I've seen a dramatic increase in letters from teachers this year requiring parents to sign off and acknowledge each teachers expectations for students behavior/performance, etc.
As my children have prohibited me from returning said letters to each teacher with my own list of "expectations" attached, I am going to attach it here.
Dear Teacher,
Thank you for your recent letter outlining the expectations you have of my child, and (presumably) myself.
I assure you, my child will be expected to behave in your classroom, and complete his/her assignments on time and in an appropriate manner. My child is also expected to treat you, your colleagues, and his/her classmates with appropriate respect at all times.
If you ever find that not to be the case, please let me know and his/her attitude will be adjusted accordingly. I do not make excuses for my child's behavior or performance.
In return, as a parent and taxpayer, I expect the following of you and the School Administration:
- You will use classroom time to teach. I have no problem helping with homework. But, I do not expect to be teaching original material at night. I have been on the Earth for a half century (OMG!) and I spent 17 years in School, but unless we're talking Finance, Accounting, Computer Science, or Business Management, I will probably not teach your subject as well as you do.
- You will not waste classroom time with irrelevant movies, board games, or any activity which is not directly related to the subject being taught. Watching "Finding Nemo" in a foreign language is of minimal value. If I wanted my kid to talk like a fish, we'd be spending more time at the aquarium -- or fishing at the canal. Likewise, building Roman Houses or holding "French" parties is not teaching --- it's killing time. The proliferation of movies has been an issue with parents at every grade level, but it seemed to be out of control at the High School a few years ago. It's time to lock down the DVD's, VCR's, etc. (I suspect the new iPads will be adding a high-tech twist to this issue.) The point is to use classroom time to teach --- I will handle the entertainment AFTER the classwork is done.
- Unless my child is home sick, he/she will be prepared, and in class and paying full attention to you. I expect you to reciprocate. Come to class prepared, stay on-subject, put away your cellphone, and postpone your hallway conversations with colleagues until after class.
- I expect school time to be used for education -- not fundraising. Do not use my kids classroom time to raise funds for anything -- the PTA, UNICEF, Cancer, Heart Disease, Psoriasis, whatever. My kids go to school to get an education -- not to help fund the overhead costs of large-scale charities. There are many worthwhile charities and serious diseases in the world --- my family will coordinate our own charitable work.
- Supplies -- This is a School Committee issue. Teachers should not be expected to buy their own supplies. Neither should parents. It cost almost $100/child to fulfill this year's required supply list. Somehow, given the size of my property tax payments, and the size of the activity fees, it doesn't seem like I should also be required to provide (among other things) White Board markers, several rolls of paper towels, multiple packages of hand sanitizer, tissues, and dozens of pencils for each student. It is just a matter of time before each kid is required to provide his/her toilet paper! It's time to have a serious conversation about fairness and prioritizing expenditures. We subsidize sports teams, but we require students to bring their own paper towels and pencils. We subsidize Community School swimming for folks from Barnstable, yet we charge parents from Sandwich who want to send their kids to Full-Day Kindergarten! Stop chanting about "transparency", "Community input", and (gag!) "dialogue" --- Where's the political "leadership" on this issue?
- Here's one for the Administration -- Enough with the Half-Days! You don't see (successful) private sector enterprises banning their customers from the property so they can catch up on their paperwork, or do professional training. Ask any Doctor, Nurse, Accountant, Lawyer, Real Estate Broker, when they earn their required CEU 's -- AFTER they finish their full day of work!
- Here's another one for The Administration -- Get realistic about scheduling. The School Calendar is 10 months long. Then, there are 4 weeks off for Christmas, February and April. Then, there are another 7 misc. holidays, and a wide variety of early dismissal days for in-service training, parent conferences, etc. In addition, the high school has 14 "late start" days where the kids arrive at 10:30 and depart at 2:00 -- presumably this is to prepare for the School's accreditation process. It seems ironic that we cancel classes and inconvenience parents for the purpose of proving we have a good school. Given the number of households where multiple parents work multiple jobs, I would expect that the Administration (and School Committee) will start doing some "real" work on scheduling to minimize the amount of classroom time lost to non-educational activities. Maybe test score would improve even more if kids were actually IN SCHOOL!
