Fwd: teacher response

[Guest guest]

Geri-anne,

I think it is soo true that 95% of parent frustration gets taken out on the teachers who really have the least amount of say. General population parents do not understand this because it makes absolutely no sense. People think that teachers are the driving force of education, which in fact is the biggest fallacy there is. For example in our district, the wonderful powers that B put into the position of director of special education a person who has never taught in her life, she is a school site physiologist. She hasn't a clue as to what it is like to be in a classroom, doesn't know state standards for the grade levels, and has let me tell you the most grandiose ideas of what a classroom should be like. And she is the person in charge. She listens to no teacher when they say that her ideas are not practical for a mainstream classroom especially without an aide. I as a special needs parent have often sat in meetings shaking my head at her ignorance of what the workings are of a classroom. Teachers have tried to get it across that we are talking about servicing one special needs child who deserves their education as well as 30 other children who also deserve theirs. She does not understand that one teacher can only do so much. That when you have a student who requires 80% of your time, it is totally unfair to the other 30 students to only get 20%. Most special needs parents forget that as well, so in the end the one who gets blamed is the teacher. Not the district person who allowed such unrealistic expectations to be signed into an IEP. Parents have a responsibility to help protect the teacher as well, but most forget this part of it all. I have found that most teachers who feel protected with the help of the parent are more willing to go above and beyond their job duties. People forget that when they leave their jobs for the most part they leave. That is so untrue for teachers, I don't know about you, but I bring home hours of grading, phone calls to make to parents about children, prep plans for the next day, shopping list for supplies that I purchase out of my own family budget in order for the students in my classroom to have a better education. It so frustrates me to hear people say teachers do a bad job. It isn't the teachers that are the problem for the most part. I truly see it as a failure on the part of parents as well as the district to make sure the teacher has what it takes to make the child or children successful. I know myself I have a mainstream third grade, because I carry a special education degree as well, I tend to get the students who have high special needs but are mainstreamed as well. So here I sit with this year 17 students who are considered to be "normal" and 4 with very special needs different for each one, form emotional to PH. I am one person in that classroom, I also have a non English speaking child. I am held responsible to make sure EVERY child meets the state standards. With no help or support! Talk about unrealistic!!!!! I have an obligation to every parent in the room, not just the special needs parents. I often feel special needs parents forget that. As special needs parents I hope that if someone on this lists hears and is able to sit in their next meeting keeping in mind the teacher really isn't the enemy, but a person who is being asked more and more to give more and more with no support or lets get honest here pay and is able to advocate for both their child and the teacher then My time here has been of benefit. Teachers guys are not the true enemy. Please think before you criticize a teacher. Are there teachers out there who are not doing the best job. Absolutely, but are there teachers out there way overworked and way underpaid busting their backsides to try and meet the needs of all their students often at the expense of themselves and their own families? Absolutely!!!!!!! And this is the majority of teachers not the minority.

Thanks for reading and I hope it hits home for a few on the list here. I get frustrated at times myself and need a reminder or 10! LOL

big hugs to you,

O

When the door of happiness closes, another opens, but often times we spend so much time looking at the closed door, we don't see the open door. Look for the open doors!

O and crew - Kira,, and Krisalynn Mitochondrial Myopathy-MIDS Maternally Inherited Dysautonomia- NVD ( Nuro Vascular Dystrophy) and dad Enrique

Visit our web page: WWW. caringbridge.org/ca/mitooggo

Help support my sister in her new business at : Come and see what's NEW! http://www.youravon.com/elleenmiller Your AVON representative (Sign in passcode: ElleensAVON if you are signing in for the first time :-)

Geri-anne,

I think it is soo true that 95% of parent frustration gets taken out on the teachers who really have the least amount of say. General population parents do not understand this because it makes absolutely no sense. People think that teachers are the driving force of education, which in fact is the biggest fallacy there is. For example in our district, the wonderful powers that B put into the position of director of special education a person who has never taught in her life, she is a school site physiologist. She hasn't a clue as to what it is like to be in a classroom, doesn't know state standards for the grade levels, and has let me tell you the most grandiose ideas of what a classroom should be like. And she is the person in charge. She listens to no teacher when they say that her ideas are not practical for a mainstream classroom especially without an aide. I as a special needs parent have often sat in meetings shaking my head at her ignorance of what the workings are of a classroom. Teachers have tried to get it across that we are talking about servicing one special needs child who deserves their education as well as 30 other children who also deserve theirs. She does not understand that one teacher can only do so much. That when you have a student who requires 80% of your time, it is totally unfair to the other 30 students to only get 20%. Most special needs parents forget that as well, so in the end the one who gets blamed is the teacher. Not the district person who allowed such unrealistic expectations to be signed into an IEP. Parents have a responsibility to help protect the teacher as well, but most forget this part of it all. I have found that most teachers who feel protected with the help of the parent are more willing to go above and beyond their job duties. People forget that when they leave their jobs for the most part they leave. That is so untrue for teachers, I don't know about you, but I bring home hours of grading, phone calls to make to parents about children, prep plans for the next day, shopping list for supplies that I purchase out of my own family budget in order for the students in my classroom to have a better education. It so frustrates me to hear people say teachers do a bad job. It isn't the teachers that are the problem for the most part. I truly see it as a failure on the part of parents as well as the district to make sure the teacher has what it takes to make the child or children successful. I know myself I have a mainstream third grade, because I carry a special education degree as well, I tend to get the students who have high special needs but are mainstreamed as well. So here I sit with this year 17 students who are considered to be "normal" and 4 with very special needs different for each one, form emotional to PH. I am one person in that classroom, I also have a non English speaking child. I am held responsible to make sure EVERY child meets the state standards. With no help or support! Talk about unrealistic!!!!! I have an obligation to every parent in the room, not just the special needs parents. I often feel special needs parents forget that. As special needs parents I hope that if someone on this lists hears and is able to sit in their next meeting keeping in mind the teacher really isn't the enemy, but a person who is being asked more and more to give more and more with no support or lets get honest here pay and is able to advocate for both their child and the teacher then My time here has been of benefit. Teachers guys are not the true enemy. Please think before you criticize a teacher. Are there teachers out there who are not doing the best job. Absolutely, but are there teachers out there way overworked and way underpaid busting their backsides to try and meet the needs of all their students often at the expense of themselves and their own families? Absolutely!!!!!!! And this is the majority of teachers not the minority.

