Paying 32K and my DD's teacher has NO idea what she's doing

[Anonymous]

Venting! We are so angry. We write a huge tuition check for a top knotch education and my DD's teacher has no idea what she's doing. No use complaining to the director he never listens to parent complaints. Should we pull DD out midyear? Another family did. Maybe right thing to do.

[Anonymous]

How do you know she has no idea what she's doing?

[Anonymous]

Pp, here. I didn't realize that you posted your question in private schools forum. Sorry, I am a little sleep deprived from being up with a newborn. I don't know the least about private schools. Please ignore my comment. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

It's obvious. At conferences she made no sense she even said she is just learning as she goes along and she doesnt have experience. She doesnt answer emails. We aren't paying so DD fails standardized tests or bursts in to tears at home.

[Anonymous]

Gotta say, good thing you are looking for a top "knotch" eduction, as it looks like you yourself didn't benefit from one.

[Anonymous]

Nasty nasty nasty. Why can't some of you just try to help. OK, I will. Looking back over our experiences with both public and private, when a problem arose in private, I now wish I had pulled the plug earlier. I should have been more assertive. I should have done a better job of protecting my kids from punitive or just plain inept teachers. Twice we switched private schools but we waited to years' end when too much damage had been done. The smarter parents just yanked their kids the moment they noticed something awry with teachers, the principal, the new administration, whatever. That's what we did the last time around when we realized our son's school was collapsing. We found an opening. Left Friday. Back in his seat on Monday. I know of two other families that did this - some getting refunds on their tuition payments for negligence. Go with your gut. If it's not right, try to fix it within the system. If the system is broken due to a worthless headmaster, just get out. One of my friends pulled her boys from what was supposed to be a high- I.Q. school and plunked them mid-term in public. Best thing she ever did she now says and bemoans the years and money she spent in private schools. Go with your gut and protect your child. That's your job.

[Anonymous]

I think the advice may depend on the grade your DD is in and how strongly you feel about next year being better. If you have a head who is problematic though, unless you see a change at that position in the works, it definitely tips the scale more towards the withdraw side I think.

[Anonymous]

That's what we are thinking. It's unclear why she was hired. It's a good school and we've been very happy until this year. Our other DD loves her teacher. This one just clearly is unqualified.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nasty nasty nasty. Why can't some of you just try to help. OK, I will. Looking back over our experiences with both public and private, when a problem arose in private, I now wish I had pulled the plug earlier. I should have been more assertive. I should have done a better job of protecting my kids from punitive or just plain inept teachers. Twice we switched private schools but we waited to years' end when too much damage had been done. The smarter parents just yanked their kids the moment they noticed something awry with teachers, the principal, the new administration, whatever. That's what we did the last time around when we realized our son's school was collapsing. We found an opening. Left Friday. Back in his seat on Monday. I know of two other families that did this - some getting refunds on their tuition payments for negligence. Go with your gut. If it's not right, try to fix it within the system. If the system is broken due to a worthless headmaster, just get out. One of my friends pulled her boys from what was supposed to be a high- I.Q. school and plunked them mid-term in public. Best thing she ever did she now says and bemoans the years and money she spent in private schools. Go with your gut and protect your child. That's your job.

we did the same thing with our DC. Pulled them from a school that supposedly was one of those caring, nuturing schools after dealing inept teachers who were truly mean and nasty. Put child in public. Best decision ever. also made me wonder why we had ever spend money for private. The teachers were so much better than what i imagined. Curriculum is challenging and DC is actually learning something. felt like i had gotten a snow job.

[Anonymous]

It seems that the same parents have the same problems no matter what school their children attend. At some point it may become clear that the school is not the issue.

[Anonymous]

That's such a stupid comment. we are happy with the other teachers and had a good experience until this year. The teacher was hired last minute and she said shes been out of the classroom for a while. (how long wasnt shared) It's not the parents if they are happy in public school then there isn't a pattern.

[Anonymous]

This is the Lowell school , isn't it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No use complaining to the director he never listens to parent complaints.

I guess I don't understand why you think it's still such a good school if this is the case? We had issues with the director of our child's pre-K school and quickly realized that with that sort of person in charge, this wasn't going to be a school we could trust. We ended up moving and going public starting in K--one of the ways I knew that the new elementary was the right choice was meeting the principal and realizing how good she is at her job. Quality leadership has indeed meant a really great school, at least in our case.

[Anonymous]

Looking back over our experiences with both public and private, when a problem arose in private, I now wish I had pulled the plug earlier. I should have been more assertive. I should have done a better job of protecting my kids from punitive or just plain inept teachers. Twice we switched private schools but we waited to years' end when too much damage had been done. The smarter parents just yanked their kids the moment they noticed something awry with teachers, the principal, the new administration, whatever.

We FINALLY did the same in public. And I feel the exact same way! Why did I wait? Why did I let a situation I knew was bad continue? My DCs are healing from what has been years of punitive, inept and out to lunch teachers. So happy now.
Go with your gut.

[Anonymous]

Surprise surprise the same inept teachers and administrators show up in public school. In fact it's easier for them to hide in larger organizations. Good luck to those of you who think that's a panacea.