This one is about Lady Bug's school. I try to keep a very open mind about things that happen at her school and with her teachers. I know there can be simple misunderstandings. This one isn't.
Last year, she participated in a reading contest. For every book read, and test on that book passed, the student got a little tag. L B had quite a collection of those tags, and she was quite proud of the number. The problem last year was that she quickly snapped to the idea that she could read the write up on the dust covers and know enough to pass the test. When the librarian discovered this, she took the tabs away. We all agreed, that wasn't fair. It was cheating.
At the end of last school year, they were given the dreaded summer reading list. But to the Gifted and Talented kids, it wasn't dreaded. They (a whole bunch from the school - not just GT) read those books. So this year, LB took the test on the books she read this summer. She had 28 points. I am not clear if this means 28 tags, or what.
When it was discovered she had read the books this summer, she was stripped of her points. The new rules were that the books had to be read during the school year. The other students in this grade suddenly decided they would not take the tests on the books they purposely read so the same thing didn't happen to them. Their parents, like Daughter, thought if they had the reading list, and read the books, it would count. No one knew the rules would be changed in mid-stream.
But the icing on the cake, so to speak, was the library paraprofessional. After LB had to endure the losing of the points, this person had the nerve to say something along the lines of "she cheated last year, we should expect her to continue to be a cheater."
LB learned her lesson. She read the books according to what she, and others, thought were the rules. This person, who is not a certified teacher or librarian, has no right to call her a cheater. I am fully aware that the school wouldn't run nearly as smoothly as it does without these ancillary people. They work hard for very little money. But this person has no business labeling an eleme ntary child with anything negative. When I taught, that was not something anyone would do to middle schoolers.
A meeting was to be had. I would love to know what happened. They were going to settle for meeting with the Assistant Principal. I said no! This isn't a student discipline problem. It is a staff discipline problem, and the Principal needs to be in the meeting.
As much as I love this grandchild, I will say when she is wrong. I don't see any fault on her part in this. At. All. Especially when other children were getting ready to take the tests to qualify for ....
a stupid pizza party.
Peace be with you - and I'll be back later with an announcement.
2 comments:
It is bad enough when classmates are so cruel, but for a teacher to say something like that is downright deplorable. I would have had my claws out by that time.
That would tick me off too. Hope you have good news about the meeting.
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