tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8532087472191027011.post2032956013171667237..comments2023-06-28T03:31:19.885-05:00Comments on The Wonderwheel: Mama Bear Checks inJordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15239709970883575853noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8532087472191027011.post-25747169598421706062007-11-09T00:21:00.000-06:002007-11-09T00:21:00.000-06:00Hey Jordan. Thank you. This is, unsurprisingly, ...Hey Jordan. Thank you. This is, unsurprisingly, a hot button issue for me. I worry that there will always be one child, whether younger, with special needs, whatever, that throws a teacher's rhythm out of whack. And I hope that they have enough self-knowledge to try to meet all kids where they are. But I know they don't. I've been there, and I've had that kid. So don't beat yourself up about the other kids. You did the right thing for Baxter, and I hope you planted a seed in her mind about how she views the range of kids she has. That serves everyone.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15293254310279000811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8532087472191027011.post-25476768525462627372007-11-08T22:35:00.000-06:002007-11-08T22:35:00.000-06:00Jordan - As a lurker and a former teacher and a pr...Jordan - <BR/><BR/>As a lurker and a former teacher and a present teacher educator, I think that what you did was just fine. The fact that you referred back to an actual incident and allowed her to respond was really commendable, and that is evidenced by her contrite response and lack of defensive posturing. You got your point across about Baxter, and you very well might have gotten a larger point across as well.<BR/><BR/>Although I totally understand that your *real* objections are to her philosophy of teaching, or at least what she expressed about her philosophy of teaching in the part of the conversation that you overheard, I'm not sure if you, Baxter, or other students would have been well-served by you bringing that up in your conference. I just don't think that a conference about your little guy would have been the right venue for you to express such serious and fundamental concerns. In short, you would have either put her on the defensive, pissed her off, made her hate you, or all of the above.<BR/><BR/>What is a proper venue for this type of thing? Well...that's a toughie. My first impulse is, her boss' office. But that might be going a little overboard, given her measured response. You didn't relate everything you heard from her in your blog post, but you might not want to totally eliminate the possibility that it might have been a frustrated, tired, regrettable slip rather than an indication of a real belief system. Perhaps a wait-and-see attitude is best, accompanied by a little bit of innocent sleuthing among other parents about this teacher.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8532087472191027011.post-48791359390742200812007-11-08T08:17:00.000-06:002007-11-08T08:17:00.000-06:00Good for you, Jordan! I'm impressed you were so ar...Good for you, Jordan! I'm impressed you were so articulate and unintimidated. I think it's difficult to say what needs to be said in a calm, well-thought-out manner, especially under time constraints. (And: ten minutes?! I wonder what we get here in elementary school. For J's preschool conference, I had half an hour! For preschool! Of course, that's not public school! Probably by first grade it will be ten minutes here too.)<BR/><BR/>Anyway, yes: snaps!Shannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02048943082445040917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8532087472191027011.post-84730876429873644542007-11-07T20:03:00.000-06:002007-11-07T20:03:00.000-06:00Yes, many snaps to you, Jordan! Very well done. ...Yes, many snaps to you, Jordan! Very well done. This is a large issue and you could only tackle so much in the time given. <BR/><BR/>Don't teachers have to take courses in tolerance and ethics?Lori at Spinning Yellowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09820406823337728514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8532087472191027011.post-77661817137193259322007-11-07T15:30:00.000-06:002007-11-07T15:30:00.000-06:00I will only say, thank god for parents like you. P...I will only say, thank god for parents like you. Parents, who not only are worried and concerned that their own children get a fair turn, but that all children get a fair turn.<BR/><BR/>You did good, Jordan.kristen spinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12099514779097752438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8532087472191027011.post-41061466000580022712007-11-07T13:37:00.000-06:002007-11-07T13:37:00.000-06:00Well, what's to say, if not "snaps!"Sounds like yo...Well, what's to say, if not "snaps!"<BR/><BR/>Sounds like you handled yourself very well. I hope to be as articulate and thought out when approaching similar issues with Anya's education. <BR/><BR/>I really appreciate your point that the teacher's comments were inapproriate regardless of B's ability/achievements. But don't be hard on yourself. Given the time constraints, you had to set the record straight for B, not every other kid out there.Beckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12113959169737610589noreply@blogger.com