This is the message that the Pacific Palisades
High School (California) Staff voted unanimously to record on their school
telephone answering machine. This came about because they implemented a policy requiring students and parents to be responsible for their children's absences and missing homework. The school and teachers are being sued by parents who want their children's failing grades changed to passing grades even
though those children were absent 15-30 times during the
semester and did not complete enough school work to pass their classes.
This is the actual answering machine message for
the school:
"Hello! You have reached the automated answering service of your
school. In order to assist you in connecting the right
staff member, please listen to all your options before making a selection:
To lie about why your child is absent - Press 1
To make excuses for why your child did not do
his work- Press 2
To complain about what we do - Press 3
To swear at staff members - Press 4
To ask why you didn't get information that was
already enclosed in your newsletter and several flyers mailed to you -
Press 5
If you want us to raise your child - Press 6
If you want to reach out and touch, slap or hit
someone - Press 7
To request another teacher for the third time
this year- Press 8
To complain about bus transportation - Press 9
To complain about school lunches - Press 0
If you realize this is the real world and your child must be accountable
and responsible for his/her own behavior, class work,homework, and
that it's not the teachers' fault for your child's lack of effort...hang up
and have a nice day!"