Today is my daughters last day at her pre-k class. All year long her teacher has talked to me and other moms like we were stupid. She alway ended the class early and was mad if we had not picked our kids up 15 min early everyday. My daughter only complained about her one time. I am trying to decide if I should speak my peace and "break the bridge" or keep my mouth shut. I will not put my other child in her care and will probably never see her again. Should I tell her off?
Example of the parent/ teacher interaction.
She asked if the parent could pay and decorate for the "graduation party". One other mom and I went and bought $25 dollars worth of graduation decorations. She asked what we had. We explained what we had. She said, " The kids don't need hats and balloons. I will keep them for next year." I asked why they couldn't have both. she said " It is more to be cleaned up and I want all the kids gone by 3. I have plans." The class hours are 12- 4.
I guess I need to be clear. She was good to my child and the other children. I have no complains on her ability to teach the children. My daughter loved her. But I did not. If she was mean to my child then my child would have been removed.
You need to send an email or letter and CC the director or Principal about her. She sounds totally awful.
Wow she sounds like a real- well you know. I would definitely tell her what you think and any type of administration that is in charge of her. I don't know if I could have waited this long to tell her off. Take a quick straw poll of parents you know from the class and see if anyone else had similar problems. All go together to confront her or her adminstration about this.
Assuming you are paying for the classes, like most do for preschool, I would say something! That sounds ridiculous to me.
I would give her a card with your thoughts about her skills and demeanor. The written word is much more powerful than a short confrontation. Give it to her as you walk away at 3, and say "thank you".
Who is paying this woman? I would talk to her superior. She needs to be fired. At the very least you could write her a letter at the end of the year explaining why your next child will not be in her class. Who knows maybe it will help her "wake up".
I would not let her keep the decorations! I would tell her you plan to return them if they won't be used. I don't know if I would say something to her but I would definitely talk to or write a letter to the director. Be very specific. He or she needs to know what is going on. I would encourage the other parents to do the same. Thank goodness it is the last day!
Why on Earth would you leave your child with this woman for an entire school year & then be angry at the woman over it...? She clearly showed you her true colors early on in the year. It seems like if you wanted some changes, the first time you realized what you were dealing with would have been the time to handle it, not now that the damage has been done. That will solve nothing because she clearly doesn't care one iota what anyone's opinion of her is, least of all her customers.
At this point I might not bother talking to the teacher at all. I would write her a letter and copy the principal (or the teacher's supervisor) and outline the problems you see. Try to be as specific as possible, but also try to be as logical and unemotional as possible. Those are the letters that get taken seriously. Anytime a parent is emotional, their concerns are often dismissed. If there are any other moms who are upset and want to do something, invite them to do the same. You could even give them a copy of your letter for them to use as a reference.
I completely disagree with the idea of getting all the parents together and confronting the teacher and the principal as a group. That is a "last resort" tactic and should only be done if previous efforts have failed. If you choose that route, the teacher will feel ganged up on, and the principal will more than likely feel sorry for her and not really hear anything you have to say.
I usually try to give teachers 2 or 3 times to fix it on their own (although, not ending class before 4 seems like it should be a given.) Many times I teacher will reflect on the day and realize on their own that they should have handled it differently. After that I very nicely approach them, explain the problem I see and ask if there is a way we can improve. If I still don't get the appropriate response, then I approach a superior.
I think you should have said something to her a long time ago, but what's done is done. Just wanted to add my two cents for future thought.
Write the letter! You'll feel better, and you might enlighten both the teacher and the principal.
First if you paid for the decorations what is not used is rightfully yours UNLESS you said she could keep any of the extras.
Secondly I would not let her have it or tell her off. That is kind of childish. I would bring it up to the head of preschool (hopefully it is not her) and let that person know you are very disappionted with how she has been treating you this past week and that you are sad that the graduation party is being cut short because she feels that something is MORE IMPORANT then her paying job.
