FRIDAY!! Conferences over. No more students for a week. YES!!! Conferences went OK. A couple of hard ones but overall I was pleased and the parents seemed happy which is good. My one "hard" conference involved recommending a student for retention. First time I have done this so it is not like I take it lightly. I had spoken to the mother before and mentioned that this would something we might discuss at conference. During that phone call she seemed to be agreeable to retention if needed. But during the conference she started with "at home he/she can do this." When I was questioned on what students were expected to read at school I pulled out an anthology book and had the student read from the story that we will read when we come back from break. The student knew less then half the words and struggled.
Then the mom started to ask about the child paying attention in class. I said the child was great at paying attention and worked very hard. I mentioned that I felt the child had hit a wall, just unable to learn anymore at this time and that the work had just become too hard for the student. Then mom starts grilling the child about paying attention and saying the child needs to pay attention and do the work or else be home schooled like the sister. Child began to cry. Then the mother asked the child if they want to go on to second grade or repeat first. Of course the child says move to second. When ask, do you want to come back to first and become really good at the work and be ready for 2nd OR go to second where the work is going to be a little hard the student says they want to "do the work" and stay in first.
I felt so bad for the child. I was using the word "retention" and being very considerate of the student being there. For the parent to go off on the child was so wrong. I am not known as Mr. Sensitive but my heart ached for this child. I know the child is at their limits. I know the child would be so much more successful with another year in first.
We will see where this ends up. But now. I am heading on a cruise to be choked to death by a man-made piece of cloth. I will escape this weather that is bad even by our standards. Fun and sun, recharge my batteries and see if I can survive until the end of the school year.
