Parenting the Millenium Way

Sadly, this would apply to College as well as High School
Maimun

High School Answering Machine

Pacific Palisades High School answering machine message. This was the actual answering machine message for the Pacific Palisades High School in California . The school and its teachers were being sued by parents who wanted their children's failing grades changed to passing grades, even though those children were absent from school 15-30 times during the semester and did not complete enough school work to pass their classes. This was voted unanimously by the office staff as the answering machine message for the school:

"Hello! You have reached the automated answering service of Pacific Palisades High School . In order to assist you in connecting to the right staff member, please listen to all of 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 or her 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 in your newsletter and several flyers that were 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 or her own behavior, class work, homework, and that it's not the teacher's fault for your child's lack of effort, hang up and have a nice day!"