Another Case of Rachel Overreacts?
Dear faithful readers, you're probably getting tired of me asking you for advice. Especially advice that seems like it doesn't really need to be given in the first place. I think I profer these situations to you, readers, because I want you to tell me that I'm not a crazy, hyper-protective mother.
Let me set the scene:
Josiah has been attending preschool for about six weeks now. Two times per week, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:00-11:00 a.m. The problem I'm having is this: his room is usually empty at 8:00 a.m. He's always the first one there. Sometimes the teacher isn't even in there and when she does come in, she'll make comments about how it's "so early" and that "most of the kids come later". This morning, it happened again. Josiah was there promptly at 8:00 a.m., his teacher was not, then when she came in, I asked her if I was wrong in bringing him at 8:00. I asked her if that was not when class started. She told me that "most parents bring their kids between 8:30-8:45".
His teacher also commented one day last week that Josiah had started to cry when I wasn't there to pick him up along with all the other parents. People, I was there at 11:02. You all know me and you know that I am NOT LATE. Unless there is some unforeseen circumstance, I am usually early, if anything. I consider this to be courteous. In cases of appointments or school, I consider it to be of absolute importance.
I was getting tired of her little comments, that's why I asked about the 8:00 start time. So, other parents bring their kids in between 8:30-8:45? So what does Josiah do between 8:00 and 8:35 or 8:45 or heck, even 9:00? Does she ignore him? Today, she sat down at her desk and started working on paperwork at 8:05. I drove home with Annika, mulling the situation over. I decided that I just wasn't going to let it go, so when I went to pick him up (at 10:58), I talked to the director and innocently (I hope) asked her if she had a schedule of what the preschoolers do during their class time. I looked it over, and sure enough, it had activities starting at 8:10, so I said something along the lines of "Oh, I just wanted to doublecheck the start time, because Miss T., Josiah's teacher, commented today that most of his classmates don't come to the center until 8:30-8:45".
Maybe I'm splitting hairs here, but I pay for 8:00-11:00 and I want three hours worth of painting, mess-making, learning letters, singing songs. Just because I happen to be the one parent who can get her butt out of bed and get my kid to school on time doesn't mean that Josiah should just sit there alone with her, waiting for the other students to arrive. And what exactly does this show him? That he's less valuable than them? That it's OK not to be on time?
I mean, understand me, I know this is preschool, not a Harvard course in physics. Am I splitting hairs? I would appreciate some feedback, especially from the lone teacher in my group of readers.
BTW, the center director acted extremely unshocked by my questions...as in, she'd been having trouble with this individual or this classroom, and promised to speak to Josiah's teacher. So, we'll see what she has to say on Thursday!
Let me set the scene:
Josiah has been attending preschool for about six weeks now. Two times per week, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:00-11:00 a.m. The problem I'm having is this: his room is usually empty at 8:00 a.m. He's always the first one there. Sometimes the teacher isn't even in there and when she does come in, she'll make comments about how it's "so early" and that "most of the kids come later". This morning, it happened again. Josiah was there promptly at 8:00 a.m., his teacher was not, then when she came in, I asked her if I was wrong in bringing him at 8:00. I asked her if that was not when class started. She told me that "most parents bring their kids between 8:30-8:45".
His teacher also commented one day last week that Josiah had started to cry when I wasn't there to pick him up along with all the other parents. People, I was there at 11:02. You all know me and you know that I am NOT LATE. Unless there is some unforeseen circumstance, I am usually early, if anything. I consider this to be courteous. In cases of appointments or school, I consider it to be of absolute importance.
I was getting tired of her little comments, that's why I asked about the 8:00 start time. So, other parents bring their kids in between 8:30-8:45? So what does Josiah do between 8:00 and 8:35 or 8:45 or heck, even 9:00? Does she ignore him? Today, she sat down at her desk and started working on paperwork at 8:05. I drove home with Annika, mulling the situation over. I decided that I just wasn't going to let it go, so when I went to pick him up (at 10:58), I talked to the director and innocently (I hope) asked her if she had a schedule of what the preschoolers do during their class time. I looked it over, and sure enough, it had activities starting at 8:10, so I said something along the lines of "Oh, I just wanted to doublecheck the start time, because Miss T., Josiah's teacher, commented today that most of his classmates don't come to the center until 8:30-8:45".
Maybe I'm splitting hairs here, but I pay for 8:00-11:00 and I want three hours worth of painting, mess-making, learning letters, singing songs. Just because I happen to be the one parent who can get her butt out of bed and get my kid to school on time doesn't mean that Josiah should just sit there alone with her, waiting for the other students to arrive. And what exactly does this show him? That he's less valuable than them? That it's OK not to be on time?
I mean, understand me, I know this is preschool, not a Harvard course in physics. Am I splitting hairs? I would appreciate some feedback, especially from the lone teacher in my group of readers.
BTW, the center director acted extremely unshocked by my questions...as in, she'd been having trouble with this individual or this classroom, and promised to speak to Josiah's teacher. So, we'll see what she has to say on Thursday!
Comments
Perhaps the other parents have noticed the teacher isn't prepared to start interacting with the children until 9-ish, so they don't want their kids just sitting around. If the director can't make the teacher change, then I would look for some other place for Josiah and Annika to attend. They're bright children who can be inspired to learn and do so much more. You have my vote of confidence.
So it's possibly not laziness and mere too-busyness that leads these children to be delivered late.
Does the classroom have any good books around? When I went to the one room school house I started out in I spent a lot of time in the encyclopedias while other grades were getting instruction. I have a hunch he will be reading way ahead of his peers very soon coming from such a reading household. But, do what you feel is best as you have his needs at heart. Take care.