My Kingdom for a horse! Or, my education for a....table? Part 2 in a series

First of all, I appreciate the overwhelming support that has accompanied the first part of this series. It is nice to know how many people care! Now, if only that type of caring and compassion was available through the subject of this piece--the Rantoul,Illinois School District.

Last time we left this story, we had just been given a letter from the head honcho-would-be-of-all-that-matters, Superintendent Bill Trankina. This was after my ex-wife's husband, Mark, had a meeting with him about the gifted and talented program for Rantoul and Trankina was going to be meeting with Mrs. Holliday, the gifted program's teacher.

The letter was pretty much out and out laughable. First of all, it was discussed (again) about the rules that Rantoul's gifted program has--the 12:1 ratio being the "ideal" situation and the rules about leaving the district and then returning with the stipulation of re-qualifying and also going to the bottom of the proverbial "heap" even if qualified. It went on to note that the program would be continued in this measure and that they "appreciated" our concerns, etc. (Really? REALLY? Are ya sure??)

The letter also had a note that Caleb, my oldest son, did not complete the activities necessary for re-rentry, which included a packet of papers and a project that he was to do outside of class as well as in-class. Caleb did, in fact, complete the papers necessary and they were turned in back to Mrs. Holliday within 2 days of them being given to him, but the project--according to Caleb--he was not aware that it was something that was required and it was a lack of communication on everyone's part--Caleb's, his past classroom teacher, and Mrs. Holliday, as well as us as parents--to get a full understanding of what was required. However, the interesting thing is--how was either a 9 year old at the time or parents who didn't know what was required supposed to really understand this type of stipulation? Now--no smart-aleck comments here--Caleb may be gifted, but when it comes to these types of things/responsibilities, I think that there should have been clear instructions AND the assumption that if Caleb did the paperwork within 2 days, how in the world would they think that he would just sluff off the other portion? Again, logic doesn't seem to proceed itself here.

The best part--the most humorous that is--is that one of the points that the program was going to stay the same was because of the furniture being "ideal" for the class ratio. Essentially, this means that the table the students sit at was for a maximum of 12 students, so having another child would mean that there would be no space available for the current scenario. Ok...again...REALLY?? You're going to SERIOUSLY keep a child out of the program and make a bulleted point of it being a reason you are keeping the program the way it is based upon seating for a FRICKING table?? Ummm...wow....ok....I didn't realize that we were in a third world community that can't or won't get a different TABLE and make a point of limiting based on that ideology! COME ON!

Likewise, I understand that the Rantoul City School district in the previous year decided that the lunch trays for their grade centers were needing upgraded--not that there was a problem, but that they needed something different. So Mr. Trankina and the board approved to spend 6,000--yes, that's three zeros--on getting new lunch trays with the grade center's school colors.

Ok....let me piece this out in my feeble little mind here. Six grand on multi-colored plastic trays that a child could in all sense of the word give a crap about...but zero on the probability of getting a bigger table to allow 1, 2, maybe three more children who have qualified for a program based upon certain criteria. Ahhh...yes....I see the logic there! YES! I can just see a conversation for this that I should have with Caleb:

"Well, son, you did your best, and you certainly have qualified to be in a gifted and talented program. Unfortunately, you won't be able to go there because they have a table for just 12 kids, and since you won't be able to fit in there at all and because it's obvious they don't want you sitting too close to another child because you'll get their cooties, we are just going to have to wait until someone else drops out, moves, or the school district actually removes their craniums from their rectums. I am so sorry. By the way, how was your lunch today? Did you enjoy your hot lunch off of your new trays! I bet it was GREAT wasn't it? And just think--you get to have that experience every day at school! That is so much more worth it than some little gifted program that could improve you and the schools!"

By the way--if this conversation ever comes out of my mouth--please shoot me in the face...with a musket.

So, as you can see, the great and Powerful Oz, er, Trankina, stopped us in our tracks with this letter, and everyone went back to being happy and living their life just as it should be...right? Not so fast my friend...the next step that we decided upon doing was to go to the school board to discuss this in a public forum. Surely taking it to this step and discussing the issues with the big-time decision makers would allow for others to "see the light" and make a good decision, right?

Please check back to see the third part of the series--"Master of Puppets is Pulling the Strings". Thanks for reading.

TAGS: Being A Parent, Education, Education Issues, Gifted And Talented, Gifted And Talented Education, Gifted Education, Illinois Gifted Education, Parental Responsibilities, Parenting, Rantoul, Rantoul City Schools, Rantoul School District, School Policies
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