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Nov. 26th, 2013 12:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
becomingkateThe more I think about my son's school the less happy I am about it.
Things that have peeved me off:
How the bomb threat was handled
How the secretary handled me when she called to ask for info on the girl my son was getting off the bus with that afternoon. She criticized me for not knowing the girl's last name, instead of dealing with me kindly and getting the information she needed. I mean if I tell you the girl's name is _____ and she's in my son's class, isn't it pretty easy to narrow that down, and don't you have her last name in your system? Do you really have to chew me out instead of spending that energy to just, I don't know, look it up for me, and maybe tell me what it is so I know next time?
Their unclear letters about upcoming events. I have gotten letters about things that we've been to, that have not been like they were described in the letter home. There was a gift bazaar a few days ago that said there were going to be volunteers to walk with your kids and help them pick out some cheap gifts for their family. I ended up spending 25 dollars on two bamboo plants and having to look away when he bought me a necklace because I saw no volunteers who could help him buy me a gift. I get unclear directions on how to sign up for things. Plus we get a thousand papers home every week. I love seeing my son's work but I really don't need to see every math sheet or every handwriting practice he ever did.
The report card system: they sent a letter home about reports cards being ready yesterday and gave an e mail address for troubleshooting. I was unable to log in to the report card page so I sent a message to the e mail which immediately sent an "out of office" automated message. Then I got an e mail from the school saying we should be able to log in and I was finally able to.
They no longer use letter grades. I hear in upper grades they use a 1-4 number system but in 1st grade they use a series of (ES, BS, etc.) that mean anything from "not grasping the concept at all" to "exceeding expectations of grasping the concept".
My son can read at the 3rd grade level and he only got "meets expectations" in the reading section. If he's reading at 3rd grade level, wouldn't he be exceeding expectations? I would really like him to get the credit he deserves. This online report card stuff feels so impersonal. Remember we used to get handwritten report cards with personal notes by the teacher like "It is a pleasure to have so and so in my class"?
So sad.
Things that have peeved me off:
How the bomb threat was handled
How the secretary handled me when she called to ask for info on the girl my son was getting off the bus with that afternoon. She criticized me for not knowing the girl's last name, instead of dealing with me kindly and getting the information she needed. I mean if I tell you the girl's name is _____ and she's in my son's class, isn't it pretty easy to narrow that down, and don't you have her last name in your system? Do you really have to chew me out instead of spending that energy to just, I don't know, look it up for me, and maybe tell me what it is so I know next time?
Their unclear letters about upcoming events. I have gotten letters about things that we've been to, that have not been like they were described in the letter home. There was a gift bazaar a few days ago that said there were going to be volunteers to walk with your kids and help them pick out some cheap gifts for their family. I ended up spending 25 dollars on two bamboo plants and having to look away when he bought me a necklace because I saw no volunteers who could help him buy me a gift. I get unclear directions on how to sign up for things. Plus we get a thousand papers home every week. I love seeing my son's work but I really don't need to see every math sheet or every handwriting practice he ever did.
The report card system: they sent a letter home about reports cards being ready yesterday and gave an e mail address for troubleshooting. I was unable to log in to the report card page so I sent a message to the e mail which immediately sent an "out of office" automated message. Then I got an e mail from the school saying we should be able to log in and I was finally able to.
They no longer use letter grades. I hear in upper grades they use a 1-4 number system but in 1st grade they use a series of (ES, BS, etc.) that mean anything from "not grasping the concept at all" to "exceeding expectations of grasping the concept".
My son can read at the 3rd grade level and he only got "meets expectations" in the reading section. If he's reading at 3rd grade level, wouldn't he be exceeding expectations? I would really like him to get the credit he deserves. This online report card stuff feels so impersonal. Remember we used to get handwritten report cards with personal notes by the teacher like "It is a pleasure to have so and so in my class"?
So sad.
