[netmilsmom]

>>Are Chinese children spending 6, 8, 10 hours a day hooked on Nintendo and television? Hate to answer a question with a question, but this one seems like a no-brainer.<<

Both of you are blaming this on the parents and I'm not saying that lazy parents do not have something to do with it, but those schools suck too. The Liberal administrators have taken away all forms of discipline that teachers can use so there is chaos in the class.

My daughter who is tested to read on a 4th grade level is failing reading in 1st grade because the teacher doesn't keep the class quiet. My daughter can't concentrate and does not finish her work. I have begged the teachers to sit her with her back to a wall so she has no one talking behind her but GEEZ. The responsibility of remaining on task is given to my 6 year old with no help. When I was in school quiet was expected.

[cyborg]

OH MY GOD>>> Don't get me started on teachers... well yes I know it sounds like I'm blaming parents, but oh well... didn't want to sound like I woke up on Saturday on my soapbox.

This is the reason why they need to bring back reform schools and kick out badly behaved children. They're keeping back the good kids.

[ladylib]

Kids working in little groups just invites trouble. Lousy reading and math curriculum just exacerbates the situation.

You'd think the educators would have realized that by now.

[Steve Eisenberg]

My daughter who is tested to read on a 4th grade level is failing reading in 1st grade because the teacher doesn't keep the class quiet.

Tough situation. A few years ago when a public school 3rd grader of ours had a bad teacher, we wrote by certified mail to the principal, with a cc to the superintendent, requesting VERY politely a change to a different teacher. They wrote back that this was impossible. We wrote back asking politely for an exception. They wrote that there had never been an exception made. We wrote back politely again asking for just this one exception. Well? Within less than a month the principal gave in, telling us we were the first parents in the school ever to get such an accomodation. Right.

Did the principal glare whenever she saw us from then on? Yes. Did she take it out on our child? Not at all; they were careful from then on to give him good teachers and treat him right.

Forget lawyers, but also forget giving up. You are the only true advocate for your child.

Sorry if this advice is inapplicable, as in a private school that can tell you to walk. Also, if, by some miracle, my advice here is taken, NEVER say that the teacher is bad. Just write that the fit between this teacher and your individual child is not right. Also, they will want to talk to stop the certified letters. They are experienced at such meetings and you are not, so if you don't want to talk much, don't.