anxiety about the situation, you
will want to approach the head of
school through normal channels.
After discussing the matter with
the administrator, you should anticipate
that the school administration
will probably still want to
arrange another conversation
with you and the teacher.
Stress is an important issue to
keep in mind as a parent. You’ve
been under stress, but unless
you’re a teacher, you may not be
aware of just how much stress
teachers are feeling across the
United States and the world right
now. They are typically exhausted,
worried about their own children,
worried about their own health,
worried about the health of every
child in their class, and are often
trying to work under conditions
that they could never have imagined
six months ago.
Many teachers in all too many
schools, Montessori and conventional
schools alike, have stepped
out of the classroom because
they feel that they cannot take
the risk of going into the classroom
and exposing themselves
and their family to the risk of
catching Covid. Those teachers
that are still in the classroom feel
stressed from wearing a mask
all day. In addition, they must
take extraordinary precautions
to keep the children safe. Many
teachers have described their
work this year as the most stressful
time in their lives.
Returning to the question of
what to do if your child is not
feeling happy or connected with
the teacher or classroom, it is important
to realize that the school
may or may not have the ability
to make a change. Teachers are
in incredibly short supply right
now. Finding enough substitutes,
for any reason, is quite challenging
for schools large and small.
Your child’s school may honestly
not have any options in terms
of its ability to move your child
from one class to another. Just
keep that in mind if the situation
comes up. The administrator
may want to spend some time
speaking with the teacher separately
after your meeting before
they follow-up in a second meeting
with you.
They may want to observe your
child in the classroom to get a
sense of what's actually going
on. That is a normal part of the
process every year, not just this
particularly challenging year. Just
remember that, like you, your
child’s school also wants what's
best for your child.
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Tim Seldin is the President of the Montessori Foundation and Chair of the International Montessori Council. His more than forty years of
experience in Montessori education includes twenty-two years as Headmaster of the Barrie School in Silver Spring, Maryland, which was his
alma mater from age two through graduation. Tim was the co-founder and Director of the Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies, the
Center for Guided Montessori Studies, and also serves as the Head of the NewGate School in Sarasota, Florida. He earned a B.A. in History
and Philosophy from Georgetown University, an M.Ed. in Educational Administration and Supervision from The American University, and his Montessori
certification from the American Montessori Society. He is the author of several books on Montessori Education, including How to Raise An Amazing Child,
The Montessori Way with Dr. Paul Epstein, Building a World-class Montessori School, Finding the Perfect Match—Recruit and Retain Your Ideal Enrollment,
Master Teachers—Model Programs, Starting a New Montessori School, Celebrations of Life, and The World in the Palm of Her Hand.
TOMORROW'S CHILD © JANUARY 2021 WWW.MONTESSORI.ORG 29
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