To my child’s teacher

lasagna

Wed, Nov 27 2024, 1:43 pm

It seems like the teacher is out of touch with what it means to have an ill parent. That mean the child is doing everything herself and self structuring while also dealing with emotional piece of not knowing if your parent will be okay. Perhaps she is also caring for younger siblings and need to use her time to travel to and from the hospital to visit. That is not procrastinating, that is putting your emotional health first and connecting with your parent.

Growing

Wed, Nov 27 2024, 1:48 pm

Refuah Shlaima!
This is so absurd I dont even know where to start.
I truly hope this imposter of a teacher takes a different job immediately. NO child should be in her class. shudder

GiGichai

Wed, Nov 27 2024, 1:52 pm

Can we please have your name for tehillim? Or just know that I just said a few kapitlach for you and your family.
Refuah shelaimah bekarov.

amother

Crocus

Wed, Nov 27 2024, 2:26 pm

OP I hope you have a speedy and easy recovery.
I was literally in tears after reading the email reply from the teacher.

SHE DID THE HOMEWORK!!!!!! she just didnt print it.
The teacher should have sung to her praises for doing the homework even with her life upside down! not degrade her for not being able to print it!
How many adults take off work when they have a sick parent or child? yet she expects an 11/12 yr old to be ontop of her school work and homework and function as if all is normal. Im flabbergasted!
Im so glad the principal has some sense and I really hope that teacher is on this site reading every single word (and the inbetween words we arent allowed to verbalise)

amother

Clear

Wed, Nov 27 2024, 2:42 pm

OP Refua Shlaima B'karov. I was going to ask if your DD is in a Bais Yakov school. I hope the Menahelet will speak with this teacher asap. I hope your DD is doing good .

kenz ↓

Wed, Nov 27 2024, 3:35 pm

Mind blowing. I have no words. I would honestly pull my daughter out of the class, I would not want her to be under this person’s influence for one more minute. There are no middos here to speak of.
I wish you a refuah sheleimah b’karov and please make sure to emphasize to your daughter that she should be proud of herself for managing to complete the report and dealing with school while she had to worry about her mother being sick in the hospital.

ETA I just saw the update bH. I’m happy I don’t have girls this age anymore because I honestly would be tossing and turning that they could have this teacher. This is not something you chalk up to immaturity. She lacks empathy and compassion and should not be teaching.

Last edited by kenz on Wed, Nov 27 2024, 3:48 pm; edited 1 time in total

↑ kenz

Wed, Nov 27 2024, 3:37 pm

Maybe PRINT OUT this thread and submit it to the teacher in lieu of the report. 😈

amother

Bluebonnet

Wed, Nov 27 2024, 3:55 pm

OP, while I'm sure this took energy you didn't have and causes stress you didn't need, please give yourself a yasher koach for taking care of your daughter. From a hospital bed, with a ventilator, you were there for her as a mother- you took care of her.

By the way, kids with adhd need more leeway, not less, in times like this. Even if without the responsibilities at home, managing school is a huge stress on them in general, so when another huge stressor comes along, they have used up mucch of the energy they need just to do school normally. But it sounds like the school has your back.

And while it's not on you to advocate for the rest of the class, you have done so anyhow- the teacher's email, and her subsequent response that she even can't handle having a student with a valid excuse, has definitely opened the school's eyes to who and how she is. It will impact how theu deal with future parent complaints and will likely lead to her not being rehired next year. You have done a lot. Through email!

amother

Chambray

Wed, Nov 27 2024, 6:32 pm

I did not read through this whole thread but all I can say is that this email is beyond horrible and shocking.
It's honestly hard to believe it is even true! So insane!
Refuah Shileima, please focus on yourself and your health but when you are well DO NOT let this pass.
This woman should not be in a classroom. Period.

amother

Amethyst

Wed, Nov 27 2024, 7:20 pm

That email is horrible. That woman should not be a teacher. Refuah shleima!

effess

Wed, Nov 27 2024, 9:22 pm

I’m so so sorry that you are dealing with this on top of your illness.
Hashem should send you a Refuah sheleimah ukrovah!

amother

Turquoise

Wed, Nov 27 2024, 9:38 pm

Insane. Honestly I hope you take this opportunity to tell your daughter that some things are more important than school and teachers that don’t get that are wrong. School is not the only important thing in life.

ValleyMom

Thu, Nov 28 2024, 8:50 am

To Teachers Everywhere:

Teaching is not merely a profession; it is a calling. It is not just about delivering lessons, marking assignments, or meeting curriculum goals. At its core, teaching is about shaping lives, building connections, and fostering a sense of belonging for every student who walks through our doors.

As teachers, we hold immense power to influence how a child views themselves and their place in the world. This is why we must embrace the profound responsibility to go beyond academics. Teaching demands that we become compassionate listeners, attuned to the unspoken struggles our students face. It requires us to see them not just as learners but as individuals with unique stories, challenges, and dreams.

Reading about a student who failed an assignment for submitting it late because her mother was hospitalized, and her father accompanied her to oversee her care. Situations like these remind us of a critical truth: our role is not just to teach but to understand. We must recognize that our students are human beings navigating a complex world, often carrying burdens far beyond their years.

When we focus solely on rules, deadlines, and grades, we risk losing sight of what truly matters—creating a classroom where every child feels seen, valued, and loved unconditionally. This is the essence of teaching: to ensure that every student knows they are appreciated not for what they achieve but for who they are.

Let us remember that being an educator is about more than imparting knowledge. It is about building trust, showing empathy, and fostering a community where students feel safe to be themselves. It is about meeting each child where they are and helping them grow, not just academically but emotionally and socially.

To teach is to touch lives, and every life we touch carries the potential to change the world. Let’s rise to this challenge—not just by teaching facts but by teaching with heart.

With gratitude for all that you do,
A Fellow Educator