PTO Today

I know this is not a PTO mater, But I need advice on what to do. Today we found out that we are losing another teacher because of the Principal. My son just got a new teacher in his class. The other teacher was not doing her job. She was not teacher the kids what they needed to be taught. She was not grading the paper that the kids did do, until I went to the principal and ask to see my son work. Then I would get graded work from her. It took all most half of the year to get a new teacher for my son's classroom. My son is in Third grade. He is a A student but if he does not have a strong teacher. That will teach the kids, but also keep the class under control. He can not learn. I was in his room for one full week to see how the class ran. There was student that were out of there seats all day long. Even when they took a test, they were up. The teacher would leave the class room to watch the class beside her. So that teacher could go find a student that would just walk all over the school when ever he wanted to. The story the student get each week. They are suppose to read at least three time in one week, before they take the test, they only read once. So we would read them at home along with his other homework. This was hard on him and on my family to. I'm concern about next year because the best teacher in forth grade is leaving at the end of the year because of the principal. The other teachers in forth grade are new teacher and they may not be there next year. I know of about five other teacher leaving because of him. He has also let our PTO take over the school and make some major decision. I would love to stay at the school but My family can not take the chance of having another year like this year started out being. What can I do?

There is nothing more important than your child's teacher. I am a principal who has always fought the system. Don't listen to the advice telling you to hang in there because a bad teacher is a learning experience. It's awful and has devastating effects on kids for a long time.

Find the best teacher you can and change schools if you need to. Good luck.

When deciding what to do about this situation look at this way: You're child is being cheated out of the education he needs and deserves. The education you are paying for with your tax dollars.

Express to the teacher your concerns, then go to the principal, and continue right on up the chain of command, until you get change. The change must be immediate, don't wait it out until next year. If you don't feel you are getting the situation resolved, then move your child to another school that will provide him with a proper education.

Keep us updated on your progress. Good luck!!

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Hey Rocky, watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat.

charter schools, parochial schools, private schools, home school, or move to another school and or distrtict

One of my children had the unfortunate luck of having a bad teacher one year and it was a good learning experience to say the least, but it also taught me to appreciate a good teacher all the more

Here's what I did:
After complaining to the principal once (which didn't do a much good), I went to our states ed site and downloaded their curriculam guidelines and set up lesson plans at home. I also talked with a few other parents and got them to loan me some of their children's work. I got lucky that one of my friends who had a child a year ahead of mine had kept all of her kid's work from the previous year
I just added in a few extra wooksheets in everyday to my kid's homework and he didn't lose any learning for the year.
Luvmykids is right don't let this slide by, the damage have severe educational and longterm ramifications.

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CuntryBumpkin

I am in school for education and we just talked about the lasting effects of one bad teacher, who has not taught the children what they need in one grade. Research shows that it takes 3 years of GOOD (not ok, but really good) teachers to make up for one bad year.

If academic achievement of all students is not the main goal of this school, GET OUT!! Otherwise, what are they all there for? Plus NCLB mandates that students pass state tests. If you don't feel your child can pass those tests, go to the board of ed or to the state BOE. Not only is your child affected, but so are all others. Talk to other parents in the class, and see how they feel. Get together with some of them and seek action.

GOOD LUCK!

Is there another teacher in the present school that you have heard good things about? Request your child be transfered into that classroom for all of the reasons that you propose. If the Principal will not do this it would be time to go to their boss, likely the Superintendant of Schools, or the leader of the town's School Committee.

Worst case, there may be another avenue...

I know that due to the "No child left behind act" that certain scores are looked at on a yearly basis and set improvment must be shown each year. In my state it is the MCAS scores. Because of the "No child left behind act" I know that in my town if a school is behind the national requirement (which all but two of the Elelmentary Schools are) then a parent has the right to have their child in the "better" school. In fact, the system has to even provide bussing for this purpose.

With the problems that you have explained It is more than likely that your school is not within the acceptible parameters, but I would recommend checking. If your Principal has issues putting your child in the other class then you might wish to reference this and explain how you will then be planning on talking with the Superintendant of Schools about transfering your child.

Hope things work out,

PresidentJim

Thank you all for your help. It took all year, a two page letter, and a note from my kids Dr. to get my kids out of that school. They are going to a new school next year. It was hard because the kids are going to have to start over with new teachers and new friends. They are good kids and happy kids so I know they will be ok. Thank you all !!!

They will do just fine I'm sure. They've got a mom who cares and is willing to fight for her kids. Think of the great experiences they will have at their new school and how much happier and enriched their lives will be!

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Hey Rocky, watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat.

Good for you for doing whats right for your kids, they adapt quickely and will make new friends. Dont worry about the change, make it into a new challenge to start a new network of friends for them.

There is nothing worse for a kid than a poorly run school...a poorly run school means lots of things including the bad teachers never get the improvement, mentoring or, worst case, change (removal), they need. THere is nothing more important than good strong leadership and if your principal didnt inspire confidence, you did the right thing by moving. You cant expect people who (helped) caused a problem to solve it.