OT-Long-Help with DD8 Mean Teacher

[swillis]

I completely agree with the last post. My son is having problems with his 3rd grade teacher. I think that there are alot of teachers that seem to have a hard time dealing with boys, and their learning styles and behaviors.

His teacher has said to me, "your son has a hard time controlling himself outside of the classroom environment" Well he is a kid! He's 10 years old. He just spent 2 hours of time learning in the classroom. Now he's in line to head to a lunch room where they aren't allowed to sit with their friends, and have to talk in whispers. And after lunch, they will head out to recess that last for 12 minutes!! This includes time to get in and out.

I'm very thankful that I don't have the kind of teacher issues that your daughter has. I also work full time, but I think if you can talk to some of the other mother's and work out a schedule this will be enough to get things moving in the right direction.
And I would keep track of my lost wages, so that you can ask the superintendent why you're losing wages in order to keep an eye on his teachers.

 

[Kimmumum]

camdensmom: I agree with everything you have said.

We are currently having issues with my DS 6th grade teacher. She was soooo mean that I called a meeting with ALL of his teachers (to make sure there were no other issues with other teachers), the school guidance counselor and the principle (I made sure my husband could attend also so that it wasn't me against them). We did find out that he was not having problems in the other classes. I also got the mean teacher to admit in front of everyone there that she "had neither the time nor the inclination to help him". I asked the same question (worded differently) so that she could repeat her answer 7-8 times in front of her boss. Although I haven't seen much improvement in things my DS hasn't dreaded going to school like he used to. (He used to be up all night because he didn't want to go to sleep at night because he knew he was going to have to wake up and go to school). He tells my son everyday that she "just works here". I have kept a log of everything that has happened, who I talked to and when, everyday that he has a substitute teacher etc. Things got so bad that I had to label the family calendar with how many days are left in school. He will go days without looking and then he'll look everyday for awhile. Hopefully this year will be over soon and we can move past this teacher. She is tenured and not going anywhere. I am not a parent to requests teachers however when my other DS gets to that school I will make sure he doesn't have her.

OP--Take this very seriously. My sister had a horrible teacher in 3rd grade and she was so badly tramatized that she doesn't remember much from her childhood. My parents did what they could (we were at a private school and the teacher only lasted one year there) however it did damage. Good luck. Remember that you are the only person (you and your husband) that is truly on your childs side.

 

[disneymom3]

Wow, this thread is very sad to me. I just can't wrap my brain around allowing our children to be randomly exposed to all of these wacko teachers. I know there are a lot of fabulous teachers out there, but there are all these examples of bad teachers just amongst DIS members. If these people weren't teachers, can you imagine allowing them to be around your children? If the school could not do something about this immediately, I would be pulling my child out of that school so fast it would make your head spin. Having to put up with these people for an entire academic year is just not acceptable.

I am sorry to all of you on here that you are stuck in these situations and I wish the best to you. Very sad that these little people are dealing with these folks who have no business in the classroom.

 

[DisneyDotty]

Just need to chime in with the definition/idea of tenure: Tenure does not guarantee a teacher a job. Tenure simply means a teacher cannot be dismissed without just cause (eg., not simply because a district wants to hire an inexperienced teacher for less $$). Teachers who are in blatant violation of the contract (and there typically is wording in teachers' contracts about appropriate behavior with students) should be dealt with. They should be placed on remediation. They should be dismissed if they do not improve.
The fact that there are unprofessional teachers such as the ones noted in this thread points as much to administrators who are not doing their jobs as it does to the teachers. I know it's a huge undertaking to get rid of bad teachers (my DH is an administrator)--but it can be done. I wish the OP much luck.

 

[shoegirl1020]

Just wanted to thank everyone for their responses and wanted to update everyone. I had a meeting with the principal on Friday. She was very agreeable and aware of what was happening in the class. She told me that the teacher had actually requested assistance! And further that a "mentor" had been assigned by the Superintendant of the school Dept. However the mentor was supposed to start before February Vacation which never happened. The principal assured me that the mentor would be in the classroom on Monday of this week. I've asked my daughter everyday and NOTHING.

So during our meeting I did tell the principal that I didn't want to overstep her but if something was not done immediately (the mentor, moving my daughter, etc) that I would be calling the superintendant. She encouraged me to because there is only so much that so can do within the school.

I don't really fault the principal, she is very aware of the problem and has teacher aides in there during certain tims of the day. However, the principal agrees that the behavoir of the teacher only occurs when there is no one else in the room!

So I will be calling the superintendant by the end of this week, I'll post an update soon.

 

[swillis]

Thanks for the update. I hope things continue to progress for you and your DD.

 

[java]

Please Please Please DOCUMENT!!! Send letters to everyone and CC them to everyone else. Only things in writing are dealt with quickly. Do you know that the deciding straw for a teacher in our district to get removed from a teaching position and place into an administrative one was a letter written a year ago by ME! I had made call after call and nothing. Then I wrote a letter. Still nothing or so I thought... she did get the boot. She viewed the move as a demotion and quit! (woohoo! she was just awful- she left my dd(6) on the side of the road during a class trip while she went back inside to get everyone else. She claims she left her there because she "knew to listen" Now a friend says she spotted my daughter- she was in another class- went over to her to find out why she was outside....They searched for the teacher... and the class... and the teacher had just forgotten about my quiet daughter- and had moved on with the rest of the trip. Had my friend not called me I never would have found out about this from the teacher. She tried to lie about it-actually not knowing my friend was the person with my daughter- so when I threw a few details her way her story changed. I went to the superintendent with the information and wrote it all down. I wanted her to be held accountable for her very poor judgement. Well it took a year but she finally has moved on to another administrative position.)
If you feel strongly about this march into the meeting and demand that they move your daughter. You still have 4 months of school left!

 

[siestakeys04]

Mydd10 had a new teacher because her first teacher had a baby. She told my dd to put her hand down if it is not an emergency. I have taught my dd to raise her hand to ask questions. I went to the lead secretary and informed her and they the head 5th grade teachers let them know that they need to watch what they say. I am a very envoled parent and they know that i can get upset when it comes to my 3 kids. I would go as far as it would take to make this woman see she cant say and do anything to those kids.

GO AS FAR AS IT TAKES!!!!!

 

[linda0706]

Shoegirl....

I've watched this thread with interest....anything new happening?