- I would also hope that Teachers never again allow the President of the their union to publicly state that her members are "too tired" at 3:30 to attend a meeting, or to complain about correcting papers in the evening. Again, given the number of households where multiple parents work multiple jobs -- frequently for less than the $73,476 (plus medical & pension) Madam President earned last year for less than 9 months work, I would have expected a little more common sense. (But, this is the same person who dragged contract negotiations out for two years and ended up not only with a worse financial deal for her members than they could have had two years previously, but she also managed to poison public sentiment and virtually assure the school will not receive support for any override effort for the foreseeable future.)
This is not intended as a criticism of individual teachers. My mother was a teacher. My oldest daughter is studying to be a teacher. My wife, kids & I have all benefited from great teachers over the years. And, I readily acknowledge that I do not have the patience to be a good teacher myself. This should be considered a criticism of a government/union work culture where compensation is based on the quantity of years --not the QUALITY of the results.
Finally, for those teachers and administrators who have made a concerted effort this year to reach-out to parents, particularly those that have embraced email to keep parents apprised of class activities, thank you very much for your efforts. I have had a few opportunities to exchange emails with some teachers and administrators already this year and every one of them was responded to quickly and thoroughly.
25 comments:
Not to be too picky but would it be possible for teachers and administrators to grammar check and spell check their letters to parents? The quality of the communications sent home is often less than first rate.
It's gotten ridiculous! My child informed me that the art teacher at Forestdale told the students that if they didn't return the Expectation form signed promptly, they would receive a lower grade. Maybe we should handle their contract the same way, if they don't sign and return it promptly! Even better, the librarian at the same school told the students they had to get a CLAMS card from another library on Cape because they were better than the system the Sandwich Public Library follows. So if a 1000 kids at just Forestdale alone have their parents sign a minimum of 7 of these papers, that's 7000 pieces of paper being generated and stored at that building. If you add the 2000 rolls of paper towels being stored in the art room (2 per kid), then I would say JJ Burke better head on up there ASAP, that's got to be a fire hazard!!!! WHAT A WASTE OF TIME, ENERGY AND TREES!!! So much for paperless . . . .
This is so true, especially the half days issue. Have you ever counted how many full 5-day weeks of school they have?
I would also like to add another.
I will expect that you will correct spelling and grammar errors on all answers, reports, quizes, tests, etc. Don't assume they will learn the difference between your and you're, there and their, some other time. Please feel free to grab that red pen and mark-up all incorrect mispellings, and to go further, make them write the word correctly 10 times so they don't make the mistake again. And also, if my son or daughter is unable to speak clearly to convey a response with using "like" or "Uhm", please correct them!
The Truth Maker would repond by stating , once again the truth of our problems are put down in black and white for all to see in the above commonatary. It is to bad that the leadership of the teachers union will never read or understand it.
It may be comforting to know that they would spend a little time to better understand all of the related problems they have created to be invisable.
One more point. When the administration plans a math or reading tutoring program it needs to be during school or at a time they can ride a bus to or from school. This years program that starts at 7am. does not allow for parents who are working at that time. If any child has been determined to need extra help it should be doable for the child and their families.
What is the amount of time given to speak at the public comment portion of the SC meeting? This letter must be read out load to the SC and on TV. If it takes longer to read than the alotted time, have multiple speakers lined up to continue reading this letter!
Also, sorry but we should have near 100% on the English MCAS (between advance and proficient)! We should be spending more on learning Englsh until our kids can READ, WRITE and SPEAK English correctly!
Yes!
I'm not even worried about teaching my kids to speak -- that's more of a parents job.
But, damnit, when the kids are sitting in a classroom teach them something. Turn off the movies, stop the chattering and do something!
The kids wouldn't need the extra help after/before school if they were being taught during the day!
My kids routinely deliver horror stories about teachers chatting with each other when they should be teaching ... and putting on stupid movies.
