Forget the Gauntlet, Just Give Me A Spear!!!

This morning, I came downstairs to find Josie crying into her Cheerios. She didn't want to go to school any more because her teacher yells at them all the time, and she feels like her teacher hates them.

What could I say? I think she's right. So, we sat on the couch, and she sobbed and sobbed. There was nothing I could do, nothing I could say to make it better. I was pretty much in tears myself.

Luckily, today was also my day to be in Patrick's classroom, and his dear teacher noticed that I was fighting tears. I told her what had happened, and she shared with me that A) the principal has been trying to get Mrs. Teacher fired for a long time, and B)the union is fighting it, saying that the principal has it 'out for' Ms. Teacher, despite the volume of parent complaints. She advised me to go back down to the office and talk to her again.

So, I did, and barely restraining tears, I told her what had happened this morning, expressed my gratitude for what she had done so far, and asked if there was any more that could be done or anyone else I could talk to. She gave me the name and number of the Director of Elementary Education over at the superintendent's office. Later, Patrick's teacher gave me the woman's email.

I just finished writing a volume of my own. I wrote down *everything*: the recent book report issue, the not coming on the Parent Math Night (where the kids were supposed to teach the parents a math lesson they had learned - we had to crowd into the other fourth grade room because Mrs. Teacher was a no-show), the rudeness, the yelling, the hateful behavior towards the kids during holiday events, EVERYTHING. It was literally about four screens long. I ended it by saying that contracts, unions, or no, this situation is intolerable, and something needs to be changed. At the very least, the aide needs to be put back into the room.

I'm going to give every parent I know this woman's email address and phone number. I know that a lot of other parents have complained, and maybe upping it a notch will get more attention. I understand the need for unions in other jobs, like mining, but teacher is as close to a government job as you can get without actually being a ".gov", and there is no place for a union where kids are in the equation. I wonder if I can complain directly to the union? I wonder if they'll take a hit out on me? Are they based in Jersey?