Now you're getting Wiggy with it
The comments of those teachers were absolutely uncalled for, James.
Absolutely the right decision James...
Amazing, Tim and I agree on something.
At first blush, I'm inclined to agree with you. But as I think about it more, is having a teacher suggest that you need to spend more time in the classroom really that outrageous? Surely it can't be any more outrageous than things you may have said about the teachers and their union. In what way is it not a fair comment? Perhaps she thinks the only way you could possibly hold the opinions that you do is because you don't truly understand what is taking place--and that you should find out. And perhaps she's quite wrong about that. it's not the point. The point is I don't see where it's an outrageous thing to say, given who you are and what you so publicly have to say about them. It's hardly the teacher's union using your wife and son as pawns. C'mon.
I'll be sorry to see your family leave Hadfield, though, as I only just discovered that our boys are there together. Reconsider! Karen and I know lots of folks there, too, and you can rely on us to stick up for fairness and reasonableness if need be--even if we may disagree with you on many things.
Over the past decades, teachers, excuse me, educators, have come up with the misguided understanding of their place in the universe. They remain public servants entrusted with children to educate consistent not with their own worldview, but with the views of parents and taxpayers as periodically defined and reaffirmed by School board elections. All too often, teachers seem content with "sending a message" to a parent by punishing a kid, isolating a kid, whatever. It is shameful.
Tell me again how teachers are professionals....
Still missing the point by a long shot - or scatter shot, Scott.
Mrs. Wiggy is not a synecdoche for the Mr. Ever.
How, exactly, is it fair for the teacher's aid to suggest that James spend more time in the classroom? Because it's her job to suggest things to parents? Or she'd have done the same thing if Dubya had penned a more flattering opinion?
Your whole "Perhaps she thinks the only way you could possibly hold the opinions that you do is because you don't truly understand what is taking place" comment demonstrates your bias. I doubt the differences of opinion have anything to do with misunderstanding, but wouldn't the teacher's aid like to play it that way?
The teacher's comment was extremely hostile. I'm guessing they've decided Mrs. W is complicit as a spy and deserves the harrassment. The pair should be reported to the principal.
No PT conference? I'd like to have been spared them, for my gifted son that everyone loved as well as for my learning-disability kid who was a challenge. Never was, no matter what schedule contortions were required to arrange these semisemester meetings. Something smells funny here.
I'm surprised the Wig kids are staying through the end. And I wonder how you'd feel about being the recipient of your own offer "to stick up for fairness and reasonableness if need be," Scott. Wouldn't that raise some red flags for you?
The difference which MAKES the difference is that in private schools, the term in loco parentis still has meaning.
In public schools, you find that the term only has meaning when the staff wants you to volunteer or to discipline your kid.
OTOH, the Elmbrook system has been pretty good, in general.
Not really, Fred. I agree that confronting James' wife was unprofessional and uncalled for. You support the decsion he made.
Different things. 
First, it is not the place for a teacher aide to make suggestions to parents unless it comes from the teacher. And yes scott, the teacher's aide is wrong, just as you are.
The behavior of the teacher is unprofessional and I'm glad your wife could control her temper. I don't think I would have and would have yelled at her and then the principal.
For a teacher to say you don't need to attend the parent teacher conference is also unprofessional. If you don't want to attend the conference, that is fine, but for a teacher to suggest it is wrong on so many fronts.
As a teacher, I always find too many instances of teacher's being unprofessional and it is sad and scary at the same time.
Well Tim, I'm glad our perfect record is still in tact.
We breathe.
You're out of the frying pan and into the fire. Our three were in private parochial schools through 5th grade, then they transferred to Elmbrook. As harsh a critic as I remain on the district, I can honestly say there's never been anything taken out on the kids. We had more trouble in the private system, in fact.
My response has always been to tell the kids right up front about what's going on. Every once in a while one of them will push back, and I consider their opinion. The whole situation has created three amazing kids that know how to frame an argument and even win a few.
And here I thought my comment was wholly sympathetic and supportive. I'm sorry, I'm defending your right to an opinion and to be free of harassment for it. I don't care which side of an issue you're on, if you start talking about it in public, people will comment. Some will not be able to restrain themselves and won't wait until the picture-perfect and professionally appropriate moment to do it. This is true of any organization or business, public or private.
