Thursday, September 11, 2008

Deflated....


Could I please just vent for a minute??? Okay, tonight was open house at school. I was all prepared for a great night, and to give my students an opportunity to show their parents around the classroom and all of the things they have been learning. It was supposed to give me an opportunity to connect with my parents and create a "learning community". Well, you can probably see where I'm going with this........

2 parents showed up. No, that is NOT a typo. Only 2 out of 20. Can I tell you how deflated I am? I pour my heart and soul into my job and these children. I spend countless hours away from my own children trying to be the best teacher I can be. I guess that is why I kind of take it personally. I just have a hard time understanding.

1 comments:

Sarah and Brad said...

Hang in there Jenna. Before Kate was born, I taught child development and the importance of positive parent-child interaction to parents suspected of child abuse. I always killed myself trying to make the most of that one hour visit each week that I had with each family. I rarely got any participation and would, most days, leave the visits feeling much like you're feeling today. However, when I told the families I was leaving to stay home w/ Kate they said how much they would miss having someone around who cared abou them and their children....I never knew they even noticed! I can tell you care very deeply too. Just remember the awesome example you are to them and hope they will carry that home for their parents and friends to see and learn from. You are to be admired...you have a very tough job and I can promise you that you are appreciated...they just don't know how to tell you. Keep up your good work...those kids will be better for having had you as their teacher.