Mom Is Teaching

Ok, so onward with the story from here.  So the field trip to the zoo in Mississippi is off because it is not in the state of Alabama.  Or so that’s what we were told.  And if you remember we were told that the Cinderella tickets were purchased last year and parents couldn’t go because the Alabama Theater wouldn’t allow but one adult for every 15 students when the truth came in from the Alabama Theater, it was quite a different story. 

Then this whole trip was canceled and we were given on reason why but I couldn’t find but one person who was allowing her child to go and that was because she is the special education teacher for that age group and she was going.  So, I have to know, if they bought the tickets last year, where did they throw that money when they cancelled the trip all together?  Just sayin’

So here we are, we aren’t going to the Tupeslo Zoo because it isn’t in Alabama and well again, I just wonder if there was a reason why they didn’t realize that this particular zoo was NOT in Alabama.  So, with that, I assume we are headed to the zoo in Alabama, right?

No, not going to the zoo in Alabama….instead…they are going to the bowling alley.   UH?  So, someone mentions that there were some smelly questionable people at the bowling alley where they grew up and …hahaha that’s not the kind of education I was thinking my 6 year old would be getting just yet.

Am I nuts?  I am not saying one word about it.  My kids have been begging to go bowling and I have a cast on my foot still so erm….we haven’t been able to take them.  But, you know, I wasn’t actually planning on my child attending a bowling alley for a school field trip.  And you?

Do you see any relation?  Or educational value?  Or is it just time to let them go ahead and have some fun?

What would you do?

Ok, so I haven’t forced you guys to endure any tales from kindergarten in a long time so I figure now is as good of a time as any.  We are nearing graduation, we are nearing the end of the year and there are a lot of things going on.  First there is graduation, there’s Dibels and a trip to a campground that is suppose to be capping off their study of butterflys and insects and stuff. 

Now, with that, there is also the dreaded field trip saga’s.  I mean, you all remember the Alabama Ballet that was canceled I assume because not enough parents were willing to let their children go if they couldn’t go and well….yea, so you already know my thoughts on that.

So, then we were told they were going to Tupelo Mississippi to the Zoo.  Ok, money is paid for the trip and it was scheduled for several weeks ago.  Then there was bad weather predicted for that day so they didn’t go and indeed, school was let out early because of the weather.  My son didn’t go to school that day because he had run a fever the night before but they still called me to tell me that I needed to pick him up because of the weather.  So, the fact that they didn’t even know he was there should have concerned me a little, right?

Anyway, the trip was scheduled for next Friday.  Great, Wayne and I are planning to be out of town and my mom was going to take Jace on to daycare and then go to the zoo with Walker.  Planned was good and I was pleased.

Today, another note from school.  And honestly, they wouldn’t need so much doggone paper if they wouldn’t send a tree worth of notes home each week.  Guess what, they can’t go to the Tupelo Zoo because….get this….it is out of Alabama.  Now, am I the only one that thinks this might be a bit suspect?  Did they not know it was not in Alabama when they scheduled this?  And if they didn’t know, do they really need to be trying to educate my child?  I know, I am being ridiculous here but come on, what is really going on around here.

So, guess where they are going?

You are not going to believe this and it just has to be it’s own post because this is hysterical.

You know, I was bullied in elementary and junior high school.  First of all I transferred from a school where my entire family had gone to a new place at the beginning of the third grade.  And, the new school was laden with people were terribly religious in nature and since my parents were divorced, I was an outsider. 

I’d like to think that I wasn’t bullied because of that but I heard the other kids talk, I heard the whispers, I heard it all.  And, then, the worst part of it is that I would cry about it, at school, in front of everyone.  So, then, the kids knew they had a hold on me and control me.  It wasn’t pretty.

When I moved on to high school, I went to a high school that wasn’t with the same kids.  And, it was the smartest move I had ever made.  I got a fresh start basically and in a bigger community where divorce wasn’t seen as such a horrible part of one’s family life.

I was hospitalized 3 times from the fifth to eighth grade and the only diagnosis that they doctor’s could come up with was “nervous stomach”.  And, that basically came down to the bully factor.  My mom refused to see it and always led me to believe that if others were mistreating me, it was because of something I did.  I knew then just as I do now that this wasn’t the case.

So, what do you think?  Those of you who still have kid in public schools, is bullying a big deal there?  How would you or do you handle it with your own children?  What would you do if your kid was the Bully?

