Independent School Teacher Pet Peeve Thread

[Anonymous]

Archie is a made up name to protect her identity. Many bloggers do this. Her little brother isn't actually named Boy Wonder either.

I feel sorry for Archie too but not at all because of her mother. She is been treated so poorly by so many educators. Her mother has been her advocate and has given her unconditional support.

In the last entry on the blog Archie (at the tender age of 8) writes...

"The whole world seems like it won’t listen to anything that I say because it doesn’t care. But there is one pool of sunshine that never runs out. That I can go to and it will listen to my every word. It will keep me safe and look after me in my time of need. My mum.”

[Anonymous]

On the subject of blogs and trashing teachers for not appreciating junior's brilliance, there was a local blog like that where a mom hung out her kid's amazing intelligence and complained that various MoCo schools didn't "get" her kid. Parents and DCUM posters, whatever you do re talking to the teacher, don't put enough info out on the web to identify your kid and her teachers (I could identify many of the teachers). I'm relieved to see that after several years, the blog is now password-protected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On the subject of blogs and trashing teachers for not appreciating junior's brilliance, there was a local blog like that where a mom hung out her kid's amazing intelligence and complained that various MoCo schools didn't "get" her kid. Parents and DCUM posters, whatever you do re talking to the teacher, don't put enough info out on the web to identify your kid and her teachers (I could identify many of the teachers). I'm relieved to see that after several years, the blog is now password-protected.

The blog was meant to be a source of information to help other parents stay current on gifted issues in the county and to help them advocate for their own children.

I personally would not have been so public about my children but I don't believe she did so to show off about her kid's brilliance. That blog has helped many parents in the county understand what they were in for.

[Anonymous]

I was so enjoying this thread until it seriously derailed. Teachers: we love most of you. Whacked out parents: you're whack; just own it. For the rest of us: it's nice to be us!

Looking for the tread lock.

[Anonymous]

I was so enjoying this thread until it seriously derailed. Teacher: we love most of you. Whacked out parents: you're whack, just own it. To the rest of us: it's nice to be us!

Looking for the thread lock.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was so enjoying this thread until it seriously derailed. Teachers: we love most of you. Whacked out parents: you're whack; just own it. For the rest of us: it's nice to be us!

Looking for the tread lock.

Oh, don't be so dramatic! Threads derail and get back on track all the time. It just takes a new post to get things going again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was so enjoying this thread until it seriously derailed. Teachers: we love most of you. Whacked out parents: you're whack; just own it. For the rest of us: it's nice to be us!

Looking for the tread lock.

Oh, don't be so dramatic! Threads derail and get back on track all the time. It just takes a new post to get things going again.

That's dramatic? You must be new to DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work at big 3...


#3 your child really isnt gifted... they are likely above average to well above average, but in my years of teaching I have very rarely encountered a truly gifted child

Just curious - on the very rare occaisions you encountered such a gifted child....how did you as a teacher respond? Did you identify said child to school, contact the family, make any changes? I suspect the child's family beat you to the punch...but curious what would have happened if they hadn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
The blog was meant to be a source of information to help other parents stay current on gifted issues in the county and to help them advocate for their own children.

I personally would not have been so public about my children but I don't believe she did so to show off about her kid's brilliance. That blog has helped many parents in the county understand what they were in for.

One last derailment, if you all can stand it. My kid had many of the teachers mentioned in the blog, and I found it very unfair. Blasting the science teacher for stopping her DD from reading in class? Criticizing the history, or was it English, teacher for marking her DD down for forgetting to bring in some assigned index cards? Yes, I know MCPS is far from perfect, and no, I don't teach or work for them, but still.

[Anonymous]

^^ from reading novels in science class.

My point here is, sometimes parents are unreasonable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:#16 Parents who go on vacation during set conference days and ask to reschedule.

This is an inconvenience because teachers get so few breaks as it is during the school day. Before school we are getting ready for the day, and after school we want to get home to our families.

Wow, I didn't expect this one...I can't imagine doing that...but this is our 1st year in private. All the other stuff..not surprised..

[Anonymous]

I feel for the teachers in this area. As a parent, I think the other parents at my kid's school are mostly unbearable. I can't imagine if I had to interact with them as a function of my job. Rock on teachers. Please know some of us feel your pain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel for the teachers in this area. As a parent, I think the other parents at my kid's school are mostly unbearable. I can't imagine if I had to interact with them as a function of my job. Rock on teachers. Please know some of us feel your pain.

Agreed, but I'd say that these obnoxious parents exist just as much in MoCo schools as they do in the privates (at least in Bethesda/CC/Potomac/Rockville.

[Anonymous]

I honestly don't know how the teachers at my DC's fancy private school maintain such great attitudes and seem to care so much about the kids. My kid is an FA student who got in on merit alone but some of those kids and parents seem so entitled and obnoxious. It must be a hard job. I admire those teachers- I would not be able to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I honestly don't know how the teachers at my DC's fancy private school maintain such great attitudes and seem to care so much about the kids. My kid is an FA student who got in on merit alone but some of those kids and parents seem so entitled and obnoxious. It must be a hard job. I admire those teachers- I would not be able to do it.

I agree that it isn't difficult to find parents with unpleasant attitudes, but unfortunately, I would include you in that group. I hate to break it to you, sweetie, but plenty of kids not on FA also get into schools purely on merit. In fact, the vast majority do so despite DCUM mythology to the contrary.