My son did his senior
project on helping homeless people and those living homeless with pets. He
volunteered at a daytime homeless shelter and spent time getting to know these
people and their stories. He did not take pictures out of respect for the sensitive nature
of their situation.
If your senior goes to
school in Bossier Parish, Senior Project is a requirement to graduate.
Your child spends
nearly 5 months doing this project, and your entire household revolves around
Senior Project. I don't understand why literature and English are not the main
concern. It is so stressful that my son, along with most of the students I've
mentored over the years, are consumed and worried for months and they are
unable to enjoy their senior year.
My son did his practice
presentation and his teacher did not believe him. He was so proud of the time
he gave to the community and yet his teacher did not allow him to present his
project to the judges panel. The panel is made of judges from people in our
community. My son is not a perfect student but he did the project (and his mentor verified his work). Because of
him not being allowed to present his project, he now must take summer school
and not walk with his class.
This requirement is
just too much work for our kids. At first I liked the idea, but went through
this 3 years ago with my other son. Nothing but stress. All the kids I've
mentored, nothing but stress. It's too subjective because the rules change from
school to school, teacher to teacher. At one school, your child may speak for 7
minutes, at another, 8-10 minutes. I know some students fake the whole project
and still pass. My son did his project and should have been allowed to present.
If there were issues that needed to change at his practice presentation, why
wasn't he advised on needed changes to be ready for the presentation? Isn't
that why they practice nearly a week before the real presentation? Some advice
or guidance would have been nice, but he was called a liar.
I just think it's too
much for our seniors and now my son will not be graduating with his friends. He
will be in summer school, not for ENGLISH IV, but for Senior Project.
Parents are scared to
speak up because they are scared their child will suffer the consequence. If
you have a teacher that doesn't like your child, nothing will ever be good
enough anyway.
Senior Project is
definitely a nightmare and it needs to change!
I am on the board of the program that Ronda's son worked with for his project and I can attest to the fact that he did do the work. For this teacher to say he lied about it, is ridiculous. If she had a problem with any of the project, she should have stated that when the issue came about instead of waiting until the end. If she felt that this was not going to be a feasible project, then why not say so at the beginning when he chose his topic? She's had FOUR months to guide him and advise him on what needed to be changed to meet the requirements. But instead, she waited until the end...sounds like she had a personal issue to me.
ReplyDeleteAs a parent myself and former student in the Bossier Parish School System I personally feel that the disadvantages of Senior Project far outweigh any advantages. The stress alone is highly detrimental to the student and their family during what should be a momentous time of joy and memories to last a life time. It sounds as if the teacher didn't do his/her part in the guidance and shaping of this project from the beginning and for whatever reason set up this student to fail. NO student should ever be called a liar, that is very unjust. I pray that Mrs. Spataros' son not only succeeds and overcomes this adversity but soars above it!!! I went to school with both parents and cannot fathom the disappointment and disillusionment they must be feeling at this time. Very saddened for you all and as far as the teacher is concerned, pathetic.
ReplyDeleteIs there no recourse in this situation but to sit back and take it...Surely, there is something that can be done so that this young man can graduate with his class. Please someone help!!!
ReplyDeleteUnless more parents are willing, or able, to come out with Ronda about their experience, I doubt the media can touch this. Someone has to have the same courage this family does and speak out publicly about their experience. Surely there are positive stories; I don't think this family disputes that. But if even one child succumbs to the stress of this thing, or is bullied by a teacher, (called a "liar"!) then that's one child too many. The BSPB needs to respond to this issue somehow. THAT won't happen unless this story gets shared all over Facebook and all over the media. Share this on every social media account you have and tell every friend you have to share it until the BPSB can explain how a teacher can call a child a liar when the mentor has said the child did the project. Is the teacher really going to make this just about "pictures"? He didn't have enough PICTURES?! And so he doesn't graduate?! That's a lawsuit. This is wrong and there's no other way around that. Turn up the heat. Share.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that the patents response from any level of Bossier political machine when someone complains about the corrupt or screwed up ways business is done in Bossier is, "If you don't like it, move!" "At least we're not Shreveport/Caddo!" Or the old standby, "The person making the complaint is just disgruntled and didn't get their way."
ReplyDeleteFor now, let just concentrate on the latter, because this time the disgruntlement is justified, because what is happening in Bossier isn't happening in Caddo, because Caddo doesn't subject their students to such a subjective situation such as "Senior Project."
During the past few days, there has been an outpouring of complaints over Senior Project, maybe not as much on this blog as it has on social media, and I am certain that those in high places in the school board are aware of those complaints, which are not isolated incidents.
Knowing the character, or lack of, those in high places in the school board, in order to save face they will probably come out, admit there were mistakes made concerning Senior Project and will amend the program to rectify the current problem.
Well, here's a scoop. Before this problem surfaced, there has been plans to already amend Senior Project. I just wanted to head them off a the pass so that they can't come out looking like the heroes and say they have heard the complaints when they make the corrections.
It is amazing to me that the last thing that the school board does before we send our children into the world is make them work on a "project" for 5 months and after they put in the time and energy call this student a "liar" and take away the "ceremony" that they have worked towards for the past 13 years (including Kindergarten). BPSB is quick to ask for a tax increase "to help the teachers make more money" and I know that they don't make a lot but they chose their career knowing that teaching is not a "get rich career" it is a middle paying job with great benefits and an awesome vacation package that should be chosen because you want to help mold the future generation. Somewhere this has been all turned around and school is a constant fight between teachers and parents, the students are a casualty of the war between them. I went to Bossier Parish schools as did both of my daughters and I have watched the school board fail our students on numerous occasion. I have watched "bullying" become a curriculum instead of English and it starts at the level of the teachers. I have sat in public and listened to teachers talk about how the parents are the blame for the way that they feel about a student. This is out of hand... When do we get back to it being about the "future generation" this student that you just called a liar may be the one that decides on something in your future, he will also be the one voting for that pay raise that you ask for in the future. Parents need to stand up to the school board and remind them as to the reason that they have a job and that their job is to teach not criticize. If the child did the work give them the credit!
ReplyDeleteWhy is the teacher's name being protected if they need to be called out and why is everyone speaking out under the guise of "anonymous"?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete@Lynn - My take on this is that while this boy's teacher did seem to treat him unfairly, it is Senior Project as a whole that is a problem. I find the fact that there are so few comments on this post to be interesting. This post is getting shared all over social media and I know people are reading it and talking about it. But nobody wants to comment out of fear of intimidation. Singling out one teacher isn't going to solve the problem. Senior project needs to be an elective - not part of the literature course.
ReplyDeleteMy son did senior project and totally enjoyed it. He isn't strong in English and never has been, so doing a project seemed like a good idea. He did his project on forensics and worked with a sheriff who taught him how to do fingerprints and things like that. His teacher helped him with his research paper by proofing draft after draft until he got it right; we had a lot of support. He graduated and went to community college where he failed English his first semester because he had no idea how to write an analytical paper. His first assignment was to read a short story and to write about the theme and symbols in it; he had no idea how to do that. He failed English, got discouraged, and dropped out. Thanks senior project for robbing my son of his senior year of English.
ReplyDeleteI think I can explain the fact that there aren't too many comments: you're dealing with some very sensitive situations here. First is that parents want to protect their children. (That tells me that people are intimidated by the system - look up "bullying" and check that definition).
ReplyDeleteSecond: Nobody wants to call this teacher out by name for fear of a lawsuit. Again, intimidation.
Third: People in Bossier, especially Benton, know how "connected" everyone is. Don't step on toes or embarrass certain people.
