You know what really DOES annoy me about public schools?

[bluestateguy]

I guess this is mostly a criticism of spineless administrators and cowardly school boards:

It aggravates me to no end how entire policies and procedures will be altered and changed at the drop of a hat because one parent complains.

A sign on the wall is offensive to one parent who complains and it's taken down.

An extracurricular event is offensive to one parent who complains and it's canceled or revised.

A classroom activity or lesson is offensive to one parent who complains and it's canceled or revised.

A textbook or book in the library is offensive to one parent who complains and it's removed.

One parent and a whole policy or procedure is canceled or transformed to appease him or her. One parent.

Maybe it was just my schools that were like this, but it sure seems like schools still react this way today.

[mike_c]

1. it's fear of litigation...

...and the damage that lawyers do to local school budgets.

[Smarmie Doofus]

In a nutshell, yes. n/t

[Davis_X_Machina]

2. The customer service...

...or client-satisfaction model is very popular in schools.

That plus the ever-present fear of lawsuits. We've had on average one threatened every other year based on National Honor Society selection, fer chrissakes.

[MedleyMisty]

7. I refused to join the National Honor Society

The office aide even came and told me I got in, but I was like "I didn't turn in my application."

I refused to join because the other people who got in - I had read their essays. I had done group work with them. I'd had to define "angst" for them in AP English and "exonerate" in AP Biology.

I knew they weren't exactly what you would call cognitively complex, and so that kind of cheapened the whole idea for me. Made it about grades and conformity and social status and shit like that.

Err - to be sort of on topic - conformity and social status and shit are why you get those threats of lawsuits. Capitalism, with its resultant competition and concerns about social status, needs to go die in a fire.

[Ian David]

3. Our school gym shows were always the same day as our Hebrew School model Seder.

So, I'm guessing that not ALL public schools are like that.

[Drale]

4. No parents tried any of that crap in our public school system

because there was a big group of both parents and students who would counter them at every turn. Several times a small group of "ultra religious" people tried to get Harry Potter banned from school grounds and we destroyed them at school board meetings. The look on their faces when it was a 5 of 6 to 1 ratio at school board meetings, classic.

[Jmaxfie1]

12. Good for you all!!! n/t

[pnwmom]

5. On the other hand, sometimes only one voice of reason is required.

Only one parent needs to point out the obvious, when it's obvious -- right?

[Taverner]

6. Schools don't exactly have a lawyer on retainer anymore

[knitter4democracy]

10. Yes, they do. Usually an entire firm.

They need one lawyer for contract negotiations, another for lawsuits, another for compliance with regulations, etc.

[2011CA]

8. How bout' parents grow a thicker skin when it comes to...

"offensive" material.

[elias49]

11. Uh huh! Political correctness is killing this country.

I'm SO GLAD I went to public school in the 60s
in Boston
We actually read "Huck Finn' unedited!

[YellowRubberDuckie]

9. That is what happens when public money is involved.