The good and bad of public schools

After another sleepless night over a horrible experience that happened to my youngest son at a public school with a bully, I wake up to read that Tracy Seaver says she can't hold her tongue any longer. Well, until you have raised three boys through the public school system maybe you should.

My middle son was in the gifted program and received twice as much homework as the other schoolchildren. I was at my wit's end trying to help him complete projects until the wee hours. Our Thanksgiving dinner almost didn't happen one year because of a project involving reading and reviewing 14 folk tales, 14 fairy tales, and 14 legends. The excessive homework and projects my son received made me vow to never again have a child in the gifted program.

My youngest son witnessed his third grade teacher, in a fit of rage, slam some desks together and pinch a classmate's fingers. This same teacher threw scissors at my son because he didn't cut out a project correctly. In fourth grade a boy that had been held back at another school came to our school, and bullied the heck out of my son. My son didn't want to go to school anymore.

We went numerous times to the teacher after school with my son in tears. We went to the principal and were told that our son was lying and exaggerating. We had to leave the school in March to go to another school to get away from the bully.

However on a very positive note, I would like to commend the music teachers. I have always taken great pleasure in the concerts my sons have participated in. It is amazing to me how wonderful the students sound, I know how very hard the teachers work with children to get them to perform as well as they do. Also the staff at Mead has outstanding teachers and administrators.

Hope everyone has a much deserved and restful summer, and a sincere thank you for all you do each and every day for the students.

Sharon Miller

Elk Grove Village