I don't think the question is what are we teaching your children, it's what are your children learning? They will learn what they put the effort into learning. We are in the middle of 3 weeks of testing mandated by the State of NM, yes we do have to teach what's on the test because it is our State Content Standards, Benchmarks, and Performance Standards. It is what we are supposed to teach all year. It is a measure of their reading, writing, and math capabilities. If they have paid attention, done their work, both in class and AT HOME, they should not have a problem.
With President Idiot, and our new Governor Moron, putting grading systems on the schools and teachers, they are taking away even more of the tiny amount of student/parent responsibility. Where is the accountability grade for parents who do not ask if their kids have homework and then help them with it? Where is the accountability for the student who has been held back, cannot be held back again, and knows it so they have to intention of doing any work. Why should I be blamed for this? Parents want to know why I sent a truant officer to their house when their child is failing, has not done any work, and has been absent 17 times in 18 weeks? They call the main office and say I am harassing them, I get yelled at, then their kids fail and I get blamed.
I'm a parent too you know,, my son graduated last year. My two nephews graduated from this district, my niece will next month. I have made every single parent/teacher meeting, college info. meeting, band concert, cheer leading competition, spelling bee, geography bee, you name it, for every single one of them. Why can't parents answer the phone for me? Why can't they show up for meetings with me? Why don't they accept responsibility for their children? Don't give me that line that you just don't know what is wrong with Jr. he's always been like this. I recommended testing for SPED, you refused, I recommended counseling, you refused, I offered tutoring after school, you refused.
Can I teach a child who refuses to learn? No, all I can do is try to reach them. Can I force a parent to come to a meeting? No, I can call them, send home notes, and then send a truant officer though.
Not all teachers are lazy, in it for the money (ha ha ha ha!), mean, etc. Just like not all parents are like the ones described above. I love my job, I love what I do in-spite of those parents, students, and politicians who want to blame me for the problems of every dysfunctional family out there. I stay after school most days until 5 or so with my Kid's Club, with tutoring, trying to come up with ways to help certain students and families. I go to counseling with a few families to help and support them, I do a food drive and clothing drive to try and teach the kids civic awareness.
What I really want is for everyone to stop blaming teachers and the educational system for all the problems and all the issues they have in their lives. I'm truly sorry you hated your 3rd grade teacher 25 years ago, but get over it and move on, and don't think every teacher out there is like that one. We aren't.
