Get Schooled

By jim d

July 28, 2006 10:55 AM | Link to this

As a parent I say “absolutely review”

By Warmbody

July 28, 2006 11:11 AM | Link to this

I have mixed feelings about this one. As a parent I have no problems with a future teacher looking at my daughters record. Up to this point she has been a good student. As a teacher I feel that problem students will make their presence known soon enough. One thing that needs to be addressed though is the administrator feeling that his teachers might have ‘preconceived notions’ if they looked at their incoming students records. I don’t like reading between the lines but I think that the issue might be professionalism here.

By Litmajor

July 28, 2006 11:34 AM | Link to this

When my son was accepted into a small private school in Cobb, we had a mandatory visit from his teacher. She came to our home and stayed about an hour or so (its been a few years so I can’t remember now). She talked to him about his likes and dislikes, he showed her around his bedroom, and they discussed the proper way to care for his pet fish.

On the first day of school, each child saw a picture of their family on a bulletin board that the teacher made over the summer. One interesting fact about each student was placed alongside the picture. I thought it was very nice and all the kids were very excited to see themselves on the classroom walls.

I know most public school kindergarten classrooms are too large for such an undertaking but I found it to be a quite comforting experience. I personally would not have a problem if my son’s elementary file was reviewed by his 6th grade teachers.

Have any of you ever seen “Bright Road” starring Dorothy Dandridge and Harry Belafonte? Dandridge plays a 4th-grade teacher who “reviews” the horrible file of one of her students. She decides that she would be the teacher to turn him around even though her fellow teachers think its useless. Maybe the principal should give his teachers the benefit of the doubt.

By Concerned

July 28, 2006 11:41 AM | Link to this

I would hope that the teacher would not review the records before the first day of school. Give the kids a chance to have a productive year, even if they haven’t in the past.

By Litmajor

July 28, 2006 11:43 AM | Link to this

Sorry-

even though her fellow teachers think that it’s useless.

By JW

July 28, 2006 11:45 AM | Link to this

I do a brief review of my students’ files before school begins. I mainly look at the students’ performance from the previous school year. I find that it helps me plan for the year academically (rather than being blindsided later). Baseline assessments (math, writing, & reading pretests) also help to identify areas of strength and weakness.

I agree with “Warmbody” in that it is about professionalism. I don’t use the info. against the students - just to help me effectively prepare lessons targeted at areas needing improvement. Often, good teachers aren’t given enough credit as professionals. Just because we work with children does not mean we need to be treated as children.

By Janine

July 28, 2006 11:48 AM | Link to this

Patti…I, too , have mixed feelings about reviewing files of future students.However, I believe that it is GA. law that a teacher must be notified if a child in her class has certain behavioral problems..example…violence toward a teacher in his/her past. In addition, since NCLB and CRCT, each teacher [at least in my system ] must review the scores of her students and prepare Level One plans for those students who did not pass or those who barely passed. BNCLB [before NCLB] administrators in my system didn’t seem care much, but parents almost always expected that the teacher be familiar with their child’s record.

By SET

July 28, 2006 12:19 PM | Link to this

Great subject! Are we talking about behavior notes only or all file notes including medical and academic as well?

I think it would be best if this policy is a local option and let the principals and teachers do what they want for their school’s kids. There are pros and cons.

Yes the teacher must always be warned if there are dangerous medical problems to watch out for (epliepsy, diabetes, peanut allergies, etc.) or if there is a history of violence or a possibility of a psychopathic disorder in a particular child. Failing to do that could be considered criminal negligence in my book.

Pros: A troublesome child can be routed to someone with a good track record or an interest in improving such a child. Better notes can be kept in anticipation of litigation.

Cons: A troublesome child who could have been turned around would be decapitated at the first sign of trouble by a teacher who was primed to do so. Or the same child could be spoiled rotten by an overly protective teacher (do they exist?).

