I just came from kindergarten commencement. (A mostly 'feel good' tale)

[trof]

Miz t. volunteers as a teacher's assistant at our town's elementary school, teaching the little ones their ABCs and numbers.

Our town's 'lower-middle and lower class' citizens are rural/redneck, pretty much uneducated/undereducated (and many PROUD of it :eyes:), and a lot of these children come from homes where both parents (if there ARE two parents) work two or more jobs. They obviously don't have much time to devote to their kids.

I think about how fortunate our grandchildren are. They have an at home mom and a dad who's salary is in the lower-mid 6 figures. They are read to every day. Jack knew his ABCs and numbers by the time he was 3 or 4. He's almost 7 now, and can read ANYTHING like a whiz. Charlotte is almost two and knows a lot of her alphabet already.
"That's a CEEEEE!"
Lucky kids.
Very lucky.

The middle and upper class kids in our town go to private schools, usually church sponsored "Christian Academies".

There's been a big influx of Hispanics, mostly Mexican, in the last 10 years. The student population at the elementary school is a relatively even distribution of black, white, Hispanic, and...'mixed'.

One adorable little boy, Albert, started the year speaking only Spanish.
I'm happy to report he's now fluent in English, thanks in no small part to Miz t.'s efforts.

Turns out she's a natural. Should have been a teacher. The kids love her and she loves them. They work so hard for her. And they've progressed so far in this last year.

Today the kindergarten classes put on skits to celebrate the end of the school year. I attended with Miz t.
God, they are cute.
And they were so delighted to see her there sitting with all the parents and grandparents.
"Look! Look! Miss Helen is here!"

Some of my 'elitist' (so sue me) people watching observations:

1. Dad? About your T shirt with the bloody skull and the caption "Dead Men Tell No Tales"? I dunno, dude. What kind of message does that send to your little boy? Maybe I'm too sensitive.

2. Lady? Why would you wear hip huggers and a tank top when you're grossly (And I DO mean 'Gross') obese. Rolls of naked fat really don't turn me on. And did you think that tattoo just above your butt crack would make you even MORE attractive? Lady, this is a kindergarten commencement, not a juke joint.

3. Um, M'am? Letting your screeching toddler wander through the audience is not a good practice. I grant you, that is one terrific, ear-splitting screech he's got there. But it's not entertaining. Especially not here.

4. Dads in general. Do you wear your baseball cap all the time? Even at home? You do? Never mind.
:eyes:

5. Generally...I don't have a clue how much tattoos cost, but did you REALLY need one? I mean as a parent with kids to support?
I've never seen more tattoos in one place. Male and female.
When this this become such a must have, popular thing?
In my admittedly geezerish day, the only people who had tats were sailors or some guy who got really drunk and regretted it the rest of his life.

OK, end of elitist rant.
;-)

[fight4my3sons]

1. These parents where there.

That is the important thing. I'm not discounting your rant and I'm not saying that I might not have thought the same things.


I worked 5 years doing social work at a Head Start in Poughkeepsie, NY before going back to school to get my masters in education. I do know where you are coming from, believe me. I also know how important parent involvement is.

Hugs to your wife. She is so important to the children and the school!

[trof]

4. Yes, you're right.

Many, if not most, had to wangle time off from work.
I do appreciate the fact that they came.

[Tikki]

2. I worked at preschool with children from mostly...

middle class/upper middle class families..
Often when the parents came to the school on their 'shared day' with
their child in the classroom...you'd see a parent out there talking
away on their cell phones or plugged into their ipod.. totally ignoring
their child during recess and snack time.


grrr:mad:

Tikki

[AwakeAtLast]

3. My very first concert in a new school

the smell of ghanja coming from the audience almost made me pass out, and I teach K-6! There were some mightily stoned parents in the audience. I'm sure they enjoyed elementary school children singing on a whole other level! :D