Thanks for reading and I hope it hits home for a few on the list here. I get frustrated at times myself and need a reminder or 10! LOL

big hugs to you,

O

When the door of happiness closes, another opens, but often times we spend so much time looking at the closed door, we don't see the open door. Look for the open doors!

O and crew - Kira,, and Krisalynn Mitochondrial Myopathy-MIDS Maternally Inherited Dysautonomia- NVD ( Nuro Vascular Dystrophy) and dad Enrique

Visit our web page: WWW. caringbridge.org/ca/mitooggo

Help support my sister in her new business at : Come and see what's NEW! http://www.youravon.com/elleenmiller Your AVON representative (Sign in passcode: ElleensAVON if you are signing in for the first time :-)

[Guest guest]

Thank you, to all the teachers, who have written in about this issue. I am a parent of 4 (soon to be 5) children. While my mito child is not in school, yet, my other 3 are. They are all mainstreem kids, with little or no huge issues. Although, we have had our fair share of problems. It is very easy to blame the teachers when we do not get our way. But, we need to be reminded that they (the teachers) commonly work for little pay. I have never heard of a teacher to say they went into there profession for the money. I have also never met a teacher who did not adore children. Yet, I have ran into a few "bad" teachers. I do think that sometimes we, as parents, have unrealistic ideas of how our children should recieve there education. We cannot expect the schools to do everything we think is needed, but may actually not be completely necessary. I know in our state, the schools just keep getting funds taken away, levies are not passing because taxes are already so high, yet we want more and more from them. We realistily need to think about all the kids needs, not just our child. It is not fair to expect all the children have old textbooks or have extra curricular activities taken away because one child's parent thinks ther childs "needs" something they may only want. Now, do not get me wrong, schools need to be accesable that every child is able to attend safely and comfortably. I am not saying that we should not build wheelchair ramps or offer speech therapy, kids need these. But, maybe as parents we should try to help the teachers a little more. I have great relationships with my childrens teachers, and I am in contact with them when I need them (usually email at there convenience). I do hope that my childrens teachers do contact me when they need my help. Sorry this is long, just my two cents.

[Guest guest]

Also as parents we need to volunteer in the schools or your child's classroom

to help the teacher. I go to my son's classroom twice a week.

I haven't volunteered in Leah's classroom because I don't want her to see

me and want me instead of playing with the kids and "learning". I

photocopy lots for the teachers, bulletin boards, have the kids read to

me. And all the teachers are so thankful for this help. Alot

of parents that can do this, don't always think what one hour can do for

a teacher. I love to volunteer and see what I can get done on my

list from the teacher. I just hope that middle school will let me

come in, too. I know that gets a little different in the parent helping

department. I some times feel like the teachers secretary with all

the photocopying I do and orgranizing of paperwork. I feel that way

the teacher can teach and not worry about copying stuff during the time

the kids are having recess. Don't know about your schedule, but recess

time here is only 15 to20 minutes tops for our kids. You all had

good suggestions and it's insightful to hear from other teachers and their

viewpoints; because so many times we put ourselves first and not think

of what the teachers are going through. Which I'm guilty of too,

we want the best for our kids. But also by volunteering in the classroom,

you can see how the classroom is managed and how other kids behave.

Some times its an eye opener for me and I just want to hug 's 4/5

split teacher and am amazed she can do it all with all that is going on

in that classroom with other kids issues. Good luck to all the parents

going out there and dealing with IEPS and 504 plans. It's work on

every ones part.

Nerenhausen

mom to Leah

albregra@... wrote:

Thank you, to all the teachers, who have written

in about this issue. I am a parent of 4 (soon to be 5) children.

While my mito child is not in school, yet, my other 3 are. They are

all mainstreem kids, with little or no huge issues. Although, we

have had our fair share of problems. It is very easy to blame the

teachers when we do not get our way. But, we need to be reminded

that they (the teachers) commonly work for little pay. I have never

heard of a teacher to say they went into there profession for the money.

I have also never met a teacher who did not adore children. Yet,

I have ran into a few "bad" teachers. I do think that sometimes we,

as parents, have unrealistic ideas of how our children should recieve there

education. We cannot expect the schools to do everything we think

is needed, but may actually not be completely necessary. I know in

our state, the schools just keep getting funds! taken away, levies are

not passing because taxes are already so high, yet we want more and more

from them. We realistily need to think about all the kids needs,

not just our child. It is not fair to expect all the children have

old textbooks or have extra curricular activities taken away because one

child's parent thinks ther childs "needs" something they may only want.

Now, do not get me wrong, schools need to be accesable that every child

is able to attend safely and comfortably. I am not saying that we

should not build wheelchair ramps or offer speech therapy, kids need these.

But, maybe as parents we should try to help the teachers a little more.

I have great relationships with my childrens teachers, and I am in contact

with them when I need them (usually email at there convenience).

I do hope that my childrens teachers do contact me when they need my help.

Sorry this is long, just my two cents.

Please contact mito-owner with any problems or questions.

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