Selfish School Poll

[rugbywife]

I suddenly realized I have a huge pool of parents that I can use for really scientifically accurate research poll. I am solely interested in your answers because it helps me to do my job better...

MOOKS:

What are your biggest concerns with regards to your child's current education? What do you feel is going well and what isn't?

Parents of future school aged children:

What is your biggest source of anxiety with regards to your child's future education?

[Deleted]

My 4 year old is in public pre-K right now. Also have a 2 year old that will enter that program next year, at 3.

Right now, I don't really have concerns. His program is pretty good, and he's disappointed he can't go to school 5 days a week. He loves it. I consider pre-K to be about social skills and learning that school is fun, so I'm happy. His teacher is well organized and seems to communicate well (via notes in the backpack).

My biggest source of anxiety for the future is choosing a school/program, and what our decision making process will be if something needs to change (specifically, whether we should do french immersion, and if we do it, what failure looks like in that program).

[VillainV]

I have a little kid. My biggest concerns are: school safety/security, and whether or not my kid will learn well in a traditional classroom.

[hermione]

Future school aged child:

That she'll be bullied at school.

[monsterz]

What are your biggest concerns with regards to your child's current education? What do you feel is going well and what isn't?

There have been a lot of transitions and changes for my son. We finalized his adoption and then moved across country. New school district didn't look at his IEP and placed him in a school with no supports. We then scrambled to get appropriate supports in place which led to a change in placement. I just found out his behaviors are out of control at school and they aren't following his IEP as a result. They decided they needed to leave him in a self contained classroom for a few days at the beginning of the year to understand what his needs are. In this classroom there are kids jumping out of windows, hitting, kicking, etc. My son sees this and follows their lead. He doesn't like the classroom and keeps asking me when he can go to his other classroom.

So basically nothing is going well right now. They just implemented a behavior program for him so we are hopefully going to see baby steps towards improved behavior as he can earn rewards at school and at home for earning a certain percentage of points. Right now my goal is to get to 50% compliance as the first point sheet that came home had him at 10% compliance, the second day he was at 41%. Today is day 3 and he will be home shortly.



What is your biggest source of anxiety with regards to your child's future education?
That his behaviors will get in the way of his learning and ability to participate in a GenEd classroom.

[rootbeerfloat]

Both are school-aged.

In general, I'm concerned about the sheer amount of testing they endure, as well as the quantity of mind-numbing worksheets assigned to prepare them for all that testing. I also worry about bullying.

For DS in particular, who is having trouble with writing and spelling, I'm troubled by the process for getting him help. No one can agree whether he needs it or what kinds of interventions might help him, etc.

[holly116]

Oldest in in kindergarten.

I want her to love school. Right now she totally does and my immediate fear is that the curriculum is almost too much for such young kids. I don't want her to get burned out.

And, the families at her private school are rampant red shirters. Most send their summer birthday kids to public kindy first, then repeat at her school. With a 10/1 cutoff, her early August birthday makes her the youngest.

Also, her speech issues. God, I just pray she's able to make enough progress before she or any of the other kids figures out she's behind.

[formerlyak]

@choco we called my DS "Mr. Never Nap" because he was horrible at taking a nap. Like so bad that a teacher was usually assigned to sit next to him at nap time to prevent him from getting up and walking around the room and trying to talk to his friends while they tried to nap. I think it is totally normal for preschool boys.

@246baje I hope your state/district does a standard test for G&T (our state uses OLSAT) instead of straight teacher recommendation. Admission to the G&T program in our state is based on percentile and the format of the questions is not what you typically see on standardized tests. DS and a few of his friends were identified G&T through the test this past year. People weren't surprised about DS because he is known as being kind of nerdy and a good student. However, people were surprised to learn of a few other kids who made it because they thought they were just "class clowns" or "hyper and unmotivated." As much as I hate standardized tests, at least with the G&T one, it takes out perception or opinion and goes by a number.

[formerlyak]

My DS is 4th grade. I used to worry about a lot of things:

- Will he get picked on? Yes. Almost all kids get picked on for something. Key was giving him tools he could use to turn it around. Now the kid that bullied him is actually really nice to him.

