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Pdg
Citizen
Username: Pdg
Post Number: 562
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 1, 2006 - 9:42 pm: | 
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Does anybody know if Andy Brady still works for the Recreation Dept at the Baird Center?
I've left two messages for him regarding what I consider to be an unsafe situation with K-5 kids at the Monday night Clay Class with "Mr. Nose" and despite my repeated, urgent requests to have the courtesy of a call back, have heard nothing.
The first call was Monday Feb. 13th and the 2nd was this past Monday - both after the class I wished to discuss with him.
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Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 4159
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 1, 2006 - 10:37 pm: |
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This doesn't sound like Andy. Any time any of us calls, he always calls back within 24 hours. And he doesn't like me! Are you leaving the messages on his direct voice mail, or on the general voice mail. If it's the latter, sometimes he doesn't get those messages.
I can stop in there tomorrow if you want and ask him in person to give you a call. The only thing I can think of is he might be on vacation. |
Sheena Collum SHU
Citizen
Username: Sheena_collum
Post Number: 591
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 1, 2006 - 11:50 pm: |
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Hey Pdg,
Andy is absolutely fabulous and I'm sure if he hasn't called you back there some very valid reason. |
Soda
Supporter
Username: Soda
Post Number: 3542
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 9:03 am: |
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Three cheers for Andy and his dedicated staff!
-s. |
Pdg
Citizen
Username: Pdg
Post Number: 567
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 9:32 am: |
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I had only heard good things about him in the past, which is why this is a little bizarre.
Both times, I asked to be transferred to his voicemail and I believe I left messages on his personal voicemail - it stated his name and did not seem to be a general voice mail. Maybe their voice mail system is out of whack.
Anyone have an email address for him?
For anyone interested in the details - My concern is regarding young kids being encouraged to run around playing hide n seek in the art room for the last 15 minutes of Clay Class, which is supposed to be 1 hour long. We've been to three classes. The first time I arrived a few minutes early and the kids were running all over, including in the small room where the kiln was in operation, and was even propped open a bit. Every couple minutes the instructor would say, 'Be careful, the kiln is hot guys and then go back to his conversation with a parent.' The second time, kids were hiding all over including under a large folding table that was propped up against the wall lengthwise. The last it was just general mayhem with no specific danger that I saw.
However, each time I collected my 6 yo daughter in tears and each time the instructor was clueless as to what happened. The first time, the other kids had turned off the lights in a separate room in the back where she was hiding and she was terrified to be shut in a room she didn’t' know that suddenly was pitch black. I remember that when I got there I was looking around at the craziness and said, "Excuse me, Where is my daughter?!" After several nervous minutes she finally appeared, sobbing, and ran to me. Mr. Nose, as he likes to be called, then counseled her about being afraid of the dark. (She is not afraid of the dark, but I can certainly see how being locked in a suddenly dark room would be scary and I'm not 6!) He said nothing to try to find the kids who had done this and seemed unconcerned that she was not able to open the door from her side - some kids finally let her out.
This last time I told Mr. Nose that I didn't appreciate finding my daughter crying every week when I picked her up, that I enrolled her in an art class simply to do art, and that I didn't understand why he permitted such an unsafe and unsupervised atmosphere. He took offense and arrogantly claimed that he WAS supervising and always told the kids to stop doing things he didn’t' like.
However, he has never witnessed the older kids bullying my daughter and she tells me she has been pushed and shoved b/c she doesn't know the rules of hide and seek that they know. (At her grade level the 'found' kids help the person that is 'It' find the others - apparently this gets her pushed to the ground by the older kids.) I do not feel the instructor understood my serious concerns for my daughter's safety and well-being. He simply said that if I didn't like my daughter playing hide and seek, that I should pick her up from the class after 45 minutes instead of the hour. I then told him that I had already called Andy Brady about the matter after week one when the kiln was on and my daughter was locked in a room, and that I would be calling again, since Andy hadn't returned my 1st call, because I consider the way the class is run to be unsafe and not part of the stated curriculum. I certainly would prefer NOT to pull my daughter from the class, and instead would like assurances from Rec. Dept administration that this will be addressed.