I'm not here to defend any particular outburst from a teacher. They're citizens, too, and they're deeply involved in the process, so no doubt they're going to have an opinion. They can stand up at school board meetings and voice their opinions like anyone else. Talking to a volunteer parent during the school day? Probably not right. On the other hand, should volunteers ever share their personal opinions with staff while volunteering? I'm not suggesting that anyone ever did that, but I'm asking to know where you draw the line in both directions. As the teachers say, Doreen could've treated the comment as a "teachable moment." If their response or inquiry was offensive, take it to the principal and let them handle it. Use the structure that's in place to your advantage. Ask the principal to be there during the p/t conference. I didn't say they should treat your kids any differently. Will they? There's one in every bunch.
From my perspective, you're only pushing the relatively easy buttons of politics and finance. Try standing up to talk about religion in schools or the Pledge some day and see what kind of spontaneous opinion and ridiculous blowback you get. (For example, my son once received a demerit for being seen walking to school too slowly - yet he made it there before the bell. I complained and it was rescinded.) And due to the most common error like mine, the Widgersons will get the flack along with the Wigdersons. To clarify, I'm not the one who made the "stout" comment, either.
What you are going through is the very reason I use a pseudonym rather than my own name.
A few years ago I wrote to the editor some very valid comments on a proposed referendum.
The glares I got from the teachers said it all. Plus my number is non published but people found it necessary to call my parents and harass them.
We are all entitled to our opinions unless it is against anything the schools and teachers think is right.
Then you really get to see a teachers true colors. It's sad really.
James, if you as a professional writer are not allowed to have a different opinion than the teachers union, and if your wife who volunteers must not stray from the unions opinion.
What chance did your son have to be allowed to think "diverse thoughts" that were not union approved.
What chance is/was there that your son would have been educated by objective professionals in the public schools?
He stood no chance.
You did the right thing.
No dissenting thoughts are allowed in public schools.
James and Doreen, investing in what's most important to you in life pays big. Ask your dads, happy early fathers day.
"...investing in what's most important to you in life pays big. Ask your dads, happy early fathers day." Pays big? Larger bottles of Beefeaters?
Do what you, as parents,feel is best for your kids.
I echo Alicia; we're with you.
Think of it as an object lesson in how our opinions affect others. Writing opinion does not protect one from others reactions to it.
You have every right, and duty, to express your opinion. So does that Teacher's Aide. To expect the employees of the School District to act as stolid whipping posts without reaction is unrealistic.
Do what you think best with your kids by all means. We've had some in public schools and some in parochial schools. The experience is what you make it either way.
So, Grumps, what you're saying is my wife and kids are fair game because it's too much to expect college-educated professionals to know the proper time and place to express their displeasure with what I write.
As I'm reading this, the problem that this public school teacher chose the improper time and place to express to your wife her displeasure about your controversial writing on education. This is why you're pulling your kid from public school? Really? She suggested that perhaps you should spend more time in the classroom. To your wife. About your public views on education with which she disagrees.
Hey, put the little guy in private school if you want to, but this doesn't seem like a real justification for that. The discussion here has ranged far and wide into issues such as teachers exercising some kind of sinister mind control on our unsuspecting spawn--but that's not really what happened.
If you don't like their product, or you think something inappropriate is going on in the classroom that's one thing. i'd pull my kids out, too. But if it's really just about the above? I don't get it.
James Wigderson, I have no idea who you are (I came to this blog via another linked post on a different blog). I agree that discussions of your political views on education by the school's staff with your wife is out of line. It does not follow, though, that they'll discriminate against your children. I'm assuming by the comments I've read here, that you're often critical of public education, which seems like another way of saying it's very important to you. Your wife volunteers in schools, further confirming the importance education plays in your family. Why not take this opportunity to engage members of the staff at Hadflied directly on the topic (either of your views on education, or your concerns about your kids' education)? Wouldn't that demonstrate the kind of concern about conflict resolution that would help all involved (staff, parents, students) learn a little something about each other and themselves? Nothing to date indicates that's been a part of your response.
"You have every right, and duty, to express your opinion. So does that Teacher's Aide."
Wrong, grumps, very, very wrong. They and especially a teacher's aide, do not have a right to express their opinion about the amount of time a father spends in the kids classroom certainly not the quote why James hates education so much. They can express their opinions outside the classroom, on their own time and not to the parent.
The teacher presumably does not live at Wigderson home and so they do not know what to base their opinion on.
