SCHOOL ANSWERINGMACHINE
(This is hilarious - no wonder some people were offended!) This is the message that the PacificPalisades High School ( California ) staff voted unanimously to record on their school telephone answering machine This is the actual answering machine message for the school.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 schoolwork to pass their classes.
The outgoing message:
"Hello! You have reached the automated answering service of your school. In order to assist you in connecting to the right staff member, please listen to all the 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!
If you can read this - thank a teacher!
If you are reading it in English- thank a veteran!
I went to this school-actually it is in Pacific Palisades, but is called Palisades Hi, since if it were Pacific Palisades Hi, it would be shortened to PP hi. Kids, and what they'll do to a name. I graduated from Palisades Hi, or Pali Hi in 1974. Not to brag, but back then, you didn't dream of ditching, or else! I only ditched after I turned 18 and could sign my own absent notes. This answer machine (I've heard it long time ago) is a clear indication where our schools have gone. When I went there, Pali Hi ranked in the top 10 schools in the state. Now it ranks as one of the better schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Needless to say, I'm glad I went when I did. Mainly because all of the shops are gone, and without that initial training, I may have not done my bus. Do figure? Good Luck, TomC
Humorous - yes. Good reading - yes. Factual - No!
I remember when it first hit the internet quite a few years ago. The truth then was the same as the truth now:
http://www.snopes.com/humor/iftrue/palisades.htm