I never believed that I had to go, this far, as reporting my daughter's teacher.
By cream97
@cream97 (29087)
United States
March 31, 2011 11:10am CST
I once again had to call the Head Start Center this morning. As I was helping my daughter with putting on her coat this morning, I noticed that her other half of her coat was missing. She has an extra coat that has a button slot that attaches to her main coat. At first, I thought, that it was just in the closet, and that it had fallen off of the hanger and onto the floor in the closet, but it was not there. So I came back into the living room and I asked my daughter where was the other half of her coat, and she told me that the teacher says that she does not need it. My daughter then got very quiet and she slumped her head down like she had done something wrong, and she started crying. I told her to not cry. I told her that I was going to get this all straightened out. My daughter then went into the room and she took out a hooded jacket, she wanted to put this on underneath her coat so that she can have that extra warmth that her second coat attachment would have given to her. I told her not to put it on. She then told me she was cold. Inside I grew angry!
If her teacher didn't have to tell her that she didn't need the coat, she would have it on right now wearing to school this morning. I had to let her wear this same hooded jacket just this past Monday, because she did not have her hat with her at home. This is the same situation as I mentioned in my previous post about my daughter telling me that the teacher is always saying that she does not need her coat, hat or mittens. So I called and spoke to a woman in the Social Services Department. My daughter's Social Worker was apparently out and away from her office. This woman told me that she will relay my message to the manager that is in charge. This manager was also out as well. I am just getting tired of how this teacher is behaving. How can she tell my child that she don't need something that she needs to have on? How can she try to change how I am dressing my daughter to the point of her being warm? If I send my daughter to school with something on, it can at least be sent back home if it is on her, or even if it is not on her. That is why my daughter always takes her things off in the mornings, it is because of her teacher! Her teacher has scared her so much to the point of that she is afraid to put on certain things that I send her to school with on. This is her coat, hat and gloves. At first, I thought that my child was just the one that was not keeping up with her things, but it wasn't her at all. It was her teacher. It is now 50 degrees outside and it is cold enough for my child to have on a coat and a hat. I think that it is, and I am sure that many other parents, and smart and educated teachers believe so too.
If her teacher didn't have to tell her that she didn't need the coat, she would have it on right now wearing to school this morning. I had to let her wear this same hooded jacket just this past Monday, because she did not have her hat with her at home. This is the same situation as I mentioned in my previous post about my daughter telling me that the teacher is always saying that she does not need her coat, hat or mittens. So I called and spoke to a woman in the Social Services Department. My daughter's Social Worker was apparently out and away from her office. This woman told me that she will relay my message to the manager that is in charge. This manager was also out as well. I am just getting tired of how this teacher is behaving. How can she tell my child that she don't need something that she needs to have on? How can she try to change how I am dressing my daughter to the point of her being warm? If I send my daughter to school with something on, it can at least be sent back home if it is on her, or even if it is not on her. That is why my daughter always takes her things off in the mornings, it is because of her teacher! Her teacher has scared her so much to the point of that she is afraid to put on certain things that I send her to school with on. This is her coat, hat and gloves. At first, I thought that my child was just the one that was not keeping up with her things, but it wasn't her at all. It was her teacher. It is now 50 degrees outside and it is cold enough for my child to have on a coat and a hat. I think that it is, and I am sure that many other parents, and smart and educated teachers believe so too.4 people like this
14 responses
@OpinionatedLady (5966)
• United States
31 Mar 11
50 is warm enough for most not to wear a hat, but if a child is cold it is not so hot as to deny the request especially if the parent is requesting it done. You have your rights and the only thing you can do is make a big to do or it will never change. Go there and insist on seeing some one or making an appointment to do so. So often they tell parents so and So is out o the office to avoid this sort of thing. Be pushy, it's your kid.
@kenzie45230 (3560)
• United States
1 Apr 11
My dad used to put his long johns on if the temperature dropped below 60 degrees. I'm the same way. My best years were spent in FL and TX. There if it did get to 32 degrees, it didn't last long. Now that I'm in Ohio, I'm freezing all the time. Kids in our neighborhood put shorts on at 50 degrees. But I'm still in a fairly heavy coat and hat at that temperature.
You child's teacher shouldn't be the one to decide what she needs or doesn't need. You've lived with her long enough to know that and it's your job as the mom.
