When AmyH Practices Restraint
As seen on Facebook, posted by someone I don't know but knows a lot of people I know so somehow we're now 'friends'.
NonFriend Facebook Friend is listening to the wife scold 6yo for not eating any of his Sammich @ school. School aids don't monitor lunch too well IMO.
I deleted my knee-jerk comment which went something like this:
"After spending the day in an elementary school yesterday*, I would not be so quick to blame the aides. They have more serious issues like behavior problems to deal with. If not now, when do you think is a good age for children to start taking personal responsibility for their actions - like being responsible for eating their lunch? What might be more helpful would be to spend time volunteering at your child's school. They could really use your involvement."
*As part of Valley Leadership, I was "Principal for a Day" yesterday morning. I shadowed an elementary school principal in a Title I school (really low income) and sat in on a team discussion of children with destructive behavior issues, observed who he helped the secretary get the janitor to take care of some things, talked about a possible shortage due to budgets, talked with a few students who were sent to his office for being disruptive, observed a teacher and learned to spot techniques and styles, and so on. All in three hours. I was exhausted and had a new-found appreciation for school administration.
The children were adorable. Even the problem children - he pointed them out to me and they were angels when we were in their class. But they are prone to tantrums, screaming, kicking, etc.
I learned a great deal. I also learned the importance of parental involvement and partnering.
This is what I wanted to convey to this individual, but since I really don't know him, I didn't think it was appropriate for me to bawl him out. I suppose I could come up with a nicer way of saying "Not eating his lunch is his own damn fault, not the fault of the aides. Nice way to blame other people for his shortcomings. Can't wait until he's older and he still thinks everyone is responsible for his life."
But being tactful can be more work than it's worth sometimes. Of course, now that I read it again, I don't think it was too bad. Especially if I compare it to what I really wanted to say. :-P
Comments
I didn't say anything.
The "As part of VL" wasn't a quote, that was explaining the * up above so you all knew what I did yesterday.
When I said second quote, I meant the one that started "Not eating his lunch is his own damn fault."
I would have said...since when are lunch monitors supposed to force-feed kids?" I never thought they were there for nutrition advice, just to make sure the kids were supervised. for behavior, discipline, safety. that kind of stuff, I mean, really, do they expect notes home saying Johnny needs vegetables in his diet, or what food group is Marshmallow Fluf in?
does Facebook person who made this comment have kids, or did he actually go to school? maybe he was homeschooled and doesn't understand. (sounds like a doodyhead to me though)
My thoughts exactly! Like any school has enough people to go to each child and check his/her lunch and if it's been eaten? That goes past monitoring and into creepy.
Apparently he has one kid. Not sure how many else. But fer crying out loud? Monitoring for nutrition? You need to buy the school lunch from my mom to get that, she's the bestest Hot Lunch Lady ever.