First Grade teacher Maternity Leave
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Anonymous
| I just got a letter from the principal that my son's First Grade teacher will be out from the end of March through the end of the school year on maternity leave. While I am of course thrilled for his teacher, I am feeling a little concerned by the timing of everything. Here in MA where I live, they get report cards in December and June- that's it. I feel like 2 1/2 months is little time to get to know the kids, know if they are making significant progress, etc. I am also concerned about how my son will be with someone new- he LOVES his teacher...anyone been through this? In the letter it specifically tells the parents NOT to talk about it or mention it to the kids until the beginning of November when the teacher meets with the children and tells them. |
Anonymous
| It'll be fine. The teacher will come visit with the baby. The new teacher will do fine, your son will do fine. Report cards mean nothing in first grade anyway. |
Anonymous
| Depending on what kind of school year and there might be a lot of overlap between the teacher going on leave and the substitute. My children have twice had substitutes while their classroom teacher had a baby. We are in a parochial school so both times the teacher and substitute had lesson plans in place long before the sub actually started. Actually the first time they co-taught for two weeks before the teacher left actual maternity leave |
Anonymous
Happened to my SN son in first grade and will be happening again this year in fourth. I agree with the PP. it'll be fine. |
Anonymous
| From a legal perspective, the school is not allowed to discriminate against pregnant teachers. So, they have to allow it to happen. |
Anonymous
Yeah, it's really too bad the school can't fire her or demand an abortion. Teachers, like nannies, should not be allowed to procreate. They're here to serve OUR children. |
Anonymous
As someone whose child has BTDT, I can speak from experience when I say it may NOT be fine. DD attended a very well-regarded ES and had a very well-regarded teacher. She went out for maternity leave in ;ate January and returned in early May. Those 3-4 months there was a long-term substitute who was, to put it mildly, awful. Didn't know how to control a classroom, had a very different personal style than the normal teacher. They had to bring in the 5th Grade math teacher to teach the math since the long-term sub was incapable. Yes, my very bright DD was "fine" at the end, but it wasn't a happy few months. We were very happy to see teacher back for the last 6 weeks of school. |
Anonymous
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Better to have a great 1st grade teacher whom you LOVE who leaves end of March.... than to have a dud of a 1st grade teacher for the whole year!
OP, there's nothing you can do so don't give it a moment's thought. |
Anonymous
| Is this post real? |
Anonymous
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Seriously??? Teachers can get pregnant and they do have lives. Sorry your precious snowflake has to adjust. How inconsiderate of the teacher not to think of you when she got pregnant.
This makes me so angry. |
Anonymous
| IT WILL BE FINE. It's great for schools to be supportive of young teachers. It's not like it's 11th grade AP History. |
Anonymous
You know that AP History teachers are allowed maternity leave, too? Why should teachers not be allowed to have personal lives? That's why god made substitutes. |
Anonymous
| OP here- thanks for the (mostly) helpful replies. I was in no way insinuating that the teacher has no right to have a baby, for those of you who somehow interpreted my post that way! I was just asking how your kids handled the transition. I guess we shall see how it goes. |
Anonymous
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OP,
It's odd that the school expects the community to keep this under wraps for five or so weeks ... Chances are a child will overhear parents discussing this before then. I'd have given a weekend's notice. I'd be prepared for the announcement to come sooner! I do think it will be fine, too. Best of luck with it all. Also, first grade report cards don't count for much, not sure what the concern there is. |
Anonymous
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It's something you'll have to get used to, OP. Teachers with extended absenses will happen throughout your child's school years. Young children usually adapt rather quickly to a change in teacher; most elementary schools are very selective about who they will choose as a long-term sub.
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