2 people like this
@zukichucha (991)
• United States
1 Apr 11
Have you filed a complaint with the director of the head start? I would definitely let her boss know what she is doing! It is not her job to do this to your child. She needs to keep her opinions to herself. She is not the parent here and cannot tell your child to go against what you say. She also is not that poor child that is scared of her teacher and has to be cold. She has a lot of nerve!
2 people like this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
2 Apr 11
Teachers have a job to do, but that doesn't include deciding what a child in their class wears. She has no business taking your child's things or telling her she should not wear something. If it doesn't have offensive writing on it...it's none of her concern. Yes...I think that your child should come home with what you send her with. Especially if the teacher is taking it off of her. I hope you draw some attention because I bet if it's happening to your child, it's happening to others too.
2 people like this
@hvedra (1619)
•
1 Apr 11
Now if the kid didn't have a coat and was obviously cold THAT would be call for the teacher to intervene. But arbitrarily declaring that the child has too big and warm a coat is just weird.
If your daughter is too warm it is easy enough for her to take off her hat or undo her coat, but it she's too cold and the teacher has taken her coat what is she supposed to do?
2 people like this
@maunesrockford92078 (305)
• Philippines
1 Apr 11
I am a teacher, It is much better if there's unlikely a communication about things in school, better write it on a notebook and have your child gave it to the teacher for some reading, it's better to have a diary. what you did in reporting the teacher to Social Services that's your're right but I think It is much better if you have a conference with the teacher about somethings your child needs at school, you mentioned about the coat, that's a need and the teacher should be addressing it with attention. We sometimes differ in opinions your opinion is as good as any other parents because mother's knows best but it is still best to have a sitdown dialogue with the teacher and the school involved. My next advice make a written request to social services that through them asking the school for some clarification. It's better we do things in a manner that benefits the common interest of the child we don't need a scuffle for no apparent excusable reason, and its better that way. Your a Mother of the Child so you speak and clear things, it is improtant that they listen first to you.
2 people like this
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
31 Mar 11
yea,i'd want to know where it is too,whether she "needs it" or not.
when i was in kindergarten,someone stole my coat entirely.
it may have been an honest mistake,but yet no one ever returned it.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (71666)
• United States
24 Apr 11
Thats awful. What right does the teacher have to say what the parents put on them. If she was wearing a hat all day all school I can see making them take that off but if they are wearing a coat and hat to school or out to recess then there is nothing wrong with that. At 50 degrees I make my kids wear coats as well. What happened after you reported her teacher?
1 person likes this
@dreamy1 (3811)
• United States
31 Mar 11
Have you talked to the teacher directly? If not I would go to the school asap and talk to the teacher and the principal. She does not need to interfere with how you are dressing your child. Her job is to teach your child and nothing else. Tell your child that when it comes to wearing what you put on her that she needs to listen to you not the teacher and if the teacher says something she needs to tell her my mother told me I need to wear this.
2 people like this
@tlb0822 (1410)
• United States
1 Apr 11
I think that it is absolutely ridiculous that the teacher is telling your child what not to wear. I think that if you send her with a coat, hat, and gloves, then your child should be returning home in a coat, hat, and gloves. I think that this teacher is over stepping her boundaries a little to much, and should have something said to her about it. Hope that you are able to get something done, and your daughter is less fearful about what she is wearing to school.
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
1 Apr 11
Well, what gall! These days there exists a breed of "teacher" who usurps parental rights on all sorts of things, & it sounds as if she's one of those. She needs a stern lecture from someone--preferably with witnesses & her boss present!--& a reminder of her actual job description, which does not include making decisions about how you prefer to dress your child! Talk about nerve! 
I really want to know what happens next when she's told to mind her own business! Please keep me posted!
Maggiepie
"In art, economy is always beauty." ~ Henry James
Talk about nerve!
I really want to know what happens next when she's told to mind her own business! Please keep me posted!
Maggiepie
"In art, economy is always beauty." ~ Henry James
@celticeagle (159058)
• Boise, Idaho
31 Mar 11
It sounds like this teacher just thinks she knows it all. And if one person(and an adult) isn't cold it doesn't mean a small child isn't. THis time of year is very windy around here and my grandson is prone to ear aches. His mother and I have a hard time getting him to wear a hat. His teachers are all very good about it. I am sure sorry you are having this problem(communication breakdown?) and hope you get it straightened out.
@Cutie18f (9551)
• Philippines
1 Apr 11
I think you should see the teacher and talk it out with her. She has no right to decide what your daughter needs as you, the mother, sees to it that she has what she needs. What's wrong with that teacher? And why doesn't she return your daughter's stuff?
1 person likes this
