I need some help, please!

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My eldest is soon to be promoted in year 3 InshaAllah!

Like always, we recieved the new class list, a few weeks ago from school. Normally, its just the same group of pupils but have a new teacher for their class.But this year a lot of names from our group were sent to the other group and vice versa…And there was a new teacher coming from UK to take charge of one of these groups. My son was supposed to be in new teacher’s group.The other group was going to have Miss ‘T’ as their class teacher who has been my son’s class teacher in Year 1.
Now even though I was surprised that why they made such a big change in group…I was fine with it.As I know my son will InshaAllah make friends in other class too.Plus there were a few others from his previous group who were supposed to join him in the newer one.
But I saw n heard some parents grumbling about the change…and they were obviously not happy.A few of 'em asked me if I’m ok with this n I said ‘yes’. To actually know the reason for change, I discussed this with my son’s class teacher at the moment…on parent conference and she explained n defended the decision.So I was quite content and happy.

Now, in today’s post I recieved a new class list along with a letter asking to understand n be happy with this. And according to this list, my son is placed in the group of Miss ‘T’ who was his teacher in year 1.
I don’t want him to be in her class.There’s nothing that I’m holding against her, but my instincts tell me that she has a certain opinion about my son which she wouldn’t change perhaps. We have had a nice year one with her…but there has been one incident which were not very pleasent. I admit that my son was at fault but since then she has a certain way to deal with him. I can’t prove it…but I can sense it.

At the same time, I know absolutely nothing about the new teacher…Miss ‘L’. She would probably come here in September for the first time.I’m sure that my son will soon establish a good relation with her . And most probably she would be handed over the report from Year 2…So I would be content that she won’t be prejudiced.

My son has recieved an excellent report from school for this academic year…and he recived a very good report back then from miss ‘T’ too. But I feel that he would be judged \by miss ‘T’ on how he was in year one. Its quite confusing perhaps…but I need some insight on how can i approach the school management on this issue…??

The School Management is denying any requests based on ‘oh my child has all friends in other group etc.’ but this is not an issue for me. Some parents whom I met today on Summer Fest went on criticising Miss ‘T’ for her personal life…I don’t want to do it that way either…Perhaps the only thing I’m concerned about is that she might be prejudiced towards my son. What should I do now…???

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Re: I need some help, please!

Nothing.

3rd graders are old enough to deal with such situations.
If you are going to interfere than that might create more problems.

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Re: I need some help, please!

I agree with LB. Besides he was in grade 1 :smack: she wont be holding anything against such a small kid.
And I am sure that she’ll love to have him in her class, because believe it or not all the teachers look forward to having bright students in their class.

So dont worry, everything will be okay.

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Re: I need some help, please!

Here in the US, at least in the school system in California, they shuffle students every year, to make sure kids develop their social skills and keep making new friends. My eldest daughter will now start sixth grade in August, and I don't think she has a single friend who has stayed with her from the kindergarten. On the other hand, she has always made new friends in all her new grades as well as plays with her former class-mates in the recess time. So, the way I look at it, her social circle has multiplied due to this policy as opposed to if she had stuck with the same friends year after year.

Now, to your other, and I feel bigger issue, which is your kid being placed with a teacher with whom you are not very comfortable. This is indeed a valid issue. The importance of even one bad year stuck with an inappropriate teacher can not be over-emphasized. I have personally seen cases, where kids completely lost interest in excelling in their school after being stuck with one bad teacher for just one year. SO, if you are really uncomfortable, I'd suggest to talk to the Principal and see what can be done, though it seems you have already done that and to no avail.

There was a similar situation last year when my youngest got into first grade. After a few weeks into the school year, my wife grew concerned about the teacher based on multiple events that happened. The teacher was kinda abrupt, will trash class work on slightest issues (like not putting your name on top) and generally pretty difficult to communicate with. In our first few parent teacher conferences, we came away with a fairly dim view of her abilities, compassion, and ability to deal with first graders. We talked to some other parents and seemed most had similar views, and we considered talking to the Principal. Never did ultimately, primarily because, while we the parents thought the teacher is not good, the kids loved her, and at the end of the school year, my daughter was so sad to leave the grade.

So, I think, you also need to trust the judgement of your son in this. If he is happy in her class, and apprently his grades reflect his good progress in her class, then may be you are just worrying unnecessarily.

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Re: I need some help, please!

Thank you Sadaf and LB.... and a special thanks to Fasial for a detailed reply.

I have no concerns about not being with friends in new group etc......I know he will make friends in new group too.Besides both groups often work together in certain activities and their play times are obviously spent with all the kids from both groups. This point is a hot topic for some kids but my son is fine with it. Infact he counted his friends in both groups n he has alkmost 7 in each group so no biggie.

My concern is Miss T. Hassaan just subtly mentioned that he would prefer Miss'L's class....when i asked why....he couldn't actually back it up with some solid reason....perhaps he just overheard today's discussion among parents....as I'm sure he doesn't hold anything against Miss T......Now according to some parents there has been some incidents when somebody asked her something n she was like, 'I;'ve explained it twice...n I won't explain now!' though I can't say how credible it is.
Another parent who is a friend too, said that she'll do whatever it takes to avoid Miss T as her daughter's teacher.I asked her the reasons n she just mentioned things about attitude.

Personally we have had a nice year with her....and there is absolutely nothing I can actually prove where she is not right....its just that i sense its not right.
Perhaps I'm just influenced with the gossipping ladies.....they all were soooo furious and absolutely determined to avoid her at any cost. Or perhaps its just some politics.....I've never discovered anything having her as my child's teacher whereas most of these ladies have never dealt with her but still had a lot of complaints.

Anyway, thanks again....I'll wait n see if I need to do anything or not.

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Re: I need some help, please!

^ in that case trust your instincts
If you dont feel good about her talk to the principal.

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Re: I need some help, please!

Talking to the Principal will not help. The school will go out of thier way to prove that the decision to place some kids with T is the right one. It becomes an issue where they feel that you are doubting thier professional judgement and competance.

I would talk to the Principal once and then say nothing more. You child will deal with it just fine. If he is in thirrd grade, he is old enough to use this opportunity to prove something to himself and to you.... that he can deal with perceived adversity. Give T and him a chance.

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Re: I need some help, please!

Thank you all!

After talking to some more parents and more importantly discussing it with hubby...I'm ok with miss T...
BUT I've booked an appointment anyway to let the management know they didn't prove themselves as professionals as i percieved them.I had my full trust n accepted every decision ....but this does not mean that they are allowed to switch my son from one class to another n then back to the previous one just to serve someone else. I matched the both lists n could see k they just took 5 kids out of this class n replaced them with five from other....n this happened only after SOME parents approached them.
The head of school admits 'one of the factor' was feedback from parents.
If they were to hear from parents...they should've given the chance to ALL parents n not a few. This is soooo not professional.
Anyway, he is to remain with miss T but this time i need to tell them to be careful next time.

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Re: I need some help, please!

Afia: It will all work out fine. I have seen this happening with my bhanjee every other year who is going into 8th grade. They cry on information day but when the school starts they just settle down. I agree with previous reply that give MissT & him a chance.
However, one of my bhanjee's teacher kept misplacing her homework & that brought her grade down. After talking to others we found that, that teacher was a "forgetful soul" in many cases. And one of the other teacher who was considered a devil actually proved to be the best role model for the students. Good luck :)