Why aren't these teachers evaluated? I wish I had tenure -- it would be nice to not do my job, not get fired and still get a raise.
folks we are painting teachers with too broad a brush here. while some are guilty of many of the things above lets not forget there are MANY excellent teachers that work hard to educate the kids every day and aren't texting ,chatting, or putting on movies. Teachers should be evaluated INDIVIDUALLY!!! Not as a profession.
I absolutely agree.
Its a small minority of unprofessional employees who routinely routinely benefit from every union protection available.
If Districts were allowed to act as private sector employers, and terminate those employees who were not doing their job, it would make things a lot easier for the majority who are doing a good job -- and would produce better results.
Criticizing bad employees should not be seen as criticizing an entire profession -- that's definitely not my intention.
The Truth Maker would also add to the above commontary that it is only those teachers whom have not done the job we have asked of them to do for our children in the system.
That is why the state finally has put in place a measuring tool to judge every teacher to bring a more open and transparent accountability for how they teach our children.
It goes with out saying that the unions do not want this across the board, as it has protected these unperforming teachers under the present structure for far to many years.
It is time that each teacher be measured with the same logic we measure the children to determine what kind of an education they are recieving.
It is time to get the ones whom have not kept up with teaching the subject matter that should be benefitting the children, into another field of endeavor for the educational progress we are demanding of our students in todays world.
If the children are under performing, some of that is on the teachers, as well as the children.
No more automatic pay raises for just putting in time on the job should be allowed all. In public life when you get a review for performance on the job, your increase is based upon what you have accomplished, not that you have 10, 20 years on the job.
But on the other side of this Bob, they do belong to a Union. A Union that in it's definition brings equality to all that are in it. They all band together and march as one. They all enjoy the same benefits and pay increases equally. They share all the good and none of the blame; and they are bringing us to our knees. If they want to be seen as a better teacher than another, they should leave the Union and not be considered a part of this whole. So to me, they are all the same. The same being the "same" reason we removed our kids from Sandwich Public Schools. Until singled-out accountability starts taking place, I will consider them as a whole.
I just finished reading the STEM article in the CCT today. One parent concern that stands out is regarding the kids riding the bus. Yes Dr. Canfield the buses may have high definition cameras.
But typically the H.S. bus stops are further from the kids homes, than in elementary school. Some are even close to a 1/2 mile if not more from the child's house.
That being said and kids behaving and in some instances looking, a lot older than their years what about the walks to and from the bus stops. Any cameras there?
If I'm being to blunt I apologize.
And here come the whiners.
How stupid is it that parents are going to shout down a terrific educational opportunity because they're afraid of their 12 year old riding a damn bus.
Bus stop more than half a mile away from home? I don't even believe that. Prove it.
There are no cameras around the local church property either ....
Maybe we should order a lot of plastic bubbles to protect the gifted and talented darlings.
Do any of these kids come home to babysitters or older siblings ?
Anybody seeing the irony in letting adults back in the pool the same night parents complain about safety?
Was anybody as impressed by Professor Smarty Pants last night as she seemed to be with herself?
Maybe she should run for school committee next Spring if she has all the answers.
I'm looking forward to my kid getting a chance for a new/improved program .... I don't think the world will end because she has to ride a bus with older kids .... We don't keep her locked up in a tower. Welcome to the real world people!
The real world? The real world is that a high percentage of these kids who attend public schools (anywhere) are really not motivated and frankly smart enough to handle this stuff. I admire what they are trying to do here, I truly do. I hope my feelings on this are proved wrong. You're gonna have to start a lot younger than the 12 and 13 year olds. They're not used to intense education. It's just going to be a very expensive experimental joke on the taxpayers. I'm not whining, I just think it's funny that the kids who can't even handle getting to school five days in a row are going to start engineering and high level science classes. How on earth did any of us adults ever get through high school? They didn't have half the gobbly-gook mumbo-jumbo methods of teaching that they do now. We just sat down, shut up and learned. Imagine that concept coming to Sandwich Public Schools.
Sounds like we just heard from the head of the teachers union ....
