Your worst experience with a school or school system

[Anonymous]

Yes. He was being disruptive, but mainly because he was overwhelmed. Just giving him a little help organizing his materials at the beginning and end of the day was not enough. His IEP specified more. If they couldn't accomodate his SN at the center, they should have told us at the very beginning instead of prolonging the problem.

Well, they did give him a chance. Did you want him at the AAP center?

[Anonymous]

I wanted him to have the opportunity to learn according to his abilities, just as any other parent would. I'm glad that we tried AAP, because I probably would have always wondered if he could do it. It just didn't work out for him. Unfortunately, with more special ed. help, I think he could have handled the academics.

I'm glad that he is happy back at his base school, though. Overall, the teachers and staff are just much better at working with him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kindergarten at MCPS with 26 kids, no aide, no rotating aide and my child learning nothing but things they learned in preschool. Hanging out with kids that don't speak English. Good times!

Oh, the absolute horror!

Says the person whose kids do not go to school with 2/3 of the class Spanish speaking and 50% FARMS.

Actually my kid does go to a school with many non-native speakers & a high FARMS population. Some of us don't mind diversity.

My child goes to a private school with more diversity and culture than I have ever seen. Indian, Korean, Chinese, Hispanic, AA, Japanese, Iranian, Australian, African, Russian etc...

We love it but they speak English. I can't imagine going to an American school where 60%+ of a school's population can not speak English. Ridiculous

[Anonymous]

I wasn't that psyched about my kid's Arlington school but these stories make me feel quite a bit better. I guess I am kind of a jerk.

[Anonymous]

We live in an area which is growing by the school board can't propose a bond to build more schools that the voters will pass. OUr last three bonds failed.
THat means our elementary school built for 480 houses 790.
Our middle school built for 670 will house 1100 in the next few years.
The next chance to vote on a bond is February 2016 with a new middle school opening for the 2018-2019.

Sucks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kindergarten at MCPS with 26 kids, no aide, no rotating aide and my child learning nothing but things they learned in preschool. Hanging out with kids that don't speak English. Good times!

Oh, the absolute horror!

Says the person whose kids do not go to school with 2/3 of the class Spanish speaking and 50% FARMS.

Actually my kid does go to a school with many non-native speakers & a high FARMS population. Some of us don't mind diversity.

My child goes to a private school with more diversity and culture than I have ever seen. Indian, Korean, Chinese, Hispanic, AA, Japanese, Iranian, Australian, African, Russian etc...

We love it but they speak English. I can't imagine going to an American school where 60%+ of a school's population can not speak English. Ridiculous [/quote

I think this poster has a problem when over 50% speak the same language that is all the same i.e. 66% Spanish. The English speakers are left out.
I have to agree, too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kindergarten at MCPS with 26 kids, no aide, no rotating aide and my child learning nothing but things they learned in preschool. Hanging out with kids that don't speak English. Good times!

Oh, the absolute horror!

Says the person whose kids do not go to school with 2/3 of the class Spanish speaking and 50% FARMS.

Actually my kid does go to a school with many non-native speakers & a high FARMS population. Some of us don't mind diversity.

My child goes to a private school with more diversity and culture than I have ever seen. Indian, Korean, Chinese, Hispanic, AA, Japanese, Iranian, Australian, African, Russian etc...

We love it but they speak English. I can't imagine going to an American school where 60%+ of a school's population can not speak English. Ridiculous [/quote

I think this poster has a problem when over 50% speak the same language that is all the same i.e. 66% Spanish. The English speakers are left out.
I have to agree, too!

The way the first PP phrased her complaint ("hanging out with kids that don't speak English") implies that s/he was unhappy that her kids was socializing with kids from different backgrounds/cultures. I'm guessing that's what the second PP found objectionable about his or her comment -- & I have to agree.

The fact that the first PP then brought up FARM rates also indicated that it wasn't just the communication barrier that high ESOL rates might have caused for her child that the he or she had a problem with. Did his or her kid also feel "left out" because half the kids in the class were poor?

[Anonymous]

My dyslexic son volunteer to talk at a school wide assembly and the teacher said, "Honey, nobody in your reading group will ever speak at an assembly".

My son (3rd grader) said, "Oh yes I will." ... and he did. It's a long story after that but he told the reading specialist and to stop a shit storm from happening he was given a small part.

