South Ripley Elementary School

I am a teacher at this school who feels responsible to warn the public, but I have to use a venue like this to keep my job. This school unfortunately has old teachers who are hanging on just for a pay check. They lack enthusiastic motivation and stick with teaching methods that don't work. They continue to teach the same lessons year after year even if it doesn't work with the current group of students they have. Not to mention the teachers don't even use proper grammar! They are teachers! Don't they have the education to know better? They lack to teach through example! The special education program is a joke, and it is nearly impossible to get a child tested for the assistance that would best help them. Teachers who actually care that a special education child gets the resources they need are very discouraged by the program here. The program is all talk and no action. The best a parent can do is get a tutor to try to help their children outside of the school setting because this school does little to really assist. The principal is agreeable in person, but he lacks leadership skills. He basically lets the vice principal run things for him, and she isn't friendly or helpful at all. They don't take suggestions and frown upon teachers telling the truth about a negative situation. They would prefer that the staff puts on a smile and lies to the community. They want teachers to use the programs they put in place even if it isn't helping the students in a particular situation. If I were a parent I would purposely move my family to avoid placing my children in this school. Your children will be behind other children academically in Indiana, and it will affect them for the rest of their lives. Avoid! Avoid! Avoid!

I would like to say the teachers understaff at South Ripley elementary are excellent. My children are in kindergarten and first grade. My son comes home from school and tells me all about the time he spends in music, the songs he learns and how he enjoys it. He is enthusiastic about learning how to count and how his teacher is so nice and helpful. My daughter in first grade also likes music, art, math and gets excited about reading and learning. I can't thank the teachers and staff enough for the hard work, dedication, effort to teach my children and the other children at the school. I want to say Thank You very much for your efforts and hard work it's appreciated.