Without knowing more of the details and circumstances, I'm not convinced that everyone would think it was inappropriate for this teacher to share their opinion. To what extent might the teacher and aide might've felt comfortable enough with the relationship to share their thoughts? Why would this be the pivotal issue to switch schools? Or was it just the straw that broke the camel's back, because they were looking for an excuse? What precludes it from happening in a private school? Teachers don't mix with aides and volunteers? Human nature changes when you go to a private school? Can we hear the other side of the story, too?
As a Wigderson who was not always a darling of the Public School educators, that I encountered, let me just state that I understand that they are people too. In fact it seems that the error in judgment from the teacher and the aid can probably be summed up as just a graceless comment. I know that there are other issues that impacted the decision to move the little ones.
As an aside to teachers sometimes careless comments can have a larger impact than you could ever imagine. When I was in eighth grade I walked into a classroom wearing a football jersey, the teacher looked at me and said my daughters favorite # is twelve she'll have to change it now.
At the time it was pretty devastating to have a grown up/authority figure to let out how she felt about me. I never saw her in the same light and any spark I had to learn in her class was snuffed out.
If the teachers comments showed you anything is that all the diversity and sharing and good things they should be imparting is going to ring hollow for you and your kids.
Wiggy,
You have every right to do what you feel is best for your child. However, I question what is your true motivation for the move. I am little surprised that you object to a free exchange of opinions between adults. Maybe it is because your child can now avoid the high class sizes and the presence of mandatory special needs children in the public school system via the private school system. Either way you should ALWAYS choose what is best for your child. However, a large population in Waukehsa is stuck with what is left over. Let us drive it down further until we all pay the same high high taxes that is paid to support Elmbrook.
Jake, I'm oh so glad you feel I have "the right".
Thank you.
Jakes moronic comment should have been the icing on the cake. Jake, the state pays 2/3 of the cost of education. Same in Elm Grove, same in Union Grove. Same in Mil or Pe- waukee. Your class size comment is again...moronic. James Widgerson, removing his child, reduces the class size, and increases the money available per pupil in Waukesha. Jake your last comment about "what is left over" is so stupid as to be non-sensical.
Jake, if James Widgerson left his son in Waukesha public schools, those "left over" would still be there. Mr.Widgerson like me, will reduce class size, and "those left over" will have more one on one attention. I've heard the silly ridiculous Union garbage about the Public Schools being "left" with the problem students.
Jake, the public schools have them now.
Jake, the public schools have them now.
What exactly is your point Jake?
How does Mr.Widgerson removing his child from Waukesha Public Schools change that??
I've got news for you Jake. My child's education is paid for by ME.
Meanwhile, I also pay for..."what is left over".
I pay twice.
So does James Widgerson.
Jake, a "thank you James" is in order.
Donthathink?
James, the left generally feels that you do not have the right to do as you feel.
It's for the common good. (see Karl Marx)
Your car.
Your thermostat.
Your income.
Your light bulb.
Your opinion. (fairness doctrine).
The food you eat. (trans-fats)
The profits you earn.
The size of your toilet tank 1.6 liters.
Wheat bread vs. Pumpernickel.
Corn gas.
Your income.
Your caloric intake.
Your choice of dinner. (foia gras)
Your race. (affirmative action)
Do you see a pattern developing?
Going further, you'll notice that the constituents of those who want to restrict your freedom are themselves free from the same rules.
Unwed moms.
Drop-outs.
Failures.
Criminals.
Drug addicts,
Dead beats....etc... are all constituents of the left. (for votes).
The left, much like a compulsive shopper with a Platinum Master Card continues to feed the "loser" culture, to gain power.
Wiggy's withdrawal of his children will have no meaningful effect on class size for the other children left behind. My comment relates to the fact the district significantly increases class sizes once a child reaches a certain grade level. I think it is grade 3. I don't know what the current class size for Wiggy's children but if they stayed in the system, they would most likely see larger and larger class sizes. I do not encourage anyone to choose public over private right now. The School District of Waukesha is in deep financial trouble and there is little that can be done about it due to the QEO law and Revenue limits.
Also Gus - the state does not pay 2/3rds of the cost of public education anywhere in Waukesha County. Get your facts straight will you! The state pays about 45% to 50% in Waukesha and less in Elm Grove in Pewaukee. Check it out at DPI WINNS.
Jake, have you ever considered the motivation to be that James and Doreen want a Christ centered education for their children?
I'm not sure I understand the class size argument. With over 35% of the the teachers at masters +30 they should be able to handle large class sizes. It comes with the compensation package. The board wanted teachers of higher education when they removed time steps from the salary table. I think it's reasonable to have 35+ children per classroom for the compensation pay and benefits package if no aide is included in the classroom. You didn't think everyone was going to get a huge raises without increased responsibilities, did you?