We are finishing off Spring Break and my son goes back to school tomorrow.  He is tired.  We have done nothing special, he has simply played until he is exhausted.  I’m not real sure why the kid can’t seem to keep up but today when I asked him if he was ready to go back to school, he answered, “no, I’m just so tired in the afternoons when I have to go to school”.

People, if someone had told me that my high-energy extra super duper extrovert child would have problems keeping up physically, I would have laughed you off the planet.  The kid has energy for days…or so it seemed. 

But, in reality, by Wednesday’s, he is exhausted.  And, of course, now he is practicing T-ball on Monday and Thursday evenings and will have games on Saturday.  I never would have dreamed how difficult it would be for him to keep up. 

But, indeed, we tried to get both boys to bed early tonight because I knew he needed the extra rest, but here it is 9 pm and he is still in there talking to himself.  So, I’m sure the fatigue will set in earlier than usual this week.  One of his questions when stalling before going to bed was “how many more days til summer and school’s out”.

I can see everyone of you out there nodding your head saying, “when is this woman going to get it?  When will she see the big picture and homeschool? What is wrong with this lady?”

Admit it, you are aren’t you.

We’ve discussed public schools versus homeschools until at some point I think we’ve probably beat a dead horse.  But, hey, it is what it is.  So, what about a Private school versus a public school?  How do you all feel about that?

For me personally, it’s not an option.  There are a couple of private religious schools but the one I would opt for is a good 45 min drive one way and is mega super expensive.  And, thus, we are handling our child’s education through public schools…all be it quite grumpy about it most of the time, that’s just how it has to be.

So, what about you folks out there?  Are private schools an option?  Are private schools or even religious private schools an option for you?  Even those of you who homeschool, if there were a private school alternative, would you do it?

If you want to check out the article on Mama Source and see what folks over there are saying and you can even jump in and add some to it if you want.  One of the questions comes from someone from Malaysia who admits to being very confused about the education system here and well, that makes a bunch of us who are confused about public education here. 

And, of course, there’s the ever important pre-k for those folks in states like mine (Alabama) where pre-k is not a state funded program versus those where pre-k is a lottery funded (Georgia I know for sure- been there, taught that) system. 

Honestly, if I could stress one thing to each and every parent out there, it is to keep yourself abreast of all that is going on in your school, read those notes, no matter how many, how long, how short they are, read them, know what’s going on…..otherwise, I’d have never known about the candy reward program…….

What do you think?

This is officially Read Across America Week and almost everyone I know is participating.  March 2 was the onset of the National Education Associations calling for every child to read in the company of a caring adult.  My son who didn’t attend school yesterday came home today with a paper for me to fill out regarding the books that he reads with me. 

So, we sat down, we done the already monstrous amount of obligatory homework, which includes the need for crayons, scissors and glue which I just sent to school this morning because apparently the $150 in supplies that I sent at the first of the year simply didn’t last long enough. 

The children are supposedly dressing up as the days pass this week and honestly, I understand the idea that school needs to be engaging in order to keep the children’s attention, but we have these strict dress code policies that prevent all kinds of normal clothing from being worn and shirt tales being tucked in, yet we encourage them to wear hysterical costumes and the teachers do much of the same.

Is this necessary?  I mean, you know, basically we read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and if you happen to be familiar with the book, you know that the level of readership is far above a kindergarten level.  Yes, I know, they read it all the time in kindergarten but for the 5 year old to actually read the book, that’s amazing in my opinion.

I know I seem nothing short of a public school hater but the fact of the matter is this, the folks involved have made me this way.  I am/was a public school teacher, I wasn’t raised to buck the system, but when the system is repeatedly failing my children, I have very little choice now do I?

Since it seems to be “bash me” time around here for one particular reader, let me give him/her/it something to bash me for.  But, first, as always, I have a back-story that has to be told.  So, here goes.

First of all, remember I kept my son out for four days back last fall because we went on a family vacation and I didn’t get that grand “prior written approval” which caused me to go flippin’ nuts because they went nuts because I told them I didn’t care if it was unexcused or not.  Blow me.  OOPS!

Then, there was that particular candy issue, we’ve discussed that.  That’s not terribly old news, so I won’t rehash it here. 