One thing - if it’s decided that the teachers will not be fully briefed on the incoming students, does that mean that the administration has no duty to review the incoming student files? Is it ever proper that no one at a campus has bothered at all to look at the files of incoming students?

By Gwinnett Teacher

July 28, 2006 12:19 PM | Link to this

I’d like to know if any of my students have a criminal record that involves assault, battery, or theft. I know we’re supposed to let them start with a clean slate, but, I need to know if I have to lock everything up in my classroom, or not potentially “push any buttons” of a potentially violent teenager!

By Warmbody

July 28, 2006 12:34 PM | Link to this

SET I may be wrong but I think that medical records are privileged information that only the school nurse, if there is one should be concerned about unless the parents choose otherwise,i.e. asthma, hemophilia. I’m more concerned about the principal insinuating that his staff can’t approach each student with an unbiased attitude.

By Molly

July 28, 2006 12:44 PM | Link to this

When I see a new doctor, I want him/her to review my medical record. I don’t want to waste time or money repeating tests that have already been done. Why should teaching be different? I want my child’s teacher to know if he/she is performing above or below grade level. The previous teacher knew this, the records show this, why would we waste the first month of school forcing the new teacher to find this out for herself? (Indeed, why keep any records at all if the teacher is not going to use them to plan appropriately?) It seems to me that the point of all the endless “assessments” is to guide teaching - don’t test if you don’t plan to use the results in some meaningful way.

I am endlessly frustrated by the amount of time wasted each school year while the teacher figures out what each child’s strengths and weaknesses are. Absolutely, teachers should review student records.

By Ernest

July 28, 2006 12:53 PM | Link to this

Personally, I’d want teachers to review my childrens records, for the reasons given by Molly. I see and understand the pros and cons for this. Bottom line, it should be a local decision.

By lt

July 28, 2006 12:55 PM | Link to this

Does anyone else remember the study that was done quite a few years back — I don’t remember all the details except that a group of students were selected to be in an experimental class or set of classes. The teacher(s) was(were) told [sorry grammarians, I couldn’t resist] that students A-M were bright, never trouble-makers, and expected to “go far.” On the other hand, students N-Z were troublemakers, often disrupting classroom activities, never studying, always failing, etc.

After a period of time [and this is where I am totally coming up blank] a review of the class(es) was done. Sure enough: A-M were shining stars, all A and B grades [a question here…is it A’s and B’s or As and Bs?] and N-Z were all failing, many with multiple disciplinary reports to the counselor and/or principal’s office.

The trick? The students were ALL superior students who had volunteered for the experiment, no one except the person who set up the experiment knew which student was in which group. The expectations of the teacher(s) dictated the treatment toward each student from day one of the experiment (by the way, the teacher(s) did not know it was an experiment).

I wish I could find/remember the resource for this experiment, because it said a lot to me about expectations and subsequent attitude/behavior.

If anyone knows, remembers, or can find the information, I’d be ever thankful!

linny

By Mother Goosed

July 28, 2006 01:02 PM | Link to this

The only ones who would have a problem with reviewing past files are parents of problem kids, who KNOW they are problem kids, but are trying to sweep it under the carpet. If I was a teacher, I’d DEMAND to know if your kid was a trouble maker in previous grades. No kid changes over the summer. It takes more than a couple of months. It can take years of intensive couseling to help a troubled kid. I’d also want to know if your kids have trouble in certain areas of study so I could set up my class and instruction depending on the needs of the students.

By Mother Goosed

July 28, 2006 01:05 PM | Link to this

The only ones who would have a problem with reviewing past files are parents of problem kids, who KNOW they are problem kids, but are trying to sweep it under the carpet. If I was a teacher, I’d DEMAND to know if your kid was a trouble maker in previous grades. No kid changes over the summer. It takes more than a couple of months. It can take years of intensive couseling to help a troubled kid. I’d also want to know if your kids have trouble in certain areas of study so I could set up my class and instruction depending on the needs of the students.