- Will he pick on someone? Yes. And when I found out I told him to stop being a little punk and to apologize to the kid.

- Will he get a good teacher? We've been lucky in that so far he's always been placed in a great class. But like my mom reminds me every year, "You hated your third grade teacher. Did it ruin you for life? No. Did it teach you to work with people you may not like? Yes. And that's an important life skill." My mom was a teacher ...

- Will the teacher recognize that he is a good student even though he tends to zone out? Yep. They all knew he is a smart kid. And a good kid. And sometimes, when they have to go over something again for others in the class, he is a bored kid. And that doesn't make him a bad student. It simply means the teachers work to find ways to keep the kids like DS engaged even when they are bored because they already understand the assignment.

When I went to DS' teacher conference in second grade and the teacher said, "I wish there were more students like DS" I decided I needed to stop worrying about elementary school and high school and just let things happen a bit. Now I just worry about paying for college! LOL.

I have a friend who worries whether or not her kid will be popular in High School and has him learning multiple sports to ensure he is a jock and is popular. I went to the high school our boys will go to and I told her that from what I remember, this high school was not like that at all.

[Deleted]

rugby wife - biggest concerns - striking teachers

I think for me - I worry about keeping up with her homework while I work late.
Keeping up with her other obligations so she can be well rounded but doesn't fall behind in school.

So far, her jk class (18 kids) is great. I know a lot of other parents complain about large class sizes but we are lucky.

[rugbywife]

Sept 28, 2015 17:42:29 GMT -5 @hannymaren said:

rugby wife - biggest concerns - striking teachers

I think for me - I worry about keeping up with her homework while I work late.
Keeping up with her other obligations so she can be well rounded but doesn't fall behind in school.

So far, her jk class (18 kids) is great. I know a lot of other parents complain about large class sizes but we are lucky.

You are lucky she isn't in a JK/SK blend too. We do only those, Catholic board splits them I believe. If her class only has 18 kids, do they have a teacher and ECE or only teacher?

[formerlyak]

@hannymaren - if your school does after care, just talk to them about your homework concern. Ours is really good at helping the kids through their homework so those of us who work late can simply go over it with them to see what they did.

And as far as other obligations to stay well rounded, lots of parents have the same issues. Once you get settled in activities, you will find that many are willing to group up and take turns so your kid can still do the activities, but you aren't always taking off early to get them to the weekly 4:00 practice.

[formerlyak]

Sept 28, 2015 17:45:46 GMT -5 @choco said:

formerlyak, DS1 had no problems staying still and being quiet during nap time at his old school since everyone had to do the same thing. At his current preschool, the kids are allowed to bring "nap bags" that have quiet activities they can do during nap time. I didn't know that this was the norm instead of the exception when the school year started so I didn't send one assuming DS would be fine. After our conference with the teachers, we started sending a nap bag and he's supposedly been fine since. The lead teacher was not clear at all that she lets the kids make noise during nap time and here is my poor 4yo trying to be quiet and no one else is.

@246baje, I truly hope you and I don't encounter our fears but I am already on edge. DH and I were very quick to call that teacher conference as soon as we heard what the lead teacher said. You don't play with me like that and we will make sure you come up with examples to back up your claims.

Thank goodness you got clarification! I'd be pissed that this wasn't made clear to me from the beginning considering ... Mr. Never Nap. DS would have loved it if he were allowed a nap bag.

[Deleted]

Sept 28, 2015 17:45:21 GMT -5 rugbywife said:

Sept 28, 2015 17:42:29 GMT -5 @hannymaren said:

rugby wife - biggest concerns - striking teachers

I think for me - I worry about keeping up with her homework while I work late.
Keeping up with her other obligations so she can be well rounded but doesn't fall behind in school.

So far, her jk class (18 kids) is great. I know a lot of other parents complain about large class sizes but we are lucky.

You are lucky she isn't in a JK/SK blend too. We do only those, Catholic board splits them I believe. If her class only has 18 kids, do they have a teacher and ECE or only teacher?

