Back to school DD
Maggie Lawson
"ºFree~Spiritº" <Free@Spirit> wrote in message
news:rar1nv0gulnu4soto...@4ax.com...
> DD is now in 2nd grade.
>
> So far she dpes not like her 2nd grade teacher too much. She does not give
her
> any extra work (all the stuff is too easy for her). Talked with the
teacher on
> back to school night too. And she feels she will not give her extra work
until
> DD does a few things. First write neater (I'd like that too - her print
almost
> looks like script "but I need to write fast so I get it out as quick as I
> think). Second color nicer (she does not like to color) and third not to
make
> everything a discussion. "This is my classroom and we do things my way
when I
> say it how I say it without any unnecessary questions and comments - and I
don't
> need to be reminded that this is the US and this is supposed to be a free
> country where one voices his or her oppinion" (Guess she stepped in it
there).
I wonder why educators spend the first several years of a child's schooling
trying to squash her independence, her ability to stand up for herself, her
questioning and intelligence, only to require that same child to try to
re-learn it all in college (most likely in a masters or PhD program the way
things are, anymore). Wouldn't it be simpler to just leave those innate
tendencies intact?
You might ask the teacher that.
You might also consider a Montessori school, if they have them in your area.
I'm not a big fan, in general, but considering the alternative, in this case
it might be more than appropriate. Child based pacing and so on, it's
sometimes good for bright kids.
Find out if your state considers "gifted and talented" to fall under
"special education," and see if you can demand assessment and FAPE (free and
appropriate public education) under the special ed laws for your obviously
gifted daughter. If you tell me what state you're in, I could help with the
research.
I'd also send your daughter's teacher the Harry Chapin song entitled,
"Flowers are Red" (the actual song is much more powerful than the lyrics
alone, but here they are, anyway):
"The little boy went first day to school, he got his crayons and he started
to draw. He put colors all over the paper, all colors was what he saw. And
the teacher said, "What you doing young man?" "I'm painting flowers," he
said. She said, "It's not time for art young man and anyway flowers are
green and red. There's a time for everything young man, a way it should be
done; you've got to show concern for everyone else cause you're not the only
one." And she said, "Flowers are red young man and green leaves are green,
there's no need to see flowers any other way than the way they always have
been seen. But the little boy said, "There are so many colors in the
rainbow, so many colors in the morning sun, so many colors in a flower and I
see every one."
"Well, the teacher said, "you're sassy, there's a way that things should be
and you'll paint flowers the way they are, so repeat after me, "flowers are
red and green leaves are green, there's no need to see them any other way
than the way they always have been seen." Well the teacher put him in a
corner, she said "it's for your own good, and you won't come out until you
get it right and are responding like you should." Well, finally he got
lonely and thoughts filled his head. He went up to the teacher and this is
what he said, "Flowers are red and green leaves are green, there's no need
to see flowers any other way than the way they always have been seen."
"Of course time went by as it always does and they moved to another town and
the little boy went to another school and this is what he found: The teacher
there was smiling, she said, "Painting should be fun, and there are so many
colors in a flower so let's use every one." But the little boy had painted
flowers in neat rows of green and red, and when the teacher asked him why,
this is what he said, "Flowers are red and green leaves are green, there's
no need to see flowers any other way than the way they always have been
seen." But their still must be a way to have our children say: There are so
many colors in a rainbow, so many colors in the morning sun, so many colors
in a flower and I see everyone."
I just adore Harry Chapin.
In your shoes, I would print it out in a lovely font on lovely paper, have
it framed, and send it to her (with a CD) anonymously. But I'm evil, and my
kids are probably going to wish a million times before they graduate college
that they had been born to a sane, non-evil mother who doesn't have time to
think up clever little ways to meddle.
I think I have the mp3, but I don't think I can e-mail it - too big. >:)
Maggie
toto
wrote:
>I think I have the mp3, but I don't think I can e-mail it - too big. >:)
>
>Maggie
If he wants it, you can post it to a dead usenet group he hangs out in
and he can pick it up that way.
--
Dorothy
There is no sound, no cry in all the world
that can be heard unless someone listens ..
Outer Limits
Iuil
"ºFree~Spiritº" wrote
> "This is my classroom and we do things my way when I
> say it how I say it without any unnecessary questions and comments - and I
don't
> need to be reminded that this is the US and this is supposed to be a free
> country where one voices his or her oppinion" (Guess she stepped in it
there).
"Flowers are blue and green leaves are green
There's no need to see things any other way
Than the way they always have been seen".
Anyone else remember this?
Jean
--
HOLLY: Nothing wrong with dog's milk. Full of goodness, full of
vitamins, full of marrowbone jelly. Lasts longer than any other type
of milk, dog's milk.
LISTER: Why?
HOLLY: No bugger'll drink it. Plus the advantage of dog's milk is when
it goes off it takes exactly the same as when it's fresh.
LISTER: Why didn't you tell me, Holly?!
HOLLY: What, and spoil your tea?
(Red Dwarf: Series 2, Episode 1)
Iuil
"I wrote
>
> "ºFree~Spiritº" wrote
>
> > "This is my classroom and we do things my way when I
> > say it how I say it without any unnecessary questions and comments - and
I
> don't
> > need to be reminded that this is the US and this is supposed to be a
free
> > country where one voices his or her oppinion" (Guess she stepped in it
> there).
>
> "Flowers are blue and green leaves are green
> There's no need to see things any other way
> Than the way they always have been seen".
>
OK, so it's red not blue. But I'm glad to see I'm the only one who thought
of this song when I read Free Spirit's post.
toto
>OK, so it's red not blue. But I'm glad to see I'm the only one who thought
>of this song when I read Free Spirit's post.
>
>Jean
I love that song too.