I'm quite sure that the art room, full of tables and art supplies and the adjoining rooms - including the room with the kiln room! - the kids hide in are not approved as safe for children to run around in.
Maybe I'm an overprotective parent and most of the kids ARE older than 6, but as a concerned taxpayer others might want to know about this potentially dangerous situation on S.O.Public property.
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mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 2612
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 9:58 am: |
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Pdg: If you send me an email I will make sure this issue is looked into and to make sure someone gets back to you.
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Lucy
Supporter
Username: Lucy
Post Number: 3018
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 10:17 am: |
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Pdg follow your instincts if something doesn't appear to be alright don't go back with your daughter. The rest can be straightened out later but always trust your instincts! |
Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 4102
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 10:20 am: |
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PDG, when I read your post yesterday I wondered if that's what you might have been referring to. My daughters took that same class in the fall. I was also a little dismayed to see them paying hide and seek at the end of each class.
FWIW, I didn't make a big deal about it because my girls are a little older and they seemed to accomplish what they wanted during each class, and I still felt it was a good value. BUT, there were definitely some kids who tended to get a little wild.
In retrospect, perhaps I should have said something. |
Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 4163
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 11:19 am: |
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Pdg
I just called the Community Center (Baird). Andy is there, I spoke with him. I let him know someone was trying to get in touch with him about the Monday art class and some safety concerns. He'll be there all day today. |
Pdg
Citizen
Username: Pdg
Post Number: 571
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 11:26 am: |
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Thanks all.
MRosner, I'll send you an email.
VIG - You're right on about the value - I just love the classes offered through our Rec. Dept., for kids and adults, and you just can't beat the value.
It's very uncomfortable to complain about something that is supposed to be fun and about a teacher who the kids seem to really like! Which is why I waited until the 3rd time to say something to Mr. Nose directly. I at first hoped to handle it subtley via Andy Brady. I bet if your child had been crying at each pickup you'd have said something.
I see some other parents that arrive when I do, that seem completely nonplussed by what goes on, but their kids aren't crying, so...
Hopefully this can be resolved and kids can still manage to have fun in the class w/out the crazy/risky play at the end.
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Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 4106
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 11:37 am: |
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PDG, I totally agree with you. If either of my daughters were crying I would have said something.
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Pdg
Citizen
Username: Pdg
Post Number: 572
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 11:42 am: |
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Just spoke to Andy Brady who said he never rec'd my voicemails.
I summarized the situation and he is going to call the instructor today and follow up with me today.
He was extremely professional, kind and understanding and expressed his own concerns about the potentially unsafe end of class choice of game/activity.
Thanks very much JTA, he mentioned your call and was glad to hear from me. |
Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 4108
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 12:05 pm: |
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Good. I'm sure Mr. Nose will just temper the level of activity and all will be well. Hopefully your daughter will enjoy the class more now. |
Lizziecat
Citizen
Username: Lizziecat
Post Number: 1083
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 2:58 pm: |
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I said a long time ago that I don't think that the children in Baird center are properly looked after. I was there waiting to renew my pool badge, and some woman came rushing out to the bathroom with a little boy and asked me--a complete stranger--to "watch" him. Of course, I said no, so she left him in the bathroom alone and rushed back to whatever else she was supposed to be doing. Not a good situation. Either the adults in charge need more help, or they need better adults in charge. |
Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 4166
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 3:49 pm: |
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Pdg-
I meant to tell you in no way are you being overprotecive! I can understand having the kids start to clean up ten minutes or so before the class ends, but for them to be running around in an area they could be hurt just doesn't fly. |
Pdg
Citizen
Username: Pdg
Post Number: 574
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 8:26 pm: |
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Andy called a little earlier (had to get the kids all tucked in). He told me he had just spoken with Mr. Nose, said Mr. Nose was expecting his call based on his and my last conversation and generally was very agreeable to changing the end of class activity. (I really just wish he had been when we spoke, but to his credit when Andy asked him how he reacted to my comments he admitted he was a little defensive.)
Looking forward to a better clay class for my sweetie this Mon. night.
Thanks again everyone. |
Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 4179
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 8:50 pm: |
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Pdg-
I think considering the situation it was better for Andy to run interference for you. Hopefully your daughter will be able to really enjoy the class now. |
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