Quick on the Draw
You all, more than anyone else other than my family, know exactly how quick I am on the draw with complaints about issues at my son’s school. I don’t mess around. If I feel they are in the wrong, I have no problems speaking up. And, I’ve even gone so far as to complain for people who were experiencing problems that I wasn’t even involved in because the parents were afraid that their children would be mistreated.
Well, I’ve already told you, that doesn’t concern me in the least. Just because I sometimes disagree with the things that go on way over the teacher’s accountability level, doesn’t mean I mistrust the teachers at all. I’ve yet to have a complaint that was to an individual teacher. I have spoken up about some general principles but in general, it’s not necessarily something that one teacher can change. If I did not have that trust, we wouldn’t be in this school. The teachers do more than there share to make things right.
That said my little cherub, inherited my intense ability to talk too much. I’m not sure why I never got in trouble for talking at school other than the possibility that I might get in serious trouble once I was home. And, thus far, we haven’t managed to instill that fear in our son. And, on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, he came home with sad faces. I sent word for the teacher to call me if it continued but she didn’t have time. See what I mean, it isn’t the teacher’s fault that they are swamped and can’t make changes in areas that might need attention.
So, he was punished on Tuesday night and even worse on Wednesday night. On Thursday, I made a surprise visit to the school and the size of my son’s eyes when he saw me was priceless. I’m sure he will have this problem again before he is old enough to understand the consequences will continue to worsen but I feel certain that we will get many good days out of him before we have to revisit this subject.
And, as I’ve mentioned, being quick on the draw with complaints often means that compliments are never given out But, I must tell you, that his teacher does more than her share to take care of issues, only when he goes past the limit of acceptability does she let us know.
And, on Friday, we received a note from his teacher thanking us for lending support from home. She said that he was much better on Thursday and Friday and it was obvious that she appreciated our concern and involvement.
That’s what I mean when I say, yes there are problems everywhere, but my son is in one of the best school’s around. This teacher has taught first grade for 11 years and she knows what is acceptable and expected behavior. And she knows what it’s like to have parental support and to not.
Hopefully she understands that we will always stand behind her and that our support is in no way conditional! Thanks Mrs. L! We really do appreciate it!
