Parents and school involvement

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-17-2003
Parents and school involvement
2586
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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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-12-2005
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 7:22am
A once a month question and answer session wouldn't be enough for me.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-12-2005
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 7:32am
Sometimes that can ruin a kid, especially during the elementary years when foundational skills are being learned.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-12-2005
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 7:35am
I guess I don't see a once a month update as enough information for me.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-12-2005
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 7:36am
They know about your child's individual learning experience?
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-18-2007
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 8:06am
Nor me.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-18-2007
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 8:10am

Some do. But I also learn a lot about what is going on at the school by talking with the other parents.

Should this really be so foreign to you? As a homeschooling parent, don't you keep yourself informed about what is going on at the local schools by talking with the parents of the traditionally schooled children?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-12-2005
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 8:13am

I have a dd in the school system, so yes, I do keep myself informed as to what is happening in the schools and particularly with her education.

I don't rely on other parents for my information. I prefer to go straight to the source.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-15-2006
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 8:15am

lol.

i don't agree iwth alot of what gwb has done but school,education? absolutely..do you even realize alot of his administrative efforts for education got rooted in texas? he had to start somewhere and golly gee,he started in the state he was most familiar with.




Edited 9/7/2007 8:22 am ET by egd3blessed

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-18-2007
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 8:17am
Apparently in this discussion, unless we allow our child to languish in a failing school for a few years and then wake up and transfer them out to a different elementary school at least once, we're not doing our jobs as parent advocate!
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-18-2007
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 8:18am
Describe going "straight to the source."

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