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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Avatar for mkatherine
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Mon, 09-10-2007 - 7:04am
well...I guess my hats off to you but I don't think I would or could ever criticize a lesosn plan having watched my mother slave over them my whole life LOL. I also honestly don't think I'd ever be involved enough to know the entire lesson plan. Yeah I'm a slacker...but seriously I don't have the energy... LOL

 

Yes. We. Did.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-18-2007
Mon, 09-10-2007 - 7:15am

Doesn't your children's school do curriculum mapping? Don't they have council meetings open to the parents where curriculum planning, design and time tabling are discussed? Can't you find out this information on your school's website with benefit of a password for your particular teacher's page?

A teacher confronted by a parent at the very start of the school year to discuss his/her curriculum can only conclude one thing - that you think he/she's an idiot. As a parent of a child in that same class, I would be upset if the teacher took you seriously and actually changed the curriculum on the basis of what a single parent demanded. But I doubt any teacher does much in response to your confrontations, other than cringe at your request for the next meeting.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-18-2007
Mon, 09-10-2007 - 7:18am
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-18-2007
Mon, 09-10-2007 - 7:28am
Well, for the record, you've made clear that you choose not to be privy to what is going on at the schools. And as I already explained to Pumpkin, I can't even imagine opting out of the traditional path all children take without knowing what the traditional schools are doing. Your children might fall behind and you wouldn't know it. Isn't that what happened when your DD entered high school and you had hoped she could go into the advanced classes but she took the regular track?
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-12-2005
Mon, 09-10-2007 - 7:32am
Strangely absent from those posts is the notion that the poster speaks with the principal daily. Nice try.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-12-2005
Mon, 09-10-2007 - 7:34am

I can see how you get that impression since you have jumped to many faulty conclusions. It seems to be a fairly typical pattern for you.

Ftr, my dd is not going the traditional path.That is all I will say regarding the bait you continually toss out in debate.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-08-2006
Mon, 09-10-2007 - 7:40am
I've never confronted a teacher in my life. Maybe they're just polite with excellent social skills, but they've never cringed when they see me coming and they've always encouraged my continued involvement.


Edited 9/10/2007 8:42 am ET by currieri
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2005
Mon, 09-10-2007 - 7:45am
I'm glad I am not the only one who trusts the teachers and school to teach my children. I am involved in my children's lives but not overly and just like you said. I have always had a good relationship with the teachers and did not feel I needed to know what my dd was doing every second of the day to know she was getting properly educated.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2005
Mon, 09-10-2007 - 7:49am
The principal is out every morning too.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2005
Mon, 09-10-2007 - 7:57am
I am so glad I live in such a good district and that is one of the reasons why we chose where we live. Yes, we pay much higher taxes but I am seeing that is worth it.

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