By C.R.H.

July 28, 2006 01:13 PM | Link to this

Teachers are usually notified of student’s medical issues so the teacher can be prepared. For example; a student with bladder or kidney issue is allowed to use the restroom more frequently, a diabetic student is allowed to eat/drink in class or go get something to eat at the vending machine if they need the sugar, etc. However, as a teacher, I have NEVER been informed of any student’s past criminal behavior. In one case I found out about 3 felony charges (assault/battery) pending against one student at his expulsion hearing… he threatened me and beat up another student IN MY CLASSROOM. I have had other students arrested during the school year and then read about their laundry list of past legal run-ins in the newspaper. Do I think teachers should be able to review records…YEP! The problem in many cases is that teachers won’t even know who their students are until the day before school starts.

By TinaTeach

July 28, 2006 01:16 PM | Link to this

In our district medical records are private but a students condition is not (i.e. if a student has diabetes his teachers are told) just in case there is a medical emergency. So many districts have floating nurses that it is important that if a student is incapacitated that the teacher is aware of what may be going on. As for records on student behaviour, I think they should be read if there is a major problem in the students past but other than that it’s not that necessary and can give you a bias towards or against kids.

By Fulton Co. Mommy

July 28, 2006 01:17 PM | Link to this

Last year we experienced Kindergarten and Fulton Public Schools for the first time. My child had some emotional issues of a divorce, a second abondonment by her father mid-year, and an indulgent teacher. This teacher and I tried several things help my child to no avail. My child was recommended to an Action Committee, we got her a different teacher (she missed the first one though). This second teacher and I spent all of the second semester “fixing” the issues. This child went from 3 Ns in behavior to all Ss by year end. We worked hard over the summer to keep the studies going. My child is looking foward to 1st Grade as a clean start and chance to do better. I am looking forward to 1st Grade because the school’s staff and I have already discussed what we are going to do so we do not repeat last year. This includes getting a good fit 1st Grade teacher who has an idea of what we need to work on, what works and what doesn’t. I do not expect, and will not accept, the 1st Grade teacher “pre-judging” my child. However, just as I do not just set out to go on a trip without planning and packing, my house is not going to venture into 1st Grade without planning either!

By Fulton Co. Mommy

July 28, 2006 01:17 PM | Link to this

Last year we experienced Kindergarten and Fulton Public Schools for the first time. My child had some emotional issues of a divorce, a second abondonment by her father mid-year, and an indulgent teacher. This teacher and I tried several things help my child to no avail. My child was recommended to an Action Committee, we got her a different teacher (she missed the first one though). This second teacher and I spent all of the second semester “fixing” the issues. This child went from 3 Ns in behavior to all Ss by year end. We worked hard over the summer to keep the studies going. My child is looking foward to 1st Grade as a clean start and chance to do better. I am looking forward to 1st Grade because the school’s staff and I have already discussed what we are going to do so we do not repeat last year. This includes getting a good fit 1st Grade teacher who has an idea of what we need to work on, what works and what doesn’t. I do not expect, and will not accept, the 1st Grade teacher “pre-judging” my child. However, just as I do not just set out to go on a trip without planning and packing, my house is not going to venture into 1st Grade without planning either!

By Fulton Co. Mommy

July 28, 2006 01:20 PM | Link to this

Last year we experienced Kindergarten and Fulton Public Schools for the first time. My child had some emotional issues of a divorce, a second abondonment by her father mid-year, and an indulgent teacher. This teacher and I tried several things help my child to no avail. My child was recommended to an Action Committee, we got her a different teacher (she missed the first one though). This second teacher and I spent all of the second semester “fixing” the issues. This child went from 3 Ns in behavior to all Ss by year end. We worked hard over the summer to keep the studies going. My child is looking foward to 1st Grade as a clean start and chance to do better. I am looking forward to 1st Grade because the school’s staff and I have already discussed what we are going to do so we do not repeat last year. This includes getting a good fit 1st Grade teacher who has an idea of what we need to work on, what works and what doesn’t. I do not expect, and will not accept, the 1st Grade teacher “pre-judging” my child. However, just as I do not just set out to go on a trip without planning and packing, my house is not going to venture into 1st Grade without planning either!

