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Am I being too sensitive?; comments from "teacher" - Page 2  

post #21 of 27
9/30/04 at 9:14am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vanna's Mom
I don't understand why you didn't withdraw when you noticed at the beginning that it was a structured class instead of a free art period.
...
Stewing about her comments to your ds (which yes, were out of line) is not helping resolve this & is just making an atmosphere of resentment which IME your dc will definately pick up on.
...
She is not a nice person, nice people do not belittle kids.
IMHO 3 year olds do not need to take any structured classes in anything that is a complete waste of money unless you are doing it and leaving the dc there to get a break that you need for your sanity or health.
Vanna'sMom:

I'm asking myself the same question, why I went into it knowing about the structure. We started the art class to give dh some alone time with ds1, time that he didn't have to share with baby brother. In retrospect, a trip with Daddy to Home Depot would have been just as fun, I'm sure. Ben seemed to really look forward to this class for a while.

I didn't stew to him, but to dh. Ben didn't really seem to react to her comments, almost like he wasn't paying attention. He gets absorbed in what he's doing, so it's possible he was not listening. But I don't know that for sure.

I was going to check out a free siblings class that they offer tomorrow morning. Both kids love the gym part. Ben was asking me to take him yesterday. As long as that class is very low-structure and they like it, I might ask to apply his tuition to that. I just spoke with dh on the phone and he's with me: I'm not taking Ben back to the art class.
post #22 of 27
9/30/04 at 11:53am
I just have to add that I too do not think you are just being sensitive. I would almost bet everything that the teacher is jeallous that Ben can right his name.
post #23 of 27
9/30/04 at 12:28pm
Yeah maybe she has a long name and still isn't sure if she's getting it right when she writes it... Young people breezing through life with short names just make her feel insecure and anxious about herself
post #24 of 27
9/30/04 at 3:10pm
The class would bug me too, based on your posts. I sense that your only hesitation in pulling him out is that he enjoys the class. Why not find another class that is less structured and less competitive? (Among all the other stuff that is pretty bad, I especially hate the idea that they have to share and explain their art -- ugh. My 4 y.o. dd paints just for the process. She's not particularly concerned about the product. I think lots of kids are this way, and "sharing" only values the end result.) Surely Gymboree is not the only game in town? I've never been, but my impression of it is that it tends to attract the kind of folks who are into "early learning" and kiddie competition.

I don't think a "class" like this is necessarily bad, as long as it's not setting up expectations and competition like the one you are in is doing. My ds and I participated in a toddler class at our local nature center that was great. Each kid watched/participated at his or her own comfort level. There were a couple of "pushy" parents, but they were only annoying their own children , and for the most part it was pretty laid back. The leader of the class was awesome with the kiddos.
post #25 of 27
9/30/04 at 6:20pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by meowee
Are you being too sensitive? I think that you are just feeling that the class is not for you and your son. I think you are just open to the bad vibe that is being set up. Teachers make those comments all the time. Classes are about competition. How much the teacher stresses it can make the atmosphere of the class better or worse, but in a class like this where you have the parents gloating over their "genius" offspring, you're not going to be able to avoid it.
At the risk of hogging the forum, I wanted to add something. I mentioned the situation to my sister when I spoke to her today. She said that, at least in her exp, that this is a small taste of what the traditional school system is like. She says that she deals with this sort of parental competition all the time; she has two kids in public school. She said that it's good that I'm homeschooling, because this type of scenario will be repeated in different ways. If this is what the normal school exp is like, then I'm definitely not changing my mind on the homeschooling deal. I don't think I have the stomach for it.
post #26 of 27
9/30/04 at 9:07pm
we did that sibling class with my youngest two & they loved it. they did free play and then sat in a circle and did finger plays, at the end teacher blew bubbles, sometimes kids would use the parachute and march around the chute in time to music, very low key and was nice for us in midwest winter to get out of house

funny thing was there were three moms of lil girls that were totally into kids designer clothes and competed over who's dd looked the most stylish my dd wore her bros hand me downs a lot and the first couple classes everyone thought she was a boy LOL

i am glad you were not offended at my post we are also homeschooling for many of the reasons you and the ops are stating about ps,
I am used to my freedoms now as a hs parent and having the children being treated respectfully as we go places so I think have a shorter patience level with adults that interact with my kids

hope that makes sense
post #27 of 27
9/30/04 at 9:12pm
Thread Starter 
Vanna'sMom:
I'm not offended and it makes total sense. Thank you for your insight!
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