Anonymous September 22, 2009

Help with 1st grade nightmare?

Anonymous
My son’s first grade teacher is pulling his head hard telling him to focus, throwing his books from under his desk and telling him to pick it up, and when we met with her to discuss behavior she said he was sweet, but be-rated his coloring and penmanship. I’ve been told this is not her first complaint but she is twenty year in, and the staff sticks together like glue. Help, my child is in tears everynight because he can’t do anything right for her, the homework is 1 -2 ½ hours every night and she takes away his stars every day. We already met, and she didn’t care at all—just is getting worse towards my child.
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Parent Answers to "Help with 1st grade nightmare?"

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TeacherParent
TeacherParent September 23, 2009
I'd say there is too often no place to go with your documentation - that's why this teacher has been there for 20 years. Most schools are not set up to take parent input or complaints and to act upon them. And there is usually no magic wand to wave over the head of the truly bad teacher that can turn them into a good teacher.

I'd suggest directing your time and energies to establishing a realistic goal - having this teacher fired and soon would not be a realistic goal. Nor would it realistic to imagine the principal or superintendent swooping in and telling her to mend her ways.

Given your description of her and your son's understandable reaction to her, I'd suggest having him moved to another teacher's classroom. Are there other 1st grade teachers? I'd even rather my son spent an extra year in Kindergarten than to have such a teacher for 1st.

If it's not possible to have him moved to another classroom, I'd even consider homeschooling for the year or biting the financial bullet and enrolling him in a neighborhood parochial school or private school. Sometimes there are charter schools available for which there is no tuition.

If moving him to a different class or a different school is not realistic, then I'd do two things. One - I would firmly establish with this teacher and the principal that the teacher is NOT to touch your child - given that her pulls on his head frighten him - she is NOT to touch him.

And then - I'd spend as much time in that classroom as I possibly could. Get all of your clearances - you'll need those and the forms are easily found on-line. It costs some money but well worth it because once you have all your clearances, tell them you're coming in every morning to observe. Teachers who are bullies rarely have the courage to bully children when observers are in the room.
Are there other parents who feel the same way? Organize a group of parent volunteers and have a parent in there every morning.

Also tell your son that some people including some teachers are sadly mean and that you're doing your best to help him with this situation. Tell them that you understand his loss of 'stars' and that he's always a Star in your eyes. Tell him too that you've told Teacher and Principal that his teacher is NOT to touch him anymore.

And for the homework, help him all you can - with adult help, that 1 1/2 hours gets shorter. I freely admit to even doing my own son's homework for him after a certain point and for 1st graders that point is reached in an hour. 1st graders should NOT have more than an hour of homework and even that is too much but we need to be willing to compromise a bit. Sitting with son while he did his homework helped him to deal with it and knowing I'd take over after the first hour helped him to focus on that first hour.
Good luck with this and I hope you'll post back and let us know how it goes.
shanniepk
shanniepk September 23, 2009
Also, he is made an example of when he is not focusing and she has made him, along with a select few others "the examples" in the class. I will document everything and have no problem taking it as far as I need to go. My child's education and learning experience is very important to me and my husband.
shanniepk
shanniepk September 23, 2009
This particular A+ school is not conducive to admitting problems, and from the reviews I’ve read and what other people say, it will be our fault (my son’s fault) even if it’s not. We’ve asked around and others have had problems in her class. Yes, my son has a hard time focusing at school, and we spoke to the teacher about it last year. It was not as serious last year and made it through with improvement, and was well liked and not belittled or berated. Keep in mind, at this Florida school, there is no recess, the children are only allowed to socialize at PE (which is an organized 30 minute time period) and that is very limited. My son is a social child, that loves to smile and laugh. I’m not saying there isn’t a focusing issues and he’s perfect, I just want help for him if that’s the case. When I asked for any guidance from her in this area, the teacher told me just like the president says…”he needs to take responsibility for his own actions. I’m a complete believer in taking responsibility for yourself, but he is 6 and if he needs help, I’m all for it, but not to be degraded. His focus on home is fine. Maybe he doesn't pick up his room perfectly...but he acts his age. Thanks for listening.
healthy11
healthy11 September 22, 2009
If you have not been able to resolve the problem with the teacher, then you need to go to the next level of authority. If I were you, I'd document what exactly has taken place in a letter to the principal, and request a classroom change if you don't feel there's any other option. I wish it were easier, but did your son's kindergarten teacher ever mention difficulties? Do you feel he also has problems focusing at home, or following through on tasks that require detail work?

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