By catlady

July 28, 2006 01:26 PM | Link to this

I do a very brief review of my students’ records, making notes of to whom I need to give special attention, and in what areas. I also (because I am now a pull-out teacher) think about grouping by skill level. We get virtually no information about behaviorial issues in the permanent record. I talk to last year’s teachers, also, to get a feel for the child. The quicker I am up to speed on the specialness of the students, the better, as far as I am concerned. I am sure that some teachers write off problem students based on records, but we get such bare-bones information, I am not sure how. I can say, after a day or two of class, I can usually predict where the behaviorial “rubs” will be.

By Cletus Snow

July 28, 2006 01:36 PM | Link to this

The more you know the better equipped you will be to do a good job,in any field of endeavor.Teachers should have any information that might be helpful.

By TinaTeach

July 28, 2006 01:49 PM | Link to this

In our district medical records are private but a students condition is not (i.e. if a student has diabetes his teachers are told) just in case there is a medical emergency. So many districts have floating nurses that it is important that if a student is incapacitated that the teacher is aware of what may be going on. As for records on student behaviour, I think they should be read if there is a major problem in the students past but other than that it’s not that necessary and can give you a bias towards or against kids.

By jim d

July 28, 2006 01:58 PM | Link to this

It,

I don’t recall the particular experiment you described but there have been a number of studies done which have concluded children have a tendency to live up (or down) to a teachers expectations.

So while I feel we should not tie a teachers hands when it comes to understanding their new charges, I also realize Some teachers may unknowingly set lower expectations for students based on their own personal upbringing or beliefs that could adversely affect the child’s educational opportunities.

This then becomes a bit of a catch 22. Do we inform the teacher so they can effectively deal with issues that may come up or do we risk affecting the entire class by keeping pertinent information from the teacher?

Personally, I’d risk the one for the benefit of the group.

By frank123

July 28, 2006 02:01 PM | Link to this

I would hope that teachers review the grades, unusual medical history and behavioral problems of the students.

As to behavioral problems, students need to know that they can’t get away with things and all the teachers are working as a team with the parents. This will help the behavioral problem kids turn around. Bad behavior has consequence not just for a couple of semester, but for life. This is not some movie where the clumsy, evil, dishonest, or rude person can turn everything around in a couple of weeks to become the hero of the movie.

By peanutlady

July 28, 2006 02:05 PM | Link to this

Some of you people are greatly over-estimating what is found in most kids permanent records. Other than grades, test scores and maybe a list of allergies, there is very little. I’ve had students who had experienced horrible abuse or neglect, been placed in foster homes because of it and there is NO mention of any of this in their files. Word of mouth from one teacher to the next is about as good as it gets. In addition, due to confidentiality laws, even DFACS is not allowed to tell us why a child is in foster care. Also, I have to sign a form every time I check any child’s permanent records and can only view them in the vault where they are stored. I teach over one hundred kids, so you can imagine the amount of time that would take, and the logistics involved. Too, there is often a reluctance on the part of the administration to give you your class rolls until the last minute. I guess they’re afraid that the more time we have to look them over, the more time we have to complain or ask for changes.

By lt

July 28, 2006 02:10 PM | Link to this

Oh, I agree — I was trained as an educator back in the 60’s — and even then it was a question that could be debated for simply hours. And that was just in the dorm room while studying! I believe that part of the problem is not in knowing the students’ backgrounds, needs, handicaps [oops! what’s the PC term now?], skills, and talents. It’s in what a teacher — or group of teachers — does with the information. Way too complicated to go into here, but it’s a combination of parental involvement, discipline, teacher involvement [i.e., the home visits mentioned earlier — how wonderful! but as you say, impractical], and the willingness of the school administration to back a teacher in his or her decisions — sometimes a teacher will have a wonderful plan, but one — ONE! — parent complaining will cause an entire program to crumple into a little heap. There’s your “one” that risks the benefits to the class, and not in the way you mean!

