Grade 7 is kicking my ass.
It is painfully obvious to me why I no longer teach. Aside from being emotionally draining, mostly thankless work, I hated it. Trying to engage kids, dealing with behavior issue, planning lessons, grading papers, attending endless committee meetings and teacher workshops, and relating to blahblahblahkillmenow.
Suddenly I’m one of “those” parents, hovering two feet above and slightly behind my child…emailing teachers, asking questions about lesson plans, taking my kid to “Morning Math” (which is nothing more than a glorified study hall in the math teacher’s classroom), demanding better for my daughter because she deserves it, goddamnitalltohell.
I want to scream…
When the English teacher (bless her heart) tells me about the conversation she had with my daughter about why education is so important (because you need a good job so you can plan for retirement…Wait. WHAT? Is that what and education is for? Jesus.)
When the math teacher stares at his computer instead of helping a kid - who is in his classroom at 7:30 in the damn morning for extra help with assignments.
When lesson plans for science class say M: notes. T: notes. W: quiz. Th: Notes. F: Lab (Ok - but for what CHAPTER, for the love of god.)
When my kid cries every night because she does not want to go to school in the morning.
On the drive up to the school this morning, I considered hiring a private tutor. Or what about a private school? Or maybe I just move to another country where the education system isn’t broken beyond repair? Where would THAT be and how long would it take me to learn the language? I can’t afford any of those options - and quite honestly, the ‘system’ needs to be less of a system and more of a process.
How do I fix this before my kid turns 16 and runs screaming from the school without a diploma?
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3 comments:
One word for you "charter". Look into one. You still have a teacher your child sees who orders curriculmn and can oversee lesson plans if you want, or you can be in total control pick and teach your own and they pay for it. Charters are part of the public school systems with funding and budgets... at least here in CA they are. I would look into one. Even if you work. Public school teachers are overwhelmed at the least and will let your child fall through the cracks.
Good idea - except there is no such animal in North Dakota. And the current educational system is so busy breaking their own arms patting themselves on the back...grrrrr.
As much as I love The Northland, I hate The Northland.
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