Friday, August 25, 2006

MES vent

Posted by Mandy at 11:55 AM
I'd love to say that I like Madison's teacher... I'd love to say that I like how the room is set up... I'd love to say that I'm satisfied with what goes in inside the school.. but I can't. Why you ask? Because I am basically not allowed into the school, at all! I walked Madison into school the first two days, before she asked me to just drop her off up front. I still thought i had the option to occasionally walk her in if I wanted.. but turns out, I don't! This morning, as I'm dropping Madison off, I see two different mothers, that are walking their children in, stopped and bascially scolded for doing so. I heard, as I was driving away, "We're asking that no one get out of their cars..." WHAT?! So we no longer can walk OUR kids into the school if we want? I totally am supportive of everyone just driving through the pickup line at the end of the day to get their kids... but what is it really hurting if parents park in the parking lot and walk their children in? That is what we were told we could do in the beginning.. but not anymore. So, I have no idea how Madison is doing in school... I never get to go into the school.. I never see her teacher, I never see the principal, I never see anyone! I am just a nameless face that drops her off and picks her up. I am less than satisfied with this. How do they expect parents to be "involved" if we're not allowed to be? I don't want to be a disturbance.. but is a quick hello to her teacher and the aide in the morning really that burdening? Once a week if I walk her in is it that hard for someone to say "she's doing great!" Or "let's work on..." ??? I'm tired of being rushed to drop her off.. I'm tired of being rushed when I pick her up. I got an ugly look and a wave that meant "hurry up and move!" when I simply took 5 seconds to reach back to buckle Madison's seatbelt yesterday. I know ppl are waiting.. I myself waited nearly 15 minutes in the line.. I'm not being rude by securing my child into her booster seat before taking off onto the road full of angry parents. So.. this is my vent. I know I am not alone in these feelings for several other mothers have said the same things. I just hate feeling like a complete outsider that is only in the way each day. That's my little girl! I want to know how she's doing each day!

Okay, sorry for the long rant.. but come on! lol For some good news.. I was really worried how much the fertility meds were going to cost.. and I didn't know what (if any) insurance would cover. I was SO happy when Clayton called me after he had picked it up and said "It only cost us $21!" HOORAY!! Both meds combined.. $21 out of pocket. Thank you God for our awesome insurance! So, God forbid, we have to do this several times... we can afford it! :)

Guess what we're doing tomorrow! Going to the circus! Yep.. Ringling Brothers at Altel.. that's where we'll be! Madison is sooo excited :) I know Carter will love it too.. he just doesn't know it yet. lol

11 comments:

K.T. is Mommatude on Friday, 25 August, 2006 said...

I know,right?They want you when they want you,unless you are a room parent.I want pleased with that letter yesterday either.It is like some kind of secret society...LOL.I keep e-mails and phone numbers for every professional that deals with my kids-that way when I want to know something,I call and ask.

Jennifer on Friday, 25 August, 2006 said...

I agree with you, I know that the traffic is a problem, but my opinion is they should have thought about that when they built the freakin school. Sorry, but I am aggravated too. It is bad enough that our babies have to leave us, I at least think we should be invited to check on them.

Mandy on Friday, 25 August, 2006 said...

Jennifer! It's great to see you blogging again! We still do our playgroup on Tuesday mornings if you ever are available :)

Mark W. on Friday, 25 August, 2006 said...

You are absolutely, darn tootin' right, and so is Jennifer's comment about the "freakin" school layout. The car line is idiotic, has always been idiotic, and is now downright dangerous. Today I witnessed several cars sitting in the middle of on-coming traffic, other cars cutting off those whose turn it was to pull into the lot, and police officers directing the mayhem when they sould be free to do more important things.

Causing the car line at MES to be twice as long as before is not the way to solve the pick-up problem - at least not until some proper turn lanes are constructed along that stretch of road. I wonder if anyone has called Little Rock yet to get some state inspectors down here to see what's going on. I think that needs to happen.

As for walking into the school, it is my right to visit my kids' classrooms and see what's going on in there. Legally, no one can keep us out, so don't give in to that malarky.

Much sympathy to you; here endeth the rant... :)

Anonymous said...

I just wanted to agree with Mark. As a former teacher there, we were told, BY THE ADMINISTRATION, that they can't legally keep you from coming in the school. Like Mark said, it is YOUR RIGHT to go into the building. So if they have a problem, they'll get over it. She is your baby and you have the right.

