Starting School.....

[Wishing on a star]

Okay, here is yet another 'school' delimma!

DS will be starting Kindergarten next month. And, here is my question.

When we registered him for Kindergarten and took him to the PRE-Kindergarten classes back in May (Three days to accustom the kids to Kindergarten) I found out that they had already assigned the kids to their rooms.

There will be four Kindergarten classes at his school next year. All of them FULL to capacity.... Well, two of the teachers get rave reviews... One, I do not really know a lot about. And the last, a relatively new teacher, I have heard several negative reviews, and not one single positive comment. (Demanding, Wants 110%, You do not want to make her mad, Parents have not liked her for her 'ill' attitude... etc.) This is from people who I can pretty well trust what they say. Mostly from direct personal experience...

Well, guess who DS will have for his teacher. You got it.... The last one that I do NOT want for him! I already mentioned this to the vice-principle. We had a fairly deep conversation. I was very nice, saying only that from what I had heard about this teacher, that I did not feel like my son would succeed in her classroom. He has a very definate history of being very easily over-stimulated/stressed, etc.... This is a real and valid concern... etc...
All to no avail.

The school district seems to have a 'policy' of giving NO consideration to parents wishes or concerns. [ ohhh, our wonderful public school system....] Where they put DS is where he stays....

We already had one very very similar negative experience with DS' first Pre-School teacher a couple years ago... Now this.... I just do not want his Kindergarten experience to be another stressful, negative, experience! From what I understand, a students academic success and attitude can be related to these early school experiences.

What would you do? The protective 'mother' in me wants to go into the office that first day and just simply say that "I am sorry, but I am just not leaving until my son is placed in one of the other classrooms." But, realisticly, I know that this makes me out to be the demanding, neurotic, parent!

I feel like I need some objective outside input... And, maybe you guys are the ones to ask!

 

[Pop Daddy]

its kindergarten, by the time he is a mature 2nd grader this will seem funny---- I bet you thought I was going to say long post

 

[browneyes]

Talk to the principal. My kids' school has that same bullheaded policy. I hope you get your ds moved to a room where he (and you) would be more comfortable.

 

[Crush]

I have a couple of things to say about this subject, just because I'm in the middle of the same sort of deal.

First. My child is starting Kindergarten in a Catholic School. My family is not rich. We have to make sacrifices for our children to attend school. But we pay it. Gladly, I might add.

My child will be at school in an environment where I know her teacher, know the administration, and volunteer many hours every week. And believe me, if I was dismissed when I requested a specific teacher, everyone would know about it. I would demand that my child get the best that school had to offer. I will get my money's worth every month.

If you are not in a situation where a private education could even be a consideration for you, do the following:

1) Get to know your child's teacher from the very first day. Know what she expects, and be sure your child rises to her expectations.

2) VOLUNTEER, VOLUNTEER, VOLUNTEER. I can't say it enough. Your child will benefit from having Mom nearby, your school will be able to count on its parents, and your child's teacher will know she's being watched. And trust me, when it comes time for your child to be assigned again, you'll get exactly the teacher you want. School administrations give more to parents who give back.

3) Be Positive. You'll get a whole lot further with the school, teachers, and your child. Don't talk about the teacher in front of your child.

Print off this link. Post it on the fridge. And hang in there! You may just like this teacher!

http://www.pta.org/parentinvolvement/standards/pdf/App_E1.pdf

Paige

 

[Figment22]

I agree with what Crush had to say about volunteering in class if at all possible. Try to be one of the class parents. I was actually in my son's kindergarten class one day a week. His kindergarten teacher was wonderful, however but not his first grade teacher. She was one tough cookie but I was in that class every week too and because she and I had a cordial relationship, I think it made it easier for my son.

My only other piece of advice is this: PUT YOUR REQUEST IN WRITING! Our school had a policy of no teacher requests but each year I composed a well thought out letter to the principal addressing my son's specific personality and the type of teacher that would best suit his needs; not naming names. You can generally lead your request in the direction of the teacher you'd like for your child. Just to show how important putting it in writing is: My neighbor had just gone through a messy divorce and wanted her son to be in the 4th grade class that would be "looping" to 5th grade with a great male teacher. She sat in the Principal's office for about an hour telling her how important this stability and a good male figure would be for her son and was verbally assured that he'd be placed in that class. I, too, wanted my son in that class and composed my annual letter steering him in that direction. Well, July came and placement letters went out. My son was in. Great! Her son was not.
PUT YOUR REQUEST IN WRITING!

 

[Wishing on a star]

LOL PopDaddy! Yep, it was a l - o - n - g post!!!

Thanks so much for your input everyone! I have indeed thought about putting something in writing. But, the drawback I see to this is that it is there in his file, public record, forever??? I would have to be very very careful indeed about how it would be worded! One of the parents that I spoke with about this teacher actually worked at this school until about a year ago, as the School Nurse... Her thoughts were to avoid anything that would 'Label' my child. As she has a child the exact same age, who she is NOT wanting to be labeled as "special needs". (Her son is indeed behind in several areas for certain reasons....)

I am not so sure that the school really welcomes parents in the classrooms??? I will indeed check further into this... I believe that you have to fill out paperwork and go through a whole process, and then make a real commitment. One I am not really sure that I could meet.

It is a rude awakening when you always hear "Yes, get involved !.... Your childs educational success depends on it...." And then you realize that the administrators and teachers at your school do not really even want to speak with you... And, sometimes even have an adversarial type attitude... ( We are the EXPERTS... You mean nothing here... Simply be quiet, let us do what we want... You have no real consideration or parental rights.....)

To bad that a nice private school isn't an option here where we live! I am not sure we could swing it financially if there was one available.

 

[Pin Wizard]

DS has been in a Catholic school for 5 years now. He's had a couple teachers that I wish he didn't when they started the year. Last year's teacher was one of them...she's a "screamer" to quote the school guidance counselor. But as the year went along, it seemed that he was in the right section. We'll see what happens this coming year. Also, DS's godmother used to work at the parish office. I really think she's the reason he got into the school in the first place. When I mentioned my unhappiness about his teacher, she said NOT to mention it to the office because you will then for sure be placed with a teacher you don't want. But last year I made a stink with the guidance counselor when NONE of DS's friends were in his class. None of his SIX friends were in his section. I pointed out to the GC that friends are an important lifeline for us since we don't have family here. During the last couple of weeks last year she mentioned that DS's favorite friend will be with him this year. So I guess sometimes it helps to speak up. So now I know that they have the classes planned for the following year at the end of the current year. Interesting.