spouse of a teacher wrote:
A lot of parents out there act entitled or neglectful, and the two wear down our teachers.
In halfway decent school systems, teaching is much more than babysitting--its formulating lesson plans, creating fair yet rigorous evaluation systems, managing some of the social and emotional fallout of dealing with kids/teens. It's hours spent outside the classroom making lessons, grading, answering student and concerned parent emails, and attending school meetings.
I'm not a teacher, but I'm married to one - one who puts every ounce of sweat, blood, and tears into the job and genuinely cares about the kids' education and well being.
Have some respect.
People see what they will see.
We did parent choice and drove a lot for our kids to get the public schools we wanted. You have to start early to get a good place in line and siblings usually get in automatically.
The teachers were great. Maybe 1-20 were not fit for the job all the rest were very competent , decent and very hard working, and 2 or3 of 10 were pretty darn amazing with everything they did.
There was never a gap year with my three kids where at least one wasn't in middle school. So something like 8 straight years at the middle school. My wife, myself or both of us were awarded for volunteering time and resources every single year. Same was actually true in k-5.
For high school we know who the best mentors are and we guide our kids to them according to their interests, but this age doesn't go with as much on site volunteering. Give some money and materials things if you can go to student , science fairs, plays , concerts, even if your kid isn't involved in all of it.
With school, as with everything, balance your giver and your taker , be present to help and be a good parent and you don't ever have to demand things. You will be respected and your kids will be treated fairly. Like this you will see how great these people are. If it's not working change yourself, or change the school if you can, being careful not to jerk your kid around too much , of course.