does a unorganized teacher who does not pay attention to detail make them bad?

[Anonymous]

I worry about my son who has been placed in a classroom (grade 2) with a teacher who is unorganized and who does not care to pay attention to detail (this is from talking to parents of the previous year and from my observation of the classroom environment at open house). The room is bare and not at all inviting. Kids books in the bookcase where just thrown there with no attempt to make it look nice for open house. No rug on floor, kids need to sit on cold tile floor and lacking manipulatives in shelves for instruction. The other 2nd grade classrooms are full of color, organized and things nicely labeled and totally different.

Should I speak with the principal on the first day of school, Monday, and ask for a transfer. My child does not know my concern but I worry. He is strong at reading and writing but needs someone who has structure and strong organizational skills. What do you think I should do?

[Anonymous]

Of course you should. If you don't advocate for your child, nobody else will. Present your concern and indicate your child will not function well in such an environment.

[Anonymous]

This is ridiculous. I saw your other thread. Do you know how much it takes to set up a classroom? The teacher is probably not done. Your child can learn without a rug under his butt. If you think the classroom needs one, why don't you buy one and donate it to the school? There are thousands of manipulatives in the building and just because the teacher has not picked them up from whatever central place they are stored in does not make her a bad teacher. Unclench, wait a few weeks, and actually judge this teacher's comeptence based on her perfomance, not on how well decorated her classroom is.

[Anonymous]

I'm sure the teacher would appreciate it if you do. Class hasn't even started, and you are complaining on multiple threads without even knowing anything about her. You are sure to be a real pain. Also, the word you are looking for is "disorganized."

[Anonymous]

I am getting my info from many resources inside and outside the school.

[Anonymous]

Why are you posting this in two different categories?

[Anonymous]

Classroom teacher here...it takes many, many hours to set up a classroom. At our school, rugs are not provided to classroom teachers. Most teachers go out and purchase one on their own. My carpet is looking pretty dingy at the moment, but I don't have $120 to buy a new one. Yes, they do cost that much. I'm not talking about the rolled up 6 x 8 remnants from Bed Bath and Beyond. What is most useful is a large carpet that ALL of the students can sit on at the same time (think 12 x 15). If you are displeased because your child's teacher does not have a rug then go and buy one for the classroom.

[Anonymous]

Since this isn't the first year of teaching, obviously the school thinks the teacher is fine. And if your child is going into grade two, the decision makers felt that in the overall scheme of things this is where your child belongs. Honestly, I can't imagine what productive outcome could result from what you are proposing.

[Anonymous]

I agree with OP that how the classroom looks is an indication of the teacher. Not a 100% method of evaluation but an indicator. I do not think the parents can say anything at this point. Give the year some time and look for other specific things that affect your childs education like papers are not coming home regularly/papers do not have feed back on them/things seem to get lost. It could be the teacher had to move rooms at the last minute or is just a day behind this year..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with OP that how the classroom looks is an indication of the teacher. Not a 100% method of evaluation but an indicator. I do not think the parents can say anything at this point. Give the year some time and look for other specific things that affect your childs education like papers are not coming home regularly/papers do not have feed back on them/things seem to get lost. It could be the teacher had to move rooms at the last minute or is just a day behind this year..

Agreed. There is not much you can do to change the situation at this point. I suggest that you wait, see how your kid performs. If your kid is not performing or has other problems, then go to the teacher first followed by a trip to the principal if needed.

[Anonymous]

Teacher and parent here. I can guarantee you that if you ask for a switch based on this, you will be laughed out of the park. You will also get the reputation as one of the difficult parents. Even if by some miracle your request is granted, is this really how you want to start the year, and how you want to use up parental capital with the administration, before even knowing anything about the teacher?

[Anonymous]

OP, if room decor was so important, don't you think interior design would be part of an education major's classwork? It is NOT, and for good reason. I am a teacher, and happen to take great pride in having a beautiful classroom because I enjoy it, but this does NOT make me a better teacher.it may be cliche, but it is true, "do not judge a book by it's cover." I also feel like your attitude is self fulfilling prophecy, and you are now looking for reasons to dislike this teacher. In fact, I venture to say that you will be annoyed if she proves to be a wonderful teacher because all of the,posters will have proven you wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teacher and parent here. I can guarantee you that if you ask for a switch based on this, you will be laughed out of the park. You will also get the reputation as one of the difficult parents. Even if by some miracle your request is granted, is this really how you want to start the year, and how you want to use up parental capital with the administration, before even knowing anything about the teacher?

thank goodness this is not the environment at my school. Parents are not being laughed out if you have complaints or requests. they are not being branded "difficult". Those parents are just doing their job. This last post really shows how MCPS treats parents who are just doing their job. Parents are supposed to speak up for their children. Unfortunately the attitude that PP displayed in just too prevelent in our public school system.

Do you sometimes wonder why the relationship between MCPS administration and parents is so contentious? OP-please don't be intimidated. If you have concerns, express them to the principal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since this isn't the first year of teaching, obviously the school thinks the teacher is fine. And if your child is going into grade two, the decision makers felt that in the overall scheme of things this is where your child belongs. Honestly, I can't imagine what productive outcome could result from what you are proposing.

This is a public school system. Public schools just don't fire teachers that are bad. We had one abusive teacher and everyone complained. The principal told us it was very difficult to dismiss a teacher. You know, unions? Individual principals don't want to rock the boat.

[Anonymous]

School has not even started yet so how can you assume this teacher is no good? There is nothing that says teachers have to go out and spend their own money on a rug. If you are really concerned about your child sitting on cold tile, get him a carpet square. The manipulatives in our school are kept in a closet until the unit where they are needed. After that unit it over, they are to be put away. FYI- "unorganized" is not a word. If your child's learning is suffering, that is when you speak to the principal. Not before school even begins.