Appropriate for preschool

[Linda/NE]

As you all know my director is bugging the heck out of me. I swear there are times I think she got her training from the back of a cereal box!

Anyway, what is your opinion of the following scenarios (either from a teacher's viewpoint or a parent's)

1) Next week we have a Thanksgiving meal and program. We have split this into 2 nights so my kids come a different night than hers. The director has her kids singing (keep in mind these are 4 & 5 year olds) "Angels Among Us" and "God Bless the USA" My kids are singing songs like "Jesus Love Me", I'm in the Lord's Army", Bringing home a baby bumble bee", etc. The hardest song we're doing is "If I were a butterfly"


2) Whenever I have to work with her she will either make phone calls, or take phone calls during circle time or center time--which leaves me to handle it all myself. During circle time she will leave the room or sit at the table writing out receipts rather than sitting in circle with us. Her philosphy there is that it's MY job to discipline and she shouldn't have to.

3) She is obsessed with having everything cleaned up. After a child has used a stencil at the easel she will take it to the kitchen to wash it for the next child (rather than letting the child choose another one), which means the next child has to stand and wait. While I take the kids outside to play, she remains in the room to clean up snack and set out art (I have no problem with that) Then she will continue to wash up the easel, wash dishes, etc. rather than join me outside to interact with the kids. It seems she doesn't want to do much cleaning up after the kids go home.

I could probably go on and on--these are just the ones that are fresh in my mind. I was always trained that the needs of the kids come first and that the aide needs to be helping the teacher with the kids, not just cleaning up. My sister said that according to licensing regulations the aide needs to be actively involved in the care of the children, not just another body in the room.

I'd love to hear any insight on this. Thanks!!

[Marla]

Linda, sorry to hear that you are still having problems with your director :( .

I definatley think that the songs you chose for your group are much more age appropriate :) .

When she comes into the room with you, what position is she filling? You mentioned that she is an "aide", but I think she is just being a "body" in the room who doesn't want to interact with the children at all (is it because it is "your" group of kids and not her own?)

Just curious what she is like when she runs her own class...is she a good teacher (cuz she doesn't sound like it) .

I also always learned that the kids come first, the cleaning up comes second (unless everything is under control and you've agreed on it).

I hope things get easier :\

[Cathy]

Linda, She sounds like a pain. At my school, we can get written up for doing paperwork while kids are in the room.......and suspended for leaving a teacher alone with a class, whether it's inside or outside. We have to find someone to stand on the playground if one of us has to take a child inside to the bathroom. As far as clean up, I have asked the children to wash paint cups or something that needs immediate attention. Sometimes, our most active and challenging children really like this. It's sensory, and gives them a chance to contribute positively. Sometimes my assistant is busy at the start of circle time, setting up or whatever. But I expect her to sit (right next to the wiggliest kids) as soon as she can. I can't imagine not sitting and supporting her when it's her turn to read, or do an activity. You need to talk to your regular aide, and make her promise never to be out again......or at least to warn you! She'll probably say something about being sick or having sick kids...blah, blah, blah. But what about her priorities??? She needs to be there so you don't kill the director. LOL

As far as being a "body", I'm on record at my site for objecting to this attitude. I don't want someone to fix my ratio for licensing purposes. I want skilled, interested hands and ideas. The children deserve it.

[Lynda/WA]

O.K. , I'm speaking as a parent here.

My DD's K class sings God Bless America. They started with an entire collection of patriotic songs starting after Sept 11. So if this is a song they have been singing for awhile then I'd say fine. Too hard for a short term project though. I love the song Angels Among Us but think that may be one that parents wouldn't know. With my kids we sing the song at home if its one I know and that helps reinforce it. Especially important for the tougher songs. So I think it makes a difference if she just started these songs or if they have gradually been learning them for months.

My first thought when you said she sits there doing something else during circle time was that she is fudging the numbers. In my opinion if you should have an adult for x kids, then that adult should be more than a body in the room. She should be dealing with the disruptive kids while you get on with business. She souldn't count if she did that paperwork in her office right? So why the difference if she unofficially moves her office into your room yet does the same thing as if she wasn't even there.

Do those ratios change if the kids are outside? I would think they should still be the same and she should be out there as well. Except for short times like a quick cleanup or taking a child to the bathroom. Cleanup that isn't to keep the children safe and healthy should be done after they are gone.

I know at DS's childcare center they had to have a set number of adults physically in the area for that age group. They would pull someone out of the office on occasion but they were in the *baby* room or *toddler* room physically and actively when the numbers required. Not taking their paperwork into the room to bump up number of adults. BTW - this is the daycare I hated so I'm NOT giving them the any benefit of doubt.

With DD's K class they can hire an aide when there are 25 children. I'd be upset if they had 29 kids yet the aide spent her day washing up instead. That's deceptive. I mean if the school says we have 1 teacher and 1 aide, I'm assuming the aide is there for the kids not for the custodian.

[Ryleigh]

You are alone on the playground with all the children, while she is inside cleaning up????
We would never be allowed to do that. Day Nursery regulation (Canadian) states that ratios (1 to 8 for pre-schoolers 2 1/2 -5) are too be met at ALL times. If one child needs to go indoors to use the washroom and there is no one to stand in for you, seven others need to go along. Even when the children are napping, ratios must be met. This would be a better time to worry about straightening up the room or doing paperwork.

You have my sympathies having to work with someone like that. Hang in there and don't let her get to you. We all know you're great.

[Marla]

Just confirming...are you talking about your director not being with the kids and doing paper work instead....or an aide???

[Linda/NE]

Thanks for the responses.

Marla, what I'm referring to is when my director is taking the role of the aide. I'm not sure why she walks out at circle time. I know she mentioned one time if given the choice she'd rather be doing circle time alone rather than center(playtime). I think maybe she feels it interferes (or undermines) her discipline if someone else is sitting in circle. The only times I've been in her class is when my 2 of my children came to visit. I think she does some good things, but I also feel a lot of her set up is designed to fit her needs rather than those of the children.

As for the playground, yes, at times I am alone on the playground. We do have high school girls that come in to help and do accompany on the playground. Most everyplace I worked before both the teacher and the aide went to the playground together to interact with the kids. Generally the person in the aide position cleans the table after snack and sets out the art. Somedays that does take the whole time, but many times it doesn't.

As for the songs, they just started working on these songs in the past couple weeks--less than a month anyway. I have no doubt that kids could pick up on these songs over time, but it seems a little above their abilities in this time frame.

It makes me feel so much better comparing your experiences with mine. It is apparent that she and I have differing views on what preschool should be. Thanks for the perspective on things! :)

[Marla]

Linda, do you think that you could sit down a discuss these very crucial safety issues (especially during outdoor time).

She needs to be reminded that when she is filling in for someone in your room, that she needs to complete all tasks of the job (not just the ones that she likes).

Good luck:\

[Diane]

To me it sounds as if she's interested in everything BUT the kids. The children are her last priority and that's just not right. Is there someone that you can talk with about what she is/isn't doing or seeing she's your director... is she the only one? Either that or you're just going to have to be honest with her and tell her how you feel. This simply should not be allowed to continue. Good luck... I hope everything works out okay. :)

Diane... :wave: