Bad Day!

Today was a horrible day. Absolutely horrible. Here's the deal.

One of my students set a fire at school today. On purpose. In the bathroom. The bathroom right next to two kindergarten classrooms. One of those classrooms is the one that The Boy Wonder was in. He set a roll of paper towels on fire and left them. A kindergartener -- MY kindergartener -- could have walked in there.

I have spent hours on this kid. I have worried and sweated and made deals and made phone calls and struggled and stressed over this kid. I've made connections and had him through them back in my face. I've laid awake at night wondering how I can help him. Every adult in the school has tried to help him.

I am so sad on every level for this kid. I just don't know what to do about it. He's smart but has missed so much school that he's uneducated. He's funny and sweet and trouble with a capitol T. He breaks my heart.

And, today he put children -- MY children -- in danger.

[edited out]

Oh, and in the middle of all this, I've got a parent complaining to my principal that I'm not doing enough writing in my classroom for her child. Damn. So, swell. More worries. My principal is being great about it. We talked and I said that writing was my biggest concern area, that I am talking to my mentor about it weekly and we're implementing programs and policies in that area. I am already instituting more differentiated instruction for advanced kids. I've got a book report program in place and am working on expanding it. So, I'm doing stuff but I have to have a meeting with Lynn and the mother to address it and let her know what sorts of enrichment I'll be doing for this child. Tough. I send an email to my mentor asking for her help on Monday with this.

It never rains it pours. Oh, and it's raining right now.

Comments

[Neefer]

Oh, Liza, that is tough. That poor kid. Sometimes there is nothing that you can do.

As for the one (1) parent that thinks there isn't enough writing, what about the other 20 or so parents who think that there is? Cut yourself some slack, and besides, you can't please everyone all the time.

Hang in there.

[jane]

Excuse me, but where is the parents involvment? If that parent wants more writing then when doesn't she involver herself in her childs education and do some writting projects at home. I have started teaching enrichment classes at our local elementary school and I can't believe the stories I hear about parents just checking out of their childs education. Sounds to me like you really care about your kids so I wouldn't stress over this parents complaint.

[Liza Lee Miller]

To be fair, the complaining parent is involved in her child's education. She volunteers in my classroom. She's active in the school. She has concerns and I understand them. I just think that in some ways her expectations of school are TOO high -- which is funny. On the same day, I've got a kid burning down the school because his parents are so totally disengaged -- I've got a parent complaining because she's overly engaged. Can't win sometimes. :)