This morning, as I walked the kids into school, I noticed a very angry Mom waiting to check in with the receptionist. She was holding a paper, and talking with another mom with much animation.
One quote I caught: "Did you do this social studies review? Did you also notice that there was not one question from this review on the test? This is ridiculous."
Before I begin, let me remind you that my kids are in elementary school. Grades K-4.
I'm going out on a limb here, but I'm guessing her child did not do well on the Social Studies Test, and the review was to blame. I'm also speculating that the Mom was there to complain not only to the Principal, but also to talk with the teacher and let that teacher know just how poorly she did her job. She was going to do all of this at 8:00 in the morning, unannounced.
That teacher was probably in her classroom preparing for the day. She was stacking papers, writing the agenda on the board, running through the daily schedule in her mind-making sure all was in order before her students entered her room. She also might have been putting the finishing touches on her lesson for 25+ students. Students who come to her everyday from a different walk of life. Students who are gifted, students with special needs, students who are learning english, students who love school, student who hate school, students who are sleepy, students who are hyper, and students who are pumped about whatever she can throw at them. 25 Individuals that she caters to as a whole.
That Mom probably entered the room asking for a word with the teacher. While that teacher busied the students with an off-hand activity, she most likely stepped into the hall and had this person tell her just how terrible she was at her job. She might have gone into details of the test and the review, and how her child studied for hours and still did poorly. At that point, the teacher defended her teaching strategy, defended her test, and defended the grade. After the discussion, the mom left, feeling much better having vented her frustrations.
The teacher, however, walked back into the classroom doubting her abilities. She shrugged off the encounter, engaged herself in the lesson, and hoped she was doing only good. She looked out at the sea of faces, hoping to see her kids succeed. I don't have to speculate that. As a teacher, I know that.
Moms and Teachers should be on the same side. We both love our kids, and want them to grow into amazing adults. Our approaches might be different, but the intent is identical. I've thought of that Teacher all day, and hope she was able to overcome this morning and continue making those kids ready for our world.
3 comments:
Teaching is the most underappreciated, underpaid field of endeavor.
I have nothing but the highest regard for the profession and a special disdain for those, like your "lady" this morning who was chomping at the bit to tear her kid's teacher a new one instead of figuring out why her dopey brat failed his test.
Too much X-Box would be my guess.
Great post Daniella.
Bravo! Bravo!
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