OT: Need to vent for a moment!

Ok, so here goes, and if I start to ramble, just ignore me. I am pretty PI$$ED   at the moment!

At the school that the girls attend, the after school program has just been taken over by Hoosier uplands.  That was the WORST mistake the school system could have made.  We enrolled the girls at the beginning of the year like we were supposed to.  The system took over the first of last week, so we knew they were already enrolled and ready to attend when we needed them to.  Last Tuesday, we needed Molly to stay over for 1 hour while Mariah was in choir pratice, and we were not home.  Shortly after 3 pm, they called from the school to tell us that the girls were NOT enrolled, and I had to come get "THIS CHILD" as soon as possible!  Well, luckily we were only about 5 miles from town, and were able to get there soon enough.  The woman that I spoke with was the most rude and hateful woman I think I have ever met!  We filled out the papers again, right in front of her and I handed them to her to make sure they were turned in.  Then she proceds to tell me that the girls may or may NOT be able to attend, since we didn't get the enrollment papers in to them in time! So, after many discussions  about the papers the first time, they decided that the girls would be enrolled, and then we figured everything was cool.

Skip forward to today................GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!
I get there to pick the girls up. The woman just looked at me and said "YOU HAD BETTER SIGN THEM OUT BEFORE YOU GO ANYWHERE!!!"  Pratically yelling at me! I said that was what I was doing, as I was looking thru the book to find their names.  Molly's name was there, but Mariah's wasn't today.  So I asked where Mariah's name was, so I could sign her out as well. This crazy B!T@H decided to go off on me and tell me that Mariah wasn't checked in today, because Mariah hadn't gone to a certain table and ANNOUNCED that she was there.  I looked at Mariah and asked her about that.  Mariah had never been told anything about that, so I didn't get upset over that.  Then, I started writing her name, so I could sign her out, and then the woman went off on me again, because Mariah didn't come to the program immediately after school yesterday.  She was in choir pratice so she didn't get in there until after 4pm. The woman went off on Mariah because she had choir pratice instead of telling her.  And, this crazy thing did it in front of ME! Don't you EVEN dare yell at my child over anything that she doesn't deserve it!  So, needless to say, I walked out of there extremely ticked off!

On the ride home, Molly and Mariah both told me that one of the assistants working there cusses at the children.  That was the last straw.  I admit that I cuss, more than I should, but certainly NOT direct it toward my children! We got home, and I was so mad that I couldn't even talk! I happened to have the phone number of the director over the program, and Jimmy took it and called and talked to the director.  It wasn't a pretty phone call on our end of the phone, and I can only imagine how the person on the other end was feeling after the "talking to" that he got from Jimmy!

The girls have both told us that the people working at the program are rude and hateful and mean to the kids.  They can't do anything but sit on the tables and read.  They are supposed to get their homework done, and then be allowed to play.....unfortunately they don't get to if one of the kids doesn't do something right.  Heaven forbid one child forget a pencil! 

Anyway, sorry for the rant! I just really had to get this off my chest!  Jimmy has another phone meeting with the director tomorrow morning, so we will just wait and see.  Molly and Mariah don't want to go back, and they have said that many of the other kids have dropped out because of the leaders.  I can't say that I blame them either!

That is an extremely unfortunate experience for the children.  My son stayed in the after school program when he was small and it was a wonderful experience.  Since the schools are required to offer latch key care for your children I would take this to the school also.  Get the school involved if you have to go to the superindent of schools office.  I am sure that the center would not want to lose its contract with the schools. 

Jeannie

Thanks, I have already got a call into the school superintendant.  The school system certainly doens't want any more trouble out of this, I am sure!  I will let you all know what happens!

I just wanted to say "Thank You" for listening to your children about this.  We are the only ones that can stand up for them.  You go girl!  Keep up the good work.
Jacque
 

Thanks for the vote of confidence! You are correct, we ARE the only ones that can stand up for them, since if they do it, they just get in more trouble.  My girls don't need that. They can get into enough trouble here at home on their own! LOL

I know what you mean.  My son as ADHD and he has been singled out since kindergarten.  I have had a run in with all his teachers except for this year.  Its always he is a good boy "BUT".  Drives me nuts.  I have told all of them they have singled him out and that I didn't appreciate.  That is putting it nicely.
J

Just an FYI...Hoosier Uplands is a government funded organization. Did you call Mitchell by  any chance? That is where they are based out of! As for the cussing......maybe Mariah could use her cell phone and record this crap. Otherwise it is going to turn into a he said / she said mess. Cover your butts! Lastly...good for you for not taking their crap! Just because they run the program does not give them the right to talk to you or the girls in any disrepectful manner. I would not only go to the Superintendant over the schools but perhaps the one over the state! Let me know if you need the contact info! I have it......we had a little problems with a teacher teaching religion and reading from the bible in class last year rather than teaching the assigned course (Geometry). No wonder all the kids were failing...yes they all failed! Needless to say he is no longer teaching and the school got severly reprimanded.

Thanks for the idea.  I will make sure to tell Mariah to keep her phone in her pocket and try to record the aide doing it.
Jimmy is supposed to talk to the super later this morning, so I will know more about where we stand and what we can do this evening when I get home from work.
I don't know exactly where the number is from, but it was supposed to be the main office, so that was probably Mitchell.  If we don't get any results from there, then I will contact someone from the state office, AND the newspapers!  They never like bad publicity, so hopefully I won't have to go that far!
Teaching the Bible instead of Geometry?!?!?  Wow, what was the teacher trying to do? Not that I don't mind religion in schools, even tho it isn't allowed any more, but there is just no excuse for that.  Glad to know that he isn't teaching there any more.

We have tried after school care before. We found it lacking. Not the problems you have, but lacking. We opted for a before and after school daycare. They pick up the kids and drop them off. They are actually more affordable that the care at the school.

We aren't actually having to pay anything for the kids to stay at the school program any more.  Before, when the school system had it, the fee was $5 a day.....and that was for morning and afternoon.  Now that Hoosier Uplands has taken it over, and with the casino revenues being used, the fee has now been waived.  The other thing is that we don't need the services but once in awhile.  It was mainly supposed to be an emergency basis only for us.  Now, the girls are ORDERED to be there at least twice a week, or they will drop them automatically.  Talk about an about-face in care!