Listening to my usual commie (is that how you spell it?) radio talk show- a teacher called in and gave her opinion that the school system started going downhill in the 80s when parents were told they HAD to start being advocates for their children and to be a part of the school system. As everything in this country we take something good and reasonable and go ALL THE WAY over to the other side.
My life being strange as it is - I got a call from Jr High - where Jack will go next year - about Honors. Jack's 5th grade teacher thinks he should be in Honors next year or he will goof off and cause problems. Here's the deal, though: his test scores that they use to place children were all OVER the place! So, as I talk to the teacher in charge of placing him, I'm thinking SHE knows BEST. *I* have NEVER placed someone. *I* have never seen how children with these types of scores do in these types of classes - let alone *I* have never even read statistics in this.
Soooo, long story short - Jack is in Honors in Science and everything else is "regular" - and intervention in L. Arts! CRAZY boy! I have so much concern for Jack. I don't want to overwhelm him but I also don't want him cutting up and making every one's (including me - the important one) ;-) life hell. I explained to the teacher that I don't care about the "identification" of Honors - that I want to HELP make good decisions about his schooling and that I'm looking to her - a LOT to share with me her perspective. (I do think I heard her body thump on the floor as she fainted) ;-)
Ask me about the Jack at home - I'll tell you - he's picky - he most definitely doesn't like to try new foods, hates the thought of vegetables in contact with his person. He takes a bath or shower every morning - mostly to warm his little scrawny body up. He LOVEs wrestling and Ghost Adventures. He doesn't care to read a lot - but will gladly cuddle up to you as you read (after badgering him into doing it). He still calls me Momma. He cries whenever we talk about heavy subjects. He LOVEs to argue with his sister.
Now, about Jack at school. Well, I don't know a lot - except what I'm told. And truthfully he's kind of different. THEY ALL ARE! Sooooooo - how am I to "know what's best for him" and fight till the death for something I know nothing about. Wouldn't that be like taking him to the Doctor and arguing that no, he does not have strep throat - *I* know what he has. But in the parent world you're made to feel guilty if you don't go in with guns blazing and get exactly what *you* think you should for your kid. So, I ask - does that follow through life? Do I follow him on job interviews and fight for the job *I* think he should have? If a Cop pulls him over - do I go to court and fight for how fast *I* think he was going? Do I interview his dates for the one *I* think would be best for him? (I think Sal may be thinking that will be her job) ;-)
Don't get me wrong. There are teachers out there who may be of no good - but they are SO very few, and even the ones I really didn't care for never gave me the impression that they were TRYING to hurt my child. In fact, it was ME who had the problem - my children LOVED them and flourished with them. I think parents need to be involved and working WITH the school - but also be able to STEP ASIDE and let them WORK.
Dang, it's been a while since I've been fired up. :-) So, I'll get down off the soap box now. Your turn. ;-)
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