Parents and school involvement
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| Thu, 08-23-2007 - 8:49am |
My question stems from a personal experience. My middle child is starting kindergarten next week. I've become fairly close with one of my dd's friend's moms- this is her first child entering the school system. She WOH, I do not, plus I have experience with the school, so she's been calling me with questions and comments.
It started to go bad when she called to complain that the kindy orientation is during the day- when she is working. Then it led to complaints about the parents' read aloud program (when the kids are in library) and other opportunities for volunteerism in the school. I get that these things aren't convenient for her, but I'm getting annoyed with the complaining. How can the kids have an orientation at night when they go to school during the day? None of these events are mandatory for parents or kids. And plenty of activities are scheduled for evenings: Back to school night, the PTA picnic, etc.
She thinks because she can't participate, no one should be able to, apparently. Plenty of WOHP do show up for these things. I think she's being unrealistic if she thought she could put a couple of kids through school without ever taking a vacation day. Am I wrong? Am I missing something here?

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Uhhh, are you assuming I'm in a bad district? with bad teachers? If so, why would you assume that?
I'm glad I live where I live too. We have really good schools. But I'm still going to question, evaluate, rethink, and watch my child, his progress, his teacher and the system.
"I'm glad I live where I live too. We have really good schools. But I'm still going to question, evaluate, rethink, and watch my child, his progress, his teacher and the system."
And you should be involved in your child's life. I don't see how good a school is though that you have to do these things though. You should be able to let the schools do the teaching and if they are good enough, you wouldn't have to question them all the time.
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Even if I lived in the best district in the country, I'd do these things. It's part of my job as a parent. I may outsource my kids' educations, but I am still the one ultimately responsible for their education. I take that role very seriously.
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Ummm, where did I say I don't let them do the teaching?
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How would I know they're good enough if I don't question and evaluate?
number 2 thing i'm agreeing with you on,today ;). ita both are invaluable. i consider school board meeting much less school specific than pta (more political venues like who and where district dollars are going,etc)...and fwiw,at least one teacher rep and the school principal are always present at pta meetings,ime. this would also be the opportunity to present a vote wrt comfort zones and volunteering with siblings because teacher(s) and the principal are here,too.
have a great school year. i'm remaining cautiously optimistic about htis new one we're at.
By seeing grades each week on tests, I am well aware of my daughters strengths and weaknesses and I work with her on her weaknesses as does the school (extra help math classes before school). This is her 5th year in the school district and I have had no complaints about any of her teachers.
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Not necessarily. You could just have a kid that is good at tests. Or is smart and should be doing harder work. Or is teaching himself from textbooks instead of learning from the teacher. Or, it could be that the teacher/school *is* good. Just seeing the test scores and grades won't tell me what I personally want to know.
Thing is hazel ... I don't think you DO blindly trust the schools. I don't think you trust them nearly as much as you insist you are in this thread. The fact that you look at her grades, help her with homework, assist in areas that she needs extra work on, are involved with the pta, etc, etc says that you are doing many of the same things as I am ... You just don't classify it as doing it out of mistrust. And somehow you think I (and others) are doing it out of mistrust. And I'm not doing it out of mistrust ... not having blind trust in the school is NOT the same as mistrusting the school ... it's a subtle, but significant difference.
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