I could make this a very long story but I'm going to try to keep it concise. This is something I want to always remember. About Evan's first year in school. It started at the ice cream social a couple weeks before school even started. I met Evan's teacher and happened to ask her how many kids were going to be in Evan's class, to which she told me 28. And though she didn't whine about it, she didn't look too happy about it either. That seems awfully high to me so I chatted with some of my education-educated friends (you get that?) who confirmed that that was a pretty crazy number and hoping that she had a full-time assistant. It wasn't more than two weeks into school when I got to meet with his teacher again and she let me know that there were now 30 kids in the class and she did not have a full-time assistant. I was really getting concerned about this situation.
I came to realize over the next couple of weeks that a) a kindergarten class with that many kids in it can be total chaos, b) the teacher was feeling like she was putting out fires more than she was teaching kids, and c) I was completely unsatisfied with the way Evan's schooling was going thusfar and I needed to do something about it. I know, I know, it was a few weeks into his kindergarten year and I was having issues. It's strange to me, too. I don't know what it is about education. I am just uber-passionate about it. I know that Evan has huge potential and I want him to have every opportunity in life to reach that potential. I don't care what he does with it. As long as he learns as much as he wants to learn and has every opportunity to learn, that's all I want.
So I wrote a letter to the principal and asked her to forward it to the district. I politely stated my concern about there being too many kids in the class without an assistant. I also praised the teacher who I feel is remarkable at what she does. And I asked for someone to get back with me to let me know that they at least read my note and had heard my concerns. A month later no one had responded. And I'd been in the classroom four times since that first letter and witnessed just the saddest scenes. The the teacher trying to get through a lesson with four to six kids totally running amok. I figured that 20% of the class was taking up about 75% of the time in having to be redirected, moved to a different spot, told to keep their hands to themselves, etc. I felt like the kids were at a disadvantage and the teacher was being abused. So I skipped the principal and sent a second letter to the superintendent. Within a day I had a voicemail and an e-mail from him telling me that another lady from the district would be calling me to discuss the issue. Well, she called last week and let me know that the average kids per class for elementary is 27.5 right now due to budge cuts. Ugh, budget cuts. So the idea of splitting the class was completely unrealistic (sounds like heaven to have 15 kids in a kindergarten class, but maybe that's just me). But she said that because of my letter there was going to be a meeting to discuss the possibility of adding an aid to the classroom. She told me she would call me back this week.
Since then I have felt like a complete lunatic. Why? Because I just can't stop thinking about this situation and being really, really disturbed by it. And then I was frustrated that I was disturbed by it. Why can't I just send my child to school and not worry about it like some of the other parents? Why all the inner turmoil? Seriously, one day I was bawling my eyes out over the whole thing. I was talking to all kinds of parents...parents of TAG kids, parents who decided to homeschool, parents who are happy with the school system. I was entertaining all kinds of options, including but not limited to homeschooling, private school (we make little enough to get a scholarship - not the other way around), moving to another state with better education, moving to another district in hopes of getting into the charter school I'd like him to go to, um, yeah, hold on for this one, telling them they can let the janitor go and I'll do his/her job in the evenings so they can afford another teacher. Yeah, like I said, I felt like a complete nutcase. Happily, I have calmed down the last few days and realized that until I am able to make any sane and rational decisions I will just continue on with what I've been doing...sending Evan to kindergarten and then doing stuff at home afterwards. We do reading and he's halfway through the 1st grade math curriculum and we'll do experiments and stuff. That way I know his brain is getting the challenge that it needs.
Anyway, I'm back down to earth now and got a call from the district lady tonight. She let me know that they have put a cap on the number of kids in Evan's class and if anyone moves in they will find another school close by for them to attend. They are also bringing in a full-time aide starting Monday. Hallelujah - I'll take it! Someone to help with crowd control so the teacher can actually get some teaching done. Someone to break the ratio down from 30 to 1 to 15 to 1...more individualized time for the kids. More time for the teacher to get to know them and their individual strengths and weaknesses. I'll just take it.
So I learned today that I can make change happen. And the crazy thing is that what I did, being so passionate about something that I fought this hard, goes completely contrary to my nature. I almost always have the feeling that everything will be fine. Everything will work out how it's supposed to. Not this time. And I'm glad I didn't. I'm glad I stepped way out of my comfort zone to help the students and the teacher who couldn't do anything to change the situation themselves. I'm grateful to have learned that I can do hard things. And that what happened today is a solid reminder to Evan of my love for him.
I came to realize over the next couple of weeks that a) a kindergarten class with that many kids in it can be total chaos, b) the teacher was feeling like she was putting out fires more than she was teaching kids, and c) I was completely unsatisfied with the way Evan's schooling was going thusfar and I needed to do something about it. I know, I know, it was a few weeks into his kindergarten year and I was having issues. It's strange to me, too. I don't know what it is about education. I am just uber-passionate about it. I know that Evan has huge potential and I want him to have every opportunity in life to reach that potential. I don't care what he does with it. As long as he learns as much as he wants to learn and has every opportunity to learn, that's all I want.
