OK, after reading all pages I need to say something. I am a substitute teacher and I think every parent who has kids in public schools should be required to substitute at least once in each school. (elementary, jr. high and high school) Teachers hands are tied. You are not allowed to "make" a kid do anything. You would be surprised at how some kids act at scool. Kids that you know one on one away from school that are sweet and nice are not always that way at school. I have come to realize that when a sub is in the class room, they don't really expect you to do much other than baby sit.(high school) It is not easy to control a big boy that could eigh twice what you do. If hewants to disrut the class there isn't much you can do about it except to send him to detention. I subbed as a teachers aide just before Christas with a retired teacher who was subbing. She was stern and comanding but a couple of the boys in the class still wouldn't do their class work. I watch so many of these kids play with their phones or listen to their ipods and totally disregard anything to do with learning and wonder how these kids are going to fare in the big old world when they are out of school. In high school I have seen boys put their hands down their pants while their friends laugh and hehaw. What can I do? Nothing but write him up or send him to the office with a wright up telling the principal what he did. Then he might get some dentention. This is only one little example. The elementary kids are easier. First thru 5th or 6th are pretty good but 7th and 8th graders are just finding out that they can rebel with teachers and they do. Then eventually you get these kids in high school and it still takes about 2 years for them to settle down if they are going to. Parents tend to believe what the kids tell them about their side of the story. But remember, there are always 2 sides. I live in a small town and there are no more than 16 kids in any class. But when one keeps things in an uproar it interfears with the other kids. I could go on and on. Please remember that I am NOT saying that the kids are bad. They just lak disapline.(sp) I truley think that kids should be taugt that fdor every action there is a reaction and that if you do something you shoulldn't, you are responsible for what you did and responsible for correcting it. Parents don't want their kids punished now a days and they tend to let lots of things slip by because of both parents working and not there to know what their kids are doing when they (parents) are not home. You aren't even allowed to touch a kid in any way. The teachers have to protect themselves from all kinds of things. However, I am not saying that teachers are always right. I was one of those mothers who believed what her kid told her about things that happened at school. Only to find out that wasn't even half of the story. I think my youngest daughter majored in tormenting teachers. I better stop before I really put my foot in it.