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 - 2:12pm
Nothing as usual.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-14-2007
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 2:13pm
I use the pythagorean theorem all the time. I memorized the equation early in school. But I still know it, and use it today, not because I memorized it, but because I've used it over and over and also because I was taught, by a great teacher, how the thing works, why it works, etc. It's been very useful.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-27-1998
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 2:16pm

Hey, I'm just trying to figure out how these extremes keep becoming part of the debate when everyone is pretty much talking about middle ground.


PumpkinAngel

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-12-2005
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 2:18pm
Good luck with that!;-)
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-27-1998
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 2:22pm

I agree and it's interesting the re-shuffled the way they are doing the upper grades at my son's school and it's much more departmentalized than before.

PumpkinAngel

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2007
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 2:25pm
i will admit that last year i probably pushed my dd too hard when it came to taking calc. not perhaps for her academically but definately for her interest. and she struggled in the class the whole year. while i dont have a problem with her struggling in the class, i think for her that was a good thing in a way, to show her that not everything is going to come easily, looking back i would probably be inclined to have let her drop the class when she wanted to because the interest just wasnt there.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2005
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 2:27pm

<>

Oh my children love to go to school, for their friends....but I want them to love to learn, not just be happy to gone to school.

Where did I say she didn't love to learn or is just going for "her friends"?

"Perfect attendance is not something we strive for either. shrug."

Never thought that was a bad thing. I think it actually makes you more disciplined in the future.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2005
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 2:28pm

"Because often they are not, in daily classroom work because that classroom work is aimed at the largest percentage of the class. It works just fine for the large minority, but some need help and some are not challenged as well. Kids are all over the map academically in elementary school, especially in the younger grades."

Of couse they are all over the map but a good teacher will see which children need help and which ones are excelling and will give them other resources to help.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2005
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 2:31pm

"2. Grades that represent strong effort and an upward trend.
Grades should show an upward trend over the years. However, slightly lower grades in a rigorous program are preferred to all A's in less challenging coursework.

3. Solid scores on standardized tests (SAT, ACT).
These should be consistent with high school performance."

I consider these to be one of the biggest things to get into college.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-06-2004
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 2:32pm
There is nothing wrong with striving for perfect attendance.

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