What are the things you do not like about your kids Elementary school?

[MichaelsSahm]

I am just curious!!!

[Porcelain Interior]

It's falling apart. It's wickedly overcrowded because they let developers build massive apartment buildings all over the place, plus housing developments the school system was not ready for. Portables are the rule not the exception.

The classes are quite large.

The curriculum and programs are rather dry and rigid, they hardly do any art/science because of the WASL test the teacher's have to teach to each year.

They have a pretty high turnover rate. The teachers keep revolving and we've had three principals in two years. There is a rumor each time they swap that the ex-principle is a problem person that they just keep floating from school to school. That makes me angry, they need to fire these people.

I don't like that they kids can't wear their coats during the day even if they are cold.

We have half day Wednesdays which are a pain. I like them because I get the extra time with my children, but I don't know it seems silly. Why not go to a 4 day school week? They say they do it so all the half days are all the same to aid in remembering for the parents, but they still do scattered half days on different days.

Fundraisers. Stupid fundraisers peddling overpriced Made In China junk. Or prepared food. Ew. Students in an impoverished low income neighborhood selling junk- bad idea. It's wasteful too. It's really expensive, no one wants to buy it, and if your children don't have lots of family and friends to sell to you basically get shafted. We refuse to participate. I hate that they pump all the kids up in this big assembly showing them all the plastic garbage they can win if they SELL SELL (during school time mind you) and then your child comes home with a wish list. It's twisted and sick.

The school lunches are gross. Processed carbs, grease, tons of dairy and meat, with withered sad veggies and scant fruit. They are also expensive. We don't buy them.

They argue with you and get on your case if your child is sick for X amount of days and demand a doctors note, even if it's an illness that doesn't require a doctors visit. DUMB.

Aside from that the staff is friendly, super down to Earth and we have a pretty large amount of parent involvement. The kids that make it through the entire elementary years in this school always turn out really well. This school is known for kind really pleasant well rounded kids. My oldest finished her last year and I can say for her and her friends it is true. Super great kids.

[mar123]

I wish the classes were a bit smaller, but they break up the classes for reading and math which makes learning easier. The parents have a lot of input, so I like most of the things they do. My kids all love the school and like going, and that really matters to me.

[Momily]

I love lots of things about DS's school but the reading curriculum at my son's school drives me around the twist. The instruction is very haphazard when it happens and they cancel it for lots of reasons. Last year they didn't have any reading instruction for the first two months because they were "settling in". Then for all of December DS was working on a project in a team where everyone had assigned jobs and his involved no reading, etc . . . Then May they canceled for play practice (in which my son had like 2 lines so all he read during May was those 2 lines). When they did have reading instruction (or silent reading, that's really all I need) it was only on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays for 45 minutes, when the "gold standard" is 90 minutes every day. Then they'd have field trips almost every week which cut it back to twice a week.

In addition, the school is supposedly "worksheet free" which I'd love if it were true -- but what it really means is that they don't buy worksheets for the kids so the teachers pull down crappy stuff from the internet. If you're going to use worksheets, at least select ones that are consistent with your curriculum and have a logical scope and sequence.

DS is going into 4th grade and he's a very reluctant reader. All the research says (I should add that I'm a special educator at another school so I know what I'm talking about) that kids like him need 3 things -- one is structured phonics (not happening at his school), one is plenty of time just spent reading (not happening at his school, they only read when reading group is meeting which is 15 minutes 3 days a week, at my school in contrast the kids read at least 60 minutes 5 days a week -- most of it reading leveled books that they've selected), and 3 is the opportunity to read the same text more than once (which happens sometimes at his school).

[jakesmama]

Originally Posted by Porcelain Interior

The curriculum and programs are rather dry and rigid, they hardly do any art/science because of the WASL test the teacher's have to teach to each year.

This. I get to hate the WASL twice. Once as a parent and once as a teacher.


Conformity. DS's report card from kindy states how he has attention issues and that "his parents are aware and working with his doctors." Um, we're not. He's a sweet kid who speaks before he thinks and doesn't yet grasp social behavior. Not aggressive, not out to lunch...

There seems to be a lack of all-around friendliness. It seems that everyone from the office coordinator to the teachers are just too busy to look up and have a genuine conversation...they seem overworked.

Budget cuts..not replacing teachers who leave and cutting corners elsewhere. I hate that they have to do this.

[mommyoftwo]

Hmm, let's see.

The lunches are gross but my kids bring lunch from home.

The "back to basics" curriculum isn't challenging to some of the students. I blame this on NCLB and not on the school.

My dd didn't get a lot of science or social studies curriculum last year but I am hoping that this will change.

I would love to see more hands on learning and less worksheets.

Phonics are taught at our school but my ds and dd don't really need phonics instruction. I wish they could move on if they already have these skills. But the school does a good job with basic reading instruction.

The school has a couple of teacher who have bad reputations. But a couple in an entire school seems pretty darn good. The rest are great!

We have been pretty pleased for the most part. We stay involved and choose our battles wisely.

[waiflywaif]

The playground/green space is very small (although they do get recess so I guess I should count my blessings). Other than that, nothing. We really lucked out, the place is warm and wonderful and relaxed yet challenging.

[EFmom]

There's too much homework, and too much teaching to the test. That's not the district's fault--it's NCLB. The classes are a little too big. There's no foreign language at the elementary level, and there's only half day kindergarten, which I think is insane.

For the most part, though, it's a great school. My kids are thriving.

[mata]

um, some of the kids and parents? there's very little about the school I don't like.