So I wrote a letter to the principal and asked her to forward it to the district. I politely stated my concern about there being too many kids in the class without an assistant. I also praised the teacher who I feel is remarkable at what she does. And I asked for someone to get back with me to let me know that they at least read my note and had heard my concerns. A month later no one had responded. And I'd been in the classroom four times since that first letter and witnessed just the saddest scenes. The the teacher trying to get through a lesson with four to six kids totally running amok. I figured that 20% of the class was taking up about 75% of the time in having to be redirected, moved to a different spot, told to keep their hands to themselves, etc. I felt like the kids were at a disadvantage and the teacher was being abused. So I skipped the principal and sent a second letter to the superintendent. Within a day I had a voicemail and an e-mail from him telling me that another lady from the district would be calling me to discuss the issue. Well, she called last week and let me know that the average kids per class for elementary is 27.5 right now due to budge cuts. Ugh, budget cuts. So the idea of splitting the class was completely unrealistic (sounds like heaven to have 15 kids in a kindergarten class, but maybe that's just me). But she said that because of my letter there was going to be a meeting to discuss the possibility of adding an aid to the classroom. She told me she would call me back this week.
Since then I have felt like a complete lunatic. Why? Because I just can't stop thinking about this situation and being really, really disturbed by it. And then I was frustrated that I was disturbed by it. Why can't I just send my child to school and not worry about it like some of the other parents? Why all the inner turmoil? Seriously, one day I was bawling my eyes out over the whole thing. I was talking to all kinds of parents...parents of TAG kids, parents who decided to homeschool, parents who are happy with the school system. I was entertaining all kinds of options, including but not limited to homeschooling, private school (we make little enough to get a scholarship - not the other way around), moving to another state with better education, moving to another district in hopes of getting into the charter school I'd like him to go to, um, yeah, hold on for this one, telling them they can let the janitor go and I'll do his/her job in the evenings so they can afford another teacher. Yeah, like I said, I felt like a complete nutcase. Happily, I have calmed down the last few days and realized that until I am able to make any sane and rational decisions I will just continue on with what I've been doing...sending Evan to kindergarten and then doing stuff at home afterwards. We do reading and he's halfway through the 1st grade math curriculum and we'll do experiments and stuff. That way I know his brain is getting the challenge that it needs.
Anyway, I'm back down to earth now and got a call from the district lady tonight. She let me know that they have put a cap on the number of kids in Evan's class and if anyone moves in they will find another school close by for them to attend. They are also bringing in a full-time aide starting Monday. Hallelujah - I'll take it! Someone to help with crowd control so the teacher can actually get some teaching done. Someone to break the ratio down from 30 to 1 to 15 to 1...more individualized time for the kids. More time for the teacher to get to know them and their individual strengths and weaknesses. I'll just take it.
So I learned today that I can make change happen. And the crazy thing is that what I did, being so passionate about something that I fought this hard, goes completely contrary to my nature. I almost always have the feeling that everything will be fine. Everything will work out how it's supposed to. Not this time. And I'm glad I didn't. I'm glad I stepped way out of my comfort zone to help the students and the teacher who couldn't do anything to change the situation themselves. I'm grateful to have learned that I can do hard things. And that what happened today is a solid reminder to Evan of my love for him.
5 comments:
I bet that teacher loves you. I am so proud of you! You did the right thing, I guess I don't need to tell you that. Are you in Hillsboro school district? Make sure the aid thing happens, that would be my advice. Keep on it until you actually see his or her face in the classroom. And certainly, in the future, send things directly to the source. I'm guessing that either the principal didn't forward your email at all or they sent it to the wrong person. I usually send it to the main person, in your case principal. And then CC someone higher up. That way the principal sees that, "oh, I have to do something about this because my higher up is getting a copy." I always get results this way. Did you read my blog post from yesterday? I have my own educational issues I've been dealing with as well. It's not fun but necessary.
I am SOOOOOO proud of you! I hope the teacher knows all you have done to help her and her students. Way to go Mem! Next issue, take on world hunger, homlessness, or maybe cancer!
Go you! I am TERRIFIED of that happening and I'm positive I am going to be like you and worry about it. It's not like kids get another shot, you can't re-do it, so it needs to be done well and right! Keep up the good work and making your voice heard.
I'm so glad to hear things are going better and you're feeling better! Yea for awesome moms! Evan is lucky to have you.
You are an excellent mother, and you kids are blessed to have you. I have been told that if you let your voice be heard that you will make changes,and you testified to that very concept... It is great that there are mothers like you that care. Thank you
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