Maybe you could go swim in the school pool before it gets drained and turned into a storage facility.
I also have no doubt these kids are at least as smart as you were (or are?)
Totally correct-putting it on parents and not providing for those kids who don't have the ability to get them there. More qualfied teachers are needed during the day. Everyone loses,including the brightest kids who are expected to help themselves. These are the kids who are leaving.
Let's include evaluating the families the kids come from,too. What role do they have in their child's success and attitude toward school?EVERYTHING.
10:32, yes, family plays a major role in success -- but that shouldn't be used as an excuse for poor teaching. I agree that way too much of my kids class time is wasted on silliness that seems to just kill time ... Not teach anything.
And, way too many resources go into dealing with teachers that would have been fired years ago in the "real world". That is not a myth about Sandwich PD doing a breathalyzer on a school employee who was then allowed to remain in a classroom --- until arrested in another town.
No one has addressed the role of special education in the new STEM program. Approximately 25% of students are on IEP of 504.
how will the students fit into the more rigorous program? Will they be expanding sped programs as well or send more kids to out of district schools and in the process be raising special ed budget?
The Truth Maker would add that many questions asked during the meeting will need to be addressed, by the Administrators and School Committee before this program has any legs at all.
Speaking with Dr. Canfield yesterday in regards to this matter, he had been expecting many more to show an interest in the new Stem program and that was one reason questions were being addressed , but not being answered. I find it rather difficult to understand why some who attended did not even know that this program was in the works for some year and half.
If some one can explain how those that are being educated in our district,and will be affected in some way if it is implimented do not take the time to read the many articles, nor attend or watch the school committee meetings on that subject matter which will affect there child, is a wonderment to me.
The parents of these children need to step up to the plate and be responsible for how and when this Stem program gets to be implimented , when it meets every ones expectations.
Having no children in the system, but observing and understanding the many concerns most at the meeting had, I have taken away from the meeting a few major concerns that will need to be answered.
For me at this time the whole process of asking questions and not getting answers, as being asked, needs to be changed completly.
The dialog needs to be handled with a moderator in place and all questions asked, recieve immediate attention to all of the known details in an open and honest manner. This subject matter will have long time affects on every student that it will touch. Let alone where does the money come from to have it happen??
One major concern for me is allowing 7 and 8 graders traveling on the smae buses with higher level students. Sandwich has a very serious drug and alchol problem among its youth and we are not the only town with this problem.
It is time that the parents recogonize this and take some ownership as to why.
I would be concerned that we would be allowing this scurge to effect the younger children in this type of environment and we need to be very cautious in how this gets implimented.
This scurge knows no age barrier nor class of people and society needs to be honest in how this gets handled out in the real world of intimindation and peer pressure.
To those whom say it is not a problem for them, because they have a bright child, in my opinion need to look around the community and recogonize, perhaps at some point your child may also weaken to the challenges of being drug and alchol free.
Many challenges are still ahead, many ideas still need to be addressed and discussed.
It starts with the parents getting themselves involved in there childs educational upbringing and putting in place teachers who have the dedication to actually do the job for which they profess they want to do and both get measured with the same degree of goals to see the actuall benifit of the combined effort, that shows a positive outcome.
The most destructive opposite of support isn’t opposition its apathy. It’s not giving a damn.
In this town, most adults are apathetic toward the schools - folks genuinely don’t care.
In recent years, huge numbers of caring, involved parents checked out and gave up on trying to make our schools better. Instead, they enrolled their kids in one of the many alternatives available.
Combine the apathetic many with the concerned parents who’ve now checked out and ask yourself how our schools will get better? The sad truth is that the “I really don’t care” is now a solid majority and they’re not going to put more dollars into what they see as a good enough school system.
How can a new program be initated and protect the 7/8 grade kids when they were not able to keep alcohol out of the home coming dance and the police and ambulance were called in?
Excellent points Bob! Too late for my kids. Hope parents get with it and stop the misuse of our kids time and ours! Sandwich School District's is well below the average number of in school days recommended for good learning practices. STEM is not going to solve the problems that are dragging our schools down.
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