MY KID'S TEACHER

My Kid's Teacher | May 4, 2003 | Luis Gonzalez

[Luis Gonzalez]

Just before going to bed tonight, as I kissed my oldest boy good night, he perked up and reminded me of the note his teacher had sent home on Friday. I assured him that I would read it, and tucked him in.

I knew that the note was about the upcoming School Book Fair, he attended his first one last year, and it was a great experience for him. It was the first time he was trusted with money to spend all on his own.

He is a First grader with Third Grade reading skills, I was an avid reader as a kid, and every time I see him sitting with a book on his lap, I feel like I'm walking on air.

I went downstairs and looked for the note, I wanted to see what was expected of him, and how payment for the books would be handled.

I have copied the note word by word below, the note written, and sent home, by the person who is teaching my boy to read and write.

I have left the particulars out for obvious reasons.

I am sending the note to Tallahassee, and asking for this teacher's removal.

[dixie sass]

I beg to differ with you on that Sloth. It is very much his concern otherwise he wouldn't be teaching the subject. It it his/her job to see that correct English is used all day, every day.

If a teacher told had told my son that, he would have bee yanked from class.

Oh, by the way, a friend, Priscilla M., who was an English Teacher is the person who gave myself and two others that advice.

She is an ex-nun and taught both her and in the American School in Geneva. She was appalled at what she found in the school systems in the USA what she came home. She is one of the very few who really try to impart knowledge to her students.

[tuna_battle_slight_return]

If the teacher says "Oh, my goodness, I must have been half asleep when I wrote that. I'm so sorry," then I wouldn't be worried."

But you know this isn't the case.

[DeSoto]

"Why not homeschool your child if you feel the teacher is inadequate?"

No problem...do I get my taxes back since I will not be using the service?

No?

In that case, I want better for my buck.

Are you willing to risk your child's education on the expectation that you can change what is wrong in public schools? Which is more important to you, your money or your child's education?

My former brother tried to change the system, he volunteered, served on committees, spent time with district officials and the result is my nephew who is functionally illiterate and works as a ditch digger (backhoe operator’s helper). My nephew is not stupid, just a victim of a father’s neglect and public school system that is beyond repair.

Get your children into either private school (and watch them like a hawk) or homeschool them. Whatever you do, don’t try to get demand your money’s worth from the school taxes, it’ll never happen.

The cost of private school is comparable to the payments of a new car. Our son goes to private school and we drive 15 year old cars. There is always a way if you are willing to look for it.

[mhking]

Sounds like whoever translated the original "All Your Base" has found work after all....simply pathetic. So much for public school...

Go sic'em, Luis...

[Luis Gonzalez]

I loved England, it was by far the best place that I have ever visited. But it fell short of American standards in the Hospitality industry.

I have been all over this hemisphere,

Mexico, Venezuela, Uruguay, Paraguay, El Salvador (had a carbine held to my head by what turned out to be government troops there--thank God), Isla Margarita, The US Virgin Islands, Aruba, Jamaica, Argentina, The Caymans...

I'll take a mid-class American Hotel over a five star in any of those countries any time.

[nopardons]

The teacher's note IS part of her class room performance. At least that is exactly what used to be taught to those college students ( back in the dark ages, when I was one )in such classes as PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES; which BTW were required of all those who were going to be teachers. She was explaining the planned trip as well as the need for tissues. The latter being NOT the primary reason for this note.

Your abject lack of reading comprehension is only surpassed by your trenchant incivility and pomposity.

[Rushmore Rocks]

What's really frightening is that many of these teachers graduated at the "bottom" of their class....just like many of our doctors....but that's another topic!

A side note, my daughter had 100% participation at parent/teacher conferences last month. She was pretty pleased about that. But she graduated at the "top" of her class.

[tuna_battle_slight_return]

Good for you. I hope to travel extensively some day, too. I've only been to England. I'm not far from the Canadian border, but I've never even visited Canada, believe it or not!

[dixie sass]

No, honeygrl, teaching of the basic subjects always starts at home and your oldest is at the age where it should have already started.

[FirstTomato]

The reality is that if this teacher, who obviously cares enough to write home, is removed, she may be replaced with someone much much worse.

Making the system better is much harder than getting some poor soul sacked because her note home didn't meet your high expectations. Get to work and change the system from the top down. Its far too easy to attack the teachers, because they don't have the power. If you want better schools, go after the root causes of the problems and effect real change.

[supercat]

If the teacher says "Oh, my goodness, I must have been half asleep when I wrote that. I'm so sorry," then I wouldn't be worried."

But you know this isn't the case.

Does seem unlikely, but since I know nothing about the teacher aside from the note I really can't say for certain.

[annyokie]

Understand that I am not slamming your daughter. She sounds like a very dedicated girl as are many other teachers.

I was only refering to persons who were ed majors when I did my undergrad.

[Luis Gonzalez]

I am a product of the Public school system, I consider myself an educated individual.

You only get out that which you are willing to put in.

I can't either place my kids in a private school, nor can I home school them at this time. But I can demand better from the system, and I can make damned sure that I am completely involved in their education.

Most parents believe that their parental obligations end at the school gate, and then, years later, they are outraged at the results of their negligence.

[nopardons]

Which, my friend, you are more fluent in, than many on FR who's mother tongue is English. :-)

BTW..." on the media center ? How is it possible for the book fair to be held ON a " media center " and what the bloody H is a " media center " ?

[woofie]

I was hired as an art teacher at a private school in the 80s ....I had no teaching credentials but I had been awarded a grant, had a college degree, etc., I had only 2 weeks to prepare for classes...I quickly wrote up a handout that had several spelling and grammatical errors ... We went over it in class and kids were told to correct my errors. I had a student get mad at me because I was tough...(art should be easy but I gave failing grades to students who failed) The kid complained to the parent, parents looked at my handout which the student had not corrected...parents went to headmaster.....I was hauled into the headmaster's office and read the riot act...I proofread and corrected all handouts diligently after that.

[nopardons]

You're welcome. :-)

[LWalk18]

The problem is that teachers are required to have education majors- which supposedly teach you how to teach- instead on in the subject they want to teach. Education major are not even offered in top colleges, so right then the "best" students in the country cannot become teachers.

Instead of having education undergraduate majors, they should allow someone who, for example, wants to become a English teacher, to major in English and then take a year-long master's program in Education. This would allow students from all colleges, including the best, to become teachers and also allow older people with work and life experience to try at a second career. I do not think you will get the teacher's unions to agree to this.

[dixie sass]

Any teacher that demanded the best from her students deserves full support. If it mean ten pages of homework as opposed to five, tough, get it done.

[Luis Gonzalez]

High expectations?

You consider proper grammar "high expectations" from a grammar teacher?

Would you argue that the the guy at Jiffy Lube who forgot to pour oil back in your engine shouldn't be blamed for his mistake, because he seemed to be a caring individual and showed concern for the low level in the windshield wiper fluid receptacle?

[Luis Gonzalez]

The media center is where they keep their computers and television sets.

They watch news in the morning, with older kids as anchors.