BSSM Middle School

[Anonymous]

Parent of a 6th grader at BSSM. We had an incredible experience with the lower school, but have been disappointed at every turn in the middle school so far. The teachers go out of their way to get the kids in trouble and they seem overwhelmed. One teacher told parents and students that a test would replace 5 quiz scores and then changed her mind after the test was taken. Another teacher tells the class to “shut up”. We’re frustrated with the lack of teaching and poor math program as well. So disappointing.

[Anonymous]

I googled BSSM and the only school that came up was Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry. Which seems unlikely.

What school are we talking about?

[Anonymous]

St Mary’s/ Basilica School of St Mary

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I googled BSSM and the only school that came up was Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry. Which seems unlikely.

What school are we talking about?

That one would be so much more interesting though.

[Anonymous]

The middle school at St. Mary's has always had a lot of turnover, but last year they lost a good 75% of the staff due to some poor administrative decisions.

Replacing those teachers was probably difficult and led to hiring some inexperienced teachers.

[Anonymous]

The teachers go out of their way to get the kids in trouble.

Somehow I doubt this.

Keep in mind kids in MS are harder in some respects (behavior).

Agree the math program is not optimal, but there are many ways to overcome this challenge.

Re: the shut up comment, my guess is they asked the students to be quiet in class multiple times before the shut up comment. I am fine with this - I volunteered a lot in MS and there were many students I wanted to say ‘shut up’ to regularly.

[Anonymous]

It is never okay for a teacher to tell students to shut up.

[Anonymous]

Like many schools, there have been a lot of post Covid turnovers. There have been a couple threads on this.

They probably have had to hire young, inexperienced teachers. Also they do not pay as much public or other independent schools. The class sizes are about the same as public too.

[Anonymous]

It is never okay for a teacher to tell students to shut up.

I would give the teacher grace at least once, maybe twice. If a teacher is saying this, it is usually because a child continues to speak, after they have been warned politely and about times.

I would hope the teachers are ensuring that the parents are aware of which kids need more reinforcement of the basic rules at school, which have not changed.

Sorry OP, I’m not empathetic, and my last DC graduated so I know I don’t know the newest teachers but I hear parents complain about the teachers, perhaps they should complain about some of the kids. The respect is not there as it once was.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The teachers go out of their way to get the kids in trouble.

Somehow I doubt this.

Keep in mind kids in MS are harder in some respects (behavior).

Agree the math program is not optimal, but there are many ways to overcome this challenge.

Re: the shut up comment, my guess is they asked the students to be quiet in class multiple times before the shut up comment. I am fine with this - I volunteered a lot in MS and there were many students I wanted to say ‘shut up’ to regularly.

PP, What are the “many ways to overcome this challenge” with the math program? Supplementing at home? Many of the students are already being tutored outside of school in the middle school.

Like all new teachers they to a school they needed mentoring. Specifically with classroom management and the curriculum. That is a leadership problem— as they hire teachers and train the teachers in the curriculum used at the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The teachers go out of their way to get the kids in trouble.

Somehow I doubt this.

Keep in mind kids in MS are harder in some respects (behavior).

Agree the math program is not optimal, but there are many ways to overcome this challenge.

Re: the shut up comment, my guess is they asked the students to be quiet in class multiple times before the shut up comment. I am fine with this - I volunteered a lot in MS and there were many students I wanted to say ‘shut up’ to regularly.

PP, What are the “many ways to overcome this challenge” with the math program? Supplementing at home? Many of the students are already being tutored outside of school in the middle school.

Like all new teachers they to a school they needed mentoring. Specifically with classroom management and the curriculum. That is a leadership problem— as they hire teachers and train the teachers in the curriculum used at the school.

I worked many, many years ago (before your kids were born). It was the most dysfunctional, chaotic place with no mentoring of any kind. Since this before there was a widely available curriculum on teachers pay teachers or other websites, I pieced together my own materials. I've worked in more "challenging" environments, but I felt the least successful at St. Mary's.

[Anonymous]

Sorry to hear that PP.

Figuring out the math for us was different for each DC. We did an extra online math program for 2 and a tutor for one with LD and greater needs.

[Anonymous]

I worked at Saint Mary's too. I did not feel successful either. I did not get help that I needed to have the class succeed.

[Anonymous]

I believe that the teacher that OP was referring to (the 6th grade English teacher) has now left the profession (this was her third year teaching, at three different schools, which should have been a tip-off during the hiring process). So, null point now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I worked at Saint Mary's too. I did not feel successful either. I did not get help that I needed to have the class succeed.

If the BSSM teachers are not getting the proper support, that is a leadership problem. The principal needs to step up, as does the instructional coach, to make every classroom succeed.