1523 12th Ave N
Bessemer, AL 35020

badasss school (; , love it love it love it loveeeeee it love love love it love it love it love it

I have a daughter that is attending the new Bessemer City High School as a freshman for the 2013-2014 calendar year. After becoming oriented as a new student in a new school, she soon became involved in school life as a Purple Tiger. We plan to allow her to attend for the 2014-2015 school year as well. I do believe that public schools need more funding for extra curricular activities and current text books, but on the average, I believe that Bessemer City High School is on the way up and have improved significantly under the new leadership of its principle and staff.

Schools get worse, but this school is pretty bad. Three generations of my family have attended, but the children today have it really bad. Most of the good teachers are gone. I'd say about 15% of the staff is actually worth paying. Some paraprofessionals, librarians, janitors, and a few teachers. Most of the teachers are poor communicators, lazy, under-protective of the students, and take no pride in what they do. Some are defensive and disrespectful toward parents and children. The teachers are there to collect checks, as they have either taken no interest in the children or have just given up. In poorer socioeconomic areas, things can be challenging. There's no doubt. I just figure you're up for the challenge or not. Most of the faculty aren't. The passion is hanging on by a thread only because of the few that actually care about the children and their profession. Otherwise there would be none. Another thing about this school is how they promote testing rather than learning, growth, and character. There's more to life than taking tests. Tests are important at times, but the whole curriculum should not revolve around tests. Now to be a bit petty, their drop-off/pick-up and check-in/check-out process isn't well planned. Dropping off in the morning is okay. I would like to see more than a couple of people receiving the kids in the morning though. Picking up is awful. The walkie-talkie system they have is supposed to call the kids out to the car, but there are cars parked on the left and right side of the road because people still go in to get kids. Plus traffic in the middle of the road, but the traffic officer keeps that line moving (when they're doing their job). Where to park? How to get out after pick-up? If someone is entering the building to get their children, then they should use the parking lot. Leave spaces for people respecting what little order is in place. Check-in/check-out requires parents to sign in at a building used for state and county programs, not the actual elementary school. Then you take your child to the actual school. Time wasted. Enclosing. There are more bad things, but this school has much potential. I see what it could be. It frustrates me because I know what it was. Many of the faculty and staff are genuinely decent people. Some actually good people. Where is the pride and passion though?