Spinoff: Teachers, what would you like to tell parents, but can't.

[Anonymous]

To the majority of teachers, I would say thanks you, every day, for what you do. The stress, always being "on," managing teaching, nurturing, and administrative functions, etc. Just wow.

Sadly, though, I would like to tell a number of teachers that I do not trust their judgment because they do not appear very engaged with the kids and because they seem, frankly, not very smart. To the few condescending teachers at the school, I'd like them to understand that they are only being tolerated because there aren't better options readily available, not because people buy their BS.

The people from my high school who became teachers did not do well academically, and did not seem particularly intellectually gifted. They were mainly women who married when they were younger and wanted (at least the two I've spoken with) what they thought would be an easier schedule. Perhaps fine for elementary school, but several of these women are now teaching in high schools. This really had me scared until I met some of the terrific teachers at my kids' school. I think some people, though, assume all teachers are in this category.

[Anonymous]

All of the teachers I work with are very highly educated. They are required to take graduate coursework until they earn their grad degree (we are given 5 years to do this). We are only reimbursed about 50% of this tuition. I'm surprised that this isn't on the chopping block in today's economic climate. Then, we are required to take a certain number of credits in order to keep our licenses. So every teacher in my school except one (she has only been at our school for 2 yrs) has their Master's degree and most of them have their Master's plus 30 credits. It may not require that much intellect to teach 2nd grade math or reading but there is much more to teaching than that. It isn't easy to get and keep the attention of 25 kids at that age. Good teachers make it look effortless. After student teaching (most teachers do that for 8-12 weeks), there is very little opportunity for teachers to see other teachers "in action." In this day and age, the teachers who didn't do well in college aren't going to get a job b/c there are 20+ candidates for the position who did do well.

[Anonymous]

I'm sensing that a lot of teachers are here feeling unappreciated. I just want to say thank you for all you do. I know it's not easy. And when you tell me something about my kid, I take it very seriously. Because you are a professional and I respect that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sensing that a lot of teachers are here feeling unappreciated. I just want to say thank you for all you do. I know it's not easy. And when you tell me something about my kid, I take it very seriously. Because you are a professional and I respect that.

Thank you. We don't hear that very often, and I for one appreciate it.

[Anonymous]

Something I wish I could tell parents, but know I shoudln't:

"Most days, it feels like the kids are getting in the way of my paperwork. I don't want it to be like that. But often, it is."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your child is a bully and is terrorizing some of his/her classmates on a daily basis.

I would not hesitate to tell a parent this. Unacceptable behavior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One student at a private school said:
Tell our fathers that they owe us more than their wealth and absense

"Dear Child,
I'll be home more frequently when your school tuition increases at the same rate of inflation. I'll continue to work this hard to pay for your tuition. We can't afford it anymore but, will sacrifice all for you to have what we believed at the time to be the absolute very best education for you. I miss you too and hope you'll understand. Love, Dad"

[Anonymous]

Private education is a choice like many other things in life. Unless your public school is substandard and you don't have any other choices, you don't have to choose a private school.

[Anonymous]

just as the statistics show . . .

Anonymous wrote:5 years

Anonymous wrote:
As a teacher, I have to say that you're the type to give the rest of us a bad name.

And before you decided to SAH, how long DID you teach?

Anonymous wrote:I SAH now, but what I really wanted to tell parents was: I am not your employee. I am not your nanny. Actually, I am quite certain that you have no idea that I am wealthy, much wealthier than you. I do this because I love it.

[Anonymous]

- after you leave meetings, and if you've given us good reason, we will close the door and gossip about you.
- it is really annoying when you bring your attorney, educational advocate, and team of specialists to the meeting. i know, i know, you're looking out for your child's best interest....but it is still a pain in the ass for us to sit through a 4 hour meeting when we have many pressing demands on our time
- your kids disclose a lot to us: including if you suck as parents
- if your kid is gross, we will not eat the home-baked goods that you two made for us
- we appreciate holiday gifts, especially gift cards. handmade gifts, not so much
-helicopter parents are only slightly less irritating than neglectful parents
- your child may be better equipped for vocational school than college
- your child is a budding sociopath

[Anonymous]

PP, you need to find a new profession. Your words are ugly. I hope you find peace in you profession and pray you are not teaching my DC. Grow up.