She is in jk/sk split. 18 kids with an ECE. There are 2 classes. I like the split.

[Deleted]

Sept 28, 2015 17:46:27 GMT -5 formerlyak said:

@hannymaren - if your school does after care, just talk to them about your homework concern. Ours is really good at helping the kids through their homework so those of us who work late can simply go over it with them to see what they did.

And as far as other obligations to stay well rounded, lots of parents have the same issues. Once you get settled in activities, you will find that many are willing to group up and take turns so your kid can still do the activities, but you aren't always taking off early to get them to the weekly 4:00 practice.

She may eventually be in after care so that is a good idea.
I am more worried about activities hindering her ability to do her homework. I feel like there is more homework nowadays

[rugbywife]

Sept 28, 2015 17:49:14 GMT -5 @hannymaren said:

Sept 28, 2015 17:45:21 GMT -5 rugbywife said:

You are lucky she isn't in a JK/SK blend too. We do only those, Catholic board splits them I believe. If her class only has 18 kids, do they have a teacher and ECE or only teacher?

She is in jk/sk split. 18 kids with an ECE. There are 2 classes. I like the split.

I prefer a split too, personally. 18 kids is insane for FDK though, so lucky. 

[cjeanette]

Sept 28, 2015 16:59:10 GMT -5 rugbywife said:

I suddenly realized I have a huge pool of parents that I can use for really scientifically accurate research poll. I am solely interested in your answers because it helps me to do my job better...

MOOKS:

What are your biggest concerns with regards to your child's current education? What do you feel is going well and what isn't?

Proper funding in my state and my district. To help with class size and extra curriculars that are important.

Going well- my district is growing and evolving rather well. Our superintendent is focused on teaching kids to prep them for real life and a career and not to pass a test.

What isn't - all the security they have added. It is too cumbersome

Parents of future school aged children:

What is your biggest source of anxiety with regards to your child's future education?

[gibbinator]

Dh teaches at the school are boys will attend and he knows how terrible the grade 1 and 2 teachers are. One is so stressed out that she causes anxiety in the kids and the other is just inconsistent and prone to yelling. So I guess teaching staff are my biggest anxiety. Everything else about the place is great.
If they were going to any other school besides the abovementioned one I'd be worried about ds1 in particular being bulllied because he's so sensitive.

[bananapancakes]

Sept 28, 2015 18:04:45 GMT -5 rugbywife said:

Sept 28, 2015 17:49:14 GMT -5 @hannymaren said:

She is in jk/sk split. 18 kids with an ECE. There are 2 classes. I like the split.

I prefer a split too, personally. 18 kids is insane for FDK though, so lucky. 

That's amazing! I had 32 in the FDK class I teach up until last week. Last Friday was reorganization day and we were granted an additional class so now we have 4 classes of 24 instead of 3 classes of 32. Today was much better!

[pooh8402]

Future school aged children

I worry about him struggling in school. I never had to struggle academically until college, so if my kid struggles academically, that will be an entire new experience to me. I also worry about him struggling socially too, and that one, I do have personal experience with, and it's not easy. Bullying, or just being left out. Either sucks.

[bunnymendelbaum]

DD1 is 5. Just started K at a Catholic School. I'm afraid she won't be taught enough critical thinking.

DD2 is 2. I worry her creativity will be stifled and she'll be labeled "wild".

[undecidedowl]

Future:

I worry about the education system. It feels like kids are being pushed too hard, tested too much, not given time to learn in more natural ways. I hope my kids can thrive in spite of a system that doesn't always seemed focused on their best interests.