[Thalia the Muse]

Too much homework, and her teachers could do a better job communicating with parents. I hate the wrapping paper sales and all that ... they have "McDonald's Day" and "Taco Bell Day" at the cafeteria, which makes me livid. But they also have a salad bar and soup and salad options for the entrees.

Otherwise, it's pretty great. She's in a challenging class with interesting assignments most of the time. She grew a ton last year. The classroom atmosphere seems very respectful -- she's in a mixed-age class and all the kids seem to get along really well. The principal is TERRIFIC and very welcoming to kids and parents alike. They have a Girl Scout troop and band and chess club.

[mags]

The food, it's not very healthy IMO.

Lack of diversity.

Fundraisers.

I wish they would switch over to school uniforms.

[amcal]

We are in the #3 rated school in the state. It's a charter school and there was a VERY long waiting list. I wanted to send them to a small Christian school but DH wanted this one. Well, we got in.

So far, I am impressed that the teachers are pretty responsive to any concerns or issues I have.

However, I DESPISE how chaotic it is. My DD's kindy class is so over the top chaotic. We are used to preschool and kindy programs where the teachers are in complete control of the class. When they give the signal, the class immediately quiets down and focuses on the teacher. DD's kindy teacher doesn't do anything like this - the class seems out of control, noisy, loud and DD complains every day about it.

My older DD in 1st grade's class is completely based on a reward system. They are rewarded for every.single.thing by getting some cheap prize out of the prize box. I hate that they are rewarded for doing things the should be doing. I wish they could learn that the classroom is a community and in order for the community to run smoothly, everyone has responsibilities. I wish they would focus on personal responsibility and getting internal satisfaction from a job well done.

I've also heard that the classes continue to be chaotic throughout the grade levels. This doesn't work well at all for my kids personality styles.

[Marcee]

I hate that they are teaching to the WASL. I want a child that is a well rounded learner. Not a child that can regurgitate a fact and pass a test. I want them to know "How and Why", not just "What".

The kids in our school seem fairly out of control and we have a huge lack of parental involvement.

[mata]

That they make them sit in an outdoor assembly in 90 plus degree heat to hear about fundraising crap.

[kathymuggle]

we are currently HS. There were things I liked about the previous school but you asked for the negatives, so here goes

-I did not feel my concerns were validated or heard. This was a huge issue for me

-using test scores as the defining evidence for everything.

-behaviour management techniques (such as colours), making mountains out fo molehills and molehills out of mountains

-emphasis on conformity

-really BAD conflict managment techniques that were equal parts denial and blame the victum

-poor supervision at recess

-few field trips (not for all grades, but some)

-I think the math program was moronic

(ok - to balance it out: nice teachers for the most part, beautiful grounds and play structure, decent size classrooms, not too much homework)

[bigeyes]

So far, nothing. Small classes, fun electives, they're excited about school again. It's a long commute, but I drink my coffee in the car and we ipod. It's totally worth it. I wish I'd known about the other school sooner and made the switch 2 years earlier.

Now, the school we just left.....

overcrowded, had asbestos, kids weren't learning because it was total chaos, school nurse was a racist and I suspect others were too (she just was foolish enough to actually make a comment in my presence,) left hand didn't know what the right hand was doing, Gestapo like lunch monitors and no talking allowed at lunch time, record keeping was atrocious; discipline was applied haphazardly and arbitrarily, bus system was dangerous, overcrowded and unreliable, and on more than one occasion I smelled pot on our driver in the morning (I don't care if you smoke, just not before you drive my kids!) non-english speaking students were tossed into special ed and ignored instead of being taught anything, forced patriotism and religion, violence was ignored instead of being dealt with, and with the exception of lunchtime Gestapo; rules only applied to people who followed them, people who ignored them were never confronted and there were no consequences....

[SAHDS]

I love everything about the kids' school except, you know all those Joneses you always hear about? Well, their kids go to school with mine.

[mommy68]

Last year my kids were in a private elementary school and I disliked:

-the size of the classes (too many kids IMO)

-snobby parents

-punishing the whole class for the actions of one child (in some cases, not all)

-FUNDRAISERS!!! especially the book sale they would have several times per year and the books were set in the front lobby area. I could buy the same exact books on Amazon cheaper but yet my child had to have it since it was right in their face for 4 days straight upon entering/leaving the school.

Otherwise, I liked their teachers and liked the school overall.

[veganf]

- The lack of a child-directed emergent curriculum.
- MCAS standardized testing (begins in grade 3 though).
- no chase games allowed at recess.
- only a 15 minute recess.
- gym class only once per week.

[NikonMama]

Originally Posted by mata

um, some of the kids and parents? there's very little about the school I don't like.

That's pretty much sums it up for me also. I went to ds's school when I was younger, and some of the same teachers are they. In fact he now has for 4th grade who I had for 4th grade, and it is freaking her out. It is the first time she has had a family come full circle. LOL

We don't live in the same district where ds goes to school, so some of the parents kind of turn their noses up at us, but oh well. We just ignore it.

His school is really small (116 kids total) and very friendly. I guess besides the parents/kids thing one of the only things I could complain about is the lack of help from upper "management". DS has some issues (very mild adhd...mostly the inattentive kind, not at all hyper...he is deaf in his right ear, and has quite a bit of reading problems) and I have trouble getting people to listen to me. I've been trying since he was in 2nd grade to get him tested for Dyslexia, but they keep ignoring me. They also disregard things in his IEP that specifically relate to his hearing loss, and don't discuss it with us first.

One other thing I guess would be that a lot of the teachers stay there FOREVER (when my ds started, there were THREE teachers still there from when I was a kid), so when they leave they hire brand new just out of college teachers. They don't seem to really know how to handle things very well. I just prefer more "seasoned" teachers, I guess.