Malika
Well-Known Member
I accompanied the school to the swimming pool this afternoon (they can only go if they have parents go along too to help with small groups of children). Working with small children really is a special occupation with special demands. The teacher, frankly, doesn't really fit the bill. In my view, of course. One of the girls - aged three or four - a very timid, delicate-looking child, was crying vehemently at the pool, saying she didn't want to go in. She seemed extremely upset. The teacher brusquely insisted she get in the water, ridiculing her and overriding all her obvious distress. Apparently later the child was violently sick all over the changing room floor... again the teacher made some dismissive comment to her about this. When we were leaving, this little girl came up and put her hand in mine. I asked her why she had been upset, was she frightened of water? No, she said, she had some wounds on her knees that hurt in the water... no-one had asked her or listened to her, of course!
I find this teacher very brutal in her methods. I think she just does not know how to be with children, actually, other than ruling them with an iron fist. Strange she should have chosen to work with little ones.
It is J's last 3 weeks with her. After that, he goes to the school next door where the existing teacher is leaving and a new teacher is arriving, a man. Apparently he is late 30s, nice but rather introverted, seems academically serious - this according to the assessment of the current teacher, who has met him. He has never taught a single class of five levels, ages 6 to 11, before. I honestly don't know if I am doing the right thing leaving J in this school but... time will tell, I suppose.
I find this teacher very brutal in her methods. I think she just does not know how to be with children, actually, other than ruling them with an iron fist. Strange she should have chosen to work with little ones.
It is J's last 3 weeks with her. After that, he goes to the school next door where the existing teacher is leaving and a new teacher is arriving, a man. Apparently he is late 30s, nice but rather introverted, seems academically serious - this according to the assessment of the current teacher, who has met him. He has never taught a single class of five levels, ages 6 to 11, before. I honestly don't know if I am doing the right thing leaving J in this school but... time will tell, I suppose.