Here in mich[and should be all states] the freedom of info act allows me or you to see what is in [a teacher's /pricipal/superintendent's]her record. 3years or maybe even more.Not personal stuff like address,soc# etc, but complaints[and if there are any good reports?] and a copy of her paper certificate should i want.Parents SHOULD talk among themselves.Rumors seem to die down but the truth seems to stick around. I will keep my student out for no other reason then she's wasting his time.
I am checking the certification status of every teacher in the school online.And those i cannot find, they will have to supply for me. My rights too.
if the music teahcer uses a different name than on certificate (not due to marriage etc reasons) it might be useful to make sure BOTH names have passed the criminal bckgrd checks. and, find out if any other names have been used ie what is the name on the birth certificate. i should think the state dept of ed , after getting a written request from you with a complaint of 'obscence' talk from an elem teacher, might investigate. you can also monitor the class, its your right, to get a feel for the teacher first hand. also, i think police records are public infomraiton, you can check if there is a history of anything there, although people who try to hide something konw how to do it ie move and get a job elsewhere. see past jobs -- were there many moves after short pds of time and if so, why. ask questions of the admin/supt/doe and dont stop until youre satisfied you have the whole story. teachers have rights too, and 'not using common sense' is not against the law, unfortunatley. probably keeping yuor child out of that one class is the best solution if you feel unsure about the persona. i have done similar w my child once. rather than make a fuss, i quietly pulled him out of weekly class.i found it worked well. i didnt become a target of specualation/school community rumor mill nor did my child.do whats best for your child.also, you have no way of konwing what the DOE has received in way of complaints on any teacher....maybe your written complaint will add to the pile and give critical mass. you just never konw. these complaints are kept highly confidential.in our state it is a crime to divulge one has filed a complaint about an educator , while the matter is unresolved.
'it is almost like we are still in jr.high and if you don't fit in or follow rules they make,you're out'
read up on adult bullying,,,,,the symptoms you describe are classic middle school, catty female bullying.
i thought people outgrew bullying, but seems, some teach it unknowingly, to their kids, and their kids friends of course. sadly enough. adult bullying, trying to get you to fit in or kick you out, is not mature behaviour. any principal worth her salt shouldkonw tons about bullying and how to stomp it out. hopefully you have a caring principal with a good ear for her parent population. if you dont, hopefully you have good homeroom teahcers, the ancilllary classes are not the teahcers that will shape your child as much as the ones that spend the bulk of the day (although they sure could do damage in a short pd of time!). if the homeroom teachers on the whole dont impress you, look around at charter schools if you have one in your area. they too are public.
get the backgrd check info,,,,on the staff you have concerns about...lots of RED FLAGS in my book , from what you say. and yes, i am old enough to be mother to most teachers at my shcool, and frankly, if the MTV generation teaching our kids now, cant listen to comments from reasonable parents, in teh best intersts of the kids theyve been hired to guide thru the early years, something is bad wrong. thats my opinion.
many people need to grow up, young and old alike. i will say, the most immature people i have met are older than me. ie the betty friedan 'impotent rage' women, the ones who wanted it all, or had it all, and are now frustrated (unjustifiably so) being stay at home moms. some people arent cut out to be leaders of the next generation....or parents of the next generation.
Am trying to stuff on my own so far because I can't afford tons for legal representation but that might be the next step. Do you think it is wierd if the teacher's car is up at school late at nite?like 9pm? when there is no event. And to have her BF with her in the school after school hours[like 6pm?] eeewwwwww! Any of these things things by themselves don't mean much, but put together ........I hear she is high up/ active in the tacher's union.And I heard her file is an inch thick(not sure how many years worth)
Does it seem like some of the people active at the school (I am 42)haven't grown up; it is almost like we are still in jr.high and if you don't fit in or follow rules they make,you're out.not everywhere is it like this though, ihope.I don't care about anyone thinks at this point. I was a band "nerd" and proud of it!!!
I am neither, i came back from the stake, like phoenix from the ashes, to keep on advocating for my children and all children, everywhere. so they keep on trying to put me back in the cinder box. its amazing how some people think they can operate according to their own rules and ideas, the PTO offices give some people a false sense of omnipotence. its utterly amazing, the energy some people spend doing adult bullying tactics agaisnt other adults, rather than focus those amazing energies on the purpose of the PTO, THE KIDS.
seems to me your situation is pretty difficult. if i were in your shoes, i would definitely want to know there is a clean background check on the individuals in question - it doenst mean they are good educators if htey have a clean slate, but that would be my top priority, konwing such exists if they are in a position of authority over my child. if some rules are bent,,usually there are others too....or a big rug somewhere with lots of sweepings.....talk to an education lawyer for advice, if you havent already.
