Kids school question
BY: MikeTri37 on 2008-02-15 7:12 AM

Maybe I'm crazy, but I thought I would throw this out there. I'm 38 years old and my first child started Kindergarten in a nice local $10k a year private school. To make a long story short. Her grades started dropping. I know its only Kindergarten, but yes, they have grades. They do math and spelling and have quizzes and tests. She was an A student, and over the past few weeks, she has only been bringing home C's. I asked her what the problem was. Come to find out, she was moved to the table with the "chatterboxes", a few boys who like to talk and disrupt the class. I understand she needs to deal with this on her own and learn to fight her own battles, I know that. But I decided to talk to the teacher about it. Just to see if my daughter was lying. I requested a meeting via email to talk about my daughters seating. Instead of talking to me, the teacher asked my daughter in the middle of class if she has a problem with her seat? She's 5 and in front of all the other kids, what do you think she's going to say? The next day I emailed her again and said "I would appreciate it if you would speak to me and not my 5 year old daughter when I request a meeting." I was called in for a conference yesteday. I'm sitting there with the teacher, the principal, the vice principal, and a guidance counselor. They proceeded to ream me a new one. I couldn't believe it. They told me that my daughter was theirs during the day and they will do what they want with her and I have no say in any of it. If I have a problem with that, I should find a new school. The principal is banging the desk while talking to me and the teacher is standing there with a smirk on her face a mile long. Mind you, they were all women and I am the Dad, so there wasn't much I could do. I wanted to tell them all to go F*CK themselves, but then my daughter wouldn't have a school to go to, so I kept my cool. I'm really at a loss, what should I do? Is this normal behavior?

Edited by MikeTri37 2008-02-15 7:17 AM

RE: Kids school question
BY: the bear on 2008-02-15 7:28 AM

"If I have a problem with that, I should find a new school. "

Sounds like great advice to me.

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Administrator, Tri-Cajuns Club

RE: Kids school question
BY: houston-tri-mama on 2008-02-15 7:30 AM

Ohhhh NOOOOOO!  You are paying them for service and they need to treat you with respect.  further no child should be singled out in class.  You go back and get in these women's face and demand that they move your daughter 's seat and if you hear them singling out your daugter ago - you will be right back in their face.... She is there toreceive the education that YOU are PAYING them for .... I think I would have slapped that smirk right off the teachers face. 

touchy spot today for me....

RE: Kids school question
BY: graceful_dave on 2008-02-15 7:32 AM

Find a different school.

Parents need to be involved in their kids education and for the school administrators to think otherwise is just dead wrong. Maybe if they spent more time in public schools, they'd be greatful you are proactive?

Yes, there are parents who are completely out of line about how their child should be treated/taught, and without reading what you said in the emails, I can't be sure but from what you have told us you were not one of the crazies. For the teacher to call out a 5 year old, or a kid of any age, in front of her peers is wrong.
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"Get out there and splash long like a happy duck." TriAya

RE: Kids school question
BY: gsmacleod on 2008-02-15 7:35 AM

x2

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ScotiaMultisport Coaching

RE: Kids school question
BY: KenD on 2008-02-15 7:36 AM

You are responsible for your child 24 hours a day. Just because they go to school does not make her "theirs".

Have another conference with them, discuss your concerns and if it goes the same way, take her to a different school.
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Keep Moving Forward

mrbrad - Bottom line: train - more, better, smarter.

Ron - "Crazy" does not mean "impossible". Sometimes "crazy" is what gets things done.

RE: Kids school question
BY: wgraves7582 on 2008-02-15 7:56 AM



x3 - if you are paying them to educate your daughter, they listen to you, not the other way around if you have concerns. Do they have a board you can go to? I would get them all fired!!!!

RE: Kids school question
BY: tupuppy on 2008-02-15 8:02 AM

First off, find your set and reattach them becuase there is a LOT you can do.  As mentioned they are providing a service that you are paying a lot for.  Stand up to them and make it clear you won't be bullied.  If that doesn't work you can use the line, "You really don't want my wife to come in and start screaming do you?"