Jake, my 1st grade class had 40 children in it. Yet somehow I became a genius. Go figure.
How many "inclusions" were in that class of 40. Times have changed. Mostly because of state and federal mandates. In the end, we all hope for highly educated children that end up with well paying and successful careers. Education has been a generation to generation commitment since the founding of our country. I think Wiggy's views are philosophical perspectives and I would hope the Wiggy children would be unaffected by Wiggy's opinions if at all possible. My experience with teachers is that they are professionals and focus on their responsibility to educate children and not the politics of the parents. I am sorry if Doreen has had a different experience. Has she spoken to the Hadfield principal about these issues?? If you have decided to leave anyway then I can understand if you choose to just leave rather than share your concerns with the principal.
Jake, if we complained to the principal, there were very few outcomes that would have been satisfactory. The principal could've talked to the teacher, which is like your mom asking the class bully not to beat you up. My child could have switched to a different class, disrupting his education.
And now I've gone from annoying columnist to an annoying, complaining parent who happens to be an annoying columnist with a kid who has five more years in the same school.
It's not like I want the teacher fired or could reasonably expect it.
But let me put this another way so you can understand. Let's say I created the Wigderson Daycare Center and Bartender School, and you decided to entrust your seven-year-old to my care and education 6 hours per day. And your wife decided to volunteer to help out with the class field trips. One day, completely out of the blue, I said to your wife, "I really don't like what Jake is doing. Why does he hate taxpayers so much?" You would think me completely out of line, and you would be right. Furthermore, despite the wonderful time your child was having learning the proper ingredients in a Manhattan, you would probably find another day care center.
Unfortunately, because of the expense of a private education and the "market dominance" of public schools, you can understand why my situation is just that much more difficult.
I recall many moments when I've railed and tilted against government offenses against the Constitution, and heard plenty of "Get over it, why are you sensitive, go home and mow your lawn, take it easy, just live and let live, what's so bad about a Cross bought by the government and erected in public?"
So a teacher or aide offended you or yours with behavior that's probably not appropriate for the moment (between classes?) but that could've been appropriate in other circumstances (at a school board meeting, or in a letter to the newspaper) ? And you didn't want to use the administrative structure in place in the school district because you didn't think you'd get what you wanted. OK, pretend you are the principal. What is the appropriate reprimand or re-education, and why isn't that good enough for you? Because you believe your kid would be subject to unjust treatment because one might not like your ideas?
In my experience, if you're in the right, you can get results at a public school. Again I agree it's not appropriate for staff to be quizzing you and yours at school about your public political expressions - during school. I can easily imagine that the principal would've had a meeting with the staff member(s) and perhaps even reminded everyone of proper behavior at the next all-hands meeting.
Let's say you had super-powers and your blog and newspaper pieces actually had some effect. They showed everyone the error of their ways, the school district agrees to dissolve and re-form itself as the Wigderson Child Warehouse, Bartender School and Overall Subsidy for Parents with Day Jobs. People would talk. People might even talk to you. There might even be (gasp) some debate and strong feelings. Someone might even talk out of turn! They might even ask you why you hate education, in public instead of private! What then?
I also question your assertion that teacher's aides are "professionals". The DPI site says "The Department of Public Instruction does not license regular education classroom aides or paraprofessionals and no license is required. Contact an employing school district directly for opportunities as regular education aides. A license is required for special education classroom aides."
So, because they are not professionals, they can behave unprofessionally? Perhaps the Waukesha School District should change their motto to "Quod licet bovi non licet Jovi". I'll have to ask Dad29 (or Miles, are you out there?) what's Latin for taxpayer to make it even funnier.
By the way, I am Superman, haven't you heard?
http://www.gmtoday.com/
milwaukee...on_09202007.asp
My writing does appear to have an impact on the community (sorry JF, but it's true), but I'm not sure what Super-dooper power I possess.
But you seem convinced that whatever discomfort my wife experiences while volunteering at her child's school is perfectly acceptable, I can only hope that it happens to you. After all, there are no bounds to boorish behavior in a good cause.
Tell me, if this is the cross I had to bear to get my son a public education, wouldn't you consider it unconstitutional?