I like the story of the teacher who decided to DEFY the reports and expectations and put some effort into trying to improve the student rather than condemn him from day one.

I hope that is what kind of teacher I would have been had my life not taken another path! I do try to do that with young people in my daily walk, however — sometimes to succeed, sometimes to fail miserably.

Ah. But then, that’s life, isn’t it?

By SET

July 28, 2006 02:29 PM | Link to this

Peanutlady:

Thanks for the info about the systematic hoarding of the student files. I was afraid of something like this going on. From your comments and the others it seems that the modern state school is making a point not to keep records or pass information to the teachers and administrators handling the children. There is a premium on ignorance.

My family went to a (small? 200 students per graduating class) public high school. The teachers and the administration somehow knew the stories of the kids and the families as well as what everybody was up to. The walls had ears.

If anything of significance was going on it was in the student file. I believe on graduation the files were stripped down to the transcripts and the basics and sent to storage. But up till then they did keep all the parent’s notes, permission slips, correspondences, discipline write ups, medical warnings and sick notes, etc.

I suppose it could just be that this was a smaller school district and they have better services. We had no hot lunches, though.

By Cobb Daddy

July 28, 2006 03:23 PM | Link to this

Thank goodness my son’s teachers didn’t prejudge on his past records. In elementary school he had a teacher decide that he MUST have ADD (what a crock). He was sent to a psychologist, observed in the classroom, and sent to the Action Team (or whatever it was called). They all recommended he be put on Ritalin and after a GREAT deal of thought and prayer we agreed (BIG mistake). All it did was slow him down. After six months we took him off and his grades SHOT up. He was just being lazy and once Mom and Dad got on his case and SUPERVISED his work we had no more problems. Thank heavens none of his middle school teachers were ever aware (or at least told us they weren’t) of the “diagnosis”.

By jim d

July 28, 2006 03:25 PM | Link to this

Peanut,

No over or under estimation here. I have taken it upon myself to review my childs files every year or two.

Yes they are kept under lock and key and teachers must sign their lives away to see them. However, a written request from a parent seems to open the locks for their viewing. I suspect a few administrators may feel I’m a bit overly protective, but I will view any files kept on my child by the school systems or anyone else until he’s 18, it’s just a part of my job.

By Where did the summer go?

July 28, 2006 03:54 PM | Link to this

I would absolutely LOVE to have the time to review the records of the 120 students that I teach in a day….but where would I find the time?

During the past 3 days of post planning, I have been in 14 hours of meetings out of 18 total scheduled work hours. If you factor in time to eat, time to potty, time to get my room ready, time to make lesson plans, and time to make copies, there is precious little time else. Last night, I was at school until 7:30 getting my classroom ready for open house.

I would have stayed late today, but frankly, I’m pooped. At least I have Monday as a work day. Oh wait….I have meetings then as well. Let me change that to “at least I have the weekend to get some work done.”

By Where did the summer go?

July 28, 2006 03:55 PM | Link to this

I would absolutely LOVE to have the time to review the records of the 120 students that I teach in a day….but where would I find the time?

During the past 3 days of post planning, I have been in 14 hours of meetings out of 18 total scheduled work hours. If you factor in time to eat, time to potty, time to get my room ready, time to make lesson plans, and time to make copies, there is precious little time else. Last night, I was at school until 7:30 getting my classroom ready for open house.

I would have stayed late today, but frankly, I’m pooped. At least I have Monday as a work day. Oh wait….I have meetings then as well. Let me change that to “at least I have the weekend to get some work done.”