So, for two weeks my son’s teacher has sent home about 3 notes stating that she would not be at school Friday and Monday.  Then, she had an emergency one night and had to go to emergency room with one of her kids and was up all night.  So, she called a sub.  The sub just happened to be one of the wonderful ladies that worked for me at the daycare.  I know her skills and people…thuh gurl haz skilz…she is good.   And, she knows my son, she knows he talks to much.  But more importantly, she knows that I am not going to tolerate any crap out of him.  She knows how to handle him and if a problem arises, she knows I’m one phone call away.

Well, apparently there was a person their that had been doing some observation for school and so she told the sub that was called that she would handle things that day.  And, handle them she did.  And, my son came home with a crappy note about his behavior.  Now, talk he does.  Talk alot, he does that too.  But, back talk his teacher? NO!  And, he better not ever come home with a note from a real person at the school with that information contained within it.  Can you say, parental nut-job, I will go bizerk on that kid.  And, the lady who worked for me knows that if he were to do that and she heard him, she knows I would go off on him. 

So, when I questioned Walker, he admitted to 2 of the three things but the back talking thing, he had no clue.  So…..being the smart woman that I am, I knew before asking my son that the handwriting in the behavior folder wasn’t his regular teachers.  Then, when he told me that the lady that had worked for me was there, I asked more questions because I also knew that the handwriting in his folder wasn’t hers.  (Actually, she had put a reminder note on another paper for me to bring a couple of silly supplies and I told my husband, “this” is “old employee’s” handwriting, I don’t know who wrote in his behavior folder?).

So, that’s how I come to find out that there was actually 2 women in there.  So, last night at t-ball practice I walked across the field (former employee’s kid plays on a different team) to talk to Lori.  Crap, this is too confusing, former employee’s name is Lori.  I asked if she was the ones subbing for Walker’s teacher Friday and Monday.  She said no and that her son was begging not to go because they didn’t know who the sub would be and he was afraid it was going to be the lady from earlier in the week.

So, that set it in stone, my son didn’t go to school today.  Nor is he going on Monday.  Fortunately for me, the weather here was atrocious today and I don’t care what they say, they would have just called me to come get him about 10 anyway.  But, about Monday, still working on how to make this work.

I did not tell my son why he was staying home.  I told him the weather was too bad for him to go.  I didn’t mention anything to him about a substitute, I just gave him the ol’ weather story. 

So, now, if someone wants to call me a bad parent, there you go, there’s you a bad parenting story.  I mean, really, taking care of my 4 year olds needs is good parenting, keeping my son out of school?  Maybe not so much.  So, there, now you have some fodder that’s worth attacking me over.

Yea, I am so not kidding you.  I see things all the time that are marked for kindergarten or first grade, then it happens to be labeled, “Algebra”.  What is that about?  Am I that old?  That far behind the times?  Is there really no turning back?  What happened to letting our kids be kids?

I know I know, I sound more and more like you precious homeschoolers every day uh?  Not too bad of a thing to be in my opinion, I’d actually like to see more parents adopt the way of thinking and then insist that our public schools find a way to incorporate some ….some….crap I don’t know what it is.  I simply want these folks to get a grip.  To slow down and let my kid be a kid. 

The pressure to perform is so great.  Why can’t the pressure simply be performing on the jungle gym instead of freakin’ algebra? 

So, now that I’ve regressed back to complaining about my son’s school district on a regular basis, I’m going to try to get back to more important matters.  Well, more important for you guys, not me necessarily. 

By that, I mean, there’s a great resource for helping your high schooler with Algebra.  I don’t doubt at all that by the time my children have reached high school, Algebra will not be algebra but will indeed be more like calculus three or something. 

Anyway, the folks as Blissfully Domestic Homeschooling have sited a place to find help for those of you who are in a position right now of need.  Hippocampus.org offers assistance will several levels of high school math.  And, as I said, it could get worse before it gets better, unfortunately.

See, all this stuff is new to me, kinesthetic learner.  No I know what kinesthetic means.  I have a degree in physical education remember.  So, I know that moving is essential to a child’s learning.  This was the very thing that sparked my argument with the Alabama Department of Human Resources as well as the Department of Education in Alabama.

Why would I argue with them you ask?  Well, I was in the process of trying to get my license to own/operate/direct a daycare.  The state DHR ruled that the person could do this if he/she had a degree in early childhood.  Ok, so my teaching certificate says N-12.  They argued with me that the State of Alabama does not issue any degrees of the such, N-12.

