student teacher

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student teacher
By Lainey

I just had a wonderful student teacher this year. Always on time (early in fact)and wonderful, thoughtout lesson plans. I see your point of view. I think that because she was rushed through the fast track, she has sort of
missed the boat on brain research, child development (that will be a shock when she goes to 5th grade), the importance of planning, etc. Or she, may feel she needs to pull back for some reason - perhaps she feels you are critical in a nonpositive way. Here in the South, you never really know what someone thinks because many people are not confrontational. (That's another subject altogether.)
Your

principal may have his or her own reasons for hiring her. Around here it is sometimes called "the good ol' boy network." He must owe her a favor because
a) they are related somehow,
b) they know mutual people
c) they have some sort of fraternal/sorority connection,.
d) they went to the same school
e) she has told him you were critical of her and he has sympathy for her

Believe it or not, people are actually hired based upon who they know and not what they know.

I bet if you dig deeper you will find some connection somewhere. And, if there is one, you do not want to be on her 'bad' side if she confides to the principal.

Even though your principal has not observed her in the classroom, he may have seen her in the hall and asked,"How is it going?" complaints can go both ways. Who knows what she could have already told him. I remember my seminar days and ALL the students were complaining about their cooperating teachers after a few weeks -- "They don't do this. She put their desks in rows, I can't believe what she said to this one kid, She uses me for her secretary. etc...etc..."

Reading between the lines, your principal has discounted your opinion for some reason. I would worry more about that than what the student teacher does in her classroom.