Wiggy - Normally I find I can disagree with you on the specifics but not on the generalities. In this case I think you sound more than a little over the top. I am not sure why?? OK - I agree with many things but what I cant accept is your refusal to interact with the Principal on the issue. You seem to be throwing stones without a whole lot of substance. You could have complained to the principal but you chose not to. Your reason for why is speculative nore than factual I believe.
Really? Okay Jake, let's put you on the witness stand. If I complain to the principal what is likely to happen?
Jake get real. James and Doreen made the absolute right decision. If he complained to the principal, word would spread throughtout the teachers union and compound the problem for the Wigdersons. Maybe not this year... That's the power of the union; that's the major problem with public education and classroom politicians.
Can I answer the question? The principal speaks to the aid and the teacher in question. They discuss why what they said to you was wrong, not so much (maybe) in substance, but in timing (the people who say that political speech on the job is wrong are right). The principal reprimands them. They now know that they were out of line. Hopefully your wife and or you follow up with a conversation that lets the staffers know forgiveness is a virtue, and the whole group feels better about going forward.
Any less realistic than the scenario where speculation about how bad the Wigdersons are spreads like wildfire through the district and the union takes an anti-Wigderson position that permeates the culture of the school effectively robbing your children of any chance of a fair education?
For someone who didn't like the "stout" references, I wouldn't go with the cow jokes, even if in Latin. If you'd alerted the principal, they would've shut it down. You think that making an internal complaint would've caused more trouble than, say, writing another anti-public-school column? Thinking ahead a few moves is always good strategy, but convincing yourself of future negatives isn't. What's your goal? Finding reasons to leave for a private school? Making the best of the public system? I don't know how much more clear I could make my belief. I think we agree that teachers or aides shouldn't be confronting volunteers on personal political matters. I've been wholly sympathetic from the start precisely because it has happened to me and mine. Can I imagine a situation where a teacher, having worked with a volunteer for some amount of time, would feel they could broach the subject because they thought they had enough of a personal relationship? I can. It might still be wrong from a professional policy standpoint, but that's what professional judgment is supposed to be about, right? Your explanation of the details of the confrontation have been sparse, so all I can do is imagine and jump to my own conclusions. Here's the district's policy. Tell me if you think they could've stopped future unsolicited inquiries.
John,
"...prohibits any and all forms of harassment because of an individual’s race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, religion/creed, pregnancy, parental/marital status, disability, or age."
I guess I should sue the school system to include, "...and understands the teacher salary table better than most members of the school board."
I bet you believe if North Korea signs another agreement they'll give up pursuing nuclear weapons, too.
I think you're smoking crack, and no matter how often you tell yourself you've gone through the same thing, I suspect there aren't too many hostile to your views in the typical teacher's lounge. So I think I'll take the word of a school board member from another school district who thanked me yesterday for bringing this up as an issue.
I'm sorry, I can't connect your quote with your second sentence. The former is the school, the second is one of your super-powers?
My views? If I had to oppose teachers and principals on the issues I pursued, how does your suspicion make any sense?
I'd describe most teachers (as well as supers) as "confrontation averse". (I even did so on Sykes' show, when I was the rant du jour.) Like most employees anywhere, they don't want to anger the boss. Supers don't like anything that smells like bad PR in the community. On that point alone you would've succeeded if you had complained.
A good school board member should thank each and every citizen who shares their opinion. Most citizens don't speak up.
James, just be careful about choosing the private school We tried to put our kids in the Catholic schools in Wisconsin Rapids, but we had withdraw them after only 1 semester. Our son got hurt in gym class. Fine, that happens, but they never informed us and when we called the office to find out why he had a bloody lip, they told us it must happened somewhere else. When we pressed it further, they finally admitted that it happened in gym class, then we asked for an accident report and they refused to give it to us. We took it all the way up the chain of command- superintendent and to the priest who was in charge of the County Catholic schools and they all refused, so we pulled the kids out because we felt we couldn't trust the Catholic schools in Wisconsin Rapids and Wood County.
So, in short, look carefully. Just because it is private does not neccessarily mean it is a good school.
"A good school board member should thank each and every citizen who shares their opinion. Most citizens don't speak up."
I will eagerly await the long overdue.
James re: Freeman column. If it helps to raise funds for citizen groups like the Waukesha Taxpayers League, I'll do the dunk tank also provided there's a iron mesh screen with tiny holes so no accidental pitches find me.
Careful, Dan, you're in danger of becoming more correct. Next thing you know, you'll leave behind the oft-assumed notion that "private" automatically means "best" even when it comes to other subjects.
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