March 28, 2008

• In the news

   

  In the news

   

  Apparently, I have ruffled some feathers. Not that it concerns me, but apparently some people were not pleased with this post. Suddenly, I’m getting reaction months after the fact because students found the post and told the teacher. Btw…note the date of that post. It was last year. Then someone came in and commented, telling me basically, that it was “unnecessary” and mentioning this woman’s pregnancy as a factor.

   

  This person does not identify themselves in regard to their relational interest in the situation (I wonder about pseudonyms), but does attempt to endorse the teacher with a statement about her “caliber.” For the record, know that the teacher made public comments to my son about my post in her classroom, telling him to notify me not to write any more “lies” about her in my blog.

   

  Now, it seems unreasonable and “unnecessary” to me for an adult to publicly comment in a manner meant to embarrass and humiliate their students, yet be so incensed when an equal posts public comments in regard to that person’s unethical behavior in defense of the child.

   

  If she wanted to address me, she has my number and email, and could have contacted me herself, but clearly, she is using every opportunity to attack my son, so this is the manner in which she communicated her annoyance with me. We’re talking about a 12 year old kid and a grown woman whose responsibility is to teach without bias, and without using her position to influence or deter the personal beliefs of the children in their care. She should know better.

   

  I realize that some children are a handful, and some parents don’t care, but I’m not one of them. I also realize that my son is a bit outspoken (gee, wonder where he gets that from), and he does need to learn tact, but he is still a kid, therefore, his lack of tact is to be expected at times. I don’t expect to see that from an adult who has a responsibility to teach and/or influence children. Therefore, the “caliber” that was mentioned in regards to this teacher is still in question due to her conduct.

   

  I have no problem with defending what we believe in, which was blatantly attacked in her classroom, so for those with an issue concerning that defense…sorry, but that will not change.

   

   

  Recently, my son told me that he addressed this teacher after school (sensible) and asked her why she was contradicting her statements (basically every time they were challenged or brought up by me), and he flat out told her she was lying, because she kept trying to deny statements she made to him in class. Her response basically, was how dare he, (a kid) speak to her about her conduct.

   

  Now, like I said, my son does get outspoken at times, and I don’t say that to excuse him. He will call me to the mat if he thinks for a minute that I’ve lied to him about anything. He still needs to be respectful, but he tends to speak this way when he’s been offended or is stressed or upset. It is apparent to me that this teacher continually gets him in that emotional state. None of his other teachers have this sort of issue with my son. Their issues have mainly been whether or not he’s completing his assignments and paying attention in class, and sometimes his tendency to be a little overemotional, but there is no personal problem with him and any other teacher.

   

  He told me that after this teacher returned from her maternity leave, she told the class that she was going to start over with them. He said she showed them pictures of her baby on the computer, which he said was very cute. I told him, if she is willing to start over with everyone, then you do the same; forgive and let the past go. Unfortunately, it does not appear that sentiment of hers lasted long.

   

  He told me a day or so later, that she had worn a nice outfit, and he simply told her that she looked nice. He said the next day she came back and told him not to “comment on her body parts.” He came home highly upset, because he couldn’t believe she would say that when his intention was only to give her a compliment. He said, “I was just trying to be nice.”

   

  When the bias against my son is to the point that he can’t even give a simple compliment to this individual without being subjected to some harsh, extreme response, then I have an obligation as a parent to get involved, especially now that he has apparently been banned from her classroom.

   

  He was not allowed in there last week after he addressed her after school about her comments. It is more than obvious her actions are punitive in nature, and his banishment from her class had nothing to do with disruptive behavior, but only with the fact that he dared to challenge her about her conduct. At least he waited until after school to address her, which is more professional than her public displays in the classroom meant to humiliate him.

   

  I have to say that her banishment of him from her class was actually a blessing, because I had already requested that he be moved to another classroom due to her obvious bias against him.

   

  What I wonder about is the reason this teacher’s students were looking her up on the web, because that’s how they found my site. Was it to discover more about this “caliber” of hers? (Whatever their opinion on it may be…)

   

  Additionally, it seems that it is a necessity to defend children being subjected to this sort of unprofessional and unethical conduct. It is also apparent that such defense becomes necessary when the children’s comments are not taken into serious consideration because they are children.

   

  I know my son, and I know when he’s exaggerating and when he’s being truthful. I tend to ask him “What did you do before this…” in reference to whatever he’s telling me, so I can see if he initiated something that caused the reaction he received. There are parents out here that do communicate regularly with their kids, and know them.

   

  Perhaps the public schools need to initiate a feedback mechanism, so that the school and school board can have a better idea what’s really going on in these classrooms. One would think that if enough children were stating a problem with the same teacher, it would need to be looked into.

   

  In college, we do an end of the semester anonymous evaluation of the instructor for each class. The instructor has to leave the room, while the students write their evaluations and their grade on the teacher; and those evaluations are placed in an envelope and sealed. The instructor is required to submit these envelopes to the department head or dean/principal for review. If the instructor is the department head, then naturally, it has to go to someone higher.

   

  Maybe this is a practice that needs to be instituted in the public grade school system as well for younger kids so that they can freely express how they feel about what they were taught, the teacher, and the classroom. These forms also allow for comments on how the teacher, class or instruction can be improved, and after these are reviewed by the superior, the instructor also gets to review them so they can make necessary adjustments.

   

  I’m sure that my son is not the only child in that classroom that is subject to this unethical conduct of hers, (perhaps not as extreme as with my son) but perhaps the other kids are too afraid of her to speak up. She already threatened to fail my son, and to cause him trouble, so my son got to the point of not caring much about being afraid to speak up.

   

  Since children’s voices are so rarely heard and so little attention is given to their concerns in public school, this might be a way to accommodate them, and address problems that administrators cannot see or that may be hidden.

   

  I also don’t think that teachers should be punitively grading students because they don’t like their attitude, or the frustration the child may express when communicating with them. They are the adults, and should at least attempt to encourage better communication or attitude especially by personal demonstration. Their response is going to demonstrate that, and lead that child in adjusting their attitude or communication, or digressing and ultimately making it worse.

   

  To just punitively grade a child because they express some frustration is not making the situation better. It only serves to frustrate the child more, especially because they are supposed to be graded on their school work, not their attitude. I say this in regards to attitude vs. disruption in the classroom, but still the adult can address the frustration in a better manner than just a write off with a bad grade.

   

  Just my thoughts on the matter, and I don’t apologize for them. Some may think that my posting my thoughts on this is unnecessary, but the reason these things continue to be unaddressed is that no one speaks up…too afraid to rock the boat. I have “He who overcame the world” within, so fear has no place in my life, and I’m obligated to speak up for righteousness.

   

  Perhaps some teachers need to be more wary of what they say to impressionable children. Just knowing that there are parents out here willing to address this sort of stuff might help.

   

  Pray for this teacher and all teachers, because clearly, prayer is needed. Age has little to do with dignity and respect, and I see no reason why teachers that expect such can’t give it as well. Aside from that, prayer is so badly needed for the public school system and the children subjected to it. Peace and blessings.

   

   

  • 3:33 pm
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