commentary and parenting
[ dear teacher ]
Dear Teacher Bored students, unfair teachers and New Year’s resolutions Marge Eberts & Peggy Gisler
Bored First Grader — No Challenging Work
Q:
My first grader has become bored in class over the last few weeks. I
of his skipping to second grade or taking a few subjects with the second grade
can see why. His readers are below what he had in kindergarten and
class. This is another solution to discuss with the principal.
his spelling words are simple 3-letter words. Keep in mind that school has only been in session for a little over three months.
We have tried talking to the teacher, but she becomes aggressive and says we
Students enter first grade at all different levels. Some have completed
are attacking her teaching. The principal has agreed to look into this matter. While
kindergarten and even pre-k while others never went to kindergarten. It is
I am waiting, I have decided to homeschool him. The teacher is definitely not
challenging for the teacher to get everyone up to speed so they are working as a
challenging my son enough. What should we do? We pay over $20,000 a year
class. The curriculum could become more appropriate as the teacher gets better
for this school, and his education is not appropriate for his abilities. — Mad
acquainted with the students. Hopefully, the principal will address your concerns soon so you can make the best decision for your child.
A:
Since you are paying, it is easy to deduce that your son is attending a private school. You might want to consider sending him to a public school as many, especially charter schools, have programs designed
for gifted children. Also, a different private school could be a better fit for your child. Removing your son from this school and deciding to homeschool him could be the answer to his getting a challenging education. There is also the possibility
Is this Teacher Unfair?
Q:
My eighth grader is very unhappy with his algebra teacher. The teacher gives out demerits all the time for the slightest misbehavior, offers very quick and inadequate explanations of new material and
never reminds the students about future assignments after they have been assigned. Once, my son got a D for handing in an assignment one day late.
It seems to me that this teacher is handling the students as if they were in high school. I am not alone in complaining. Other parents are complaining about his teaching. My son is doing well in every other class but only getting a C in algebra. This is not a great grade for someone going onto geometry in high school. I want my son to be a responsible student but feel this teacher is unreasonable. How should I handle this? — Dissatisfied
A:
By now, your son should realize that this teacher has high expectations about how students behave in the classroom and does not hold students’ hands when it comes to reminding them about
future assignments. Your son obviously knows how to behave in order to avoid getting demerits, and it is his responsibility to do so. It is also his responsibility to 30 INDYSCHILD.COM