Public Shaming: It's Not Okay

To The Teacher At my Children's School,

I love the school you teach at. I'm very involved there, and the staff is amazing.

Since I love it so much, and I know you teach at a great school, with great kids, I hate to have to ask you this, but seriously, what is wrong with you?

Do you hate your job? Do you eat mean teacher Wheaties in the morning? What is it?

Every time I have seen you, you have been publicly shaming one or more of your students. Every. Single. Time.

Like it'a thing that needs to be done.

It's not.

Today, though, I watched you combine public shaming, with turning your students into snitches. Well done.

Did it matter so much who was being loud on the stairs, that you desperately needed your students to turn in the ones responsible? Because, let me tell you, that's not good for their relationships with their classmates.

Did you need to pull them out as the kids watched? And the other students on the stairs? And me, a parent you don't even know?

I get the feeling that maybe you don't really like kids, which makes me wonder why you're teaching Kindergarten. At least this time you weren't calling anyone a liar in front of the class.

Yeah, I saw that happen. These kids are five. So, I'm still asking, what is wrong with you?

And public shaming, that's just not okay. Didn't that go out in the 1970s?

If you were doing something wrong in your job, you would expect to be spoken to privately, and discreetly. Why shouldn't your students? How will they learn to trust you and believe in you when you clearly don't respect them?

Next year I'm sending my sweet Brennan to Kindergarten. I'm going to make damn sure he doesn't have you. I'm kind of thinking that no one should have you.

If you want the respect of your students, I'm suggesting you give them a little. Or seriously, stop teaching. Public shaming is damaging to kids. They never forget it. And every time I've seen you, I didn't think, "Wow, what awful students she has". Nope, I've thought you were a poor excuse for a teacher.

You're surrounded by amazing professionals who've been doing the job for years. Go watch then. Learn something. And stop treating your students like that.

*****
Respect is a good thing. If you like my blog, respectfully, could I ask you to click the link below which registers a vote for me? Thanks. You're the best!

The Best Way Forward

Sometimes the best way forward, is to take a step back.

Today, I had two calls from the school about Brennan before 10 am.

He was sitting on the floor, yelling, and wouldn't stop.

Why? Well, he wanted it to be recess, of course, and it wasn't. This apparently made Brennan mad. Then he ran around the school and had to be prevented from leaving the building.

I had to face facts. He's just not ready for Kindergarten.

He doesn't have enough, patience. He doesn't have enough self control.

Sometimes I think these things get missed in a big family, as siblings compensate for siblings. Especially younger siblings. And allowances are made. He had enough patience for the things I required of him.

When I got the second call this morning, I told the Principle I was coming to pick him up, and I would not be bringing him back. He agreed that was the best course of action. After all, Brennan just isn't ready.

I tried not to cry for an hour or so. I was so excited to see Brennan start Kindergarten, and love school like Quinn. But that's just not Brennan's reality. Brennan is barely five. He wasn't due till October, and if he'd been born on time, wouldn't be eligible for school until next year. He's small, too. 6th percentile for height and weight for his age.

By next year, he'll be six. He'll be more mature. He'll have more self control. He'll be bigger, too. Next year, he'll be ready.

So, I didn't cry. I didn't let my disappointment over what wasn't, win. I let my excitement for what will be, take over.

This wasn't the easiest decision to make. But sometimes the best way forward is to take a step back. Regroup, learn, prepare, process, then come at it again and do it better. That's what we're thinking now. We're giving Brennan the gift of time. The gift of a year to know himself better.

We're totally going to do school stuff at home. I mean, this homeschooling mom hasn't totally forgotten how. But it's going to be laid back and hopefully just getting him super ready for Kindergarten. Next year.

*****

I hope your day wasn't so stressful, or full of hard choices. Thanks for reading. And, if you like what I write about, please click the link below which registers a vote for me, would you? Thanks. You're the best!