How to DELICATELY address some potential issues with teacher in the upcoming school year?

[Anonymous]

Holy moly. So many misconceptions.
1. Title 1 parents DO care. I teach in a title 1 school. Many parents work multiple jobs, don't have a car, and don't understand the school system--but when I get a translator and call home, they 100% want to hear what I have to say. In conferences, I've had aunts/uncles/cousins come with mom and dad to help translate. I've had parents take taxis to/from their minimum wage job for IEP meetings. Not being on the PTA =/= not caring.

2. Teachers at title 1 schools aren't slackers. My colleagues have delivered food to families after school, purchased supplies for those who can't, and regularly feed students who come hungry. We stay late with those who have no supervision, come up with lesson plans to meet those who have never been in school (when they are currently in 7th or 8th grade), and work tirelessly to try to give those kids a fighting chance at success.

Do not bring up candy or movies to anyone until it is a major issue this year. If the worst thing you can say about he teacher is she gave out too many lollipops, that's a fabulous 1st year teacher. The principal has bigger fish to fry than micromanaging individual classroom sugar policies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Holy moly. So many misconceptions.
1. Title 1 parents DO care. I teach in a title 1 school. Many parents work multiple jobs, don't have a car, and don't understand the school system--but when I get a translator and call home, they 100% want to hear what I have to say. In conferences, I've had aunts/uncles/cousins come with mom and dad to help translate. I've had parents take taxis to/from their minimum wage job for IEP meetings. Not being on the PTA =/= not caring.

2. Teachers at title 1 schools aren't slackers. My colleagues have delivered food to families after school, purchased supplies for those who can't, and regularly feed students who come hungry. We stay late with those who have no supervision, come up with lesson plans to meet those who have never been in school (when they are currently in 7th or 8th grade), and work tirelessly to try to give those kids a fighting chance at success.

Do not bring up candy or movies to anyone until it is a major issue this year. If the worst thing you can say about he teacher is she gave out too many lollipops, that's a fabulous 1st year teacher. The principal has bigger fish to fry than micromanaging individual classroom sugar policies.

I've taught at a Title I ES for 15 years (after leaving a much more affluent school). This is completely my experience as well, especially re: parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok so my kid is in a mediocre rated school (4-5) which is also title 1. I mention this to say that u fortunately many parents don't care/are not involved in their kids education, but there is a smallish group of parents who do and potentially could be drivers of change.
So far I saw no big issues (granted,it was only K). However, his teacher was young and she started going through some personal issues mid year and started slacking a lot- kids were shown tons of Disney movies (as opposed to educational videos on the as needed basis), allowed non educational games on classroom tablets for their "free choice time" and such. She also brought tons of sweets in class for no apparent reason (no occasion).
Now that I am aware that this may even be an issue in public school, how do I delicately broach the subject with my son's 1st grade teacher? I do not want to offend her and do not want to look like "that mom", but would like to let her know that I am strongly in favor of capping screen time and sweets in classroom. So far I was thinking of asking about her stance on these issues and then go from there.
I am also willing to volunteer in class - this is to say that I don't intend to be a PITA but am willing to work with the teacher to ensure my kid gets the best education possible.
So, how do I convey the message that I will be watching closely without appearing a PITA?
Thanks.

Do you also keep attendance records on the teacher?

OP you absolutely are "that mom." You do not convey anything to the teacher. She will see you coming a mile away.

I am not the OP of that thread if that is what you are asking but in fact I kind of do! If a teacher is absent more than once a month I am absolutely annoyed Doesn't mean I will show it but still.

the thing is, teachers in our school are tempted to slack since so many parents do not really care. I just want to get the caring vibe across - as I said - without appearing "that mom".

You ARE that mom. Who are you to conclude that "teachers in our school ARE TEMPTED TO SLACK"? You are not a teacher. You are not privy to the issues, workings, and administrative direction of the school. You clearly have very little respect for teachers, and you are going to do your child a huge disservice during his academic future with your insulting treatment of teachers, and your misguided meddling at the school. I know parents like you: you are the one who badmouths the teacher to other parents AND other teachers. Trust me, those other parents and teachers will discreetly distance themselves from you, and they will lose respect for you. Your poor kid!

