This school thing just keeps getting worse.

CleoKitty

I've posted about how my ds has started kindergarten at a public school this year and how disappointed we've been with the experience thus far.

Ds brought home a newsletter written by the teacher last month with lots of errors in it. Dh and I both noticed but gave the teacher the benefit of doubt. 

Today he brings home another newsletter. This time the errors are even worse. The language/syntax is totally weird, lots of random capitalization and punctuation, and repeated misuse of you're/your and too/to. I'm beginning to think that the teacher just isn't all that sharp and/or he's just really sloppy/lazy.

Beyond the horrible grammar the tone of the newsletter was also off-putting. He states that the district has cut out official time for parent-teacher conferences in their latest budget cut so he will not be offering confrences to everyone, only those who are having major problems. Anyone else will just need to speak to him informally after school at pick up time which would be fine I suppose except that in the last nine weeks I've not even once seen him when we pick him up.

In the meantime, ds complains more and more about not wanting to go to school. He says he doesn't like worksheets and that's all they ever do (pretty much true.) Besides that, the worksheets are all review for him. I can honestly say that I don't think he's learned a single thing at school in the last nine weeks.

He tells anyone who will listen that the only thing he likes about school is riding the bus. It just kills me to see him starting to get discouraged and have a negative attitude about school when he's this young, but at the same time I can't blame him.

I have no idea what to do. 

DandelionMom

This is so shitty.  Is there another option for him - like another teacher or even another school? 

My DDs' kinder experiences so far have been fabulous.  Your sweetie little smarty pants deserves the same! 

goodheartedmommy

This is so sad. This is when his love/dislike for learning will begin to take its shape. What you've described is not what a K teacher is supposed to be like. I know the teacher is limited in budget (like the extracurricular activities being cut), but they're still supposed to do the best with what they can, and worksheets all day for a 5/6 year old is not acceptable. Fight, fight, fight to get this changed--hopefully for him, but also for Anna in a few years.

Jen2124

Isn't he in 2 kindergarten's or did I make that up? If so, can't you just keep him in the other one assuming it's better?

If not, I'd look into a better school. To put it bluntly, that one sounds like it sucks.

Mickschick

I don't know how big your school district is but is there only 1 kindergarten class?

In the district that I live in there are 8 elementary schools I think. Each elementary school has 4 kindergarten classes. They don't let parents do it often but if there is a HUGE concern (which I feel in your case there is) then they will let people switch classes. Is that an option for you?

I think that at least you need to contact the teacher and let him know that you don't feel like your child is getting enough stimulation in the classroom- and if that gets you no where than go to the principal.

I'm with you 100% on not wanting your child to have a negative school experience. I want them to love school from the get go and be excited about it and not dread it. Especially since they are there for 18 years....

CleoKitty

No, we can't request another teacher or school. Requests for going to a different school are only allowed at the beginning of the year and even then it's not a guarantee. I've been told that due to budget issues they're not really approving many requests anymore.

As for another teacher, ds's school only has two kindergarten classes and he is in the only half-day class. 

Yes, he is going to another kindergarten for the second half of the day and he loves it there. Problem is that he can't go there next year. We're strongly considering taking him out of public school for the rest of the year but then I'm afraid that next year we're right back to square one. And next year, pulling him out won't be an option since he'll be in first grade. 

I did email the teacher and tell him that I want a conference next week. As far as I'm concerned, ds IS having major issues even if the teacher doesn't recognize that fact. The couple of times I've tried to talk to the teacher so far he's been in a rush and just kind of waved his hand saying, "Oh yes, Miles is great. He's just great. So well-behaved, no trouble at all..." 

 

shopgirl_07

Wow, that is such a bummer. The spelling/grammar errors alone would put me over the cliff. Do you think it's a good idea to bring your concerns to the principal? His professionalism is appalling.

Temp108743750006959

I would start making a whole lotta noise and start documenting. I would start talking to other parents.

DandelionMom

vccake:

I would start making a whole lotta noise and start documenting. I would start talking to other parents.

Vccake is right -- the loudest parents often get the best experiences for their kids.  I've found that volunteering and donating a lot to the school helps too. 

Also, find out about the first grade teachers.  Start talking to every parent.  Even if your school claims they don't take parent requests, there's always a way (our school claims they don't but I've always found a way to get the teachers I want). 

 

cnybride2be

He states that the district has cut out official time for parent-teacher conferences in their latest budget cut so he will not be offering confrences to everyone, only those who are having major problems.

check with the teacher first, then principal, then district office about how legit this is.   something does not sound right about there being no time for a parent teacher conference for some kindergarteners this year.

how many kids are in your son's class?  does the teacher also have another section of K in the afternoon?  Some do, but they still make time to meet for conferences.  it sounds really strange to me.  i don't blame you at all for being disappointed and looking into private options.

r9stedt

shopgirl_07:

Wow, that is such a bummer. The spelling/grammar errors alone would put me over the cliff. Do you think it's a good idea to bring your concerns to the principal? His professionalism is appalling.

I would be CCing the principal in on any correspondence with this teacher.   Helps you, and helps the teacher.  Did you say the teacher was new? (knew--LOL) 

Jen2124

Could he finish off school at the other Kindergarten this year and go to a different school next year? At least you have the whole rest of this year to look into other options for him next year.

Look at it this way, at least you have the option of taking him out of the sucky class and he is still enrolled in a good one. Most people wouldn't have this option. It may be a blessing in disguise that you enrolled him in both. 

I would consider taking him out too only bc I'm scared of a negative school association as well. It really sounds like this school/class is not great (or even good).

