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: 03-26-2003
Mon, 09-10-2007 - 9:19am
You object to your child learning spelling words????

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 09-10-2007 - 9:23am

IMO, objecting to spelling words is micromanagement of the teachers. Are your kids in public or private school?


Also, you indicate that all of your children have special needs.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 09-10-2007 - 9:25am

Do you think your childrens' teachers have time to talk to the parents of every students 3 days out of 4?


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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 09-10-2007 - 9:26am
Yes. the principal does the same in our school, but that doesn't mean she has time to chat with each individual parent several times a week.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 09-10-2007 - 9:35am
How often have you e-mailed and spoken with your dd's teachers?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-04-1997
Mon, 09-10-2007 - 9:43am
I can't even imagine a scenario where being abused is "the right choice." It's not a matter of "luck." It's a matter of principle.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-04-1997
Mon, 09-10-2007 - 9:45am
I get a detailed narrative from each of my children's teachers every three weeks. If there are problems, I get a call or an e-mail in between times.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-04-1997
Mon, 09-10-2007 - 9:49am
Why would I move house? I LIKE my neighborhood.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-14-2007
Mon, 09-10-2007 - 9:54am
None yet. Her back-to-school night is tonight, and I'll meet them all for the first time today. Not only is she a more traditional student, but she has SEVEN teachers to Callahan's one.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-04-1997
Mon, 09-10-2007 - 9:56am
I don't think, in a good system, kids should need "spelling words" by the 7th grade. My kids were proficient spellers by 4th or 5th grade. The only "spelling words" they have in middle school are Latin vocabulary words and they need to learn some specialized vocabulary in each of their core subjects, which they are also responsible for spelling correctly. But I would think spelling drills and spelling tests would be a thing of the past by 7th grade.

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