QUOTE(bordercolliefan @ Aug 22 2008, 01:07 PM) 
I agree with you about the volunteering. I've already told my daughter's teacher that we parents are there for her -- she can use us to teach small groups, teach reading, whatever she needs.
I am hardly going to go into the principal's office and complain about the two 3rd grade teachers who described how the huge class will hinder their efforts. You know, when someone is as upset as these teachers are, I don't run to report them and get them in trouble. That doesn't sound like a very compassionate response. I try to understand where they are coming from. What I hear is teachers who feel betrayed, who pride themselves on doing an excellent job, and who have a huge fear that they will not be able to meet the standard to which they hold themselves. --Kind of like when your boss does something that makes it impossible for you to do at A+ job at work... it is very demoralizing.
BTW, I think my older daughter might have been in the class you are talking about, last year (though I suppose that dynamic is not uncommon). If so, THAT teacher was in tears last year, too, feeling that she was failing the rest of the students because one high-need kid was demanding ALL of her attention all day long. All the parents agreed that the kid should have had an aide or been taken out of the mainstream classroom, but... maybe there's no money for that, either?? I don't know.
It's tough to see teachers with this level of frustration.
I am hardly going to go into the principal's office and complain about the two 3rd grade teachers who described how the huge class will hinder their efforts. You know, when someone is as upset as these teachers are, I don't run to report them and get them in trouble. That doesn't sound like a very compassionate response. I try to understand where they are coming from. What I hear is teachers who feel betrayed, who pride themselves on doing an excellent job, and who have a huge fear that they will not be able to meet the standard to which they hold themselves. --Kind of like when your boss does something that makes it impossible for you to do at A+ job at work... it is very demoralizing.
BTW, I think my older daughter might have been in the class you are talking about, last year (though I suppose that dynamic is not uncommon). If so, THAT teacher was in tears last year, too, feeling that she was failing the rest of the students because one high-need kid was demanding ALL of her attention all day long. All the parents agreed that the kid should have had an aide or been taken out of the mainstream classroom, but... maybe there's no money for that, either?? I don't know.
It's tough to see teachers with this level of frustration.
I know I wasn't there
but to be honest, what I hear in your report are simply people who are pissed off because they have to work harder.
Bottom line is, from what I can tell, every school, every principal is going above and beyond in providing additional help and resources to the affected 3rd grade teachers. I can honestly say about our school (NSE) that the children will not be slighted or receive an inferior education in anyway. And yes, I do have a 3rd grader. And I am confident the story is the same at the rest of the city's elementary schools.
