Parents of Highly SensitiveEmpathic Children Community Group
Does this sound like your child? startles easily. complains about scratchy clothing, seams in socks, or labels against his/her skin. doesn't usually enjoy big surprises. learns better from a gentle correction than strong punishment. seems to read my mind. uses big words for his/her age. notices the slightest unusual odor. has a clever sense of humor. seems very...
I received a call from the principal yesterday that my 13-year-old son was going to have Saturday school because he, along with some other boys, had about 8 IN-CLASS assignments that they had not completed. He said the teacher actually wanted them to have in-school suspension, but the rules state Saturday school has to happen first. He will be going to school in the morning and I have grounded him to the house.
However, I found out today that there were 15 kids including my son that have Saturday school in the morning from this class/situation. This really makes me concerned about a problem with the teacher?
As soon as my son returned home, I asked him what was going on with his science class and he said, "The teacher is a very unpleasant woman. You know mom, there is no such thing as a bad student, just a bad teacher."
We went through the assignments on the on-line viewer, so I could understand more about what was missing and perhaps why. It was all things like "Paper vs. Plastic Debate". I know my son loves to argue his case, so I asked why didn't you participate in that? He said she didn't allow him to because he had an assignment previous to that missing, so he got a zero on them both. Some of the other things, he did admit he just did not finish in class. Even then, I'm thinking if I manage to supervise getting homework done with the distraction of all the electronics and games, my daughter, myself, household chores while also doing my own school work and dance classes....why is this not happening in the classroom? I can understand a kid or two or an assignment or two not getting completed, but this just seems out of control to me. And if the situation is that bad, why am I just getting this information? The missing assignments were over the course of the entire quarter!
I had a stern talk with my son about the need to take care of his responsibilities no matter the unpleasantness...that's just life and something you have to do throughout it!
I attempted to voice my concern to the principal, but he didn't seem very open about the situation and just said, "Your son needs to understand your concerns". I haven't heard back from the message I left for the teacher. I'm thinking...okay?
I guess I'm feeling a little uncertainty and that maybe it's just me. Am I the only one that finds this just weird?
However, I found out today that there were 15 kids including my son that have Saturday school in the morning from this class/situation. This really makes me concerned about a problem with the teacher?
As soon as my son returned home, I asked him what was going on with his science class and he said, "The teacher is a very unpleasant woman. You know mom, there is no such thing as a bad student, just a bad teacher."
We went through the assignments on the on-line viewer, so I could understand more about what was missing and perhaps why. It was all things like "Paper vs. Plastic Debate". I know my son loves to argue his case, so I asked why didn't you participate in that? He said she didn't allow him to because he had an assignment previous to that missing, so he got a zero on them both. Some of the other things, he did admit he just did not finish in class. Even then, I'm thinking if I manage to supervise getting homework done with the distraction of all the electronics and games, my daughter, myself, household chores while also doing my own school work and dance classes....why is this not happening in the classroom? I can understand a kid or two or an assignment or two not getting completed, but this just seems out of control to me. And if the situation is that bad, why am I just getting this information? The missing assignments were over the course of the entire quarter!
I had a stern talk with my son about the need to take care of his responsibilities no matter the unpleasantness...that's just life and something you have to do throughout it!
I attempted to voice my concern to the principal, but he didn't seem very open about the situation and just said, "Your son needs to understand your concerns". I haven't heard back from the message I left for the teacher. I'm thinking...okay?
I guess I'm feeling a little uncertainty and that maybe it's just me. Am I the only one that finds this just weird?
Your son is mostly right in what he said to you. No bad students, just bad teachers.
Funny, was just thinking about this yesterday...the number of teachers that I had who would have success with only those kids who found school very easy.
One even told an entire class that if they did not enter high school as a freshman with at lest a 3.5 GPA, they might as well give up and go get a job....
If this teacher would not allow him to participate in something affecting his grade because of previous missed assignment, she's definitely not encouraging him to succeed. It sounds more like she set him up to fail.
I think that a lot of the issues my kids have in school IS due to the fact that I homeschooled them for years. My daughter is having more problems this year in high school - not behaviorally, but she just feels "conformed" and that she is learning nothing comparatively. My kids are a bit used to free thinking, communicating, interaction, discussion and my daughter is really suffering through a class that is full of double column notes, forced outlining of the material, etc. She does the work, but she is really frustrated that she feels she is getting nothing out of it and it is all such "busy" work to her.
As far as my son, we have two more Saturday school days to get through. On top of the ones he received for these assignments missing along with half the class, he has also received Saturday school because the PE coach (who actually called me and said this) has a bunch of rowdy boys in the class and needed to make a point to get them under control.
I am feeling a little bit responsible because of my choice to homeschool the kids for so long, because maybe I am personally a little anti-social, nonconforming and whew....I feel like I am constantly at odds with this school and fighting it.
My son gave me a more detailed list of the things he is struggling with as far as the actual teaching and classes For instance, one of the teachers makes them take notes in math and they get counted off for not having the notes. He said he cannot understand the math because he is so focused on taking the notes instead of listening to the explaination.
I hate to say this, but this particular school is in the really "rich" part of town - and not just a little - like statistically 98% of the moms are stay-at-home moms there!! I do have the feeling that he is singled out in any situation simply because he truthfully is the poorest kid there and for that matter likely one of the most individual kids there.
I am going to communicate everything my son communicated with me today and the counselor was also going to email the teachers. I'm going to give this one more stab at finding a way through. Then, I'm flipping out!