December 27, 2009 1:47 AM
Loudoun County Public Schools: teacher problems
A friend of mine who was an ardent public school supporter recently moved her children to a Christian school. I asked her to share what led her to this decision:
I moved out here three years ago from Fairfax County public schools. My first child has excelled in school since day one. She is the type of little girl who is made for school and the classroom environment. In the personal experience in Fairfax county, the teachers were older, more experienced and seemed to have more "integrity" and focus on values. By contrast, teachers in Loudoun seem younger and more "afraid of religion" while imposing their own beliefs of "anything goes" morality. i.e. It's OK for me that I live with someone out of wedlock, but you children can't say or draw "Jesus Christ" at Christmastime in school. My three major disappointments are as follows:
1. Moment of Silence:My two children told me that both of their teachers over the past two years (4 teachers) let children do their work through the moment of silence, By contrast, in Fairfax county I only had one student who had to put her pencil down for all three years she attended (3 teachers). (I will also add it was a very diversified demographic area.....Christians, Muslims and Jews standing together silently....that is the cool stuff America is made of!!)
2. Religion during holidays:
Last year my 10 year old was discouraged from discussing religion during the holidays when reading stories with "reading buddies" in a lower class. In response I forwarded your article to her regarding what is legally permissible. No response was given. Nor did I follow up. This is an enthusiastic, motivating young, well liked teacher too. Perhaps this teacher does not realize that many of the public school children are coming from families with traditional /family values (Christian or not).
Our first teacher in Fairfax County invited all parents in to share their holiday celebrations, which we all did.
3. Sharing information which promotes "anything goes morality":
Last year the same teacher would discuss how she and her "fiancee" did this and that at their house together. My young Catholic daughter who knows that marriage is a sacrament under which a man and woman can cohabitate, still came home and asked me if it was OK to live together if you are already engaged. She knew the answer in her heart, but what she knew was challenged or at least "watered down" by someone who she admired, looked up to and really liked.
These things disappointed me so greatly that I looked for alternatives for a more wholesome, Christian environment. I feel so relieved as mother that my children are praying in school and being taught morality as well as Christian values. I guess the Lord has led us where we belong for now....but why do I feel a little bit guilty for leaving too??
Posted in Loudoun County, Public schools | Permalink
Comments
Thanks for sharing the letter! I too have found disappointment with the public school where we live. While one of our children is still in public schools this year for middle school, the other one is being home schooled this year for similar type reasons.
Posted by: Jill from Texas | December 27, 2009 4:14 AM
I've observed the same here in Loudoun County with the younger teachers. The best teacher my son had was a long-term sub who was a retired teacher with 45+ years experience. This teacher was a true lady, in every sense of the word, who brought integrity, values and tried-and-true methods of teaching to her classroom that seem to have been abandoned by the new generation of teachers. With the younger teachers, it is all about moral relativism, being politically correct,and teaching to the SOL tests. How sad.
Posted by: Amy | December 27, 2009 11:49 AM
One reason we decided to homeschool our daughter for 1st grade was because her kindergarten teacher would often mention her (live in) boyfriend.
And this teacher was a 30 year veteran, in her 50s!
Posted by: Milehimama | December 27, 2009 1:53 PM
So, I am a little late to this, but the teacher who inappropriately talks about her personal life to her kids is being unprofessional and should be spoken to by her superiors. Complain to the principal about professionalism. It is one thing if the teacher talks about his or her dog or uses her trip to South America as a geography lesson, but children should not know details about teacher's personal lives.
Posted by: anon | December 30, 2009 12:18 PM