Lastly if you have not been bringing up how she has been acting in the past, that should have been brought up after the first 2-3 weeks of it happening all the time not at the end of the year. You said you will not be using her again so no need to make waves, but I do think talking to the principle or head of the preschool about her treatment of this past week should happen. This is her job, she should be there... my mom, a preschool teacher, is missing her own granddaughter's preschool program friday night because she is a teacher and has dedicated her time at her school this friday.
Wow, what a horrible teacher! I don't know why you have waited this long---I would have removed my child a long time ago. I think since you waited all year to do this, its kind of too late. It would not set a good example for your child.
Find another preschool!
M
Get all the other parents to get together to make a letter of complaint then all sign it. Make copies and give one to her superior and one to the teacher as you leave after the graduation. What a wacko!!!
Your child loved her, you said she was good to her. You're going to find a new preschool for your other child anyway. That's the biggest non-verbal vote of no confidence you can give. I would be highly irritated by all the things you mentioned too, but I would let it go. She's better with children than with parents. My DD has a teacher like that this year. My daughter likes her and she is having a great year. I know she has been learning. She is a good teacher. However, for some reason, she and I never clicked. I think we started off on the wrong foot when my DD had a bad third day of school and she must have decided she didn't like me. I tried and tried to volunteer, I signed up. I followed up. I was always friendly and respectful. I wasn't asked to come in, or made to feel welcome or appreciated the few times I did come in to help. I am a SAHM and am so openly available, it's ridiculous. I would have GLADLY helped with whatever she needed. I'm just hoping to be more involved next year. It feels odd, but I decided it's not worth getting worked up over at the end of the year as long as things are going well for my DD.
I would send her an email, but I would definitely take the decorations and things back!
Was this in an actual preschool?? It sounds more like it's at someone's home. If she is an employee of a preschool, you should go to the director or whatever her boss is called -- even better, have several parents go together as a united front. Tell the director about this expectation for children to to be picked up before the allotted time and that this has gone on ALL YEAR. The director may very well say, "Why didn't anyone tell me this many months ago?" because frankly -- you all should have done so. The teacher has cheated you out of many hours of your paid-for time with this pickup thing. Is she the only teacher there? Do others do it? This isn't a professionally run place if it's allowed to go on. However good she is to the kids, she should not be a teacher if she thinks she can run her own hours, talk down to parents and keep class supplies. I question not just her, but the whole setup and its professionalism.
I bought it, it's not used, it's mine.
I'd say thank God she's gone and make sure you don't have to deal with her again.
Is she going to be her teacher in the coming year too, or is your daughter off to Kindergarten now? If you think she's really horrible, I'd definitely consider saying something so other kids and parents won't have to deal with her.
If you might have this teacher again next year, *definitely* say something. Or at the very least be more proactive next year when interacting with this teacher. So if you volunteer to help with something, get her wishes on paper and ironed out before investing money.
If she's being unreasonable about pick-up times (afterall you are paying her whether you come early or not) insist she reimbursts you for the "extra" time you are paying her since she's insisting parents come earlier than the scheduled endtime. If you do the math, she's cheating you all out of a nice chunk of cash if you're not insisting on a refund for those 15 minutes you're rescuing her from her dull job. You might go as far as to report this to her superior, as I think this is unprofessional on her part and perhaps a breach of the contract you have with the school. She has made a commitment to be there until 4, she has no business leaving earlier on a regular basis.
What happend to substitute teachers for emergencies? Her personal life has no bearing on your child's education or your time as well. If she can't be there, she has the responsibility to work that snag out. If her job is so awful, perhaps she should look elsewhere.
Lastly, these behaviors are very telling. Don't think for a minute she isn't shorting the kids in someway as well. Perhaps in patience, or time. You'd never know without being there.
All I can say is, I wouldn't let her keep things to use for next year. She sounds like a cheap, user type. If her heart was in teaching, she wouldn't have other "plans" for 3:00 if she is supposed to be there until 4. Taking back the graduation supplies would be my revenge. :)
