Advocate for your child(ren)'s education cuz novbody else will
By Dragonofgold
@Dragonofgold (509)
Canada
January 4, 2009 7:56pm CST
My son is not doing well in school. He has never been much of a scholar, my boy. Of course since I am a power nerd, it is hard for us to connect in that way, because we don't understand where each other is coming from about school. We muddle through though. I mean the guy is only 10.
Anyway, every time I went to the school to try to resolve it, I was met with resistance. I told them he needed some extra help cuz he just wasn't "getting it." They told me he was meeting the provincial standard. I said he couldn't write so that you could read it, in terms of penmanship NOT in terms of correct grammar. They told me I was expecting too much. I said the child can't spell words like "nice" or "peace" or "treasure" in grade 4. They said said that although he is not at the top of the class he does not suffer learning difficulties. I said he can't write a complete sentence. They said I should make sure he is properly medicated.
We switched schools.
At the new school they wanted to know why he can't do all the things I have said he needs to be able to do. I don't know if the new school believed that the old school was so inept, but they are trying to fulfill the child's needs now. They have people coming in once a week to test him and try to figure out how to educate him. I hope that we caught it in time. I just got sick o fighting with them there.
Parents, NEVER stop advocating for your child's education. We switched schools because he wasn't learning. Now he is, but he is terribly behind and the other kids tease him. Maybe I should have pushed harder, but I never stopped pushing. Our kids only have one crack at their early education which is the building blocks for their success for the rest of their lives. Don't forget it.
2 responses
@magicalangel (642)
• Brisbane, Australia
5 Jan 09
It happens with many children in such early age of education. It arises due to several reasons like changing places, different people, different way of teaching, feeling shy to ask question, feeling lonely. Make sure your child not feeling lonely as we can see many parents working and child not getting attention. You can spend time with your child as much as you can and talk with him/ her about studies, games, friends. So that child will feel better and will grow up in good environment.
1 person likes this
@youngsweetheart (772)
• United States
5 Jan 09
I am so sorry that you and your son had to deal with that; it's a horrible thing when a school is failing to recognize or acknowledge their own shortcomings.
I'm a power nerd myself - always got straight A's, honor roll, advanced placement, etc. My daughter, who just started kindergarten this year...well, she's just not that interested in learning. It's not that she's not capable (I think) or that she's dumb; merely that it doesn't interest her. Every day she gets off the bus and I ask her "Sierra, what did you do at school today?" and I always get the same answer: "I don't know." No amount of prodding or leading questions really changes her answer, either.
In my case, fortunately, I don't think it's the school or the teacher. Sierra is doing well in school so far, and has even received a citizen ship award for her hard work. The work she brings home always has stars, stickers, and smiley faces. She doesn't seem to really struggle with her homework either. It's just a matter of getting her to retain, remember what she's done.
I've told her that from now on, when she gets home from school, she needs to be able to tell me at least one thing she's learned that day, or I'll be talking to her teacher to find out what their working on each day, and she'll do it all over again at home - as long as it takes for her to retain the information. It may sound like I'm overreacting, but essentially I want to prevent a problem before it has a chance to start. I don't want her to struggle with school like my husband did - he has a horrible memory, and really struggles with tests and the like. I'm hoping that with the right encouragement and instruction, she won't have the same issues.
So I'm with you %100 - we have to pay attention to our children's education, otherwise we won't see or be able to correct problems until it's far too late!
@Dragonofgold (509)
• Canada
5 Jan 09
Thanks for the support. I try not to be too much of a heavy on him cuz I don't want him to hate school, but he has gotten so far behind his own grade leve now, I lament that he will be successful in the future if we can't get him caught up very soon. I don't expect a rocket scientist. He is him and not me. I recognize this. but a complete sentence and correct spelling of simple words, I don't think are beyond the realm of realistic expectations. Myabe the child does have learning difficulties. If that is the case, then we need to leatn techniques to help him succed in life, not just throw our hands up and say "too bad."
It's grat that your are supporting your daughter's education.