CleoKitty

r9stedt:

Did you say the teacher was new? (knew--LOL) 

Not totally new, but new-ish. He's been teaching for maybe 3-4 years. He's probably in his late 30s, so I'd guess that this was a second career for him. 

He is new to ds's school. Prior to this he taught at the absolute top school in the district and was recently transferred to our school (not the worst in the district, considered so-so by most people.) 

rebs

CleoKitty:

r9stedt:

Did you say the teacher was new? (knew--LOL) 

Not totally new, but new-ish. He's been teaching for maybe 3-4 years. He's probably in his late 30s, so I'd guess that this was a second career for him. 

He is new to ds's school. Prior to this he taught at the absolute top school in the district and was recently transferred to our school (not the worst in the district, considered so-so by most people.) 

Oh crap, as a elementary teacher myself this is a huge warning bell to me. Good teachers can move schools because they want to, but often subpar teachers get shuffled around from school to school.

I would document all of your concerns and talk to the teacher.  See how it goes, if it is not good I would talk to the principal.  And I would show the principal the newsletter. I am not impressed it would go out with so many mistakes, that is not acceptable.  In my school all letters/notes to parents have to go through the office to get double checked and to keep them aware of what is going home.

Oh, and don't get me started on worksheets in kindergarten...so not what a good kindergarten should be doing!!

Littlejen22

Call me crazy but I would keep the conference with him (assuming he gives you one) and make an appointment with the Principal, if you cannot get one I would call the school to find out if he is in the building and just show up and wait.  Bring the letters that have gone home and voice your concern that they are written horribly and that it is unacceptable that the teacher cannot write a proper letter to the parents and that he is not more willing to meet with the parents and ask why he is not at dismissal since that is his preferred way of talking to parents.  Tell the Principal that your child is not being stimulated and you want him out of the class and ask him point blank how he is going to help you (or she, not sure why I assumed male) and that if they will not make this happen in a timely matter that you will be loud.  If they will not help you I would start making a big stink, go to PTA meetings, send the letters from the teacher to the local newspaper and copy the Superintendent. 

CubbyMama

You got some great advice here.  I can't really add much to it, except to say how much it sucks when things like this happen.  There have been recent studies that suggest having one "bad" teacher or one "excellent" teacher can impact a student's progress for years afterward, and although you seem like the type of parent who will make sure your children succeed regardless of whose classroom they're in, it's awful that you have to worry about it and have no control over something that so greatly impacts your kids' future. 

I'm curious about why the teacher isn't there at dismissal--do they just send kindergarteners running out of the classroom unattended?  We have to wait for each of our kids to be picked up, high-five each student as they leave and make eye contact (at least) with their parent to make sure we know each child is leaving with the right person.  That's a safety issue if someone else isn't supervising dismissal for this guy.

The "conferences only by request" thing sounds odd to me, too.  I've never heard of an elementary school NOT doing mandatory conferences at the end of the first grading period.  I wonder if he's following the rules.

CleoKitty

Okay, so I've got more info.

 At pick-up today I approached two of the other moms and asked how half-day kindergarten was working out for them. They both took a deep breath, sighed, and then let it all out. 

Turns out they're all just as unhappy as we are. Both of their kids cry that they don't want to go to school and say school is boring (ding! ding! ding! Sounds familar.) One of the kids is struggling and behind the others. His mom says that the teacher basically makes him feel stupid and her son is afraid to ask questions now when he doesn't understand. Both moms report that their children come home saying that the teacher gets mad/frustrated easily when the kids aren't easily grasping the concepts he's trying to teach and that he's called them names (this we have not experienced personally.)

One of the moms has a close relative that also teaches at the school. This relative has said that some of the other teachers in the school have expressed concern over issues with our teacher and have gone to the principal with their concerns. Apparently he was in the teacher's lounge the other day bragging that he's only doing five conferences and the other teachers were all like, "WTH? We have 32 conferences!" 

It's also worth noting that there are only 4 kids in the half-day program. They're in a regular class and they just leave right before lunch. The rest of the kids stay all day. I don't know about any of the full-day parents, but apparently ALL of the half-day parents are very unhappy. 

And Cubby, as for pick-up he's not there because he's still with the rest of the class. Some sort of assistant/aide brings the half-day children to the door at pick-up time. 

It sucks because I actually REALLY like the teacher. He seems like a super nice guy. I guess I'm just now coming to realize that just being likable and personable isn't enough, and that even nice guys can be totally ineffective teachers.

CubbyMama

Cleo, that's horrible!  At least you won't be the only one when you go to the principal/district about it, if that's what you choose to do.  I think if you start out by conferencing with him and letting him know, as non-confrontationally as you can, what your concerns are, then it's fair for you to go over his head if/when things don't improve.  The more parents who complain, and the more documentation you have and the more insistent you are, the more will get done.  It's kind of a bummer that it works that way, but schools are definitely a "the squeaky wheel gets the grease" operation, and often teachers ourselves can't get things fixed unless parents pitch a fit about the same issue.  Threatening a lawsuit will often get you anything you want (not that I'm necessarily suggesting that, but it may not hurt to point out that your child is not getting the "highly qualified" teacher and quality education to which he's entitled under the law).

As far as the conferences go, that is NOT okay and I think you should let the principal know right away--he's basically just making less work for himself and possibly avoiding parents' concerns about his effectiveness by hoping they won't know conferences are mandatory...which they are.  What a jerk.  Nice guy or not, if he's rude to children and not helping them learn, he doesn't belong in the classroom and the kids are paying the price.