Teachers overstepping bounds

That was my first question too, when my daughter said her teacher washed it. I was like, since when do they have washers at school?

I guess the school has one some where. I have no idea why. It is a small town. The school is small. There are 400 students in Kind-6th grade and 400 students in 7th-12th grade. They are all in one building but it is divided into sections. There is a lot I don't understand about it. I have never gone to public school (I went to Catholic schools) so this is all new to me.

I still don't understand how she has a washer and dryer in the school. Does her school have that? I never heard of that before. Well hope it worked out well.

I agree, the teacher should be talked to. I would explain to her what you said here. She will probably offer to pay for it, and if she doesn't, I would take it up to the principal. If she was going to wash the jacket, she should of at least had the courtesy to read the washing instructions.

I do think she meant well, but it kind of felt like a slap in the face, you know. Like she was saying I didn't know how to care for my daughter. Her clothes are (almost) always clean, lol. The other day she got dressed quickly and was in her coat when we left. I never saw what she was wearing until she got home. She had on jeans covered in sidewalk chalk (from the day before) and a shirt she had worn 2 days earlier that she had spilled her lunch on. I think she hurried to get her coat on so I wouldn't tell her to change. I was mortified to think she went to school like that. Then on Friday my husband took her to the bus stop because I wasn't feeling good. I picked her up to find she was wearing a red t-shirt (that was a bit too small), bright pink pants and orange shoes. I just rolled my eyes.

Perhaps your child's coat was dirty from a school activity, and the teacher didn't want it to be sent home like that? Even though he/she may have meant well, I can understand your frustration. I guess you should approach the teacher by kindly stating that although you appreciate the effort, the hood of the coat is now ruined. Like someone else mentioned, she may offer to pay for a new one or for it to be fixed. (I've fixed the hoods on my coats when the fluffy faux-fur gets matted and yucky looking, but if you're not into sewing, perhaps the teacher would pay for the repair?) At least he/she will learn to ALWAYS read labels on garments from now on! Good luck, and let us know how it turns out.

Thank you so much.

I don't think it HAS to be replaced. It is wearable but it looks so awful now. Sadly the color she has is no longer available. I found the coat and snow pants at Wal-mart last year and the hat, gloves and scarf at Target (same color--woohoo). Oh and I finally found the boots at another Wal-mart. It is a matching set. The first time she has had a matching set since she was too and some one gave me a nice hand me down suit, hat and scarf. You can see the coat at my website http://jennickels.tripod.com It is on the first page on the bottom left.

Thank you. And thanks to the person above that said the same thing. They are cute aren't they? I don't know how that happened. Me and their daddy aren't that great looking but they all turned out beautiful, teehee.

You have lovely children. Thanks for sharing your website.

Do you have kids? I would have to wash her coat every single day after school for her to go to school without a dirty coat. And there was nothing wrong with it when I sent her to school. I doubt you read all of the discussion before posting this. I do take care of my children.

I would think if the teacher sent home a notice stating they needed hats for recess she should at least check and make sure the kids have on their hats. All the 1st graders have recess at the same time (as I gather). Someone should stay inside with the kids that aren't properly dressed (whether because they forgot their hats or refuse to wear them). There are only 42 kids total in the 1st grade (in 3 classrooms) and there are some teachers assistants, I think. There has to be someone somewhere that can watch the kids instead of sending them out in 35 degree temperature with no hat or scarf on (or coats zipped up).

She goes to a public school. And the hat thing--I don't get your point. My child takes her hat and scarf every day but she doesn't put it on for recess (it is on her when she gets on the bus in the morning--I make sure of that). But if a child forgets his for whatever reason (maybe they left it on the bus--my daughter has done that before) I don't think it is a good idea to let them out for recess. What if they get sick? Who is to blame then? The parents who have no control over what happens after their child is on the bus or the teachers who saw the child wasn't properly dressed for going outside but still let them? There are many reason a child might not have the things they need for school. They could have really forgotten them (things get hectic in the morning--my daughter for got her library book on Thursday). They could have left stuff on the bus in the hurry to get off. They could be lying and say they don't have it. They might not have ever given the notice to the parents about needing something. Who knows what kids do sometimes. You can't always blame the teachers, but you can't always blame the parents either. Somewhere in the middle are the kids and they should take responsibility too. My daughter takes her warm clothes to school in the morning. I have no control over what happens once she is on the bus. It is up to her and her teacher to make sure she is properly dressed to go outside. Almost every day when she gets off the bus she has no hat, scarf and her coat is undone. We live 3 houses from the corner but I still make her zip up and at least put her hood on for the walk home because I don't want her getting sick. I expect the teachers to be looking out for my children while they are there, not ignoring her health. We live upstairs from a preschool and I am constantly shocked to see them taking these 3-5 year olds out for a walk in winter. It is 40 degrees and half the class has no hats on and no one is zipped up. I would be livid to know they took my child out that way without first informing me that they would be walking every day no matter the weather and to make sure we sent appropriate gear. Not to mention that these 3 teachers take 15+ students for a walk, including crossing a very busy street. I have a hard time managing my own 4. These teachers each have 5 or more kids to keep track of (one day there was only 2 teachers taking them).

I dont know which type school you use whether its privat or public. But I cant beleive public schools have washing machine. Staying in class for two kids who did not bring what they are supposed to bring is ridiculous. If parents or children were informed to bring some things they should. There are 85% of students bringing there things. Kids need more than love... When going in public you have to be dressed properly. In US it is very common to blame teachers when parents dont take enough time to prepare kids for school. You can go to any authority you are not going to get success. Good luck. I dont think even if school authority will talk to such complains.

I agree about reading the tag. That was the first thing I did before I washed it. I had figured already that the hood needed to be taken off because of the fur. This is the picture that is on my website. See how nice and fluffy the hood is? Who would put that in the dryer?

I think I will send a note with my daughter on Monday. They have an assignment book that they bring home every day with notes from the teacher in it. I think I will put a note in that explaining that she ruined the coat. It plainly said on the tag (not the tag on the next but the one on the side) that the hood should be washed separately. I don't really want her money, just an apology. There was no mention that she had washed the coat at all. I didn't even realize it until my daughter said something this morning.

I've actually never met her teacher in person. I have only been in the school twice. When we registered her for Kindergarten and when she had her Kindergarten Family day. Every time they have some function at the school they schedule it for when my husband is working. I have missed all of her parent teacher conferences, open houses and on Thursday she had a music performance that we couldn't go to (my other daughter had a fever of 103.4).