My concern is that it is now less than 48 hours before graduation. Is there NO OTHER parent that will speak up about senior project? I'm not seeing a whole lot of positive OR negative comments here. Why is everyone so quiet? Is it that it just doesn't "concern" you - you have no kids in the system so why bother? Is there NOBODY else that will stand pubically with this family and put some pressure on? Where is the media? Oh wait, I guess they don't pay Sonya Bailes that big salary for nothing.
This is the most incredible thing I've ever seen in my life. Denied graduation over a few pictures.
And nobody says a damn thing.
You deserve what you get Bossier.
Many parents that I've spoken to are fearful to speak up before graduation, or that have younger siblings. The intimidation is real.
ReplyDelete@ Anon 11:39 - well, then, I guess we can expect the comments to blow up this post sometime tomorrow afternoon!! :D
ReplyDeleteMiss Ronda - I'm so sorry Logan won't walk with us tomorrow. His project was so good and he was so excited about the work he did at the center. Senior project has been so stressful for everybody and I even know people that lied about their projects so Logan being singled out like this isn't fair at all. Just know that his friends know the truth and we have him in our hearts when we walk! #walkforLogan
ReplyDelete#walkforLogan Thank you!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe BPSB and DC actively target opposition. There was some hope that the newly elected board members including Frank Kelley would effect meaningful change and accountability but to date have fell in line to only grow the business more. But there is still time for them. The BPS system needs to be uprooted, it is the definition of the good ole boy system.
ReplyDeleteReading, writing, arithmetic, some history, prayer and the pledge that includes "under God." YES
ReplyDeletePolitical correctness and senior projects, NO
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteCurious why comments are removed. Naming names? If so don't blame.
ReplyDeleteOh wow, how absolutely disturbing that she would call him a liar and staff takes her word. My son is currently doing his Senior Project at a Bossier Parish school and he and I are both at our wits end. The guidelines are insane. Who do we write or what do we sign to get it dismissed from the curriculum?
ReplyDeleteMy son did his senior project this past fall and passed (praise Jesus) but, IT. WAS. HELL. I wouldn't be surprised if the teacher in the post is the same one my son had @ Benton. She picked apart every single thing he turned in. She would give it back to him to redo, then only give him 1/2 credit (at best) when he turned it back in, because he "turned it in late". Are you freaking kidding me?? Nothing was good enough for her & I even helped him with the majority of it. I aced English back in my day, so I know how to do a research paper, and if I didn't have experience with something they had to do, I know how to follow directions. The rough draft of his paper failed because it had 13% plagiarism in it (they're supposed to stay under 10%). So, he practically rewrote his final draft & it still did not pass the plagiarism test. NONE of it was plagiarized, not even the rough draft! I finally looked at the program that she used and the "plagiarized" parts are highlighted. This program highlighted random phrases like, "also, they" "then he" "she said". WHAAAAAAAT? If it's going to count regular words or phrases as "plagiarized" then it should have resulted in 100% plagiarism. He stayed up until two that morning re-wording the "plagiarized" parts, hoping it would pass because there's no way to know until she puts it through that program herself. Thankfully, it resulted in only 3%. When it came to the only thing she had no control over, the presentation, guess what...he made a 98% on it. Go figure. Apparently, there were a lot of complaints made against her specifically because I heard she wasn't on the committee anymore. My son told me that quite a few kids dropped out at that time b/c of the Senior Project. The guidelines are truly ridiculous. It's crazy that they work hard for 12+ years for it to come down to one, massive waste of time, project. What's the point?
ReplyDeleteNow that I've had 3 kids complete senior project and graduate ill admit: 2 sons did their projects on the time line and spent countless hours. Both scored B's. One son did his entire project the day before and fibbed most of it. That son made an A. Senior Project is a waste and I'd rather my sons time be spent learning how to fill out applications!
ReplyDeleteNow that I've had 3 kids complete senior project and graduate ill admit: 2 sons did their projects on the time line and spent countless hours. Both scored B's. One son did his entire project the day before and fibbed most of it. That son made an A. Senior Project is a waste and I'd rather my sons time be spent learning how to fill out applications!
ReplyDelete