By JW

July 28, 2006 04:05 PM | Link to this

Cobb Daddy, Congratulations on finding a solution for your son’s academic situation. You found what worked for your situation and effectively implemented a successful strategy. Additionally, I think you must credit the “Action Team” or elementary teacher(s) for beginning a discussion which ultimately led to a happy ending (better performance academically). While you may not want the middle school teachers to know about events of the past, don’t you think it would be helpful for your child’s future teachers to know what works and does not work for your child? For example, obviously medication did not work, but some other strategy (supervision of assignments) did work. This requires an effective home-school working relationship that comes from communicating - not prejudging records.

By teach overseas

July 28, 2006 04:31 PM | Link to this

I absolutely agreed with Mother Goosed.

While most teachers know the uselessness of official files, don’t underestimate informal teacher conferences. A quick chat at the copier or in front of the coffeepot lets us in on pretty much all we need to know about the kid AND the parent. Don’t think that SNY’s antics at her school last year have not been discussed at length by ALL the teachers!

By luvs2teach

July 28, 2006 04:41 PM | Link to this

Like many others I, too, have mixed feelings on the subject. Part of me thinks “forewarned is fore-armed” and another part of me thinks they deserve a chance to make a clean first impression.

Like It and Jim D, I remember reading about that study (or one like it) and hoping that I would never be negatively influenced by something in a file. Professionalism should take charge, of course, but the idea that there could be a subconcious awareness is what worries me.

As a middle school teacher at a highly transient school, there is little opportunity for me to see the files of my new students - often I don’t know who they will be until a day or two before school starts. As the year settles in, I will sometimes check a student’s file if I have a concern. I will also check students new to our school as soon as the files arrive if I can - often they are leaving a bad situation for a fresh start here.

I can access most of my students standardized test grades online, and I do use those to help form cooperative groups early in the year.

Any child in danger of being retained has their file reviewed as part of the retention process, and at my school we start that after the first report card.

As someone mentioned, there isn’t as much as you might think in the infamous “permanent file” - usually the final report card from every year, all standardized test scores, and proof of residency. If a child has been in special ed or SST, then that will be there. No medical records or discipline trackers (unless the child is coming from another school - it goes with you in that case - otherwise administrators have those on file). Anything outside of school (like arrests) aren’t in there either.

I do think that elementary teachers should be given a chance to read their students files - they have fewer, are with them longer, and are building important fundamentals.

By sd

July 28, 2006 04:48 PM | Link to this

I absolutely agree with what “teach overseas” wrote about teacher chatter. Even at my school of 2000+ students, don’t think I don’t already know a fair amount about many of the students as a result of what colleagues have said, whether good or bad. I also previously taught at a school with less than 250 students, and it was impossible not to know something about the students you were getting every year.

So I don’t really see the problem with looking at a child’s records prior to the year; it might even provide a more accurate picture than talking with the child’s previous teacher because, unlike the teacher, the file folder has no emotional involvement.

By OldSchool

July 28, 2006 04:54 PM | Link to this

As a high school CTAE teacher with students from grades 9 through 12, I have many repeaters (they can take my class 8 times if they can schedule it) so I already know the quirks and strengths of most. As for new students, I do look at their records to better understand their math abilities. It helps me know where to start with each. I’ve never seen behavior records…not even for the student who was placed in my class because I have the reputation for being able to reach difficult students. It was a year or so after he graduated that he murdered his mother. While he was in my class, we got along just fine.

Only “water cooler chats” clue me in on students who transfer in from alternative schools or who have criminal records or behavior problems. I usually just assume the best and let the students’ actions speak for themselves.