[timorousbeastie]

Future school aged child:

My top worries are bullying and the trend towards anti-science (intelligent design, abstinence only, etc.) being taught in the classroom. (I have no idea at this point if either of those concepts are taught in my district currently, but I wouldn't be surprised if I wind up having to have heated discussions with DD's future teachers over such matters)

[booboo173]

Future school age: bullying, substance use in schools, violence and safety. On the academic side only teaching to testing and this crazy new math I dont get

[imojoebunny]

What are your biggest concerns with regards to your child's current education? What do you feel is going well and what isn't?
I have two kids. One is in private school because public school wanted to wait to give her help for her LD, Visual processing disorder, so not recognized, though she also has an ADHD diagnosis, until she failed.  Not when she was performing 70% points below her "IQ score".  I worry that unless we keep the ADHD diagnosis (which we believe is bullshit), they will penalize her for the visual processing, even though, long term, computers can mitigate many of its effects. She is doing great in private school and regularly scores well above average on national standardized testing, without accommodations, but if I put her back in public, I fear it will be a different story, with the lack of flexibility.

For the second, who is in first grade and seems to have a head for math and science (99% on his map scores in first grade, easily did his sister's 3rd grade homework on a regular basis in kinder), they will not challenge him, which has already started to affect his attitude. If it ain't easy, he thinks it is too hard. Nope kid, you just haven't had to try. I feel much less panicked about him, than I did about his sister, but I still feel like he needs to be challenged, or he will get the idea that everything should be easy, and when it isn't, think it should be.

I have no doubt our testing program in public school is culturally and educationally biased. It includes a one page letter from parents about why their child is "exceptional". I kind of want to write, "This is a culturally and educationally biased criteria and I refuse to do it." You are also encouraged to submit a project your child has done at home that shows exceptionalness. Yeah, that's not biased toward high income, well educated families (gag).

[irishbride2]

DD is in K.

I adore her school. This is year 3 for her. I adore her teacher. She is happy. She is safe. She is learning.

I could gush for days.

Every year they ask what my goals/concerns are and really my main one is that she continues to love to learn. I teach 8th grade so they are a mixed bag once they get to me

Safety and such would be a priority but I already feel set about that.

[laurenh]

Future School Aged:

We will always be a public school family and I feel good about that - it's why we bought a house where we did. I worry that R's needs are a complete unknown at this point and how we will ensure she gets absolutely everything she needs to succeed to whatever her full potential is.

[krystee]

I worry about kids excluding J if their moms don't like me. At bff's kids' school, there are such cliquey parents and it extends to the kids.

That too much homework will prevent us from family time because it will take all night.

That his grades will suffer because we will make him do his own projects while other kids' parents do theirs.

That he will be bullied or, even worse, be a bully

That his teachers will discourage a love of learning. H and I both had teachers who made us timid/unenthusiastic. I was told in front of the whole class that I raised my hand to participate too much, and I was so embarrassed that I didn't raise my hand for about three years after that. H's teacher told him his obsession with dinosaurs was boring her and she didn't want to hear anything more about them. He was 7 and super into reading and researching about them, and he stopped completely after that.

I hope his teachers really facilitate classes of kids who are kind to each other and get excited about learning because the teacher is engaged and makes it fun.

[andthentherewere10]

What is your biggest source of anxiety with regards to your child's future education?

The increasing body of teachers who are burnt out, stressed out, overworked, bitter, and jaded.* Idealistic, change-the-world, teachers get educated very quickly that their efforts won't be rewarded OR they'll teach their hearts out only to be told to do it a different way.  Stuff gets in the way of teaching.  Teachers don't smile anymore when they see their students walk through the door.  They quickly forget why they got into teaching and let the documentation, additional meetings, accountability, parents ranting about them on facebook, stupid common core articles (& then they start believing the stupid common core articles and sharing them, too, and causing even more credibility lost to our profession) etc. affect their interactions with their kids.  I see sarcasm, condescending tone, and ridiculous expectations/subsequent punishment starting in primary school level.  I just wish we could support our teachers enough so that they remember the happiness and excitement of it all.  


*I can say this because I work in education. 

[cinco]

I'm worried about specific things based on their personalities.

DD1 is anxious and has OCD tendencies, so I worry about too much testing and her need to be perfect. She is very competitive and hard on herself.

DS is the opposite and kind of lazy. I worry how he'll get through school when I have to nag him to do homework already.

For all of them, I'm worried about them falling through the cracks. That their teachers won't see what we see. That hasn't been the case though. I feel like their teachers have done a good job with all the different personalities in their classes.