Sunday, March 22, 2009

Disappearing teachers

L'il Sis had a preschool field trip last Thursday. I'm so thankful it is the last one of the year. Parents have to transport the kids. Not so unusual in a preschool setting. That's not the problem.

For this last field trip, there were 2 moms to chaperon and drive. Between us, we had 5 kids because 2 were not there that day. (Yes, it is a very small class!) The 2 teachers drove in a separate vehicle. We met another, larger class at a nature center and combined the 2 classes for the field trip because ours was so tiny. Not a problem. After the tour was over, the guide allowed the kids to go in the nature center display area. Shortly after that, the other class left. The other mom, the kids and I wandered into a side area with the guide who continued talking to us and the kids about things.

I was waiting for the teachers. Finally, I walked out to the entrance area, looked out the front doors and saw them walking in the parking lot to their vehicle. There were only 4 cars in the lot at this time. The director of the preschool was also getting into her car and leaving. The other 2 cars belonged to the other mom and me. By the time I was able to call the other mom's attention to the fact that the teachers were leaving and round up the kids to get them out to the cars, the teachers were gone. Seriously.

Back at the classroom, the other mom asked about it and the lead teacher said she didn't see us and thought we'd left. Hmm. Their car was parked between ours and our cars were still in the parking lot when they left the nature center. So, I'm not buying it.

The field trip before this one, we had more moms along but again, the teachers disappeared at the end. We all came back to the school and classroom because some of the kids needed to be picked up or were staying for extended care. The rest of us stood in that room waiting for the teachers who never showed. We theorized that they went to lunch and just never bothered to say anything to anyone.

Maybe I'm over-reacting. For the most part, I really like L'il Sis' teachers. But this seems to be a serious lack of communication.

*update: I had a chat with the Director of the preschool and she agreed it was an area of concern and that she would address it.

6 comments:

Amy said...

My son had a teacher who used to fade into the woodwork whenever the room moms came to help with a classroom party.

I think I would be seriously looking for a new preschool if my kids' teachers had a habit of disappearing like that.

Anonymous said...

You may be overreacting but I guess I'm overreacting too because that would seriously tick me off! I would think they should still be responsible for the safety and well being of the children on the trip...

loqi said...

That would piss me off too! Maybe it's time for you and the other moms to talk to them as a group...

Jody said...

Ohhh! I would be upset, too. What if something happened to one of those kids in the few minutes that the teachers had disappeared? I'm sure the other parents who allowed their children to attend the field trip were under the assumption that the teachers would be present and responsible.

The Mrs. said...

That is bizarre and would drive me nuts. I mean really, thats strange. Good for you for addressing it with the director of the program!

Biloxi Painters said...

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