From the teacher's standpoint...don't go in everyday and brush her hair, want to visit with the teacher about pointless things (I'm talking car problems, family problems that don't effect madison, health problems...you get the point), or bring her in late and do these things. I'm telling you this from a teacher that had a parent come in and do these things constantly. It shouldn't, however, bother ANYONE if you wanted to walk her in once in a while.

Mandy on Friday, 25 August, 2006 said...

Mark, Clayton (he's a state trooper.. didn't know if you knew lol) said the other day, as we waited in line, "This is NOT okay. If the cars driving on the road happen to hit us (we were on the shoulder waiting to turn right into the drive thru) it will be OUR fault because we're not in an official lane of traffic." That's how he decides who's at fault in accidents.. if YOU'RE not in an official lane of traffic, and someone hits you.. it is YOUR fault. How's that for scary?! What other option to we have though with the idiotic set up they've got going?! grrrrr...

Angelina on Saturday, 26 August, 2006 said...

Okay Mandy,
Now are you ready to take action. We need to form a parent conference on school grounds to discuss the issues of traffic, dangerous directing of it, school access, and the decreased time for school lunches. If you are ready to make some waves, lets meet first and then take all the written concerns to the school. We have rights....oh and get Clayton in on this. How do they think they can get away with all the illegality they have forced upon us this past week. There is my rant. I don't just rant, I act. Are you ready?

Sugar-n-Spice on Saturday, 26 August, 2006 said...

okay, first of all i'm smiling as i'm reading this, thrilled to death to be a homeschooler. mind you i am not anti-public school, nor am i trying to push any of you to do it, but it is an option and i'd love to tell you all about it if you ever want to know how we do it and why i chose it blah, blah, blah. i'm tickled i'm not dealing with this issue. but i must say kynlee's kinder year she went to MES, and her teacher (alice forrest) was wonderful! i actually went to the school several hours twice a week. i sat in her class while classes were going on and cut things out, ran things off, laminated them, graded papers, and even taught math and listened to kids read one on one. not just kynlee but the rest of the class loved their chance to read to me. my point being, maybe if you offered "aide" type services madison's teacher would do the same. mrs. forrest was happy to have some help, and i was happy to be there. (kami was in preschool 2 days a week at the methodist church. . .i wasn't adding an extra kid)

Mandy on Saturday, 26 August, 2006 said...

Angela.. I'd definitely at least be interested in talking that over.. I REFUSE to have THIS experience our entire time at MES. If it stays this way.. I will be totally on board for action!

Brandy, I thought about homeschooling before I had Carter... but I must say that I'm loving seeing madison in school. :) I definitely can easily see pros and cons to both.. I'm pretty easy going on that.. I see why ppl do it, and I see why ppl don't.. just as you seem to be. I've checked off a zillion things on a "volunteer" list in madison's classroom.. if I get called in to help or not.. we'll see! lol

Mandy on Saturday, 26 August, 2006 said...

Oh, and the decrease school lunch time upsets me a lot. Madison is hungry almost everyday after school and digs into the remainder of her lunchbox contents b/c "I didn't have time to eat AGAIN today, Mommy!" :(

Lou Arnold on Sunday, 27 August, 2006 said...

Just from teacher experience. Drew Central is kind of doing the same thing. Our kids actually go to the multipurpose room before coming ot our building, then they come over as a grade level.

As far as the parents not coming in, it is really nothing personally wrong with you. We have some parents that would stay all day and nothing can be accomplished for the day. From a parent stand point, I understand.

I try to keep the lines of communication open. Every student in my classroom, their parent has my home number. I want my parents to be involved. First week of school, I have already had five parents call and check up on their child. I have four that stopped me in Wal-Mart. That does not bother me. This is their child and they have the right to know.

If you are really concerned about what Madison is doing, you can see your teacher on their conference period. Find out when that is and go and voice your opinion to her. She has to see you on their conference. Parents have rights!!! It is worth a try.

I think Monticello is just worried about the traffic back-up and getting the kids out safely as possible. I have to say that they do have a bad set-up. Drew Central has a long lane for car riders and it doesn't block traffic on the main road. Good luck. Just talk to the teacher. Don't worry about upsetting her. Chances are she won't mind at all. That is her job.

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