[I am horrible at thinking on my feet. Should I say anything now?]

Any grown man that mocks children has issues. He is nothing more than a big bully. I'd tell him that your daughter was confused and thought he had trouble telling time and was asking for help. She'd be happy to teach it to him if he still needs assistance.

 

Perhaps your Ped was just remembering that you had previous vax concerns and just worded it poorly.

[Am I freaking out for nothing?]

Are you in an inner city? Sometimes there are specific rules in place because of association with "colors" or gang activity. If that is the case with the school then the girl should have known better.

 

If that's not the case then it is silly and the school should have better things to worry about. I have a feeling though that there is more to the story.

[Thomas Jefferson Magnet School(STEM) - Remedial Math]

Sounds like the new STEM high school that opened near our old home. The newly-minted principal was our neighbor, and one day I mentioned that it was great to have a magnet school where those with the potential to excel in math and science could be challenged. She was horrified. "Oh, no, we don't want to load it with kids who are good at math and science. We want it to be a diverse spectrum so we can integrate math and science into the community." Entrance is 100% lottery.

 

Many, many families apply just so they can go to the shiny new school, and families of bright kids avoid it because they are better off at the local school, which is already known for a talented teaching staff and bright kids.

 

I'm all for getting the general population excited about math and science but frankly, this isn't the way to do it.

 

The situation is similar near me. Magnet schools are only found in cities and are often 100% lottery. The only children that attend are the local kids that are trying to avoid some pretty horrendous urban schools. The magnet schools offer them a better choice, but they pale in comparison to the basic suburban public schools schools in the surrounding area.

[I need to have an uncomfortable conversation with our GS Troop Leader.]

Wow-Where is your Service Unit in any of this? Our Service Unit is our town and in a town of about 10,000 people there are 35 troops with about 200 girls in total. Our dues are $12 annually and we pay $2 a meeting (ahead of time) which usually comes out to another $24. When there are unit wide events like a holiday-sing-a-long or a Me & My Guy dance sometimes there is an additional fee for "tickets" and sometimes there is not. More often than not there is no fee because it is an event like Think Day or a Sup-N-Sing. The different troops take turns hosting these events and a troop that isn't well organized would stick out like a sore thumb. The girls also experience opening and closing activities and songs at these events.

 

At the annual sign-up in the fall it is the service unit that places new girls or creates entire troops from the girls that sign up. I've never heard of anyone just starting a troop - they have to be part of the larger unit. Can your 3 girls be placed in a larger troop?

 

We also get a list of meeting dates at the beginning of the year - I'm not sure how they can function without one!! Also the money earned by cookie sales needs to be spent each calendar year. There are reports that need to be submitted outlining this. Voting on an activity is a great way to go. If they don't feel up to planning their own event there should be numerous Unit Wide or State wide events that they can participate in. Check with your regional office and they should be able to send you a list. You may be able to work some into your calendar.

 

Finally badges. When I was a girl in scouts we only received our earned badges once a year at a ceremony. My DD's troop presents them a few times a year. That is something where you can determine what works best for the troop.

[S/O what do you spend per child on extra curriculars?]

I think I posted too low as well. We do:

 

DD

Scouts -$12 year reg fee and $24 meeting dues for the year ($2 per meeting)

soccer -$95 per season plus $70 once a year for uniform. It's travel soccer so gas definitely becomes a factor.

basketball -$75 for the season

 

DS

Tae Kwon Do- $169 per month plus $70 testing fees a few times a year

Flag football $95 for season

Basketball -$75 for the season

 

They're young though. As they get older things become more expensive.

[What would your consequences be for a teen w a facebook acct/diff name?]

I'm normally a lurker, but had to respond to this. Most teenagers that I know are instructed by both their parents and educators to post on Facebook under a different name. Many use their first and middle with no last name. Some do it for safety reasons, they don't want some wacko see a photo of a cute girl and try to track her down. For the most part though, it is so that colleges they apply to can't find them and any silly and/or inappropriate pictures and messages that might be there.