Ok, guess I'll just share this. Found this a bit... weird. In the mail today I received a packet of stuff from my dd's 1st grade teacher. To refresh your memories, R was pulled out of first grade last October (10 months ago). Dh and I met with R's teacher a week after we pulled her, and at that point I got a huge stack of stuff. I considered it case closed. So imagine my surprise today to open up this packet. It included at least 8 forms, shapes, animals with dd's name written on them. It included 2 writing journals. It included a few pics of dd smiling in class. It included the class picture. Just not understanding why MOST of this stuff wasn't given to me when we met with the teacher. If that wasn't possible, why not send it later, Or give it to ds (who was still in that school until January)? Or when school ended? Just seems a bit... weird that it was sent NOW, right before the new year started. Giving the teacher the benefit of the doubt here. But it totally caught me off guard.
Probably strategically timed to remind you of how much fun she had in school. I mean, you're obviously a horrible parent for keeping her away from a place of such immeasurable happiness!
This was my first thought, as well. Followed quickly by, "that's just pathetic." Happiness in the pics, sure. They didn't have to dry the tears for months as a very sweet 6yo cried over every new sound, new flashcard, new book because she thought she was too stupid to learn it. They didn't have to reassure her over and over and over that she CAN, and even if she didn't believe it yet, Mama knows it's true. Then again.. trying be balanced... maybe teacher forgot them in a closet somewhere. *sigh* People!
It could be something like Amie said. However, here is how it could have happened if it were me as the teacher years ago (pre-hs days). I am a pile maker and shifter, without the best organization. It could have been in a nice neat pile, gotten put aside, new year starts, nice neat pile gets discovered, teacher mails it home. Who knows, but I could picture something like that happening to me in all the clutter that builds up.
That could have happened as well. I think part of my irritation is aimed at what is IN those little writing books. It's the poor little girl full of shame, only writing words she knows (I like, I see, dog, cat). It is too much of a lie between the smiling pics, and the mess she had become. It's a reminder of what we have overcome, true, but also what they thought she was (pick your label) and how they treated her. It is a little girl smiling because that's what she did, always- even when she thought she was the stupid girl in class. The smile almost reflects a sort of acceptance that she really WAS what they thought she was, and that was ok because they were the adults, and she thought they knew best. I'm just... angry. Still. So very angry.
btw- I really did think I had let the anger go. I talked to someone today who was asking me about why we were homeschooling (a homeschooling-friendly relative) and when I was done, she said, "Wow, you must be so mad!" But I honestly didn't FEEL mad at all. I did my ranting, so I've tried to move on. dd isn't the same little girl anymore. Then the packet this afternoon... with it's self-contained lies. Too much for me (who is probably waiting on a visit from Aunt Flo so feeling particularly sensitive)
That would definitely have happened to me as a PS teacher too. I always tried to get things to kids who had moved away when I found them. Usually I could find a sibling/friend who could take it for me or I would give the parent a call.
I know just how you feel. I am usually able to just let everything that happened with DS go and move on. I know that if it hadn't happened the way it did, DH never would have agreed (actually it was his idea) for me to pull the kids and HS. It all worked out for the best in the end. But, when DH starts talking about things that he did in his class at school, I get so angry. If his teacher and the admins would have been a little more compassionate/considerate of HIS needs he would have loved going to school. And, it breaks my heart that it's been nearly two years since he was there (only from August to Nov) and he still remembers what happened. No matter how many times we tell him that it was OUR choice to take him out of school, he will always believe that they "kicked me out for good" (his words) because he was bad.
I would assume being that a new school year is in the process, it also meant clean up time for the teacher. Most likely the teacher was sending the left over things that were not accessible at the time your child was removed from school.
