Behavior/Discipline, Vision: 2020

Getting Out Saved Who I Am

This letter was submitted via our open letter form. It does not necessarily reflect the views of Dear JCPS.

Dear JCPS,

My life was saved on January 11, 2008 when my mother suggested leaving the public school system. This was days after two girls stole my purse, my money, and my ipod and the Louisville Male staff looked at me and said “oh well, you shouldn’t have that at school.” This was not my first time in the office, I’d been there on several accounts. Why you may ask. Well once it was for the boy that made sexual threats to me and another time it was for the girl that used to pull my hair on the bus. And there were times when I should’ve gone to the office and didn’t, maybe the time my soccer coach told me I looked like a slut because I rolled my soccer shorts like the other girls did. I’d been in the office at my previous schools as well, for the girl who slapped me at JCTMS and for the for the boy who told the teacher I was cursing in sixth grade, in which she called my mother. But for all the times I’d been in the office I’d never once seen anything done about it. No consequence. No punishment. They told me to suck it up or to just stay away from those kids. I was obviously a tattle tale and was doing it all for attention. I’m 23 now and all I hear is that it’s worse, everyone I know with children are wanting to switch their children to private schools. They need to.

I left Male and made my way into the private school system and it was a shock. No one disrupted class. I was in disbelief that these girls had never seen fights in school hallways before. I was far behind when I attended private school. I recall one particular moment when a teacher at my private school assured me that my teachers at Male had taught me MLA format, that they had to, but I was never taught anything like that. The girls at my new school craved education, they loved it while I learned that school was a terrible place.

It’s still hard for me to pass Louisville Male High School, it hurts to know that teachers there try their hardest and can do nothing. It’s hard to think that while I attended it was known as the best school in Louisville. How bad could the other schools be if Male was awful?

That school made me feel stupid and like a victim, I could do nothing to save myself. I reached out for help and no one was there. The administrative offices never helped me and my teachers did everything they could.
If I would’ve stayed at LMHS I wouldn’t have survived. I wouldn’t have gone to college, no one ever let me think I was capable. The damage done to me by that school has left a lasting imprint like it has to so many others. I am one girl with one voice but I know this isn’t just one circumstance. These students need a chance to feel smart and to survive.

Take the students into consideration.

Sincerely,

Public to Private

NOTE: While the author’s identity is protected here, they are not anonymous to Dear JCPS. Any board member wishing to address the concerns shared here can contact our administrators to make a connection.

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