Friday, 13 June 2008
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Last Day of School
Yesterday was C's last day of school... thank GOD.This year has been only a hair on this side of hell. Poor kid. His teacher is apparently not liked by anyone, and it isn't about someone who just rubs people the wrong way, but about a teacher who is damaging young impressionable children and souring their minds and hearts towards the whole idea of school. I say, that is a specific type of talent if a first-grade teacher can so completely taint the experience of school for an entire group of bright-eyed and hopeful, eager 6 and 7 year olds. I keep stumbling upon more and more dissatisfied parents, and not because I am looking either. It seems that most of the parents from this particular teacher's class have been collectively holding their breath waiting for the year to be over - hoping the next year would be better. It HAS to be better.
I guess I was the only one to open my big mouth. My SIL said something that stuck with me: she told me that I am my child's only advocate. He doesn't have to capacity to speak up for himself, and in his first experience with all-day school, he doesn't yet have the tools to deal with a teacher who is gruff, rude, and downright mean sometimes. He will need to develop these tools, no doubt, but in first grade? Especially for a kid who was all joy and love for school the entire K year. While other kids were hugging their parents and giving tearful goodbyes, he was jumping out of the car before I could get the key out of the ignition with a backwards wave and a "Thanks for the ride Mom!" This is not a shy kid. Never has been.
But the end is here. Finally. And my jaw is set. I know which teacher we want for next year. If that piece of paper that we get doesn't have that name on it, we are done with this school. Period. I sigh inside. I feel like I'm always the one making noise - not settling for "Well, that's just the way things are." I don't settle. I rock the boat. I stir up dust. When it's worth it, and when it comes to my kids, I won't just take your word for it.
So now we celebrate... I almost feel like big tin mugs full of ale with oversized legs of mutton would be a fitting feast - something to make this feel like a grand accomplishment. He persevered. He finished. Of course, the ale and mutton probably wouldn't go over well with the kids... but we'll try something a little more appropriate. A family sleepover in the living room perhaps? Let's get to it!
Are you happy that the school year is finally over? What would you do if your child had a "bad" teacher?
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Comments (11)
Ugh... It's such a shame to hear about these stories. And you're right, a bad teacher can do such incredible damage... I had a 6th grade math & science teacher who had me convinced I hated science. Years later I discovered I actually loved the subject, I'd just hated it the way the teacher taught it.
I hope you have better luck with future teachers! I'm glad I have a few years before I have to think about that stuff with my little one...
I don't know how I would deal with bad teachers - that's something I'm not really looking forward to. I hope that next year goes better for you.....
We've been to 4 different schools now (due to moving) yet somehow lucked out in the good teacher dept. However this latest transition to a new school back in March was the hardest. Turtle3 would be obstinate and stubborn a great deal although it got better in the past few weeks; Turtle2 complained about everything that happened and we went through a bullying issue as well. I breathed a huge sigh of relief in that regard when the school year ended this week.
This is purely speculative as I don't even have kids yet, but I would think that if I found out that it was actually the teacher that was at fault I'd insist on moving my child to a different teacher, have some action set against the previous teacher, and maybe even move my child to a different school altogether.
I would march myself right up to that school, tell the teacher and the principal a piece of my mind and if they wouldn't cooperate or do something about it, you better believe I'd be taking her out of that school.
Have you requested that specific teacher for next year already? I know sometimes schools will allow you to do that.
Also, have you complained to the principal about the teacher this year? He/she may need to know about the problems you and the other parents had with that teacher, especially since you mentioned that her attitude and behavior is damaging to her students.
Being a certified teacher myself, I know there are many other teachers out there that have become "just here for the paycheck" teachers. I hope that next year you find one who is there to love, support and encourage your child!
I did not like my daughter's first grade teacher, either. What did I do? I went to the teacher with my concerns and got no results, no change, just defensiveness. So then I went to the principal and I got excuses and a principal willing to back up the teacher, not my child. So then I emailed the superintendent and never got a response. So what did I do? I enrolled my daughter in a private school for next year. Turns out bad teachers are sometimes the result of (and protected by) a messed-up system.
oh, and p.s., good luck getting anything you want out of public school, including a teacher of your choice. And I forgot to add - when I complained to the principal (meaning "advocated" for my child), I was flat-out told that, if I wasn't happy, I might want to consider a different school for my child! They don't really want squeaky wheels at most schools. Anyway, made my decision really easy.
For the three years that my son was in a northeast Florida school district, I was the mother that had teachers and principals alike ducking into the corners when they saw me coming. I had to fight tooth and nail for every little bit my son got out of their exceptional student (spec. ed) program and I had no problem rocking the boat. You may hear that you catch more flies with honey but trust me...when it comes to public school, the LOUD squeaky wheel definitely gets the grease.
More than one school district tried to pressure me into allowing my son to ride the school bus to and from school but I learned early on that if I wasn't in the classroom every day, checking out what is going on then I didn't hear the important stuff. I heard whether Junior had a good day or bad day but nothing else. By taking him to school and walking into the classroom every day, I got to hear all of the stories about the mischief (usually this actually shows Junior's intelligence) and the little accomplishments. I also hear about the trouble areas. I believe the reason everyone wanted me to put Junior on the bus was so I couldn't ask more questions and be more involved in what was going on. Sure it costs them more to pay for transportation but I bet it costs them much more when I push for more speech and occupational therapy or tougher IEPs.
You are absolutely right, you are your son's best and only advocate. While there are many excellent teachers out there and many find public school districts, at the end of the day it is a money issue and that means that many times, if a school can get away with giving your child less of an education, they will certainly try.
Hooray for home-schooling! I had a horrible third grade math teacher, and I've hated the subject ever since... I think my mind doesn't work that way easily, but the teacher sure didn't help... She actually walked up to my Mom at a PTA meeting & asked, "So, does your daughter hate me?" Mom was confused cause I didn't complain at home, but when she asked me about it & heard what was going on, she was furious. Sooo the next year our home-schooling adventure began, an' you can bet that's how I'm gonna do it with my kiddos!
I, like many people it seems, had a horrible 3rd grade teacher. But it was a valuable lesson for me in the end so I am not too bitter over it.
My boys will be starting school in the fall for the first time, but I started interviewing schools last year. I spent a lot of time narrowing my choices down and public schooling was off the list in the first round of cuts (AZ school systems aren't the best imo). I did find the perfect school for them though and got a job there so that my tuition is free. I will only be working part time so it doesn't take up my entire day and I still have time for my schooling. I refuse to let my kids live through what I did.