Venting (again...)

One of the many reasons why I'm sooooo glad my kid doesn't go to school.....

Okay, so I wasn't going to complain about this on my blog but after talking to Brendon and being justified on my opinion about this by him (sometimes I'm a bit sensitive) , I figured I'd get it off my chest. I'm always looking for drama to post on the blog anyways, LOL :)

Brenna has been complaining lately about being "bossed around" a lot by her teachers at summer camp. Okay, so I figured - this is a kid who's never been to school and has not experienced the whole I'm-the-almighty-teacher-you-listen-to-me-or-else thing so it can't be that bad - she's just not used to it. Brendon and I are very relaxed with her and are not your typical parents I guess. She's not spoiled by any means but she is treated like a person with her own feelings and opinions. I like it that way. Surprisingly, we don't have many problems with her. We respect her and don't take on the role as "the superiors". Does she act like a kid? Yes. Does she sometimes act up? Yes. But I think it would be ten times worse if we would constantly boss her around. She's a very opinionated little girl. And I believe that if you show respect then you will get respect. It may not happen over-night (and it is something that they definitely have to learn) but I think it's very good for the long-run kinda thing, which is what you are ultimately shooting for.
Anyway, I'm totally getting off-topic.

Friday morning Brenna and I got to the school to go on the field trip that never happened (previous post). When we entered the cafeteria all the kids were sitting on the floor in a line, paired up with who they were going to sit with on the bus. At this point it was 8:30am. We were told to be there by this time because that's when they would be leaving. So Brenna takes her place in line and is sitting and talking to a group of girls, one of which is her very bestest friend there, Kayla. Yes, it was loud - kids were talking and having fun - what else were they supposed to do? At this point one of the teachers starts clapping his hands and telling the kids that they are being way too loud. Then he proceeds to start talking in this ridiculously low, almost whisper, voice and tells all of them that if they can't hear him when he talks like this then they are being too loud. What the hell? What do you expect them to do? These kids range from ages 4 to about 10. You seriously expect them to just sit there and act like perfect little angels and talk in whispers so that they can hear the teacher if he decides to talk in his abnormal midget voice? Come on.
So it's about 8:45 now and I am getting really annoyed. Not at the loudness of the kids (to me that's normal) but by the teachers constantly telling them to "Be quiet", "Sit up straight", "Don't lay down, sit on your bottom", blah, blah, blah. AHHHH! Ok, if you don't want to be around loud, chattering kids then find a different profession!!
This went on for a total of 30 minutes. I was getting restless after 20 minutes, waiting till it was time to get on the bus - can you imagine how hard it is for a 7 year old to stay quiet and talk in whispers for half an hour? Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. I had to bite my tongue so hard to keep quiet and not tell these teachers what I thought of them and their crazy expectations. Thank goodness they did not single my daughter out like they did some kids. They would have had a Mama Bear to deal with. None of them were doing anything wrong.

Today I talked to Brenna and she started telling me about how much the teachers control everything they do. During "free time" they tell the kids what to do; they can't go to the bathroom unless it is a designated bathroom break - that one really bothered me. Are they going to pay for my kid's doctor bill if she gets a bladder infection? Any person should be free to use the bathroom at their discretion. That's a human right. She told me that she has asked them numerous times if she could call and talk to me for a few minutes or ask if she could go home and they tell her NO. I told her to tell them that I said she could call me whenever she wants and go home when she wants. It's not that hard for them - they carry a cordless phone with them - I've seen it. Brenna has my number - they don't have to look it up. Maybe they are worried about other kids wanting to call their parents too - I don't care. I'm thinking of either letting her take my cell phone or writing a note that tells them she can call me when she wants, especially if she wants to call to go home. I don't need this place as a day care. She can come home when she wants.

I'm just really annoyed by all this - can you tell? I do not like the whole "school scenario" one bit. So glad my kid doesn't go to school and have to put up with this nine months out of the year.

End of vent! :) Thanks for putting up with me.