[Anonymous]

My dyslexic son volunteer to talk at a school wide assembly and the teacher said, "Honey, nobody in your reading group will ever speak at an assembly".

Absolutely no excuse. signed, teacher ( I usually play devil's advocate, but that is beyond the pale)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My dyslexic son volunteer to talk at a school wide assembly and the teacher said, "Honey, nobody in your reading group will ever speak at an assembly".

My son (3rd grader) said, "Oh yes I will." ... and he did. It's a long story after that but he told the reading specialist and to stop a shit storm from happening he was given a small part.

How awful. What a shitty thing to say. I'm glad the reading specialist did something about it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My dyslexic son volunteer to talk at a school wide assembly and the teacher said, "Honey, nobody in your reading group will ever speak at an assembly".

My son (3rd grader) said, "Oh yes I will." ... and he did. It's a long story after that but he told the reading specialist and to stop a shit storm from happening he was given a small part.

Good for your son. WTF was that "teacher" thinking?

[Anonymous]

Good for your son. WTF was that "teacher" thinking?

That she wanted a "perfect" show so everyone could see what a great teacher she is! It was about her--not the kids. EGO.

[Anonymous]

My 4th grader's teacher seems to have it in for him personally. He is by all accounts a compliant, sensitive child. He does not seem capable (at home) of sassing back or being sarcastic. It's just not how he's wired, unlike my other children. He's the type that is uncomfortable when rules are broken. Since he started pre-k, we have been at 4 schools (moved so much with work). He has also played on 4 different soccer teams. All his coaches and teachers have stated how compliant and cheerful he is.

Hi teacher this year regularly requests meetings with me to discuss his behavior. There are never concrete transgressions. Yesterday, for example, she said his body language was disrespectful. Another time she said his facial expression was disrespectful. I asked her if he made a face, and she said no he did not, but that she is very good at reading body language and subtle facial expressions, and that he was not respectful in these.

There are rarely complaints of direct words or actions or disobediance, just this vague descriptions of attitude.

The thing is, he is not the bad attitude type. At home when I ask him to do something, he does it immediately and without attitude. I ask him if he's mad at his teacher and he seems genuinely confused and says "no".

Another time she said he finished his work early and twirled his ruler on his pencil. She requested a sit down meeting over this!! I asked her if she asked him to stop, and she said she did and that he did immediately. WTF is the problem? My son said that she scolded him for a long time in front of the class for twirling his ruler. In fact he cried about that one.

At home, if my son does something annoying, I say, "please stop that", and he does, and we move on.

Anyway, my curious, cheerful kid is starting to hate and dread school.

[Anonymous]

My 4th grader's teacher seems to have it in for him personally. He is by all accounts a compliant, sensitive child. He does not seem capable (at home) of sassing back or being sarcastic. It's just not how he's wired, unlike my other children. He's the type that is uncomfortable when rules are broken. Since he started pre-k, we have been at 4 schools (moved so much with work). He has also played on 4 different soccer teams. All his coaches and teachers have stated how compliant and cheerful he is.

Hi teacher this year regularly requests meetings with me to discuss his behavior. There are never concrete transgressions. Yesterday, for example, she said his body language was disrespectful. Another time she said his facial expression was disrespectful. I asked her if he made a face, and she said no he did not, but that she is very good at reading body language and subtle facial expressions, and that he was not respectful in these.

There are rarely complaints of direct words or actions or disobediance, just this vague descriptions of attitude.

The thing is, he is not the bad attitude type. At home when I ask him to do something, he does it immediately and without attitude. I ask him if he's mad at his teacher and he seems genuinely confused and says "no".

Another time she said he finished his work early and twirled his ruler on his pencil. She requested a sit down meeting over this!! I asked her if she asked him to stop, and she said she did and that he did immediately. WTF is the problem? My son said that she scolded him for a long time in front of the class for twirling his ruler. In fact he cried about that one.

At home, if my son does something annoying, I say, "please stop that", and he does, and we move on.

Anyway, my curious, cheerful kid is starting to hate and dread school.

This may beat out the dyslexic kid. If this is a true story, I think I'd ask for another teacher. Don't mean to be insensitive--could this be a racial issue? Religious?

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure...but it definitely seems personal. I don't know what to do, I guess I'll make an appt with the principal. First time ever.