EDITOR:
I had only asked for one dollar.
Granted, that was several years ago. It was to help replace student calculators, used in the classroom. Maybe school districts provide more of those kinds of things nowadays, but back then I purchased many things like this for my math classes. In fact, as a high school math teacher, I routinely spent at least $1,500 of my own money for supplies and equipment that I needed. That’s not unusual for a classroom teacher. We purchase decorations, or snacks, or rewards. . . the list goes on, and on.
At the time, I thought it might be a good idea to ask parents for one dollar – to defray the replacement costs for my classroom set of calculators. The reason is not important. Nor is the fact that school policies may differ on such a subject. The response was more of an issue. There was a parent who complained so much that I ended up giving the dollar back. And I never tried that again.
I don’t know if my experiences are typical, but for contrast, allow me to share one more experience. I had asked a student to see me after school regarding late or missing assignments. As part of the conversation, I phoned the parent. To my amazement, that parent agreed to come right over. We spoke together about the issues, and the parent reassured me that I was welcome to contact them any time, and that they would indeed work on getting caught up.
As school begins, remember that almost all teachers love everything about the classroom. They care about your kids and want the best for them, or they would not choose the profession. Therefore, be kind to your kid’s teachers. Help them out by listening and accepting their input.
Be that second kind of parent. It will mean much more than a dollar.
--Cynthia Ready
Platte County
Retired HS Math Teacher
