https://www.weareteachers.com/jackhammer-parents/
"While I was on maternity leave from my teaching job this past fall, my
long-term sub texted me with a concern. A small group of sixth grade parents
were upset about
Warriors Don’t Cry, a book on my syllabus by one of the
Little Rock Nine, who integrated Central High School in 1957.
I wasn’t surprised. Texas had just recently passed legislation banning
educators from teaching critical race theory, so I expected some of my
curriculum would come under fire. I knew how I planned to defend my curriculum,
but I also knew my rights as a new mom.
“They don’t get access to me right now,” I typed back. “Tell them you’re sure
that I’ll be happy to respond when I get back on October 29. You can also tell
them we won’t read that book until spring. Sorry you’re having to deal with
this.”
“I’m not concerned for me,” she responded. “I’m worried for you when you get
back. I haven’t come across parents like these before.”
Maybe other teachers would worry after hearing this, but I didn’t. I’d been
teaching for 11 years; seven of them at our school for highly gifted children,
and I’d never had parents I wasn’t able to work with beautifully after a few
months of communicating. Most unreasonable parents are driven by fear, I knew,
and it just takes time and communication to replace that fear with trust.
“This happens a lot with sixth grade parents,” I texted back. “They’re nervous
about middle school, but we build a lot of trust the first semester. Come
January it’s smooth sailing. I appreciate you looking out for me, though. It’s
going to be fine 😊.”
It would not be fine."
Via Muse.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
