Lodi’s Thomas Jefferson Middle School

We’re done with TJMS. 8th grade is over and we’ve suffered through three years of the least kid-friendly place on Earth.

Now, during our three frustrating years, there have been a smattering of inspiring teachers and those teachers will be remembered for at least trying to survive in an uncaring and hostile environment for teachers that want to teach. They will not last long there unfortunately unless things change and anyone reading this whose children may attend TJMS will not benefit from them.

When a school is not able to meet the highest standards of learning and create within it’s walls a flexibility and understanding that kids are not alike and cannot at that stage in life make a conscious decision to conform to what they do not believe in, it is the fault of the principal, alone. I once asked the principal why TJMS doesn’t ask it’s teachers to participate in posting homework assignments on the Internet. Some teachers did it, mind you, but not enough to make a difference in the whole process. We get letters that parents should be involved and responsible for their children’s learning. The school apparently has no responsibility in this area. So, the principal explained in a condescending manner that he cannot force the teachers to put homework on the Web. He then mentioned that his daughter didn’t need it, so why should my son. Whatever. Anyway… why CAN’T he force them? He’s the boss, isn’t he? Or if he can’t force them, why can’t he make the process inviting enough for the teachers to WANT to do it. Teachers, I think, want to successfully teach and want to be part of the legacy of learning. Why else would they go through all that schooling for pay they can get anywhere to deal with a bunch of fresh children whose parent’s didn’t bother to teach them any manners?

The school has no air conditioning. Yes, it’s 2007 and my school taxes are crazy high, but lots of schools don’t, so I won’t complain. However, if it’s 95 degrees in the school, my son doesn’t remain trapped. No, they aren’t allowed to go for a drink of water nor are they allowed to bring a bottle of water to class. Principal. Why should he care? His office is air conditioned while the rest of the school is not. Apparently I paid enough taxes to make HIM comfortable while my son and his classmates suffer.

When I was in school, if I forgot my homework, a note went home. If I crossed two Ts with a single line, I was stood in the corner and a note was sent home. If I didn’t understand something, a note went home. In TJMS, no such notes exist. There are progress reports. Most of the time, we didn’t get any and we found out too late that there was trouble. Gee… a teacher has sometimes 60 kids to worry about. BIG DEAL! If you have too many, then worry about none. Great idea. Those teachers should be fired… period.

There is no ‘outside’ for TJMS. Do they get to play/learn football or baseball in TJMS? Nope. No field. If they’re outside, they play in between parked and otherwise parkING cars. Field Day was to be at Memorial Field. Nope. The flood buckled the astro turf that no one wanted. Lodi removed half of the park to put down astro turf and then closed those areas down to the kids in town. Well, unless they got a permit. This isn’t a Lodi thing, but Field Day… I called the principal and superintendent about this. They felt that changing to another field would confuse the parents. WHAT?!?!?! I really don’t feel like I would have been confused by any plan that condescending, do-nothing principal could have cooked up. As for the superintendent, I’ll make sure I hand out fliers before any election that has him participating.

I’ve always thought about being a History teacher myself. You know something? I know my limitations. I can’t imagine how hard it must be to deal with all those brats every day. It’s hard enough dealing with the adults I deal with at my own job. Parents don’t bother to teach manners any more. And the ignorant things that pop out of the mouths of some kids are direct reflections of their ignorant parents. Parents are so busy working (I don’t believe that both parents should be allowed to work.. get a cheaper house and you don’t need a BMW) that they’re tired and crabby by the time they need to deal with their kids and with schoolwork. There’s always tomorrow. Well, no there’s NOT always tomorrow. Tomorrow is here. I think being a teacher is a calling. You can or you can’t. You can’t try. Kids, believe it or not really do want to learn. When inspired by a teacher, you can see it imediately. Maybe teachers forget what a profound impact they have. I don’t know. Like any other job, you can grow tired of fighting the system. Teachers also need inspiration… that inspiration should come from the principal. It doesn’t at TJMS.

One other thing I’d like to mention about the school are the supremely nasty and horrid Central Office secretaires. I’m terribly sorry that I and the other parents are a constant inconvenience to you. We do appreciate how you treat us like annoying slobs when we come in about our children. Who do we think we are anyway? I think you should both quit in protest. Personally, I’d prefer to see you get fired and have all the kids spit on you out the windows as you leave. I think the parents should start a petition to get two new secretaries that deal with parents and their children with respect and consideration. I didn’t do it and for that I’m truly sorry.

To be perfectly honest, it is my fault. I should have protested more. I should have written the New Jersey Board of Education to get a new principal in there. You know… the Vice Principal in any school is always the ‘bad cop’. In TJMS, this is no different. He yells and all, but talk to any kid, including the ones that have felt his wrath and they both like and respect him. I think the difference is that he is an educator. Kids know this. Kids are smarter than anyone gives them credit for. I think the vice principal should take that pretentious snot principal out in the parking lot and have his own Field Day. I miss Richard Albanese. Of course Lodi let him retire… he was good at what he did. He was an educator and understood children. God knows we can’t have any of that. I believe he should be FORCED out of retirement and take over the middle school for the next batch of children and unsuspecting parents. I don’t care that he worked all his life and wants to rest. There are people that need him.

Yes, it’s my fault and the fault of the rest of the parents that didn’t want to make things worse for their kids. They had us right where they wanted us and they won and our kids lost. If you and your kids are in TJMS or on their way… do something. Anything more than we did.

~ by Mike on June 18, 2007.