Its usually the really bad teachers who need help. Its not an honor, its a necessity if your child is in a grade where the teacher can't handle the class.
A competent teacher doesn't need or want assistance.

Absolutely not true. The great, well organized, confident teachers allow parents in the classroom! I volunteer weekly in DS' class and I do a variety of tasks--administrative (copying, cutting, laminating, etc.) and class related (helping with centers, taking a reading group, testing math facts, etc.). I wish DS' teacher had more time with the kids and I am happy to help with the busy work. I do think teachers have a huge job with not enough resources and I am willing to help out in any way I can.

Sorry, "has to *address*."

Anonymous wrote:It is amazing that places as wealthy as Bethesda can't afford to have aides. Where is all the tax money going?

Bethesda is not a school district. The school system has to addressed the needs of all of the students in Montgomery County, an economically diverse and very large area.

Did you really not know this?

Anonymous wrote:A few years ago MOCO eliminated teachers aids in the lower grades. As a result, parents volunteering on a regular basis is common place. Is it strictly necessary? I do not really know. Does it help? Don't know, but I suspect it does. I know i am grateful that the teacher gets lots of support in large and small ways so that the kids get more of her focused time. So, if a parent is reading to one group while she does guided reading or something else.

Do i wish K, 1st, 2nd and 3rd still had dedicated aids - of course.

Not really--the budget didn't allow for the positions to expand along with the increasing enrollment, and hours were cut back. Schools with higher special ed and FARMs populations were the most protected, so likely your school's para educators (aides... not aids...) were transferred to those schools. Just like some schools had counselor positions cut to part-time. Schools with a lower or non-existent FARMs population were the first ones to see those cuts. Also, which grades paras work with are determined at the school level. If your school still has a fair number but just in the upper grades, that is a principal's decision to use them in that capacity.

Anonymous wrote:It is amazing that places as wealthy as Bethesda can't afford to have aides. Where is all the tax money going?

The budget is the budget. The PTA is not allowed to fund para/instructional assistant positions.

BTW - those in the downcounty area don't matter?

nice elitist 'tude