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[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/14/01 1:03:30 AM Eastern Standard Time,

cindysue@... writes:

> BTW, do we parents even have a right to help select staff?  I know Joan told

> me before to make a list of qualifications the staff should have...and I got

> a sense that was the max we could do.

>

The short answer (at least where I live) is NO.  The school district and

school administration have the final say as to who the teacher will be.  But

I think if you work it right with the district, you can help them make a list

of qualities (i.e., aspects of teaching style?!?!) that work well for your

son.  You can observe the teachers in action and provide input.  But only the

school principal makes the final decision on who the teacher will be.

Believe me, I learned this the hard way.  Jimmy's teacher this year told me

to my face that she didn't want him in her class, but was forced to do so by

the principal.  When I went to the principal with this and demanded a teacher

change, I didn't get it.  We took it all the way up to the district

superintendent and got nowhere.  I suppose if I had gone to the newspapers

with my story, I might have gotten a change, but I wasn't willing to pay the

price associated with that strategy!!   

Of course, the postscript to that is that the teacher is doing fairly well

with him.....although I still firmly believe that a different choice would

have been better for Jim.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/14/01 1:03:30 AM Eastern Standard Time,

cindysue@... writes:

> BTW, do we parents even have a right to help select staff?  I know Joan told

> me before to make a list of qualifications the staff should have...and I got

> a sense that was the max we could do.

>

The short answer (at least where I live) is NO.  The school district and

school administration have the final say as to who the teacher will be.  But

I think if you work it right with the district, you can help them make a list

of qualities (i.e., aspects of teaching style?!?!) that work well for your

son.  You can observe the teachers in action and provide input.  But only the

school principal makes the final decision on who the teacher will be.

Believe me, I learned this the hard way.  Jimmy's teacher this year told me

to my face that she didn't want him in her class, but was forced to do so by

the principal.  When I went to the principal with this and demanded a teacher

change, I didn't get it.  We took it all the way up to the district

superintendent and got nowhere.  I suppose if I had gone to the newspapers

with my story, I might have gotten a change, but I wasn't willing to pay the

price associated with that strategy!!   

Of course, the postscript to that is that the teacher is doing fairly well

with him.....although I still firmly believe that a different choice would

have been better for Jim.