Hoke High School Teacher Says School is an ‘Underground Fight Club’

Guest opinion: Problem students are out of control, education hamstrung, marijuana use tolerated and more according to this letter from a teacher who requested anonymity.

I have been involved with Hoke County Schools for many years. I have dealt with the high school children more so than any other. I have seen principals come and go. I can admit some were great and some were not so great. However, this time we have been fooled. 

Let me explain, other principals were transparent. They kept nothing from the parents, children were out of control yet disciplined, teachers could make decisions on how they ran their class to keep better control, and they had some support. 

Guess what, that is no more. We are under a dictatorship. Teachers are currently polishing up their resumes to leave after Christmas break, work conditions unbearable and support zero. To give one example, we now have to call the office even to be allowed to use the restroom.

I know these things seem miniscule, but allow me to go further.

Fights and Drugs 

As many can see, things have been quiet at the high school. Many feel like finally, things are going great. Well, joke on you. There have been numerous FIGHTS A DAY since school started. One where a special needs kid was attacked by a group and locked in the bathroom. Guess what happens when children fight now, they either get sent back to class or two days home only to come back and repeat the cycle.

It is so bad that a substitute teacher was maliciously pushed by a student and he was only sent home for a day and was able to return. However, the substitute who was assaulted was moved from the class that she had since school started. We are now letting the children run us.

MARIJUANA AND VAPING—they just take it. Children suffer no consequences. However, the teachers get blamed. 

There is no need for assistant principals because all they can do is take the kids to the principal for her to tell them to go back to class and tell the APs not to bring them to her.  

There is a no cell phone in class policy, to call administration for help when there is non-compliance. However, those calls go unanswered. We are now the UNDERGROUND FIGHT CLUB. I cannot believe the board knows all about these fights, drugs, disrespect, vaping, and out-of-control actions and still allow the principal to run this school the way she is.

Is Your Child Eating?

Now we get in trouble if the kids eat in the class, but we can’t allow them to be outside of the class and if they are 19 mins or less after bell they are late, more than 20 they are absent, which is fine because they need to be on time. But if the lunch lines are running behind children are often throwing their food away not being able to eat because they cannot be in the hallway and they cannot be allowed to finish their food in class. 

The current principal has failed to realize this is not Sandhoke and 400 children that are on a college campus that were handpicked with their behavior record included. These are all children some from Turlington, special needs, and behavior issues that must be handled differently.  

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However, this letter is to mainly address this: 

• Children are stuck in classes that they have already completed and have nothing else to take because she removed so many classes.

• There are special needs children who belong in certain classes stuck in the mainstream.

• Some children have a behavior plan that is supposed to have someone sit with them daily in their classes who receive no help.

• There are those with Individualized Education Program who are not having it followed and their case managers are not being found because she has them stuck in classes. It is funny she has yet to be in class to assist.  

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It’s time to dismantle the board of education members and start fresh with people who have an objective eye, see what is going on, take the time to meet with the teachers and substitutes that we can manage to get to stay, and hear them out. Yes, the children and behavior are a big part of why we can’t keep staff along with pay, but so is the administration and how they treat us.

SEND HELP is all I can say.  I sometimes wish the state would just take over and run the school because as it stands at this moment some of us wish they would have kept Baldwin, even Benson at this point!!!!

If you have read this far, I thank you. This is not a smear campaign but an extreme truth. The condescending e-mails she sends, the way she speaks to us, the non-support, the way she pumps up discipline only to not do it. It is sad.

These children aren’t learning anything because they don’t have to. The scariest things I heard this year from students were these statements: “We can get high, all they gone do is send us to the old lady and she will send us back to class,” and “We can fight it is only two days home because she does not believe in Turlington and ISS.”

Guess what, they are right, she does it every time.

Are these incidents being reported to the board? Why hasn’t the board stepped in? Why has no one spoken to the teachers and staff to see how they feel? Where is the care?

Sincerely, a fed-up Staff member on the way out!!!

Editor’s Note: Several mainstream media and non-profit sources studying each county’s investment in education, per student, found the Hoke County Commission authorizes the lowest amount in the entire state.