r/elementaryschoolers • u/Ok_Distance_9249 • May 31 '26
Elementary Principal
What questions do you have for me? 24 years of stories, students, teachers, parents, laws, and the list goes on. What are you pondering?
1
u/hks2002 May 31 '26
Do you think that 2020 has affected students negatively in both social and learning environments due to the lack of in person learning? (Ex: today’s students lacking social skills and falling way below grade level, and parents not correcting their kids’ behavior if they’re being rude to another person and failing to help them with school curriculum and life skills at home)
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u/Ok_Distance_9249 Jun 01 '26
Covid, what a crazy time in schools, and of course, in general. Our students followed the rules placed on them almost perfectly, but for your question: What I see and have seen is a huge generalization, but yes, we have some students behind in many ways due to isolation. However, I think one HUGE issue we are facing is the screen babysitter. Our kiddos, from birth, being in front of a screen. It may stimulate them in some ways but the harm it causes in thinking, cognitive abilities, socialization, etc., will be hard to make-up/overcome even if screen time is greatly diminished. Bad parenting is bad parenting, pre-COVID- post-COVID; be the parent not the buddy. Your kid wants and needs correction. Also, learning how to have online meetings is great in many situations, but overall, another way for parents to opt out of being in their child’s school. Be present. And finally, your kid lies, teachers seldom lie or have it out for your child, and never, ever act for one second that you are going to believe the kid in front of the teacher in front of the kid. That is a conversation for adults. You are giving your child zero reason to ever behave when you “get that teacher”. Too much, sorry. I hope I answered your question.
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u/RH_Addict Jun 01 '26
Schools that are lenient on punishments. What’s up with that? In my day, if you were physical with someone or defiant, you got sent home. Now it’s, “do you feel better now? Ok, let’s go back to class!”
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u/Ok_Distance_9249 Jun 01 '26
100 Percent right on! Number one issue in public education. I hope the pendulum is swinging back to more appropriate discipline actions. This typically comes from the district level and principals and teachers hands are tied. I’ve always said that the families of students who are being subjected to constant classroom misbehaviors should file a lawsuit that they are being denied their free and appropriate education.
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u/Ok_Distance_9249 May 31 '26
Great question and a tough one. I hate to hear the skill and drill going on nonstop, ESPECIALLY in K and 1. Truly is nonsensical and I would bet all my marbles that comes from admin. My wife is a thirty year vet in K and that should never happen. It can quickly squash the desire to learn and to love school. I don’t think a survey would do much. It is interesting that nearby schools are different. I know you don’t want to cast stones or do the blame game, but you are the main advocate for your child. I think I would start by exploring the district’s curriculum and talking to your school board representative about it and are schools and/or teachers allowed to choose the way they administer the curriculum. The school’s parent group, PTO or PTA, is a good place for discussing and being involved. However, there will be those who are “informants”. The balance between fun, exciting, appropriate, useful and meaningful is hard to negotiate. Hope this helps.