So today was kind of rough....It was going ok untill about 3:40. I was just about to start my work out with the girls after school... and I hear over the loud speaker "Mrs. Bonstead, if you are still in the building you have a call on line 1." Now, that is never a good sign. Especially after a child went home cring... So I get on the phone and it's one of my kids dad's ready to yell at me. I'm telling you, if he was just a bit angrier he would have been cusing! Well, I told his child, who has been forgetting his backpack on a frequent basic for awhile that it was the kids job to remember it, that he couldn't blame it on anyone else. This boy is extreamly emotional so just a small repremand like that sends him over the edge. So, the dad was so mad that I made his kid cry, that his kid "doesn't like me" and "doesn't want to come to school anymore." Then the kicker "It's just kindergarten, what's the big deal?" Ok Mr. if it's just kindergarten and it doesn't matter then what I am doing here? then why don't you take your kid out of my class! Kindergarten is not required in Texas and if you are so unhappy then leave. Now let me tell all of you out there in siber space... this family hasn't not shown any interest in thier children's lives. Papers NEVER come back signed, the folder is never emptied... it's just so frustrating to see that they don't really put much into their child but yet, they feel they have the right to speak to me the way they did! Oh, also another kicker was him asking me if I had my own children. Really buddy?!?! What does that matter? It was just so obvious that this parent had NO repect for me as a person, he doesn't respect me b/c I"m young, white, and a woman... sorry that's harsh but I garentee it's the truth! What really sucks is this isn't the end of this, I asked if he wanted to come in to have a conference about the issue and he said (after lots of complaining that we NEVER work around THEIR schedules) that he would see when they could come in. So... after spring break I get to do this all over again. Oh, please tell me that I will wake up tomorrow and it will be June... and I will be done with all this and ready to move on to the summer! Please pray for me guys... I get intimidated and scared when a parent does something like this. (Well, a parent has NEVER done anything like this!) Pray that I can let my feelings go about the parent and still love on the child! AH!!! I think I will be turning in early tonight....
In other news... well there is no other news. I will do another update about the rest of life later. Hope everyone had a better day than I did!
Bon
Bonnie, you are a wonderful teacher and I am a happy parent to have had you as a teacher of my kindergardner. I respect you and all that you do for the children. You are important in their lives and hope you never change the way you think just to please one unhappy parent. Stand your ground and enforce the rules of your classroom. This child apparently doesn't have to follow rules at home, nor does he get the loving attention that you so freely give (and not required by the state either). Discipline is lacking at the youngest ages when it is most critical. I wish we had more teachers just like you.
ReplyDeleteLook at the many that you have made happy and, if it helps, picture Courtney's beautiful smile and all the other kids that have come to love you so much. And remember that Courtney wanted to do kindergarden all over again because she did not want to leave you. You are making an impression not only in the ones that love you but also in the ones that need you and don't know it yet.