Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Kvetchin'

This is my blog. I can kvetch if I want to...
Catchy tune, that is...

I don't DO change well. I deal, but I don't like it. So, when things change - like my kid is on a bus at 6:30am and school starts at 7:30... I don't like it. I also don't like crazy teachers. I am a teacher. I can say this. I guess I don't like a lot of things...

High school is hard -- hard for me. I feel out of the loop. (Probably because I am.)

The science teacher is new to the system and is a nut. She doesn't use the book. She is vague. Where do they find these people?? #1 had a test yesterday and he came home very upset. He said he didn't understand half of what she wanted on the test. I'm hoping he guessed well.

We don't have a science fair at the high school - probably because we are on block scheduling, but that doesn't matter to this woman. During "Meet the Teacher Night", she told the kids to pick a topic that they are passionate about for a science fair project. #1 looked at me with that "OMG What the h*ll am I gonna do?" look. I wanted to puke! I don't think well out of the box. Give me a topic and I'll do it, but make me think of one on my own and I'm sunk. I wonder where he gets it?? During Sunday dinner we tossed out ideas. He picked a subject near and dear to each and every the member of this household. Toilet paper. Which toilet paper biodegrades the fastest? I'll let you all know how it turns out. I'm sure you all want to know if Charmin is as good as they claim.

LLB got switched into another reading class. Yes - more change. She had this class originally and then they switched her back. This is a flip flop in 2 weeks. She likes this teacher much better - as do I. My only fear is that they will move her again. Her little heart will be broken if they take her from this wonderful woman. She's had quite a time with a couple of other things -- her gym tennies were taken out of her locker and she had to sit out PE on Monday. She was totally distressed. Then someone stole her Lands' End lunch box out of a classroom. It is pink and has her initials on it. Mr. thinks a boy took it. I think any boy that takes a pink lunch box with LLB's initials on it needs glasses AND medication. She'll be checking out everyone's lunch box until she finds it!

On top of all this, my LLB has a wicked cough. I'm calling the doctor today. She's been dealing with this for a week now. Why didn't I call sooner? Because they think I don't know my kid. They think they know my kid better than I do. They'll tell me she has a virus. If I go earlier, they give her robitussin and send her home. Then, I wait a few more days and have to go back to get the real drugs.

This is my first week of school with my music kids. I only see them twice a week for 40 min. a class. Guess what? They don't have class on Monday. It's some stupid "class day" for them. There are many of these days this fall. I think the school doesn't want to pay us so they invent these "class days" and tell us not to show up. My kids have to be ready for the youth festival in November, a Christmas performance in early December, and a concert right before vacation. Do you see a problem with this picture? I will not allow them to play crappy music -- especially for their parents who pay an inordinate sum of cash to send them to this school.

On the bright side -- I don't have to go to school on Monday.

I think I have whined enough for today...

8 comments:

Jane said...

Kvetch all you want to!!! That is one of the good things about blogging.
I'm with you on the 'vague' teachers. How do they expect the students to learn anything.....or maybe they just don't care.
You don't want to get me started complaining about how schools have either completely done away with teaching the arts in schools or have so curtailed them that, as you say, you have far too little time to prepare the students for their performances. CRAZY!!!!

Melli said...

Teachers and Mom's all need a good place to vent! Aren't ya glad you have a blog now?! My kids have had those vague teachers too... they teach ONE thing and TEST another! Krysti had one for AP Chem last year! Thankfully she didn't need that credit to transfer! It is very frustrating. Hang in there kiddo - the year has just begun!

Renee Nefe said...

Wow! I'm with everyone on kvetching...isn't that what our blogs are for? LOL!
What a rough week for the kiddos. I do hope that LLB gets to stay in that class...you can always complain to them if they wanna change her again...and what's with these kids taking all of her stuff??? What? The other parent's can't afford the tennies & a lunch box? Weird.
And I sure hope that #1 does well in Ms. Vague's class cuz that would sure make me nutzo too.

Anonymous said...

wow!

I had a chemistry teacher like that in HS and she was sooo confusing. Nothing she taught was in the book, and she would get so frustrated and mad when you'd ask for extra help.

I flunked chemistry. LOL.

Hope your year gets better!

craziequeen said...

Blogging is designed for venting....and you do it so well, sweetie!! :-))

Perhaps your music kids would agree to some rehearsal time on these Monday 'class days' - very odd concept [shakes head]

I liked your question on the Palace, especially as it has rained almost non-stop all summer.... We have a 'market tent' which is basically a huge canvas square raised on tent poles. When its hot its shade, when its wet its cover....otherwise we get wet.....we have got SO wet this summer... :-((

cq

Susan said...

I think you can kvetch anytime you need to!! And I agree with you about so much of this. The switching back and forth is just wrong. And I hope she finds her lunch box...how rude.

And those "out there" teachers who are just feeling their way through classes make me CRAZY. The kids need to know exactly what they need to know and do to be successful.

Hang in there.

:-) Susan

The Ferryman said...

I think you can always whine a little more...

MaR said...

I don't like changes either. And I can't stand it when things "disappear"! it's awful, hope LLB finds her lunch box and that she gets well. Both soon!
Enjoy your day off school...
:)