Yesterday was open house at PJ’s elementary school. The open house was great over all. I loved being able to see where PJ spends her day [I usually only see her school from the outside gate when I drop her off].  It was fun to have PJ tell me, Renae & MJ about all of the great [fun] projects she did as a first grader.

I wont say this too loud, but I did notice that some of the presented dioramas looked like they had a little more help from a parent then they should have. But maybe the kid really got into it and rocked the house. I am not judging, I’m just being observant [man I just sounded like Renae].

First grade has been good for PJ. She has lots of friends. She loves her teacher, Mrs. D. She has her very own gang . . . well it s a “Bug Club” . . . they collect Rollie-Polies during lunch [I get to see her collection almost every evening]. This week their turf got jacked by a rival “Bug Club”. PJ was pretty pissed. I am surprised there wasn’t a “run by” name calling or something worse.

Back to the topic at hand. . . after moving to the burbs from the city,  I have to say, I expected more from her school and teacher. When we were in San Diego Unified School District the teaching motto was to teach at the grade ahead. That meant a kindergartener was learning material that a nationally average 1st grader would learn. With that form of teaching and PJ’s high reading level she hit the burbs of San Diego well beyond what the other kids in her 1st grade class were doing in both reading & comprehension and in math [PJ is a very smart child. I am not claiming she is a genius. I am saying that she is a very intelligent child that loves to learn].

So, knowing that my kid’s intelligent and her teacher finally figured it out for herself with her 30 plus years of experience behind her [she didn't believe a damn word that came out of the mouth of Renae or myself about where PJ was scholastically], why the hell does PJ’s teacher feel the need to verbally chop down PJ in front of us? Whenever PJ or Renae mentions that something was easy, Mrs D. has to point out that PJ had struggles with one small part. Mrs D. also likes to point out that PJ is a perfectionist. And is there something wrong with that? I know I want to be as perfect as I can be. I don’t expect any less of my girls [you listening MJ?]. Then why why why Mrs D.? Why do you do this and piss me off so damn much. Every other word out of your god damn trap is knocking PJ down to the level of the other kids.

Is Mrs D. trying to make sure PJ doesn’t act cocky about her knowledge and the loads of extra work she is doing? If she really knew PJ, she would know that she’s no where close to being cocky. Now I can’t say that all of the things Mrs D. has done are bad. Some how PJ loves the shit out of this woman. Renae feels there is a level of jealousy in Mrs D., because Mrs D. has a high achieving child as well. It could be that, but man, I am stumped.

Unfortunately it is too late in the year to bring up the issue. How should we approch this issue if we have it happen again with a different teacher? Next year PJ will be attending a new school for 2nd grade. One closer to our house. Lets hope the teacher she gets in 2nd grade, will push her in a good way, without acting like a lumber jack ready to knock down the prime trees in the forest.

- Ken