It’s that time of year again…
Time for all my fears again…
{sing it with me}
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Class PLACEMENT time… {swaying with the tunes}
I’m sitting here just after 6 am, cleaning out my inbox and I see the class placement form. This year they’ve changed it, no names on it at ALL. Last year we could say who we DIDN’T want. No names this year, or they’ll shred it in FRONT of your student. Ok, maybe not. But no names.
So, here’s what I’d write if I had no self-editing skills and I didn’t care what the Principal thought of me:
1. My child’s academic goals for the next year are: He really needs to learn stuff. He’s rarely challenged at school, to the point that when he is challenged, in almost any way he is unable to deal with it. I wish he had more challenges so that he could learn how to meet them more appropriately. I need a teacher that will challenge him, in all subjects.
2. The classroom behavior management style that works best for my child is: A combination of Mr Rogers and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Do you have anyone that fits that bill? Perfect, thanks so much. I need them to show him praise and adore him, and then not let him get away with his sneaky shenanigans. He will try. He’s also a talker. I have no idea where he gets that from. I apologize.
3. I would have a concern placing my child in the same class as: (please list no more then 2 students): Bad children. Children that swear or hit or bite. I don’t like biters. {honestly, I will leave this one blank — I understand people who have concerns with this but it’s not mine}
4. If there is a classroom environment that you believe would NOT meet your child’s needs, please describe the environment and explain why it would not be the best environment for your child. {this may be my real answer here, I need practice on this one} An environment in which my child isn’t challenged and the teacher is so busy helping children attain grade level that she is unable to help him grow beyond the work that she has been given for him. A teacher who thinks within the box and finds my child to be outside that box and thinks he’ll do fine on his own, because he will — but I’m not hoping for “fine” next year.
So, does your school have these forms? Do you fill them out? I must admit that I didn’t fill them out in CA. I’d just bring the current year’s teacher chocolates and tell them how pretty they were and in between my sweet words I’d say “Dodson” kind of like in those SNL videos. Either way, it worked. But here I’m doing the form. I will do a combination attack and I am currently looking for deals on delicious chocolate. 🙂
P.S. How did Mr Middle get to 4th grade? It is truly not cool. I started this blog when he was born. As my grandparents used to say — when he’s a general authority they sure will have a lot to research about him. 🙂 BTW, I think 4th grade was my funnest year in school by FAR, I hope it’s amazing for him as well.
Angie Henderson says
OUr school doesn’t care about those things. They want butts in seats and that’s all. I really don’t think they confer much about any student that doesn’t cause trouble. I’ve requested NOT to have certain teacher, in certain years. Otherwise we have to go with the flow. This year we lucked out. Other years not so much. We must move away! My first grader is much like Mr. Middle. No challenge means no effort. Then I’m mean for trying to improve at home. Kinda wish they did have a form, but I know when we move away there will be a lovely note for Principal #4 on the way out.
Julie says
Ha ha. Love your blog, sense of humor and writing style! Try praising your son for hard work instead of being smart (if u do that). Studies have shown that kids who are told they are smart tend to give up when the task gets harder and that sounds like your description of your son. -former educator
Hilary says
Julie, I think that is really smart. I am going to work on that this year. Thank you!
Candice says
Honestly, as a prospective teacher, I’d love for parents to send in placement forms just like your unedited version. There is no need to sugar-coat things or explain yourself, and administration needs to be able to see that parents do indeed think this way. Teachers (good ones), aren’t looking for parents to compliment them on their looks, but for parents who can share what their children need and give us a leg up. You hit the nail on the head when you said that “an environment in which my child isn’t challenged and the teacher is so busy helping children attain grade level that she is unable to help him grow beyond the work that she has been given for him” would be a classroom that would not meet his needs. I’d like an environment opposite of that too! lol Obviously you’re aware that most of a teacher’s time is spent playing “catch up” with other students, but it’s still a starting place to know which students are going to need more work in the other direction as well, and that parents are willing to support both the teacher and their child when they *are* challenged. I’ve had so many parents be upset that their child is assigned work that is “harder” the their classmates, and now they have to push themselves. Can’t win! On the off chance that your school(s) send home parent opinion letters (on anything!) in the future, please be open and frank. We need more parents like you who have a solid grasp on what is going on in classrooms, and who are willing to ask for what their children need.
Hilary says
Candice, my husband is also a teacher. And I know parent involvement is very appreciated my parents. Probably me even caring is a good sign. 😀
Eliza says
Our school doesn’t have placement forms. Boy do I wish they did!
Hilary says
It SEEMS like it wouldbe helpful — but there are so many stipulations and I feel like I’m not sure the principal even cares what we say…. anyway, I guess it does help to vent your feelings, if anything.
Karyn says
You sound like a perfect candidate for homeschooling. My children are 21, 20, 16 and 7. The first three went to public school. When I got pregnant with the fourth, I KNEW I was not turning over another child to public school system. I overcame my aversion to homeschooling, including doubting I was qualified or sane enough and we just started our third year. Homeschooling is challenging, but so worth it and we are both thriving!
cjcalifornia says
Teachers would love to offer that type of classroom. It’s why we went into the biz. However, elected folks, in their infinite wisdom, have turned our schools into data-driven, testing factories. If we don’t meet their criteria, we are punished..Teachers hate all of this as much as you do. Start with your elected officials at the state and federal level if you want public schools to be different. Insist on lower class sizes, Pay teachers a salary that is commensurate with the years of education they put in to become teachers (6+ for most of us).and the continuing education that we are required to obtain (at our own expense) in order to keep our jobs. Good teachers, heck, GREAT teachers are not rare. But if we want to keep our jobs, we have to work within a highly flawed system. When we point out the lunacy of our current test-and-punish system, we are told that we are lazy. Until parents tell legislators ENOUGH, it will continue to be this way. Just a few thoughts from someone who loves to teach, has been at it for 20 years.
Hilary says
Bless you. I certainly show up to vote and I applaud teachers. My husband was one for 15 years. 🙂
Carrie Gnauck says
I’m glad you are offering such a candid and light-hearted view on this issue, and I enjoyed reading another parent’s perspective. My question is, though, when did such a large percentage of parents begin to feel the need, or perhaps the obligation, to have a say in class placement? It certainly seems that there is pressure among parents to make sure we “request so-and-so” or “get your request in ASAP” or else you’re an inferior parent. When I was a kid, we crossed our fingers and hoped we would get a certain teacher or be placed with certain kids (usually our BFFs – we almost always didn’t care if we were placed with the “naughty” kids). NObody made placement requests. It was always the luck of the draw, and we dealt with whatever placement we received. How times have changed!
Hilary says
Believe me, I have dealt with our placements. But, they do give us the option. And, I will say I’m basically a part time employee at the school as the PTO president. I wish I could have more input but I still just go with the flow.