Parental stoopid, oh, it burnz eleventy
Why I am going to retire in four years, fig. 23.
Our district has a very limited number of instruments available for families that can't afford to rent one (around $15 a month). Little Boy A desperately wanted to play, but his father said that "we're on the FREE lunch, so you gots to give us the VIE-oh-luh from the school," so a district-supplied instrument went into A's hands.
Last Thursday, A came to class without the viola. "I left it at home," said A. On Friday, it was, "Oh, I left it at home again but I promise to bring it Monday."
Monday: "Someone jacked my viola from the classroom, Miss!"
Tuesday: "Mr. A's father, this is Miss P. from Ratbutt Elementary - I'm A's Orchestra teacher. I'm afraid that something has happened to A's instrument, so I have to send you the information on how to go about replacing it--"
"A say that someone stole his VIE-oh-luh. That's not his fault. I ain't payin' for nothin' and you can't make me."
"Mr. A's father, you signed a contract stating that you're responsible for any loss or damage--"
"Well, I didn't think nothin' WOULD happen to it when I signed it! If I'd known you was gonna charge me for what ain't my son's fault, I wouldn't have signed the ****ing thing."
"Mr. A's father, I'm going to have to ask that you not use this kind of language--"
"F*** you, you white b****! I'm a taxpayer and I pay your salary (note: I'm a taxpayer and I'm paying for your son's EDUCATION, buster). You better get my son another VIE-oh-luh, and this time don't you give him one that's scratched up. You prejudice! You prejudice!"
At that point I said I was hanging up, and I did. Yesterday I went to the principal of Ratbutt. Let's call him RP, for Ratbutt Principal.
RB: Mr. A's father said you hung up on him. Is this true?
Me: Yes, after he used rude language and accused me of being prejudiced.
RB: Well, you have to understand our frustration with white teachers. So, what are you going to do about A's instrument?
Me: Nothing. Mr. A's father signed the district's paper stating that he was aware that he was responsible for all damages. If Mr. A buys a viola for A to use, then he can play in class. If he doesn't, then--
RB: I can tell you right now that Mr. A's father isn't going to pay for the viola.
Me: He can pay it off, maybe $5 a week--
RB: No, no, you don't understand how it is for "my" parents. I'd like YOU to absorb the loss.
Me: boggle
RB: And you need to get him another viola. I'd like it in his hands tomorrow.
Me: And I'll be paying for that with the money I'm gonna pull out of my ass? We don't have any school violas left, Mr. RB.
RB: (leaning over conspiratorially) I bet you can find him one if you try really hard. And make this one a really nice one so maybe he'll WANT to take it home and practice. He was probably embarrassed to take the other one with him and that's why he left it here.
The instrument in question was ONE year old and in perfect shape. Grr.
Today I went to the principal at my main school - would you believe, he gave me the SAME runaround about how *I* should go buy this kid an instrument? Why, so he can lose this one, TOO, and have his father curse and blame me? I do not THINK so.
If they write me up for this, I swear I will hire a lawyer.
Our district has a very limited number of instruments available for families that can't afford to rent one (around $15 a month). Little Boy A desperately wanted to play, but his father said that "we're on the FREE lunch, so you gots to give us the VIE-oh-luh from the school," so a district-supplied instrument went into A's hands.
Last Thursday, A came to class without the viola. "I left it at home," said A. On Friday, it was, "Oh, I left it at home again but I promise to bring it Monday."
Monday: "Someone jacked my viola from the classroom, Miss!"
Tuesday: "Mr. A's father, this is Miss P. from Ratbutt Elementary - I'm A's Orchestra teacher. I'm afraid that something has happened to A's instrument, so I have to send you the information on how to go about replacing it--"
"A say that someone stole his VIE-oh-luh. That's not his fault. I ain't payin' for nothin' and you can't make me."
"Mr. A's father, you signed a contract stating that you're responsible for any loss or damage--"
"Well, I didn't think nothin' WOULD happen to it when I signed it! If I'd known you was gonna charge me for what ain't my son's fault, I wouldn't have signed the ****ing thing."
"Mr. A's father, I'm going to have to ask that you not use this kind of language--"
"F*** you, you white b****! I'm a taxpayer and I pay your salary (note: I'm a taxpayer and I'm paying for your son's EDUCATION, buster). You better get my son another VIE-oh-luh, and this time don't you give him one that's scratched up. You prejudice! You prejudice!"
At that point I said I was hanging up, and I did. Yesterday I went to the principal of Ratbutt. Let's call him RP, for Ratbutt Principal.
RB: Mr. A's father said you hung up on him. Is this true?
Me: Yes, after he used rude language and accused me of being prejudiced.
RB: Well, you have to understand our frustration with white teachers. So, what are you going to do about A's instrument?
Me: Nothing. Mr. A's father signed the district's paper stating that he was aware that he was responsible for all damages. If Mr. A buys a viola for A to use, then he can play in class. If he doesn't, then--
RB: I can tell you right now that Mr. A's father isn't going to pay for the viola.
Me: He can pay it off, maybe $5 a week--
RB: No, no, you don't understand how it is for "my" parents. I'd like YOU to absorb the loss.
Me: boggle
RB: And you need to get him another viola. I'd like it in his hands tomorrow.
Me: And I'll be paying for that with the money I'm gonna pull out of my ass? We don't have any school violas left, Mr. RB.
RB: (leaning over conspiratorially) I bet you can find him one if you try really hard. And make this one a really nice one so maybe he'll WANT to take it home and practice. He was probably embarrassed to take the other one with him and that's why he left it here.
The instrument in question was ONE year old and in perfect shape. Grr.
Today I went to the principal at my main school - would you believe, he gave me the SAME runaround about how *I* should go buy this kid an instrument? Why, so he can lose this one, TOO, and have his father curse and blame me? I do not THINK so.
If they write me up for this, I swear I will hire a lawyer.