There's a "famous" incident, repeated here enough that I believe it to be true, about a middle school student in a boisterous, anything-goes study hall allegedly "supervised" by a teacher. A child actually trying to study called his mom on his cell phone, she in turn three-way called into the school. The call went to voice mail, leaving a minute worth of raunchy, trash-talking students on the school's voice mail. As a result, the principal thanked the mother for doing this and the teacher was removed from that classroom.

Anonymous wrote:Illegal recordings and shouting teachers, we've had both of these posts before. Still not convinced either of these are legit, do people really turn to this blog to make such decisions.
Doubting Thomas

I will disregard illegal recording, but are shouting teachers so hard to believe? We haven't even gotten to 2nd grade at Lafayette yet and have heard that teachers assignment is an exercise in stress. Based on several conversations I have had, I fear it.

Illegal recordings and shouting teachers, we've had both of these posts before. Still not convinced either of these are legit, do people really turn to this blog to make such decisions.
Doubting Thomas

Anonymous wrote:OP, you might want to put a microphone on your child's clothes or in the backpack and record what happens. If it's really bad, replay it for the school principal. If you still get no response, post it on Youtube and put a link here.

Forget positive communication and assertiveness. Sure, model for your child how to be sneaky, underhanded, and passive aggressive in order to get your way. Cannot believe this was suggested.

OP, you might want to put a microphone on your child's clothes or in the backpack and record what happens. If it's really bad, replay it for the school principal. If you still get no response, post it on Youtube and put a link here.

Anonymous wrote:Agree verbal abuse is not acceptable. But the ability to control a classroom is necessary. You can't always do it in a whisper.

Big difference between a raised voice (to be heard over the din) and yelling at students.

Yes, the ability to control a classroom is necessary. Good, effective teachers do it without yelling.

Second grade wing at Lafayette sounds like a military boot camp. It's inappropriate and ridiculous. Not sure why this has been allowed to continue for so long but we're glad to be past that experience. Downtown should to step in and fire that old battle axe but of course the principal would never let them through the front door because its her school.

OP -

Also consider going to the teacher and mention your concerns; let the teacher respond and use that information to guide your path forward - whether you are satisfied with the response or want to go to the principal. Don't be afraid to talk with the teacher directly because if you go to the principal it may get back to the teacher anyway. At least then you can tell the principal that you have spoken directly with said teacher.

Agree verbal abuse is not acceptable. But the ability to control a classroom is necessary. You can't always do it in a whisper.

I'd also add a word of encouragement to take this up before you move out, at least if individuals are yellers and it's not a full-blow school culture. The way you might be most successful in bringing this up is in a "positive" way. Just as you hopefully would with your kids, rather than pointing to what NOT to do, point to what you'd like to see more of. Yelling is indeed a poor classroom management (and parenting) style. But "don't yell" will not make that classroom any better unless the teacher is given better tools to induce and reinforce wanted behavior. Maybe seek out a conversation with your principal so he/she explains to you (or at a meeting) more generally what the school's classroom management model is (what do classroom rules look like, are they consistent, is there a school-wide model, does that model apply in open spaces such as hallways, cafeteria etc.). If you get a better idea of whether there are expectations and what those expectations might be, it'll be much easier to help identify what that specific teacher should do more of in lieu of "yelling".

Classroom mismanagement might not be a removable offense at DCPS but it is indeed a removable offense at privates and charters.

Anonymous wrote:Parents couldn't have the teacher removed because the parents didn't hire. Classroom mismanagement is not a removable offense.

Verbal abuse is not the same as classroom mismanagement.

If the entire parent body from the class goes to the principal with a legitimate issue and the principal choses to ignore that group and this group then choses to go to the chancellor and/or her deputy, I highly doubt that group will be ignored. Case in point -- the parents at Lafayette were responsible for initiating the legislative action preventing enrichment activities from being charged a rental fee. I refuse to believe that parents can't come together to make a change in the classroom. I also believe most people don't want to get involved or fear their children will be punished in some way by bringing issues forward.