So, I faxed them a copy of that $30K teaching certificate that read:  Physical Education N-12.  Ok, they say, but that still won’t work.  So, I ask them this,

“If a physical education teacher who is certified N-12 is not qualified to own/operate/direct/teach in a daycare, who in the hell is?”

They didn’t respond in my favor. 

Fast forward to the time when I was attempting to  obtain a grant to operate a pre-K program.  And, with that, the State Department of Education that controls WHO can teach in this class requires that the person who is in control of this class, or the teacher, “have a degree in early childhood”. 

And, once again, I asked them,

“If a physical education teacher who is certified N-12 is not qualified to own/operate/direct/teach in a daycare, who in the hell is?”

They did not respond in my favor either.

So, now I give you….the Kinesthetic Learner 3. 

But first, more of my goofy newly branded 6-year-old.

We’ve had much discussion here on families that homeschool and wouldn’t do it any other way.  Some that homeschool but would try public schools if they felt the public schools were in better shape.  We’ve had families who think our public schools do a good job and sufficient for their children and have no intentions of homeschooling unless something changes.

I am spending the next 3 days spotlighting 3 homeschooled families out of Parenting Magazine and I’m going to assume that none of those families are readers here but if so, we’d love to hear from you.

So, what I would like to do is take our families here, homeschool, unschool, public school, private school, religious school, whatever your method I’d love to feature you on this blog.

Now, if more educators of one kind come forward and the blog gets bogged down and seems to be about one type of education only, there’s no room for complaining as everyone will have an opportunity to share their story right here.

If you are interested in spotlighting your family, please email me at jareason (at) gmail (dot) com and I’ll get you the questions and we can get some folks highlighted.

So, let’s go, get that email out so I can get you some questions to answer for the spotlight on you and your family.

Ok, remember, I had to spend time with one kid at the doc’s office this week and then I spent my afternoon at the dentist, lots of magazine reading time.  This is a continuation of the last one but I broke it up because, well, I just have too much to say on this one article.

So, I’m still at Ladies Home Journal and I’m reading, Learning Guide:  Kindergarten.  And, they have the nerve to say:

“In the classroom - Teachers will show students how to:

*  develop small motor skills by cutting, pouring liquids, tracing, molding clay, coloring pictures and writing their names

*  follow directions, describe objects and events, share tools, and play in a group

*  label and express feelings such as anger, frustration and sadness with words instead of actions

*  tell time to the hour on analog and digital clocks; identify coins; recite personal data (birthday, address, phone number)

*   count and write numbers from 1 to 10; count objects in a set, divide objects into halves

*  explore basic science - plant growth, magnetism, freezing and thawing —ideally with experiments

*  learn about the community, often with local field trips (firehouse, post office, library); stud the child’s family

Ok, I’m going to have to agree here and then I’m going to have to explode in confusion.

First of all, in our neck of the woods, the small motor skills were tested prior to him starting kindergarten and were expected to be at least close to mastering the cutting, tracing, molding clay, coloring and writing of their names.  The pouring of liquids is problem the only one the poor little tots get a break on.  It’s like, hey you are 5, now grow up you little snot-face kid.  UGH

Secondly, they are expected to follow directions prior to getting to kindergarten, lest you get one of these nasty little yellow bee’s every day like we do (yellow being the color directly under purple and today we should have got more like a green which is way further down the chart). 

I do agree that kindergarten is the time to learn to describe objects and events, but sharing tools and playing in a group, geeez, I don’t like to share my toothbrush stuff all the time now but I assume that the teacher might can do these things.  And, as for playing in a group, how many introverts does it take before the experts get the picture that some folks just don’t like all the hoopla.  I’m not one of them, I’ll full extrovert and apparently so is my Yellow-bee-receiving-non-stop-talking son. (Post about today’s yellow bee on my personal blog that I would love some advice on).  But, anyway, I’m ok with this one.

But, now, “tell time to the hour on analog and digital clocks; identify coins; recite personal data (birthday, address, phone number)” come on, my son knows how to tell time, but according to his teacher, he is the only one in that room that does and he only knows because…he is a bossy by nature and thinks he is the boss, so he tells time to keep everyone on their feet around here.  The identifying coins is a joke, all he knows is one dollar bills (or bigger) and the personal data he was suppose to know when they tested him. 

