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I am a high school teacher. I work with teenagers. I don’t have to help with backpacks, homework folders, cubby’s, shoe-tying, etc. However, I understand completely how important and difficult it is to be an elementary teacher. More importantly, I understand how influential elementary teachers are on the children in their class. This leads me to my next question: (let me first say that the following situation did nottake place in the district where I work, but rather a neighboring district) Why when I attended Kindergarten orientation this morning, were there no kindergarten teachers present? The auditorium was filled with eager 5-year-olds and their parents. Supplies were in hand, and we were all excited to meet the teacherwho will start our children on their educational journey. This is a big step! I mean, it’s kindergarten! We were introduced to the principal, and then the children were grouped by class and led by either the assistant superintendent, a special education teacher, the school nurse, or the school psychologist. The children were taken to their classrooms and on a tour of the school. They dropped supplies off near the teacher’s desk, looked around at what was soon to be their new classroom, and then taken on a bus ride. The whole orientation took approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. Parents took off of work and arranged for child care for their younger children. As a teacher, I understand how important it is for parents to be involved. I’ve complained that certain parents never help, yada yada yada. But never have I seen so many willing and able parents and children in one space, and so little teachers to help! What a negative tone to set for the beginning of a school year! What a message to send to parents, that two hours of that teacher’s morning couldn’t be shuffled so they could be there to meet with us. On the flip side, what a great lesson for me as a teacher. Appearances at sporting events, musicals, plays really do matter; and not just to the student.
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So, you have opened my eyes too…I usually dread those “extra” things during after school hours, but I usually end up going because I remember being a kid and seeing my teacher after school. I used to think it was so cool! But now, you’ve made a good point, which I never thought about…the parents care too! I will remember that next time I am cursing up and down about yet another thing to add to my already overloaded day!!