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Home : 2005 : May : 11
Teachers spend several hours a day with students and
Unfortunately my son takes things very literally and seriously. I say unfortunately because he had a kdg teacher that does not belong with young kids at all. She was downright demeaning to these kids. Kids in this class even had accidents because their right to use the toilet was denied. My son ended up back on medication for GI issues that had been under control for 2 years but came back during the kdg year due to withholding his bowel movements because he was afraid to ask permission to use the bathroom since this teacher put the kids down and yelled at them for asking. She also vocally praised speed as opposed to quality of work. Sure quality work got a smiley face, but was not vocally praised like being the first person done was. Yet if a child rushed and their coloring was sloppy, their paper did not get a smiley face. After helping in her classroom the first week of school, I went home in tears after seeing how she treated some of the kids. My child was not one of them on her radar at that time, but if someone else was being yelled it, he internalized it. I could not afford to pull him out and put him in private school, so I became "super volunteer" and was available anytime the teacher needed me. I helped the children in that classroom in many ways. At the very least, I can cite many examples of why this teacher shouldn't be teaching such a young grade, but I had to concentrate on helping improve my son's educational experience which took a nosedive that year (although his grades were good). Unfortunately, I was NOT there every minute. Mid year, (Jan) I pestered the speech path at school to re-evaluate my son's speech. After being accepted to speech class, at his IEP, his kdg teacher actually told me she'd been trying to make him say "f" instead of "s" all year - and that "now it makes sense that he CAN'T say it". Why wouldn't she discuss a possible issue with his parents? Anyway, there were so many issues that I personally witnessed that it was depressing. Unfortunately it only took about 4 weeks before my son stopped jumping out of bed and getting ready for school with a smile. I did NOT want a repeat of that year. Education is important to me. I think most of us know that the first few years of school are the building blocks for our kids' educational future. An experience like my son had in kdg takes several years to get over - and certain aspects of it still linger as my son finishes 4th grade this year. Thankfully, by becoming so involved, I met a lot of people. I also found out about requesting. I've watched teachers in action in the halls & on the playground as well as listening to them as I passed their classrooms. Year after year I also ask parents about their childrens' experience in various classrooms. With all of this in mind, I still keep in mind that some children do well with one type of teacher, while other children do well with another type. I have been fortunate to have found fabulous 1st through 4th grade teachers. Fortunately, the principal has listened to me as a parent. But before my request letters have gone in, I've always discussed the importance of finding the right teacher with my son's teacher at that time (not incl. kdg). Our teachers are not allowed to recommend teachers to parents, but are given the chance for input to the principal. All of my son's teachers have said they had a teacher in mind for him because he does need a "calm person with a hands on approach" and not someone who just stands up front and lectures as well as loses their temper often. Anyway, I am thankful that the class list is not made just by one person's input alone. A fantastic article to read about making up class lists and the difficulty in doing so can be found at: www2.widener.edu/~egr0001/EDControversy/Carney.html
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