I’m not even going to go into count and write numbers 1 to 10.  We just (in October of a August to May school year) finished writing to a 100 and I’m already sick of it.  Surely 1 to 10 was learned before now?  

The last two, I just as well leave those to the teachers because I hate the hassle and the mess.

Ok, can anyone tell that I’m in a disgusted and dimwitted mood.  I’m hacked at my child (please read on personal blog and comment), so don’t mind me, I just write here.

Ok, how many of you have read Sara Bennett and Nancy Kalish’s book The Case Against Homework?  Hands up so I can see them, nice and high!

Now, that passion that they have, that’s exactly the passion that I am about to employ on my son’s school over this idea of using physical education as punishment.  Or taking it away as it is.  I don’t need, nor does the teachers, principals and other administrators, to be told how important exercise is.  I am an over-weight-adult-onset-diabetic sufferer because I hate to exercise.  I loved physical education.  I have a degree in physical education.  I know the nutrition aspects as well as the importance of exercise.  I get very offended when I go to the doctor and they try to explain these things to me when they know I am a college educated person with a degree in physical education.  They have to know I am simply deaf and not dumb.

Anyway, missing P.E. because of some infraction that occurred in the classroom is about to make me go nuts on some folks.  Yes, when I taught physical education, it was tried on me too.  I did not allow teachers to withhold students from my class because they misbehaved in the classroom. 

Do you think the math teacher would have been happy if I had sent the students to math class but sent a note that read, “I am keeping Susie in from Math today because she was misbehaving in my class, I hope you don’t mind”?

Oh, yea, I can see classroom teachers all over the place rolling their eyes and wishing me to be deaf and dumb.  Or thinking that indeed, I may be both.  My point is, I fought this fought all the way to the superintendent once as a teacher and I’m ready to fight the fight again as a parent. 

For now my son has only missed one 5 minute time out of physical education and one full class of physical education.  I blame this on the P.E. teachers because that’s who allows it to happen.  It is not my place however to talk to them about this.  The teacher knows my position on it and it is going to be with great passion that I go to the administrators of the school with this issue.

I know this leaves the homeschoolers out of the subject a little for now.  However, I am curious if you take away your children’s play time for not completing assignments or other infractions?  Or is this just a public school phenomenon?

Please, I am very curious and very very upset.  Opinions please?

I taught in public schools in 92-93, again in 95-98, again in 00-01, and finally in 05 I called it quits.  Then, we bought the daycare.  I think it is important to note that all of those years except 95-96, and 00-01 and 05, I was teaching young children.  In 2000 and 2001, it  was pre-K in Georgia, other than that and the stint in the classroom one year teaching Earth and Life Science and one year teaching Biology…I taught physical education (which is where my teaching certificate is active) for grades Kindergarten thru Eighth grade and I coached at least 3 sports each year and sometimes I had cheerleader responsibility as well.

Now, with that background, my “tag line” for kindergarten children went something like this….

“….they should be at home with their mothers, they come in here in August and they leave in May and I can’t tell they have learned one doggone thing, they come back the next year as first graders and it is like magic, they know how to follow the rules and everything…”

Now, given, that sounds a bit harsh and I can’t say that the 40 year old mom of 2 agrees with the 22 year old single woman of yore but, the facts remain, kindergarten is a rough year.  (I won’t tell you that I think sixth grade girls and ninth grade boys should be sent to Mars for a year and returned when they have lost the attitude and the stink, but that’s for another story.)

And, in case you guys haven’t noticed, I’m referencing the Ladies Home Journal alot this week.  That’s what happens when I have to sit in doctor’s offices for hours on end. 

According to the author of the article

Learning Guide to Kindergarten

“As the year progresses, these five- and six-year-olds begin to develop the ability to wait, to understand the notion that you defer an act in order to do something else. They also grow in their capacity to listen to directions — and actually follow them, as requested”

and if you read what I wrote above, you know I beg to differ.  They do not learn it in the nine months, or they learn it, they just don’t employ it until that magical summer between Kindergarten and First Grade.  I kid you not, just try 60 kindergarten kids for 30 minutes in a gym where another teacher has 60 kindergarten kids of his own on the other end…yea, they do not learn to use these skills until they return in the fall, just trust me on this one.

