All about awesome...

I'm all about awesome right now thanks to a blog post by "Pigtail Pals - Redefine Girly". I am sharing this letter I wrote to the Vice Principal today.  I don't know about you but I am getting really tired of building my children up at home only for them to be tore down at school. NOBODY is stealing my children's awesome!

I know that there are some really great teachers and I applaud them.  Thank you.  This is MY frustration.  MY issue.  MY blog ;)

Dear Mr. F

After a very difficult spring in grade seven, our daughter A decided to approach the new school year with a new attitude. After a summer recovering from a damaged self esteem and sense of self worth she decided that she was not going to let a few steal her awesome. As you are well aware, grades seven and eight are brutal on teenage girls.

On days one through five of school she was feeling great and excited about the possibilities of the new year. Old conflicts had been forgotten and she was looking forward to a fresh start. On day six she came home frustrated and angry. Discouraged and confused. Questioning why a student was centered out in front of the entire class and told that they belong in "coaching" aka "special education". She was offended and so am I. She was very concerned that four students cried during this "group circle".

I would like to know why it was felt necessary to speak to the entire class regarding a few students behaviour in Miss W English class. Are the other teachers also expressing difficulty with the entire class? Why are students being encouraged to talk and speak their mind only to be told they are wrong and that their opinions are not valid? It is becoming increasingly difficult as a parent to support your methods as a vice principle when my daughter know longer trusts you or the "system". As I have said to you before in a previous email (November 2010 re: B) I believe it the responsibility of the staff at (school) to model appropriate behaviour. If staff do not show respect to the students, how do they expect to receive respect in return?

This is how A feels. This is her perception of what happened at "group circle". I would love to have the opportunity to discuss what message you were trying to convey.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Regards,

S

*** Just to let everyone know I spoke with the VP. Great conversation - honest and respectful. He acknowledged and validated my and A's concerns and frustrations. I am empathetic to his frustrations. He has a very tough job.

I made it very clear that the behaviour of a few does not represent the entire class. Deal with those kids. The rest of the class has been putting up with challenging dynamics for the past 9 years. The education system failed this group years ago and he is coming in with too little too late. 

I also told him that his message was lost to the entire class. All they heard was that he is taking away their power, cancelling their class trip and that a fellow classmate belongs in special ed.   Not a great start for this class.  Hopefully they will learn to trust him again; if not it's going to be a very long year for everyone.