My child goes to public school. He pushed someone who was standing in front of him in line b/c he wasn't going fast enough for him. The teacher marked this behavior into his permanent record that follows him to 12th grade. He's five and this happened on the 3rd day of school! I'm afraid that next year his teacher will read it and judge him as the class bully and treat him as such. Does anyone else find this odd?
2006-08-20 07:59:47 · 15 answers · asked by emily1980 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Primary & Secondary Education
Hmmmm ... it does seem a little odd for it to become part of a permanent record that follows him for the rest of his school life. It is probably lucky that as adults we are not arrested, tried, judged, convicted and sentenced so easily!! Where I worked such a report at such an early stage would have gone as a separate piece of paper into his file and would have been removed at the end of the school year if there were no further incidents. In many cases it would not have been written up at all but parents would have been called, apologies given, some consequences given, and if there was a second incident it would have been written up.
Other posters here have made good comments though. The teacher may have been required to do the report. There is probably a policy, which you should ask to see. It is important for your son to learn that no matter what he cannot push other kids, and if he does there will be consequences. Bullying and aggression are major issues in all schools and many schools have zero tolerance policies. I do think that teachers in future years won't pay much attention to this report unless there are others to follow.
Best of luck to you and your son.
2006-08-20 09:15:58 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Ideally, you, your son, and the teacher should all be working together to help your son control his behavior. With you and the teacher supporting the same behavior, your son should be successful very quickly.
Putting reports into permanent records doesn't sound like it will help anything or anyone. I would worry that the teacher and/or the school is more interested in covering themselves legally than in helping or teaching.
I believe you may have the right to challenge what's in your child's records and have them destroyed, depending on what state you live in. But don't ask the school about it - it's not in their interest to tell you your rights. Perhaps the American Civil Liberties Union?
As far as finding this odd, I know you will get all sorts of justifications for the teacher's behavior, all containing the phrase "you have to understand..." It's wrong to make a momentary event a permanent record, available for everyone with power and influence to see. Even carrying a personal grudge for such a time would be unethical! If anyone wants you to believe that the teacher's choice was a right or good one, remember what Frodo said to Boromir, "...and it would seem like wisdom, but for the warning in my heart." 1)
2006-08-20 08:17:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
As a kindergarten instructor, i think that a 5 3 hundred and sixty 5 days previous can no longer cope with an entire day plus an further 3 hours. We bypass from 8:00 to 3:10 and a few (no longer many) of my kiddos stay actively engaged all day. We only have a twenty minute recess and a thirty minute lunch. different than that, we are in finished lecturers all day. this isn't any longer developmentally perfect for a 5 - 6 3 hundred and sixty 5 days previous to be envisioned to income for 9 hours an afternoon with little time for unfastened play. i individually desire this new initiative would not materialize. i think of a lot of our scholars might hit a wall and not % to income.
2016-10-02 08:07:02 · answer #3 · answered by valma 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. The new rules regarding bullying and sexual harassment in schools require teachers to document all instances of physical aggression. The teacher was following procedure. I would not be too concerned, Other teachers reading the file will only look at this information if it shows a pattern of behavior. All teachers I know, self included, are aware that children change dramatically as they age. I don't even read my student's permanent records unless a problem arises and I need to check for information. Also - parents do have certain rights regarding what is in your child's record. If you feel the description is misleading or comments were made that are inappropriate, you are within your rights to ask that they be expunged or reworded.
2006-08-20 08:38:01 · answer #4 · answered by arkiemom 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Talk to your principal.
He is in Kindergarten, and 3rd day of school IS too soon for pushing report.
Especially i f it is his first offense.I would ask the principal to hold off on it.
In the mean time you do need to let your son know he can not push other children around,the "we keep our hands and feet to ourselves" rule.
You may consider putting you thought sin writing prior to talking with the principal, I dont know why but parents tend to get flustered in front of school principals.
Or drop off a letter. That way you have time to think out what you would like to say and edit, and that will go in the file also!!!!
2006-08-20 08:10:07 · answer #5 · answered by ? 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Not really. That is the beginning of your child's behavior in public. They need to be aware that certain behavior will not be allowed to happen without consequence. Your job as a parent is to help teach your child about acceptable behavior and encourage them to abide by the rules. If your child was the one being pushed would you feel the same way about this issue, or if a few years down the road your child was physically attacked by another and hurt, and that child's aggressive nature was known but undocumented wouldn't you be upset with the school for failing in their responsibilities to record previous incidence? Having it on his permanent record is not necessarily a bad thing either. If he goes on to have little to no other incidents of this type, it will generally be brushed aside in review and discounted as "hey, he was only 5". If he continues to have aggressive behavior, however, it can be used for your child's benefit by directing him on to educator's that have special training and experience with aggressive children and give your child a better education and social direction that will help him achieve more for himself, then to be placed in a crowded classroom with a teacher that just writes him off as a troublemaker and a waste of their time. It's not like he's being sent to Kid Prison, it's just a note in his file.
2006-08-20 08:16:50 · answer #6 · answered by Pundit Bandit 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Not if the child "earned it," and from what you are telling me he did. Have you bothered to hear the teacher's version of the story? I'm sure that he was given the usual warnings about keeping his hands to himself. I had three get behavior modification write-ups on the first day of school in my first grade class.
2006-08-20 10:56:54 · answer #7 · answered by Sherry K 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Write and ask principal for their official written policy for documenting disclipline issues.
There is suppose to be a legal process they are suppose to follow and this should tell you if they are doing this right or not. It will also tell you if they can even do this or not.
If what they are doing is not in their policy, then they can't do it, no matter what they tell you.
2006-08-20 09:01:57 · answer #8 · answered by jdeekdee 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes I do. I would submit a letter to the principal of the school explaining your concerns. Also, if that doesn't help try submitting a letter that will follow this report. (As in, it will also go in your sons folder).
2006-08-20 08:07:26 · answer #9 · answered by bakergrl5 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I find that odd too, I think you should have a talk with the teacher about this.
2006-08-20 08:06:39 · answer #10 · answered by Fourtonfour 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