[Anonymous]

"All of the teachers I work with are very highly educated. They are required to take graduate coursework until they earn their grad degree (we are given 5 years to do this)."

You're kidding, right? Graduate level coursework for teachers is on par intellectually probably with junior high level work. I would never view someone as well educated, let alone highly educated or very highly educated, because she has a masters in education. If she attended a high quality undergraduate program, or did graduate work at someplace like Columbia's teachers college, yes. But, really, most people who go into teacher are middle-of-the-class types without a lot of intellectual curiosity or ability. I'm not trying to be rude, but frankly I was shocked when I went to my high school reunion and saw who had gone into education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:- after you leave meetings, and if you've given us good reason, we will close the door and gossip about you.
- it is really annoying when you bring your attorney, educational advocate, and team of specialists to the meeting. i know, i know, you're looking out for your child's best interest....but it is still a pain in the ass for us to sit through a 4 hour meeting when we have many pressing demands on our time
- your kids disclose a lot to us: including if you suck as parents
- if your kid is gross, we will not eat the home-baked goods that you two made for us
- we appreciate holiday gifts, especially gift cards. handmade gifts, not so much
-helicopter parents are only slightly less irritating than neglectful parents
- your child may be better equipped for vocational school than college
- your child is a budding sociopath

Whoa! You are really confirming the worst about what some people think about teachers.

To #1- I know plenty of teachers and I know first-hand that they gossip all the time about the kids/parents. I find this ugly and really stains my view of teachers
#2- Get over it. That's life. Every job has things that waste our time. You have an important job (as teachers like to repeatedly point out) and affect our children and their futures on a daily basis. Suck. It. Up.
#3- no comment. Fine with this as it means they trust you. You're doing your job.
#4- Have real problems with you defining the kids you teach as gross. You're a professional dealing with-presumably- different types of families and social demographics. Be a professional or at least attempt to sound like one.
#5- You sound like an ungrateful shrew. If this is how teachers feel, they should be ashamed of themselves.
#6- helicopter parents are far less worse than bitchy, snarking, unprofessional teachers who seem to not give a hoot about their jobs. Perhaps you should consider another line of work.
#7-8: No comment. I'm sure both of those observations are valid.

You want to be treated like a professional and someone with an important job -which I agree you have an very important job- then act like it. T

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"All of the teachers I work with are very highly educated. They are required to take graduate coursework until they earn their grad degree (we are given 5 years to do this)."

You're kidding, right? Graduate level coursework for teachers is on par intellectually probably with junior high level work.

And even if someone does not equate graduate level coursework for teachers in such a manner -- "so what?" that a teacher has a Master's degree? About a quarter of the people 25+ in metro DC have a graduate degree.

http://www.brookings.edu/metro/StateOfMetroAmerica/Map.aspx#/?subject=4&ind=31&dist=1_0&data=Percent&year=2009&geo=metro&zoom=0&x=0&y=0

[Anonymous]

Sigh...this thread is so disappointing. And, it started out so interesting! More teachers, please, addressing the original question.

I'm a parent, not a teacher. I don't care to snipe back at teachers for posting such things. I'd prefer to listen, learn from them, try to read between the lines, and be the best advocate I can for my children. If that means I annoy the heck out of the teachers pushing for the best, so be it as long as it doesn't negatively impact my kids. My kids aren't perfect angels, they are people that need parenting. Making sure that they get a good education is part of parenting. And, jeez, people...making sure that they get the proper diagnosis of ADHD or whatever IS a parent's responsibility too. It sucks and it's fustrating when the teacher won't support you but the teacher is not your child's mommy or daddy.

So, parents, listen to your kids' teachers. Know that they certainly aren't perfect either. Pay attention and advocate for your kids. Don't expect the system to catch everything and do it for you. Stop getting all up in arms and, instead, act. This is your job.