I'm Furious!
- Thread starter thestrangequark
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I'd say some well placed phone calls to TV stations in the area, newspapers, and perhaps a couple of TV shows (ie Extra and the like) might be in order.
Don't know if it will get you anywhere, but maybe it will get some attention?
Don't know if it will get you anywhere, but maybe it will get some attention?
I'm sorry to hear this. I hope your kids at least had some fun, even if they couldn't see everything. I also hope they enjoy being good Americans and writing letters of complaint (and I hope ABC responds, since they should have been the ones accommodating, not you and your students).
Here's my honest advice, write a letter to them, I trust you know how to craft it in a wonderous way.
If you don't get a solution that seems fitting, write another letter, informing them that for the sake of their kids, they should offer to completely cover the expenses of another field trip for your students and if they don't you plan to launch a giant negative press campaign against the show it's production company for treating students, especially young kids with contempt and actively disrupting their learning experiences and that who will take this as far as possible.
If you don't get a solution that seems fitting, write another letter, informing them that for the sake of their kids, they should offer to completely cover the expenses of another field trip for your students and if they don't you plan to launch a giant negative press campaign against the show it's production company for treating students, especially young kids with contempt and actively disrupting their learning experiences and that who will take this as far as possible.
Agreed. To make this up to your kids, they should have been offered a free pass for use on another trip. Even if the shoot was changed at the last minute, they should have called and informed you (I presume they had a way to contact you if you made a reservation).
happy birthday.
UGLY BETTY sucks balls! and not in a good way.
UGLY BETTY sucks balls! and not in a good way.
Thespeckledkiwi
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Happy Birthday TSQ! Have a great birthday!
I completely understand your anger over this issue. Of anything I was a little surprised that parents would let their kids learn evolution and I can't believe they simply shut you out like that. Personally I would demand a little extra. I mean, you're absolutely right. These are kids that can't afford to do anything like this when they want to. It was something they were looking forward to. I mean seriously, how many scientists did we just lose because of this? These kids are at a critical point in their education, where they get interested in things and want to learn. Plus their kids. I mean who doesn't love looking at dinosaurs?
I completely understand your anger over this issue. Of anything I was a little surprised that parents would let their kids learn evolution and I can't believe they simply shut you out like that. Personally I would demand a little extra. I mean, you're absolutely right. These are kids that can't afford to do anything like this when they want to. It was something they were looking forward to. I mean seriously, how many scientists did we just lose because of this? These kids are at a critical point in their education, where they get interested in things and want to learn. Plus their kids. I mean who doesn't love looking at dinosaurs?
Those poor kids. I can imagine how disappointed they were. 
I'm thinking along the same lines as Alpinemaps. In addition to complaining to the museum and the producers, send a letter to TV Guide et cetera. Bad publicity is the only way to make an impression on people like that.
In any case, Happy Birthday. I hope you have a nice celebration this weekend.
I'm thinking along the same lines as Alpinemaps. In addition to complaining to the museum and the producers, send a letter to TV Guide et cetera. Bad publicity is the only way to make an impression on people like that.
In any case, Happy Birthday. I hope you have a nice celebration this weekend.
Also, send your story to one of the Net-based news agencies, including established people like BBC or Sky. Their readership is worldwide and people like to know about these sorts of things.
Couldn't agree more. Sadly it seems it's like so here as well. I'd say it's generally what wrong with the western world.It feels good that I made so many of you angry too!
Seriously, though, it's like I said before: one example of a larger problem, that is, how America views education. It's just not a priority, and that's sad. And when the people and the politicians do make it a priority, all they can do is fight and lay blame, and that's even sadder. Unfortunately -- maybe because they were taught not to -- those in charge never ask the right questions of the right people. They never ask the teachers. Instead, they blame them. The thing is, the teachers and students are at the bottom of the food chain. I've worked in NYC public schools, as student teacher, co-teacher, teacher, and independent consultant (current position). The vast majority of teachers I have met are intelligent, aware, caring, and doing their best to teach their students in a system that is actively fighting against them at every turn. If there is blame to be laid it must be laid where it is deserved, on society as a whole.
GRRR.
Well, today my 2nd grade class wrote the first round of letters. It was fantastic! The kids generated everything themselves. We started by talking about what was wrong with the trip. Then I asked, "What could we do about this?" and straight away some one said, "Let's write them a letter!" "Great," I replied, "what are we going to say?" And, lovely, a child raised his hand and said, "A TV show is not as important as learning." That became our main idea, and from there we brainstormed some things we might put in the body of our letter, including how we felt, and what they should have done. The kids were completely in charge, and came up with everything on their own; when one girl came to ask me how to spell "ashamed," I knew these were going to be great. I gave the kids the choice of writing to either the museum or the producers of the show -- they all chose the show, of course! At least one of my 1st grade classes will write to the museum tomorrow. Here are a few of my faves -- these are written by children 7 and 8 years of age:
(I love the the sentence about being scientists.)
(She is referring to the hour long bus ride over the Brooklyn bridge and through China Town -- Chinese Town, as she says
)
I'm not opposed to the idea of taking the story to a news outlet of some source (there are the local news' kind of silly "Fox 5 On Your Side" and "Shame On You" segments). I'm not sure about it though.
(I love the the sentence about being scientists.)
(She is referring to the hour long bus ride over the Brooklyn bridge and through China Town -- Chinese Town, as she says
)
I'm not opposed to the idea of taking the story to a news outlet of some source (there are the local news' kind of silly "Fox 5 On Your Side" and "Shame On You" segments). I'm not sure about it though.
Maybe you could get the students' letters to you ABC affiliate and ask them to get them to the Ugly Betty folks?
That might put a TV station on the story.
Or just call the station and explain what happened and ask them for the correct mailing address to send all the letters to. Then they have an option.
Couldn't hurt.
That might put a TV station on the story.
Or just call the station and explain what happened and ask them for the correct mailing address to send all the letters to. Then they have an option.
Couldn't hurt.
Oh, it is definitely my plan to send them to the producers of the show and to the museum. I promised the kids I would, and that if we get a response I'll bring it to them to see!Maybe you could get the students' letters to you ABC affiliate and ask them to get them to the Ugly Betty folks?
That might put a TV station on the story.
Or just call the station and explain what happened and ask them for the correct mailing address to send all the letters to. Then they have an option.
Couldn't hurt.
And they'll be getting some 125 letters in all from 5 classes (3 of mine and 2 of the other artist's), so hopefully we'll get some attention!
Maybe those letters could be posted to a site that could be linked via Digg or StumbleUpon. I think more than just the producers should see them.Oh, it is definitely my plan to send them to the producers of the show and to the museum. I promised the kids I would, and that if we get a response I'll bring it to them to see!Maybe you could get the students' letters to you ABC affiliate and ask them to get them to the Ugly Betty folks?
That might put a TV station on the story.
Or just call the station and explain what happened and ask them for the correct mailing address to send all the letters to. Then they have an option.
Couldn't hurt.
And they'll be getting some 125 letters in all from 5 classes (3 of mine and 2 of the other artist's), so hopefully we'll get some attention!
^I'll need to talk to my boss and to my teachers and their school's administrations before we go any further than mailing the letters to the AMNH and the show's producers, but I am considering all these options!
That is an excellent idea, if they allow it.
I would also investigate whether they would allow you to send a letter to your city paper's editorial column. After a stunt like that, I would think the paper would select yours if it's reasonably well written.
^Maybe the local section of the Times. I sure as hell am not writing to the Post -- as a teacher of literacy I consider the New York Post my enemy. 
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