Remember, I’ve done my time as a parent, I’ve done my time in the public schools as a teacher, I’m currently doing my time as a parent of a child in a public school, I’ve owned a daycare and I’ve been a daycare parent….I think I’ve run the full gamete of educator positions with the exception being a homeschooler and I prefer to think that all that “stuff” we do each day with the “3.95 year old kid that is not potty trained”* is partially considered homeschooling.  If not, I am quitting, I’m tired of counting already but he really makes me angry wanting to learn his brothers site words…just kidding, I’m proud of his desire to learn but man, it is harrowing and that’s what scares me the most about homeschooling (but not getting into that again here, shut me up.)

So, with that, I’ve found a little guide at Ladies Home Journal regarding What Teachers Want Parents to Know.  I am totally assuming that this is public school teachers….and I’m sure you will as well.

1.  Read to your children.  (Ok, duh)

2.  Share family news with your child’s teacher.  (I try, I did tell her about the possible vision problems we learned of yesterday)

3.  Give your children chores to do at home.  (I did this without thinking of it as chores simply because I’m selfish and I refuse to pick up every sock, towel and pair of underwear that don’t make it to the laundry hamper.)

4.  Share organizing ideas with your child.  (Child number one is like his mother, an organizer by nature…the “3.95 year old who is not potty trained”?  All we know at this point is he is stubborn.  BAH)

5.  Follow up on teacher’s recommendations.

Ok, so out of all of those, notice I didn’t comment on number 5?  Why is that?  Because as much as I respect my son’s teacher, the work she sends home is way below his skill level so we don’t necessarily do it “her way”.  Secondly, on parent night, I asked her if she had noticed a very important problem with his “sounds” regarding the letter “T”.  Her reply was no.  How could she not notice that when he is asked what sound that letter makes, he says “sssssssssss”? 

I don’t mean that necessarily in a bad way, except, he has to be Dibeled and the more letters that slip through the cracks, the less he does.  He has benchmarked out of kindergarten and well into first grade, I’m not worried, but I do want to make sure these issues don’t get missed.

If you are looking for more tips, check out the article and see what you think?

How many of you would like to argue this point right here:

The problem is, many parents don’t make sure the extra work actually gets done, according to a 1999 study by Public Agenda, a New York City-based public-policy research group. That’s unfortunate, because “Kids need to get the message that an education is worth working for,” says Diana B. Herrera, who teaches gifted students at Henry B. Gonzalez Elementary School, in San Antonio.

??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Because I cry 50 % Way to Go and 50 % Bah.  It needed more explanation.  My parents made me work for my education and I learned how important an education was/is.  However, they did not monitor my homework, NEVER.  NOT.AT.ALL. 

So, go ahead, discuss it!

* regarding “3.95 child who is not potty trained - he has no disabilities except he is stubborn as snot!

I’ve blogged for a while.  I’ve been featured in the local paper and on a blog or two, a website or two but my blogging has never led me to anything like this next exchange…until now.

Last night, I posted this Ok, Is it Just Me? regarding my son’s class going on a field trip and the parents being told that they could not go. 

Today, I received this email from, none other than, the field trip hosts:

Hi Jerri-Ann,
I came across your blog from one of my Google-Alert emails (it alerts me any time Alabama Ballet is mentioned online). I certainly don’t want to put myself in the middle of your school’s field trip decisions but I did feel the need to address your concern about chaperones. It is our policy that schools provide at least one teacher/chaperone per 15 students and no more than 1 teacher/chaperone per 5 students. We do not have a policy against parents attending. However, we have set these chaperone guidelines so that the maximum amount of students are able to attend. If your school is bringing about 200 students, they should actually have a minimum of 13-14 teacher/chaperones. As I mentioned above, I definitely do not want to cause any additional difficulty for you or your son’s school. If you would like to discuss this further, feel free to contact me at the email address above. We are thrilled to be able to offer these school shows this season and look forward to your son’s school being in attendance.
Many thanks,

 

This is the first time I have had someone to back me up. Someone to come to me over a blog post and say, “hey what can I do to help”.  You know, apparently the bad advertising (and I really didn’t think I made it seem to be the problem of the Alabama Ballet, I thought I made it pretty clear that the school was where my issue started) raised the hair on someone’s neck. 

We shall see how this goes this afternoon when I bring the matter up again.  We are painting paper bag pumpkins and I’ll have plenty of time to inquire with other parents as well as the teacher about this matter.  Never mind that the trip isn’t until February!!!

I’ll keep you posted…and hey, thanks to the Alabama Ballet for the resource and the help!