending International School of Krakow (ISK) for the past 3 years. During those years, I've had a glimpse of the good and bad sides of the school. I know no school is perfect, not even an International school where you expect that high fees equals quality education! However, there are certain practices, beliefs and rules at ISK that sometimes makes me wonder if the grass is greener on the other side like British International School of Cracow (BISC)??? But, then again my kids are still at ISK because I see great potential in ISK and I'm always hoping that the school will realize their weaknesses and change for the better!

I'm forever talking (I am a woman after all!) to my husband about the school - the good, the bad and the ugly, and one day I asked him, "Do you think there are other parents out there who feels the same as me about ISK?" With this, he created me a blog so that I can get my thoughts across to a wider audience, and perhaps get some feedback from other parents. I think creating me a blog was a way for my husband to plea to other people to listen to his wife so he can sleep...

Nevertheless, I'm going to use this blog to share some of my experiences, thoughts and reflections about ISK. I hope that I will be able to receive as many responses as possible so that firstly, I don't feel so alone in thinking that I am the only one who thinks this way. And, so that my husband can finally sleep in peace.

I encourage all ISK parents to participate by voting on my blogs and share your thoughts in the comments section. I'm confident that our collective voice will provide ISK with the necessary feedback so that they're able to improve and become the school of choice for Cracovians.