Soooo…let me start by saying, prior to my son starting school, I gave myself a mind pep talk that I would never be the type to say, “not my child” before knowing the situation. Go figure last week I had to eat my words a couple of times..oh well we live and learn!
Four out of the five days last week my son either came home with a straight or frowny face on his daily progress report with a description such as, “someone hit him and he started to cry, please speak with him about crying” (ummm last time I checked that’s what children do), ” he hit another student” (okay, we don’t play that), “he was frustrated about not getting something to work, put it down and moved to another area” (huh?). By day four I’m livid and totally over these reports. The class has had 3 different teachers in the past month and you want me to talk to my child about crying, when no one has been in the class long enough to know all of the children’s names ( I’m heated as I’m typing as if you can’t tell).
Day four, teacher aide suggests I come in to speak with her regarding his behavior. What’s really going on? Last year he probably got a total of 4 yellow lights for the entire year and here I am looking at four issues in one week…I’m all ears. Friday, as I pull through the car pool line I am greeted by yet another new teacher. We exchange pleasantries, and I ask about his behavior. She replies, ” He is one of our star students” (that’s my boy!), I respond really? I was just about to park and come in to speak with you regarding his behavior from last week. Based on his progress reports Mrs.(name ommitted to protect the tattle tale) suggested I do so. Teacher responds, oh no, there is no need for that. Well he did hit a student last last week but she was bothering him for quite some time before he retaliated (so let me get this straight, you see what’s going on but you don’t diffuse the situation). Then it happened I locked eyes with the teacher aide, they say eyes are the window to the soul and I’ll leave it at that..okay, one more word..piercing!
Why aren’t these people on the same page? My child got reprimanded for behaviors that his real teacher (at least for this week) didn’t seem to think was a big deal. I am prayerful that I am able to edit my thoughts before I open my mouth at the meet and greet this evening when I ask about the protocol utilized in discerning who gets a happy face and who doesn’t and why they can’t get and keep a teacher in his classroom. Stability is important for students, so maybe the problem is them and not the children.
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| Look at that sweet face…He couldn’t, or could he?!!! |
Am I overreacting? When your child receives a bad report, do you listen to their side of the story, or do you automatically take the teacher’s word?
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