Yesterday was “meet the teacher night” at Leila’s school. I think they would have been more accurate to refer to it as, “panic inducing evening of chaos.” I have always been a big proponent of public schools. I think that they are our key to a better society. That said, I think they have a long way to come. So far we have been invited to two events at the school. Kindergarten round up, and this meet the teacher fiasco. Both of them were scheduled for an hour. In our allotted time yesterday we fought through crowds to put money on a lunch account for Leila, with no information on what they serve or how much it costs. We met her kindergarten teacher, along with the other 23 students and forty six parents so we took our fair share of time, just over two minutes, to ask where to put her supplies.
So far, no one has done anything to assess Leila. No questions, no testing, no asking her parents anything about her. Don’t they know my girl is special!?! All of these kids are special, and they all deserve some individual attention.
I am trying not to dwell too heavily on that number, twenty-four, because I can’t do anything about it. I am worried about my daughter though. One of twenty-four new kindergartners all in one classroom. With one teacher. And one student teacher for the first six weeks.
She will be ok. She is a smart kid, and she will seek out attention if she doesn’t get it. I am a little worried about *how* she will seek attention though.
I know that the forced independence is a good thing, school is a good thing, but this is going to be quite an adjustment. I hope we are ready for it.
Jumping Daisy 
You have mentioned some of my very concerns with sending Ian next year, and I teach in a public school! Class sizes, making sure all students get attention and are really known. As for the assessing, teachers often hold off on it for a few days, instead focusing on teaching routines and procedures, so that when they do hit the academics, the class runs smoothly (our principal actually tells us not to do any academics the first two weeks, but to focus on routines and procedures the entire time). If it’s just the first few days/weeks of school, I wouldn’t worry. Instead the teacher is getting to know her as a person, not an academic level. Soon enough she will be having so many assessments done, you’ll wonder when she’s actually being taught. But the hour for meet the teacher night, definitely not enough time.
Thanks Colleen. I know that I am getting ahead of myself here…but all I have been thinking about since last nights event is that class size. Tomorrow is the first day, and for better or worse, my kids are public school students! I am planning to volunteer in her classroom so I will get to see first hand how everything is managed.
I could see Leila doing some Lord of the Flies thing and taking the class from the teacher. If she comes home covered in finger “war” paint be concerned.