Former Packer Girl's thoughts

So Kenosha was suppose to get pounded by the snow yet this morning when we got up we got maybe 2 inches so the KUSD decided that the kids would go to school :( so now I am watching out my window and it is pouring outside. I am sure alot of parents did not send thier kids to school due to the weather but my little guy wanted to go because his class is saying the pledge in the office over the intercom.My other son dragged his feet and He ended up being about 10 minutes late for school, they thought for sure they would not have school and were late going to sleep.  I am sure KUSD doesn't want to make up anymore days than necessary but come on!   When it was freezing a couple of weeks ago they closed (when we could have at least gotten out of our driveway without being blocked in by piles of snow from city plows)   and on a day like today they are open when every other school including Gateway Technical College who rarely closes is closed.   

My son is in first grade this year.  From the very beginning of the year I had issues with the teacher he was assigned. They are not allowed to talk during lunch and must sit in an assigned seat. Iif the weather does not permit  they aren not allowed to go out for recess, so for 7 hours they are not allowed to talk at all.  It they talk they get a check and if they get a check they lose 4 points (mind he is 6) for each time they talk, so a blue card comes home every week.  J is scholastically very intelligent, in fact he out does his peers for the most part.  One week he even got a 56 on his card this was at the beginning of the year.  Mostly he gets 88 percents which considering he has to stay quiet the whole day and not forget is in my opinion great for any 6 year old.

If they forget and talk in the lunchroom they are sent to the "chillzone"  untll they can learn to shut their mouth and sit in the seat assigned.  If they get 3 chillzones they must eat lunch with the principal and lose recess. If they get 3 more they get to eat with the principal for 1 week and lose their recess and extra recess as well. What ever happened to forgive and forget or clean slate once punished?  For talking?? According to the APA children should be punished 1 minute for every year old. How is this helping them burn up energy that will keep them quiet during classtime??  I know when I eat when people I talk it is only natural a time of fellowshipl

Friday he came home and informed me that he would not be allowed to attend the swim party on the 27th of February, that out of the class only 6 would be allowed. This is from the whole year!!  I have 3 sons and never have I had a teacher like this one for my children, I asked to have him removed and the principal said she could not take him out because all the classes were full.   Mrs. B  never has much good to say about our children in fact on the blue card there is a place for positive comments, not once has anything been in that. Instead of looking for good she looks for things bad.

I guess I will have to go to the superintendent of the KUSD because the principal (Mrs. L) does nothing but defend this teacher (Mrs. B) who in my opinion ought to retire (the teacher). She has no joy in being with the kids it seems to be a job she must endure.

J said she constantly yells at the kids  even made one cry, and the week before one student (mind you he is 6) called her the B word, what could make a young child so angry to swear at their teacher?  (not to mention what the parents at home are teaching him which is another topic in itself) I try not to say negative about Mrs. B in front of J because I know this could cause even more problems :(

I am not the only parent who is not keen on this teacher many of us feel the same way,  what would you do??  I just called the Principal again but I am not holding my breath. On the day of the swim party I am going to  pick J up from school and take him to the recplex to swim so he can burn some of that energy off. He cries alot these days more than he use to. It seems Mrs. B gets a joy out of punishment. I talk to J and ask him to please be quiet, no poking, keep his hands feet and other objects and body (HFOB) on the carpet. It is a small classroom too small for the amount of kids in it anyway....

It is my opinion if you are a teacher or parent  we should go out of our way to find something good our children are doing. Catch them doing good you might be surprised that they will actually go out of their way to please you. But that's just my opinion. I also suggested to the principal how about allowing the children a free time during the day even if its 5 minutes allow the students to talk or get them up and having them jump up and down raise their hands, take a smile break. I even offered to provide special treats for catching those being excellent. What kid wouldn't want to do their best when a reward is in play?

I am counting down the days till summer and praying J regains his cheerful attitude and still likes school come the fall, otherwise perhaps it means I will homeschool. I am tired of playing school politics.