unbelievable...

...and not in a good way.

I've tried to not give many details about our situation at school. I've tried to be Pollyanna about it all, but I think there's a difference between being positive and being stupid. So, I am to a point now where I feel like I'm not the crazy one. It also helps that we have made a decision as to what to do about our situation.

One of my kids has a 504, a legally binding document prepared by a team of specialists at a given school and the corresponding district that sets forth a required plan of action to assist a child with specific needs in their education experience. It's January and even though we moved into the district with a brand new 504, we were denied services (by people claiming misunderstanding and ignorance and forgetfulness) until a certain person made a visit to the district offices and spoke with the director of elementary education. Amazing that by the end of the following school day, the 504 was in play. Phew. At least the district understands what "legally binding" means.

One of my other kids has a teacher that has issues. I would elaborate as to what I think her "issues" are, but I'm not sure if that's legal or not. So, instead, I'll tell you a few of the MANY things she does each day and let you draw your own conclusions. I want to be sure to let you know that this situation has been remedied as of today when I dropped off an affidavit to the school withdrawing said child from full-time attendance at the school. Anyhow, back to some examples. This teacher has many kids in the class that somehow have multiple missing assignments. These are kids that are typically responsible, top of the class students. When you ask the kids about the missing assignments, they have no idea where the assignment went. When they ask the teacher, she belittles them and refuses to give them the work to be made up, yet continually sends home notes saying they have missing work that needs to be completed. This will go on for weeks. Remember, these are fourth graders. Finally, one mother (it was me) actually went to the school with her daughter to ask for the missing work. The mother was told to look through the desk of the daughter, which had already been done by the daughter. After emptying the entire desk to prove the papers were not inside, the teacher said that she didn't have the papers on her desk and said she'd have to look through the file cabinet. I said, "Fine, we'll wait." She reluctantly found the papers, but didn't have copies. I offered to make the copies for her to which she replied she would do it. So, again I told her we'd wait. Judas. I don't even care about the missing assignments!! The problem is that the kids are belittled in front of their peers and embarrassed. They are also restricted from activities if they have missing work. I completely agree that if a child is not turning in work, they should not get to participate in certain activities. That is a valuable life lesson, is it not? There is a problem, though, when it begins to appear that it is not the child that is "missing" the work.

Next problem. Lack of human compassion. Not every child should or does have the blessing of having a loving, warm fuzzy teacher each year. Yes, it certainly makes life easier for all involved (I firmly believe that would include the teacher). I do believe that all teacher's should have a certain amount of compassion though. Prime example: It is currently 5 degrees here in my lovely little town. Brrrrr. Last week the kids went outside for recess and were playing on the "umbrella" toy. I personally think this toy is a safety hazard and should be removed. I think two arms have been broken on it and countless other injuries have occurred-but that's a different story. This toy looks like an umbrella. The kids jump up to hold onto the rim and the toy spins. It's high enough that most of the kids have to lift each other up to get onto it. Sounds elementary friendly, right? Anyhow, a girl fell off the toy and into the lake-like puddle that is underneath. Because this is a spinning toy, if you lose your grip and fall, you usually land on your bottom, not your feet. Thus the broken arms. (Not my kids with broken arms.) My daughter helped this girl up and proceeded to go into the school with the wet girl to the classroom to get the teacher for help. The school is long and narrow. The office is in the middle of the school and the door these kids enter is at the other end. So, it was logical, especially for a fourth grader to seek out her teacher for help and direction. Both girls were told by the teacher to "get out of the classroom. Under no circumstances are they ever to go into the classroom. Maybe they'll be more careful next time so that they don't get wet. There was no reason for my daughter to have entered the school with the wet girl." The girls tried to explain to the teacher that wet girl was hurt but they were told that it didn't matter and that fourth graders shouldn't need help if they get hurt. Really? Seriously? So they shouldn't go into the building during recess, I get it. It was flippin' 5 degrees outside and the girl was hurt and wet and freezing. Maybe the teacher could have said to next time just go straight to the office? Nope. Not her. They were both scolded. The teacher didn't even ask the girl if she was okay. I later talked to the mom who did not know that I was aware of this incident. She was telling me that her daughter was soaked to the bone and then proceeded to give the same account as my daughter had given me. This mom didn't know it was my daughter who had helped her daughter, so there's no way this story is tainted.

I could seriously go on and on and on. But I will not. I will tell you this last incident to cap it all. I literally poked my head into the classroom to ask the teacher if she wanted me to do a presentation the next day. The presentation was 1 1/2 minutes. This was something that I was asked to do for the whole grade. When I poked my head in, the kids were coloring, the teacher roaming the classroom. I would not have interrupted her instruction. She came out into the hall and started yelling at me, telling me I was disrespectful and rude and inappropriate. For poking my head in to ask a question. Yikes. She told me if I ever wanted to ask her a question again, I had to call the office and make an appointment to tell her I had a question for her. Then, I had to call the office again to schedule a second appointment to ask the question. Her yelling at me took about four times as long as it would have for me to ask if she wanted the presentation (that she requested) and her to answer with a simple yes or no. The icing on the cake is that she later BRAGGED to the other teachers (some of which I know) about how she had told off a parent volunteer. She also said that she "doesn't know who I think I am trying to volunteer and start programs. I'm new to the area and it's my place to kiss butt for a few years."

WWHHAAAATTT???!!!

One of the teachers said to her, "Seriously? Two minutes? You yelled at a parent for that?" And she continued to brag that yes she had and she expected me to kiss a lot more butt and to be put in my place.

People. She's crazy.