Comments on: Diversity http://www.vallentyne.com/blog/2009/01/20/diversity/ about kids, dogs, news and technology. Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:40:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: nikki http://www.vallentyne.com/blog/2009/01/20/diversity/comment-page-1/#comment-47064 nikki Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:45:46 +0000 http://www.vallentyne.com/blog/2009/01/20/diversity/#comment-47064 Thanks guys. That whole experience really moved me and opened up my eyes. I've been doing "Duty Days" once a month for the past two years at the preschool as it is a co-op and that is part of the deal when you sign your kids up. The kids just got used to having two different adults in the classroom every day. I think that Court's point of having parents donate their time a few hours a month would be a lot of traffic, but kids are resilient and would likely adjust. The benefit of the traffic would likely outweigh the distraction. The preschool allowed parents to *pay their way out of Duty Days* and the ones that were willing/able to spend time with the kids in the classroom didn't have to pay the fee. I thought this was a great idea. Parents who wanted to be involved, would then get more duty days. Unfortunately you would be surprised at how many moms and dads are willing to pay that fee to get out of being involved. It's not ideal and would likely never happen, but wouldn't it be great if our government gave parents/couples even 6 days a year off to contribute in the classrooms of our schools. Obama's inaugural speech stated that there are people who do great things in the world, and people who make great sacrifices. In that same thought he stated it is, "also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate." We have one year off for maternity leave now, when not too long ago we only had 6 months (Jordy was part of that age). Slowly the powers that be are seeing the way of the future is through nurturing our kids...maybe it will hit the classroom soon...hopefully. Thanks guys. That whole experience really moved me and opened up my eyes.

I’ve been doing “Duty Days” once a month for the past two years at the preschool as it is a co-op and that is part of the deal when you sign your kids up. The kids just got used to having two different adults in the classroom every day. I think that Court’s point of having parents donate their time a few hours a month would be a lot of traffic, but kids are resilient and would likely adjust. The benefit of the traffic would likely outweigh the distraction.

The preschool allowed parents to *pay their way out of Duty Days* and the ones that were willing/able to spend time with the kids in the classroom didn’t have to pay the fee. I thought this was a great idea. Parents who wanted to be involved, would then get more duty days. Unfortunately you would be surprised at how many moms and dads are willing to pay that fee to get out of being involved.

It’s not ideal and would likely never happen, but wouldn’t it be great if our government gave parents/couples even 6 days a year off to contribute in the classrooms of our schools.

Obama’s inaugural speech stated that there are people who do great things in the world, and people who make great sacrifices. In that same thought he stated it is, “also a parent’s willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.”

We have one year off for maternity leave now, when not too long ago we only had 6 months (Jordy was part of that age). Slowly the powers that be are seeing the way of the future is through nurturing our kids…maybe it will hit the classroom soon…hopefully.

]]> By: Colleen http://www.vallentyne.com/blog/2009/01/20/diversity/comment-page-1/#comment-46975 Colleen Thu, 22 Jan 2009 01:55:04 +0000 http://www.vallentyne.com/blog/2009/01/20/diversity/#comment-46975 Oh, I meant to say "Sorry Court" not "So Court" Oh, I meant to say “Sorry Court” not “So Court”

]]> By: Colleen http://www.vallentyne.com/blog/2009/01/20/diversity/comment-page-1/#comment-46973 Colleen Thu, 22 Jan 2009 01:52:50 +0000 http://www.vallentyne.com/blog/2009/01/20/diversity/#comment-46973 So Court, but this is by far the most beautiful story I have read on this blog to date. Nikki, I think you may have found your calling :) Wow, you got me at "my cup runeth over"!! Sounds like you're needed there!! Thanks for sharing that wonderful story!! I too have a sister that's a school teacher with 3 at home!! How does she do it!!!! Love, Colleen So Court, but this is by far the most beautiful story I have read on this blog to date. Nikki, I think you may have found your calling :) Wow, you got me at “my cup runeth over”!! Sounds like you’re needed there!! Thanks for sharing that wonderful story!! I too have a sister that’s a school teacher with 3 at home!! How does she do it!!!!

Love,
Colleen

]]> By: Whit http://www.vallentyne.com/blog/2009/01/20/diversity/comment-page-1/#comment-46967 Whit Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:04:41 +0000 http://www.vallentyne.com/blog/2009/01/20/diversity/#comment-46967 What a great blog entry, Nik! I can only imagine how good that little boy felt today, completing the task. That you had the opportunity to spend quality time with him, and to help him experience success at the same time, is something that unfortunately might be infrequent in this little learner's life. It's true that while we might grumble some days, the days like you describe are the reason why we teach. Hopefully more moms and dads will find the time to help out, too. Think of all the successes that could be had. What a great blog entry, Nik! I can only imagine how good that little boy felt today, completing the task. That you had the opportunity to spend quality time with him, and to help him experience success at the same time, is something that unfortunately might be infrequent in this little learner’s life. It’s true that while we might grumble some days, the days like you describe are the reason why we teach. Hopefully more moms and dads will find the time to help out, too. Think of all the successes that could be had.

]]> By: Court http://www.vallentyne.com/blog/2009/01/20/diversity/comment-page-1/#comment-46938 Court Wed, 21 Jan 2009 13:57:48 +0000 http://www.vallentyne.com/blog/2009/01/20/diversity/#comment-46938 Nicely written honey. I guess that would be an eye-opener. Imagine if every parent gave a couple of hours a month to help their child's class? Although that's a lot of traffic in and out of each classroom, maybe there's a practical limit to this sort of thing. Also, ditto about the kudos to Whit and the other teacher folks. While there's nothing I love more than teasing teachers about having summers off, they fully earn it during the school year. Nicely written honey. I guess that would be an eye-opener. Imagine if every parent gave a couple of hours a month to help their child’s class? Although that’s a lot of traffic in and out of each classroom, maybe there’s a practical limit to this sort of thing.

Also, ditto about the kudos to Whit and the other teacher folks. While there’s nothing I love more than teasing teachers about having summers off, they fully earn it during the school year.

]]>