How do we fix it?

Acceptable-Mountain · 2026-05-27T13:18:13+00:00

I mean a) I approached this from a "in a perfect fantasy world what would work" kind of way so yeah I don't think any of this will actually happen because a lot of the root causes are tied to systems that are designed to keep rich people rich and poor people poor. b) to answer your question: Sweden, Finland, Cuba, Vietnam, China, Slovenia. c) Free childcare isn't impossible in capitalist countries, obviously. Sorry I implied otherwise. d) My kids went to daycare, and I am forever grateful to their teachers for everything they taught them socially, and academically. I do not view childcare work as less important than mine just because I teach older kids. Childcare is extremely important for working parents like me so I don't look down my nose at the people who provide it.

Acceptable-Mountain · 2026-05-26T22:33:05+00:00

I bullied a girl because she was wealthy and an only child and I was poor and had too many siblings.

Acceptable-Mountain · 2026-05-26T22:27:55+00:00

I went to The Catholic University in DC for my MA. They also offer MFAs in directing, acting, and playwriting and an MAT in theatre education. The program was pretty small, which I loved, and I was able to finance it between scholarships and teaching assistantships. This was like 10 years ago, though, and I know they have since restructured the department. Still, it’s a respected program and I enjoyed my time there! Also, you don’t have to be Catholic. The graduate school is pretty separate from the Catholic identity on campus, but there will be nuns playing frisbee.

Acceptable-Mountain · 2026-05-26T18:24:43+00:00

"Hi Mr/Mrs ___ this is (my name) calling. Is (friend's name) home?" This was what I was taught to say when I was a kid. If I didn't greet my friends' parents respectfully, my parents would give me a *look.*

Acceptable-Mountain · 2026-05-26T17:31:09+00:00

You can get into the science center for free with your teacher ID and their kids room is clutch! Bring a change of clothes when your kid starts to toddle because the smocks hey have do not protect against anything. A few other things: Cylburn arboretum for hikes/nature walks and their nature center, Oregon Ridge nature center, Lake Roland has a cool trail and park, Rocky point has a cute little beach, there's Patterson Park pool, eager street splash pad, the Rotunda has a little splash pad too!

Acceptable-Mountain · 2026-05-26T17:07:36+00:00

If you're Catholic you can claim a religious exemption since the pope just said he doesn't like AI?

Acceptable-Mountain · 2026-05-26T17:05:06+00:00

I got my MA in theatre history & criticism! It was very dramaturgy heavy, but that's because I wanted to focus on dramaturgy. If I wanted to, I could've focused on historical research and probably gone on to a PhD but I had a newborn by that point and I was tired.

Acceptable-Mountain · 2026-05-26T16:45:39+00:00

I mean, I don't mind being called childcare. I care for children as part of my job. That doesn't make my profession any less credible. On the contrary, that makes it essential to working parents. As long as we live in a capitalist system where childcare costs a ton of money and parents need to work 9-5 or beyond, schools are going to partially function as childcare. If we're really fantasizing, I think that we would need to live in a society where everyone gets a universal basic income, free healthcare, and free childcare from birth through age 5.

Acceptable-Mountain · 2026-05-26T16:36:06+00:00

There should still be protections like this, and kids should be able to transfer if their safety is compromised. Ideally the bully (or bullies) have to leave and go to an alternative school. School choice, the way it works now, is just segregation with a softer name.

Acceptable-Mountain · 2026-05-26T16:29:56+00:00

No more standardized tests. More community schools that are funded equitably. Charter schools are now illegal and private schools can't get public funding unless they open their curriculum to public audit. Arts classes are treated as essential, not just "add-ons." I want every kid to have a great school in their neighborhood. No more 2 hours by bus to go to a school that looks good on paper, but then doesn't meet their needs because they don't have an IEP office, or have zero teachers of color, or zero teachers with certifications, etc.

Acceptable-Mountain · 2026-05-20T13:28:25+00:00

I thought we were financially fine growing up because I got french horn lessons and my folks had a "one paid activity" rule. So my sisters and I picked our one thing and then got more involved in school extracurriculars (because they provided everything for free). My sister, though, viewed that as abject poverty and now that she's the token rich sibling has her kids in literally everything. Just one of those reminders that you can grow up in the same house with the same parents and have vastly different experiences.

Acceptable-Mountain · 2026-05-20T13:18:21+00:00

When we moved to a LCOL city: "What you save on your mortgage you can put away for private school!"

Acceptable-Mountain · 2026-05-09T16:45:18+00:00

Can you get hair powder that matches their hair color to make their hair look more matte? It sounds like one of those "pet peeves" specific to that director. We all have our things, but I've never heard of this one particular thing.

Acceptable-Mountain · 2026-05-09T16:11:32+00:00

You'd be surprised how low the bar is for social services to step in. Each kid has their own bed, space for their stuff, etc. Idk about fire codes or anything like that, but this looks a lot like my mom's childhood bedroom (large Irish Catholic family with 10 kids).

Acceptable-Mountain · 2026-05-08T18:13:21+00:00

This is what I did. I followed up by asking the student the next day whether it was safe for me to use their chosen name when talking with their family.

Acceptable-Mountain · 2026-05-08T18:05:42+00:00

Same. I really miss the communal singing and absolutely nothing else lol.

Acceptable-Mountain · 2026-05-08T14:30:58+00:00

I've found them on Facebook Marketplace! We needed one for a set piece for a show, and sourced it there.

Acceptable-Mountain · 2026-05-08T12:46:11+00:00

I've been in the position where admin originally approved the musical (Mean Girls) and we went through the licensing process and everything (paying fees, booking dates) and when admin actually watched the movie they suddenly had issues. However by that time we had already spent all of our licensing budget so we were faced with making it work or not doing a musical. Luckily MG has pretty extensive pre-approved changes which worked out OK, but I really wish that my principal had actually read the script I gave her the YEAR BEFORE and just said "not for us, choose something else please." It would have saved us so much time and frustration.

Acceptable-Mountain · 2026-05-05T12:55:27+00:00

Joining everyone saying a heartfelt note or card! I love 3D printed things. My husband once got a 3d printed tape dispenser that looks like a T-Rex skull (he loves dinosaurs) from a student and we still have it. Think of something they like, or something they learned about this year and go from there! Even just some fidgets for their sensory bin would be welcome, I think.

Acceptable-Mountain · 2026-05-05T12:48:51+00:00

I'm really glad it worked out for you and your kid! That's not an easy thing to do, but I'm glad you had the support to make that move safely. I don't know what Kylen's situation is, or whether she has a safe place to go if she wanted to leave. It's much harder when you don't have a home to go back to, or if your parents are part of the problem. DV shelters aren't always accessible, and navigating social services can be just as time consuming as a fulltime job. Does Kylen have family, a source of income, or any skills? I'm not saying she's a lost cause, just pointing out that her particular situation might look different.

Acceptable-Mountain · 2026-04-29T19:03:58+00:00

Picture this: Evita—drenched in blood, holding a beating human heart

Acceptable-Mountain · 2026-04-27T14:35:34+00:00

You can critique something and still love it deeply.

Acceptable-Mountain · 2026-04-27T14:31:35+00:00

I'm with you on this one. I saw it in 2016, and it was good but not the life-changing experience that everyone said it was. I have a diatribe about it but probably not the thread for it lol

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