(Has anyone besides me gotten a little paranoid over the earlier grammar issue? I feel like I need to start my posts with “Hello, my name is OldSchool and I have a problem with commas…”)

By Eileen

July 28, 2006 05:06 PM | Link to this

I don’t know what kind of imformation is kept in a student’s file here in GA, however I have had problems in the past in other states. My son has a learning disability, and so has an IEP on file. Every few years he is retested to make sure he is eligible for services. It was while we were living in FL that a school psychologist put in his file that he was unusually fascinated with fire, and could be at risk of starting a fire. This was because he wanted to be a fireman. He had/has absolutely no history of arson. It took the threat of legal action to get the report removed from his file. I had nightmares that any time a fire alarm was pulled in his school, he would be called to the office and grilled. I now make it a point to know what is in the ffiles of my kids.

By Lisa B.

July 28, 2006 05:14 PM | Link to this

I feel like I need to know very quickly about health issues, learning problems or any special needs my students my have. As a fourth grade teacher, I meet most parents at Open House, or on the first day of school. Parents usually tell me themselves about the above mentioned issues. I normally don’t delve into permenent records until several weeks after school begins. I find it especially important to learn about past academic performance so I bolster weak areas. I am not as concerned about past behavior because over the years, I have seen children behave completely differently with different teachers. I tend to see the best in my students until they change my opinion.

By catlady

July 28, 2006 05:21 PM | Link to this

Remember that you can only have those water cooler chats about students on a need-to-know, rather than an interesting-to-gossip-about basis. That is, it is okay for me to talk about a child to their former teacher or other current teachers for the purpose of getting information that will help me teach the child (and deal with things that may get in the way of that teaching.)

By Vicki

July 28, 2006 05:22 PM | Link to this

OldSchool - yes, the grammar blog kept me very quiet. My mother-in-law was an English teacher for 35 years. I have only written one letter to her in my 22-year marriage. She sent it back to me red lined. ;)

Now, I only will call her.

By OldSchool

July 31, 2006 03:06 PM | Link to this

Catlady, after 32 years of teaching I am very aware of what is proper and ethical to discuss. My use of the water cooler euphemism was simply to put a clearer picture forth about how some important information that is not in a student’s records gets shared. And yes, it is on a need to know basis and yes, it is kept very confidential. I try not to prejudge a student based on the experiences of another teacher but I think it is very helpful to be clued in to “red flags” that could be harmful to me or my other students. It just keeps me aware and allows me to be ready with a course of action if there is a problem with that student.

But thank you for your explanation. It never hurts to be reminded.

By catlady

August 1, 2006 09:24 AM | Link to this

Oldschool—oops! I wasn’t directing the ethical statement at you at all! Since we have parents on this site, I wanted to be sure they understood that it isn’t the gossip scene it might be in other types of offices. Unfortunately people can form the wrong idea of “how it works”.

By Recently Retired Teacher

August 1, 2006 01:15 PM | Link to this

A teacher must get to know new students as quickly as possible nowadays in the NCLB world and teachers must be prepared to deal with ALL students and their problems and issues they bring into the class. There is no time to lose if schools are to pass the CRCT tests and not be put on those dreaded needs improvement lists!! Don’t blame teachers. They are just doing their jobs. It is up to teachers and principals to keep all info confidential.

By OldSchool

August 1, 2006 03:26 PM | Link to this

No problem, catlady. I took no offense at all. Often a casual conversation with another teacher can give us insight into what not to do with a student…like some kids don’t react well to gentle teasing or don’t want a pat on the back. I’m known for fluffing up their hair when they make a rather bonehead mistake but I’d never fluff someone I know ahead of time doesn’t like that.

Now I don’t want anyone thinking I go around doing anything inappropriate to my students. I will hug them back if they hug first and they know I love them even when I don’t like what they are doing very much. It’s a different world down here in Very South Georgia.

By Hmm

August 3, 2006 11:04 AM | Link to this

I’d want my kid’s teacher to review his records. I don’t want to find out that my kid’s reading “Green Eggs & Ham” instead of “Stranger in a Strange Land”.

Some of these kids are really not in-sync with GA Standards at all. A review of the performance record, whether on conference night or earlier (by records), is definitely warranted.