I finally said it. (Preschool rant.)
By The Horse
@TheHorse (238268)
Walnut Creek, California
November 25, 2019 10:08pm CST
I work as a child psychologist (glorified preschool teacher) at a friend's preschool in Martinez CA.
One of the teachers I work with is highly directive, teacher-centered (not child-centered), and very bossy.
She speaks mostly Spanish and some English. I speak mostly English and a bit of Spanish. Most of the children we work with are Latino but trying to speak English as well as Spanish.
Today, she criticized me for something (actually, it was my sweeping skills), and I finally said what I've been wanting to say for months: "Did I do anything right?"
She laughed and said I did many things right, but I'm tired of being "judged" by someone who does not fully understand what I'm doing.
Have you ever been in this position?
Today, I read "Where the Wild Things Are" (a Maurice Sendak classic) to the children in English. The children were spellbound. My English is clear and good. I am a good storyteller (in English).
I would like to have more opportunity to interact with our children in English. I believe that many of the parents of our children want them to be proficient in English as well as Spanish.
Do you sense my frustration?
16 people like this
15 responses
@arunima25 (93194)
• Bangalore, India
26 Nov 19
I can feel you. I always found working with children easy one. But working with adults can be tricky for all their ego and manipulation that comes in play.
4 people like this
@vandana7 (102698)
• India
9 Jan 20
@arunima25 I came across an interesting article about schools in Denmark. They have no scoring system...no competition...and a class for empathy..wow. And also somebody to bring down bullying.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (238268)
• Walnut Creek, California
26 Nov 19
Our styles are so different! If I have four children playing cooperatively, building a railroad or a magnet tile structure, I'm happy. If they have a minor squabble, I'll listen closely, and provide a solution if necessary. She'll rush over, tell them what they're doing "wrong," and provide a solution "for them."
3 people like this
@arunima25 (93194)
• Bangalore, India
3 Dec 19
@TheHorse Children have to learn those skills on their own. Too much of adult intervention interferes with a healthy development of social skills.
3 people like this
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
27 Nov 19
You laid it out, she may have laughed but she understood and got your point, Dont thin she didnt.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (238268)
• Walnut Creek, California
26 Nov 19
I agree. I weave some short Spanish sentences into my work with them, to validate their language. But of course, I mostly speak English, and they seem to like that. During free play, they speak mostly in Engish, not Spanish.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (135583)
• Marion, Ohio
26 Nov 19
Glad you finally said something. She needs to learn how to communicate better with everyone.
2 people like this
@Starmaiden (9308)
• Canada
26 Nov 19
I sense your frustration. I had a number of jobs where my supervisor was the same age as my children. I always showed respect to my supervisor no matter what their age, but a number of times I had to reprimand them. They can let their position go to their heads and forget the old adage; "Respect your elders".
I had one such supervisor, 20 years my junior and thinking he was lord of the ring. Treated everyone as if they were 'below' him instead of as part of his 'team'
He chose the wrong day to pick me apart. I told him in as steady a voice as I could muster that ; "Respect is a TWO-WAY street and if he wanted mine, he was going to start giving it."
Hadn't had a problem with him after that.
2 people like this
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
26 Nov 19
i do. I've experienced similar and it is beyond annoying.
now, i would love to hear a recording of you reading my second all-time favorite children's book!
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238268)
• Walnut Creek, California
27 Nov 19
@DocAndersen The Giving Tree is one of my favorites as well.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
27 Nov 19
@TheHorse Shel's book "The Giving Tree." that one is my all-time favorite!
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (102698)
• India
10 Jan 20
@TheHorse Seriously pony ji...whenever you go on hike or something ..carry your cell phone...do audio recording of how to manage kids when they behave in someway ... send the recording across. I will type it out.. at the end of it ..we will compile it...so that it becomes something of an almanac for parents and teachers. The world desperately needs something like wiki for managing kids..and you have the answers...
Don't worry, I won't charge you for this. Just want kids to be happier...instead of ending up with confused parents.
@Torunn (8606)
• Norway
26 Nov 19
I sense yours as I'm pretty frustrated myself.
Yesterday: 2 hours of mindless blabbing instead of trying to figure out what's new with reform coming next autumn and how do WE want to work with it, not what does the department of education wants us to do.
This will continue for the rest of the year, leaving us less time for the changes we actually need to work with so that some of my collegues will have to teach things they don't know next August.
And I imagine that living in the US, being proficient in English will help them later in life? Living anywhere, talking two languages properly is usually better than one. Makes learning other languages later in life that much easier, develops the brain and it's so much easier for them to learn in properly when they're small.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238268)
• Walnut Creek, California
10 Jan 20
No, she's too "old" to change. But we seem to be reaching a stage of "mutual acceptance." That is good. She's with the "older" (three through five) kids. I've been working mostly with you "younger" (one through two-and-a-half) children recently.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222256)
• United States
26 Nov 19
I'm glad you finally spoke up. I'm sure you do your job very well!
1 person likes this
@porwest (112717)
• United States
26 Nov 19
Considering that English is the official language of the United States, and these kids will NEED it in order to fully integrate into American society and be successful, teaching them to be proficient in English would seem to me to be absolutely appropriate and highly encouraged.
As for the bossy one, glad you gave her what for. Some people need to be checked once in a while.
1 person likes this
@mlgen1037 (29882)
• Manila, Philippines
26 Nov 19
100%! I feel it while reading your discussion. But you’re not doing wrong, so don’t mind that teacher. Not worth the time. 
1 person likes this
@mlgen1037 (29882)
• Manila, Philippines
27 Nov 19
@TheHorse there are people like her who are insensitive.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238268)
• Walnut Creek, California
27 Nov 19
@mlgen1037 I think some people have a strong "need for control." It may come from feeling "out of control" in some way.
1 person likes this
@petatonicsca (7070)
• Japan
24 Jan 20
Reading the comments about validating Spanish but learning English, we (international school) face the same type of situation with Japanese and Korean kids. Their parents put them here to learn English but we want them to be multicultural and not feel put down for having a native language that is not English. (I'm fluent in Japanese and occasionally throw out a comment to which all the kids respond "No Japanese in the classroom!" lol) I especially love to say "No Japanese in the classroom" in Japanese. It makes them laugh and stop... because I speak it probably better (or at least more politely) than they do.
