Well once again I made it through the school year, but I'm not going to say, "Oh where has this year went?" Today I am saying, "Thank the Lord I made it through without going to jail!"
This sure has been an educational year for me filled with lots of frustration and tears. I guess the old saying is true, you're never to old to learn. Although I prefer, you can't teach an old dog new tricks.
First let me say I am an advocate for my children's education. I keep in contact with all their teachers, I let the them know their strengths and weaknesses, I attend parent/teacher conferences, I help with homework and check grades everyday, go on field trips and volunteer if they need me. So I am involved, maybe too much for some teachers.
So here's my top 10 list of new tricks I learned:
1. Core anything SUCKS, it doesn't matter what the answer is, it's how you got it that counts.
2. Just because they say it, doesn't mean it's true.
3. Never and I mean never defend yourself, stand there and get punched or run screaming down the hall.
4. Even though you were punished for breaking the rules and paid your dues you will continue to be punished.
5. There's a lot of smoke being blown on school property even though it's not allowed.
6. There's no funding for students with a 504 so the school doesn't really enforce it, unless you make some noise.
7. There is lots of assistance if it's a state test and reflects on the school
8. Some teachers lie.
9. Some teachers are so wonderful at their job they deserve way more credit than they get.
10. Just because you have a degree in teaching it doesn't make you a teacher.
Now before anyone gets mad at me and says I'm being too hard on teachers I completely understand. Teaching is a selfless job and they continue to work long after the school day ends. They have many children in their classes not just mine. I can see if I were a parent that didn't think getting an education was important, but I do. I expect my kids to do their best and respect the teachers, in exchange I expect the same from the teachers. Respect that my child may not learn the same way as every other child in your class. Respect the fact that everyday will not be a good day for my child. Respect the fact that they do not like having a learning disability anymore than you like having to deviate from the rest of the class to help them individually. Respect the fact that I am their parent and if I need to ask you a question don't get defensive, just help me to understand. Finally please don't patronize me and say things you think I want to hear. Because whether you like it or not I am not going away. As long as my child needs help I will be there.
If I don't stand up for my child who will?
In the schools defense, they pink slipped the horrible teacher!!
