MY KID'S TEACHER

My Kid's Teacher | May 4, 2003 | Luis Gonzalez

[Luis Gonzalez]

Just before going to bed tonight, as I kissed my oldest boy good night, he perked up and reminded me of the note his teacher had sent home on Friday. I assured him that I would read it, and tucked him in.

I knew that the note was about the upcoming School Book Fair, he attended his first one last year, and it was a great experience for him. It was the first time he was trusted with money to spend all on his own.

He is a First grader with Third Grade reading skills, I was an avid reader as a kid, and every time I see him sitting with a book on his lap, I feel like I'm walking on air.

I went downstairs and looked for the note, I wanted to see what was expected of him, and how payment for the books would be handled.

I have copied the note word by word below, the note written, and sent home, by the person who is teaching my boy to read and write.

I have left the particulars out for obvious reasons.

I am sending the note to Tallahassee, and asking for this teacher's removal.

[MarkL]

A friend who was an elementary school english teacher at one of the better schools on Long Island was called into the principal's office. The teachers were expected to write a letter to the parents of every student, informing the parents of the progress of their children. My friend was suprised by the summons and went to the office.

The principal was used to having to correct the spelling and grammer of every teacher at the school (she was an english major in college, and a former english teacher), and only my friend's letters needed no correction. My friend was shocked by the admission, but then, she was an english major as well, for both undergraduate and graduate course work. She's also a perfectionist. She's now a "stay at home mother," and is seriously thinking about home schooling her daughter.

Mark

[supercat]

He turned in a great figurine of Condi Rice.

I would have suggested Booker T. Washington or else Harriet Tubman with her rifle.

[honeygrl]

They aren't in school yet. They will likely end up in private school or homeschool if I can get organized enough before it's time to try it. I have a 2 1/2 yr old and a 6 mth old so I have plenty of time to figure it out.

[July 4th]

I remember that was always something we did in grade school. It was "homework" to bring a box for the class. But it wasn't because we didn't have any otherwise -- it was because the ones we got from the school district were like sandpaper.

[annyokie]

Thanks!

[It's me]

Are you a teacher? ;o)

[truthkeeper]

But it wasn't because we didn't have any otherwise -- it was because the ones we got from the school district were like sandpaper.

Aw jeez, I remember that stuff too. Pretty scratchy.

[tuna_battle_slight_return]

Sorry -- the damn prepositions get me every time...

[meisterbrewer]

Just for fun:

The doctrine that a preposition may not be used to end a sentence was first promulgated by Dryden, probably on the basis of a specious analogy to Latin, and was subsequently refined by 18th-century grammarians. The rule has since become one of the most venerated maxims of schoolroom grammatical lore. But sentences ending with prepositions can be found in the works of most of the great writers since the Renaissance. In fact, English syntax allows and sometimes requires final placement of the preposition. Such placement is the only possible one in sentences such as We have much to be thankful for or That depends on what you believe in. Efforts to rewrite such sentences to place the preposition elsewhere will have comically stilted results; for example: We have much for which to be thankful or That depends on that in which you believe. Even sticklers for the traditional rule can have no grounds for criticizing sentences such as I don't know where she will end up or It's the most curious book I've ever run across. In these examples, up and across are used as adverbs, not prepositions, as demonstrated by the ungrammaticality of sentences such as I don't know up where she will end and It's the most curious book across which I have ever run.

As the famous quote attributed to Winston Churchill goes, which he supposedly noted after an assistant had changed a sentence Churchill had ended with a preposition: ''This is the type of arrant pedantry up with which I shall not put.''

[annyokie]

Honey, the grade inflation with "education majors" is scary. Show up and yo get a "C".

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Yo Mamas,

May #th, at #:##-#:## is our class day an' time t'go t'th' Book Fair on th' Media center. Eff'n kin volunteer t'he'p our class shop thet day, it'd be greatly appreesheeated, cuss it all t' tarnation. Please write me a note lettin' me knows whether yo' will be thar t'he'p out. Our class has scooted outta tissue boxes, eff'n postible, please send a box t'our class. Th' colds, coughin', is ongwine in th' classroom, dawgone it. Thanks fo' all yer he'p an' cooperashun.

Yer Chile's Skoo marm Mrs. #####

[honeygrl]

"- and haven't had toilet paper in the restrooms for years...or doors on the stalls."

It's horrifying to me to go into a restroom with no stall doors. I flat out refuse to pee in front of anyone. There is no excuse for a school to leave bathrooms that run down. If they can't afford new doors, a sheet would work just fine and could easily be gotten via donations from parents. Not having tissue creates a sanitation problem and should be dealt with as well.

[Luis Gonzalez]

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

[NonValueAdded]

What grade was received for the Condi figurine? And, BTW, who is Malcolm the tenth?

[Kevin Curry]

It could be worse. It could be in Ebonics.

Dear Parents,

May #th, at #:##-#:## iz our class day an' tyme ta jet ta da Book Fair on da Media center. If can volunteer ta he`p our class shop dat day, it would be greatly appreciated. Please write me uh note letting me know whether ya will be dere ta he`p out.

Our class has ran out o' tissue boxes, if possible, please send uh bawx ta our class. The colds, coughing, iz ongoing in da classroom.

Thanks fo' all yo' he`p an' cooperation.

Your Child's Teacher Mrs. #####

in the hood

[honeygrl]

take out Media Center and replace it with Lie-barry.

[Rushmore Rocks]

I just shared your post with my daughter, a first grade teacher in Wyoming. She was appalled, as am I. We both agree that more parent activism is needed. Too many moms and dads are taking the lazy way out and letting the school systems raise their children. It's a very sad fact that many parents just don't care.......or aren't intelligent enough to recognize that their children are not being taught properly. I'm glad you are taking the stance you are. More parents need to take responsibility for their children's education.

[noutopia]

Forty some odd years of the Dems ruling the Education of our youth has given us a population of idiots teaching idiots.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Ha!!!!

[tuna_battle_slight_return]

"He is correct. The students' grammar outside the classroom is no concern of his."

My concern is that these kids will experience difficulty securing jobs, if they use Ebonics. However, is it indoctrination that you're concerned about? If so, this is a good point. I'm just trying to understand why you would discourage speaking properly outside of the classroom. If I misunderstood, please accept my apologies. If you can elaborate, I would be appreciative to hear what you have to say. (no sarcasm, either, of course).