[Anonymous]

Op here. I never said "all teachers are slackers in title 1 schools". I said there was just more temptation.
I don't discuss teachers with either parents or other teachers.

[Anonymous]

I think this is a principal problem. Teachers are more likely to have Disney movies and iPad games when there is weak leadership. You have a new principal and established teachers. It sounds like they taking advantage of him a bit. ( also I am going to make a guess at this is DCPS. In other districts you can't download apps onto an iPad without the app being approved)

I'd have a conversation with the principal about how your kindergartner had too much noneducational screen time. That's a management issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. I never said "all teachers are slackers in title 1 schools". I said there was just more temptation.
I don't discuss teachers with either parents or other teachers.

I'd argue the opposite. There is more temptation to slack in top schools, because test scores will be good no matter what you do, and as long as grades are good parents don't complain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. I never said "all teachers are slackers in title 1 schools". I said there was just more temptation.
I don't discuss teachers with either parents or other teachers.

But you're totally standing by the statement that most parents don't care and are uninvolved. Okay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. I never said "all teachers are slackers in title 1 schools". I said there was just more temptation.
I don't discuss teachers with either parents or other teachers.

Oh, come off it. You did NOT just mean that "there was just more temptation": you meant that teachers are succumbing to the temptation, that they ARE slackers at your kid's school. That is exactly what you meant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you didn't bring it up with the K teacher, why in the world would you say anything to the 1st grade teacher who hasn't done anything yet? That is weird.

The time to bring it up was last year and you missed it. Put it behind and move into this year with an open mind.

It sounds like the school on the whole could benefit from some general policies regarding food, etc. If you feel called to work for the PTA you may have a chance to work as a team to understand and perhaps affect changes school wide - which would benefit all the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. I never said "all teachers are slackers in title 1 schools". I said there was just more temptation.
I don't discuss teachers with either parents or other teachers.

Oh, come off it. You did NOT just mean that "there was just more temptation": you meant that teachers are succumbing to the temptation, that they ARE slackers at your kid's school. That is exactly what you meant.

Well one of them did succumb.
I am sure there are great teachers who will do a great job no matter what, but I am also sure that there are the ones who tend to go with the flow. I wish I knew more about each of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you didn't bring it up with the K teacher, why in the world would you say anything to the 1st grade teacher who hasn't done anything yet? That is weird.

The time to bring it up was last year and you missed it. Put it behind and move into this year with an open mind.

It sounds like the school on the whole could benefit from some general policies regarding food, etc. If you feel called to work for the PTA you may have a chance to work as a team to understand and perhaps affect changes school wide - which would benefit all the kids.

Yes that's what my feeling is, too. I kind of brought it up at one of the meetings (not a PTA meeting but a general parent meeting on school improvement) and I did not see much understanding and/or support of the issue.
I know there is no district wide policy, and I don't have much influence at the district level. But at least the school? I will try.

[Anonymous]

I'd have a conversation with the principal about how your kindergartner had too much noneducational screen time.

How does OP know this? Was she in the classroom? Or, is she relying on what her child tells her?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I'd have a conversation with the principal about how your kindergartner had too much noneducational screen time.

How does OP know this? Was she in the classroom? Or, is she relying on what her child tells her?

I know that each session of "free choice time" they get tablets. That's already not a great idea even if the apps were educational. I saw kids playing games like Red Ball when I volunteered in class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I'd have a conversation with the principal about how your kindergartner had too much noneducational screen time.

How does OP know this? Was she in the classroom? Or, is she relying on what her child tells her?

As said multiple times, the time time to discuss this was during the past school year, hopefully in the context of "Based on what I saw when I volunteered and what my child tells me, these are my concerns," instead of "This is what I'm assuming about this phone-it-in teacher."

[Anonymous]

As I said multiple times I want to leave the teacher out of it. It was last year and she is leaving anyway (for a top notch school haha).
I want to make sure it doesn't happen again with other teachers. School policy sounds like the best option.
I will have to wait and see what the new teacher is like. Thanks for all the input- now I see it is not a good idea to talk to her in advance. I will bring tons of school supplies and offer to volunteer, and then we go from there
OP