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"Quit trying to get your mind around it... instead get your body out and doing it and your mind will follow." - Akustix

"You will never rise above the words that come out of your mouth" - Rogillio

RE: Kids school question
BY: max on 2008-02-15 8:04 AM

Go higher up the food chain.  Try the overall superintendant of the city's school department.  And yes, I'd change schools.  With that attitude, your daughter is in for a long stint with this teacher, and who knows what additional retribution she might decide to come down with.

 

RE: Kids school question
BY: Renee on 2008-02-15 8:10 AM

They must have a long waiting list of parents trying to get their kids into that school. Can't imagine why else they would put so little value on the parent-teacher relationship.

Find another school, post haste. I have 3 sisters who are in the education field - they would attest that that kind of behavior from educators is UNACCEPTABLE.

If you're not yet ready to pull your daughter out - contact the Board members. That's what my sister does when she doesn't get satisfaction from her son's school.

Edited by Renee 2008-02-15 8:17 AM

RE: Kids school question
BY: MUL98 on 2008-02-15 8:17 AM



Agreed - and you may want to examine schools that don't start putting academic performance pressure on 5 year olds. Who in their right mind thinks kindergarteners should be getting letter grades?

Is there a reason you chose a private school?

RE: Kids school question
BY: kproudfoot on 2008-02-15 8:17 AM

That can be the only reason.  They really don't care because they will just bring someone else in.  Personally I would have withdrawn immediately after telling the to F off.  Worst case the kid goes to public school.  When my son goes to school that is where he is going since I can't afford private school and I don't believe you necessarily get a better eduction (this case is proof of that).

RE: Kids school question
BY: CalgaryRunner on 2008-02-15 9:08 AM

RE: Kids school question
BY: briderdt on 2008-02-15 9:14 AM

Right now your daughter is in the losing position (as well as you, though indirectly). No matter what happens, she is not going to be treated fairly, unless the staff there has a very big and selfless heart (which your testimony here would indicate otherwise).

Public schools will take children at any time. Take your $10K and go elsewhere. And also I'd start writing letters to the editors of the local papers (AFTER your daughter is out of the school).

RE: Kids school question
BY: Renee on 2008-02-15 9:19 AM

BTW, Montessori is an awesome option for your child!

After you take her out, start a blog about the school and email the link to the teacher. Make sure you use her name in your blog! Tell her you're going to make her and her school famous.

Edited by Renee 2008-02-15 9:21 AM

RE: Kids school question
BY: tkbslc on 2008-02-15 9:50 AM

Sounds like you might have better luck with public school. 

Seriously, this is just like any other business relationship.  You are paying for a service and you are not receiving it to your satisfaction.  Demand satisfaction or take your business elsewhere.  You have a 5 year old at $10k a year.   So by the time the kid gets through 6th Grade, that is 70K in revenue they will be losing.   If they don't want to trade a nice education for $70k, i bet you can find a good school that will. 

 

RE: Kids school question
BY: ScottoNM on 2008-02-15 9:54 AM

RE: Kids school question
BY: MikeTri37 on 2008-02-15 9:57 AM

The problem is the public school system here in South Florida, it's NOT an option. I emailed the teacher again and called for another appt. with the principal next week. I'll let everyone know what happens. If I can't be a part of my childs education, I will go elsewhere.

RE: Kids school question
BY: run_your_run on 2008-02-15 10:01 AM

Sounds like the Administration of that school are totally clueless as to what the purpose of that school is. They should do everything in their power to make sure that they are providing the best education possible for the students in their school. As an Administrator, I see to it that I not only hold the students accountable for their learning but also the teachers as well. If a teacher in my school had acted like that she/he would be looking for a new job. That was unacceptable and I believe that you have two options to aproach this situation. You can go before the Board of Directors with a formal complaint and see where that gets you or you just need to find another school that is looking after the education of the students and not themselves.
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"Pain is nothing compared to what it feels like to quit."