Just wondering whether these thoughts ring true in DuPage and/or D41.

Parent Monsters?

Oh, Yes!
I used to teach in local public schools. The parents did not believe their children would ever do anything wrong! If a teacher corrected them-it was the teacher who was wrong.
Students, according to parents, never misbehaved, bullied, neglected to do assignments...
It was the teachers who were wrong.

Perhaps the best paragraph in the article

quote:

If your child said something happened in the classroom that concerns you, ask to meet with the teacher and approach the situation by saying, "I wanted to let you know something my child said took place in your class, because I know that children can exaggerate and that there are always two sides to every story. I was hoping you could shed some light for me." If you aren't happy with the result, then take your concerns to the principal, but above all else, never talk negatively about a teacher in front of your child. If he knows you don't respect her, he won't either, and that will lead to a whole host of new problems.

My kids are relatively bright and fairly honest. That said, I always give the benefit of the doubt to the teacher/principal/administrator until I hear the whole story. Guess I have worked with kids for too long. That passage is dead on correct, IMO.

I've never had a run in with a teacher myself, so I don't know how I would react, but I got a kick out of the complete double standard:

When the teacher says something there is NEVER a misunderstanding or two sides to the story:

"One of my biggest pet peeves is when I tell a mom something her son did and she turns, looks at him and asks, "Is that true?" Well, of course it's true. I just told you. And please don't ask whether a classmate can confirm what happened or whether another teacher might have been present. It only demeans teachers and weakens the partnership between teacher and parent."

When the child tells a parent something, it's almost assumed that the child has the situation skewed somehow:

"If your child said something happened in the classroom that concerns you, ask to meet with the teacher and approach the situation by saying, "I wanted to let you know something my child said took place in your class, because I know that children can exaggerate and that there are always two sides to every story. I was hoping you could shed some light for me.'"

Exactly. Hence the word "fairly."

I really don't feel too much for this teacher. After doing daycare for a number of years in the past, I agree parents can the biggest pain in rear. You went into teaching knowing that you would have to deal with great kids, not so great kids, mommy's little pookie and the dad who has his sights on his kid in the NFL. You know you will have meetings, parents, adminstraters and more, involved in your classroom. But, why not ask the kid if something is true? Was the teacher next to my kid the whole time in the class? Are teachers infalable? Does the teacher know what preceded the incident? I say this after my kid, several yars ago, got in trouble for having outbursts in class. He kept trying to tell her what occured prior, she never would give him the time. I had to step in, which I hated to be put in that position, but after speaking to her, she was made aware of the other student's actions. She seperated the boys, and peace reigned in the class. She refused to listen to her own student?!?!? Not very professional.