It has begun. We got the back to work email from our principal this past week. You are seeing back to school commercials from the various stores that sell school supplies and back to school fashions. Officially my return date is August 2nd, so I have less than a week and a half of summer vacation left. As we see more and more controversy over curriculum, school policies, what is available in the school library. It’s high time for a talk with an actual teacher to help us sort through these issues.

Hold off on the school supplies

Believe it or not, most campuses are going with tablets or laptop computers. Textbooks are online or not used at all. Traditional school supplies are limited. Our local elementary did a great thing when the PTA sponsored a packet of supplies you could purchase in advance and avoid the rush of the stores. People will go out and buy pens, pencils, notebooks, backpacks, folders, and numerous other supplies they may not even need. As bad as it seems, wait until you hear back from the teacher. Also, your teacher will help you if you help him or her. They will give needy students writing utensils, notebooks, paper, and folders for those that just can’t get those items.

Just Ask your teacher

It never ceases to me amaze me how many people are convinced we are grooming kids, teaching them CRT, or whatever else their cousin Jethro told them on the YouTubes. If you want to know what we are teaching your child please ask us. Many districts ask their elementary and junior high teachers to send home weekly notices outlining what will be covered that week and how their kid’s grade will be calculated. We don’t have that kind of time in high school, but if you reach out to us we will take the time to give you all the information you need.

Your kids won’t tell you the full truth

I know this is shocking. It isn’t lying per se. Many students leave out the part of the story that makes them look bad. Others will be as honest as they can be, but don’t understand the context. Our daughter did this dozens of times. My teacher did this or my teacher told us that. We either wrote it off or sent a note to the teacher to ask them their side of the story. So many parents come in guns blazing and come away looking foolish. I work with between 120 and 180 students in a given year. I don’t have time to single out your kid and treat them badly. It would be wrong to say that I don’t think about them away from work. However, I’m invested in their success. I can’t say every single teacher thinks of things that way, but the vast majority do.

We are trained to accommodate different needs

Don’t ban the book from your kid’s library. Call up or email the school librarian. Give them a list of books you don’t want your kid to check out. I’m positive they will help you. The age of reading a specific novel or play is coming to an end. Many teachers utilize lit circles where they give their students a choice of what to read. I’m sure those teachers will work with you if you object to the choices they have. We are working on analytical skills. We want students to read and analyze what they are reading. Even if you brought in your own book that you wanted your child to read I’m sure their teacher will work with you. Again, the end goal is to build skills they will use later in life.

If you have discovered anything you have discovered a general theme across the board. We want parental involvement. We want to communicate with our students’ parents. We want you to be curious about what we are doing. It creates some work on the front end, but it makes life on the back end so much easier. So, if you have a question ask us. Just don’t assume your cousin Jethro has all the answers.

We returned today for the beginning of teacher orientation. So far, it has gone about as well as can be expected. Judging by the masks, about twenty-five percent are continuing with the mask policies of the past year. As everyone is undoubtedly aware, the governor signed an executive order forbidding districts from having a mask mandate.

Additionally, the legislature did not provide funding for online educations, so most school districts are not offering it. Even those offering it are permitted to add more restrictions this time around. The district where I live enrolls students in their own program, so they are no longer a student at the brick and mortar school.

The district where I work is not allowing it. So, essentially they are not enforcing mask wearing, they will not force students or faculty to get the vaccine, and you cannot learn from home. Additionally, the TEA says that schools do not have to alert parents if someone in the school tests positive, and they do not have to do any contact tracing.

Additionally, students that have been in close proximity to students or faculty that test positive do not have to remain home. Of course, some districts will continue to do what they did last year. Essentially, those districts have made no bones about going against the governor’s ruling and the guidance from the TEA.

I say all that to say this: take a few minutes to check out your local district’s policies as far as your children are concerned. That is especially true for those that have children under twelve. Also, while the governor said that we cannot mandate people to wear masks, we can certainly encourage it and I’d strongly encourage children under twelve to wear masks until such time as all children can safely be vaccinated.

Beyond that, we just have to hope for the best. We also have to remember these times when we vote in 2022. We have to remember that most of our legislators and statewide officials seem more concerned with who goes into what bathroom, who gets to play sports, and whether Cletus can shoot off his big toe. They honestly don’t care whether we live or die.