Trip to the States

We will be heading to the East Coast next week. Unfortunately we will not have a huge amount of time, but we will be in the States for a few weeks. Contact us directly if you want more info.

We are working out a very busy schedule right now.

State Poster

State Poster, originally uploaded by allysther.

So did you guess correctly?

The boy has a project to do today in class. He gets to present a poster of a state and give a bit of information regarding the state flower/bird/tree and so on. Any guesses as to the state he chose?

The song Issue is resolved

First Grader, originally uploaded by allysther.

We met with the school principal today. This meeting went very well, and the issue has been resolved. She was very receptive to our request to have the song removed. She promised that the song will never be sung in the school again and that she will have a long talk with the teacher about his actions.

She also apologized to us. She apologized for the song being sung in the first place and for the trouble we've had in getting it removed from the classroom.

It was a good talk. We all left feeling that we had accomplished something, and we were all happy with the outcome.

Scholastic Book Fair

Do you remember the excitement of the book fair? Did you beg your parents for a few dollars so you could go on your own and buy a new book? Did you have 25 or 50 cents left over and buy a silly pencil or a pack of stickers?

I loved the book fair. It was only for a day or so, set up in the cafeteria (the only room big enough) for an hour or two each day. I had plenty of books at home, but the thought of a new book was wonderful.

Even the Scholastic magazine was not as good as the fair. Flimsy pages showed a few options, but the fair let me hold them, touch them, and small them. I've always loved the feel of a book in my hands, and so many new ones in one spot....ahhhh, heaven.

Tomorrow I get to be behind the scenes at the book fair. The PTO meeting was awful, but it did allow me to connect with the parent in charge, who were kind enough to let me volunteer some of my time this week. I honestly can not wait.

I'm off to pick an outfit.

"Some of my best friends in High School were Jewish"

We met with the music teacher today. The meeting went as well as we thought it would, which was not well at all. The title of this post was something he said to me as an attempt to befriend me. He then tried to tell me about a Jewish song he had written based on some psalm or other. I explained nicely that I had no knowledge of the psalms and that the only Jewish people I'd known in High School were my family. This was at the end of the meeting, but the entire thing had been a disaster, so it only amused me when he pulled it out of his "diversity" hat. Earlier in the meeting he had called Wendall "brother" and told him that it was great to see an African American doing so well.

The only good thing that came of the meeting was that the teacher had a minder, and the minder was visibly surprised by what she saw and heard. She rolled her eyes repeatedly and was friendly towards us the entire time, even asking him questions before we could. I know that he will never understand that what he did was wrong, but she did, and I think that she will give a full report to the principal. She did promise to find an official complaint form for us to fill out, and seemed willing to work with us until we are satisfied.

I made sure to let them both know that this was the latest in a line of things that I see as problems with the school. I also let them know that I would be attending PTO meetings and any advisory meeting I could find regarding the school. We were also very clear tat we had shared this story with fellow parents, and that we were letting people know how unhappy we are with the situation.

So that's it for the time being. The form should be in our hands within the next week. I will get the chance to introduce myself to the principal at the PTO meeting tomorrow night, and the fight will get to continue. This is not how I wanted to spend the boy's first grade year, but it is keeping me busy.

We have a meeting with the teacher tomorrow.

Blogger has decided that Korea might not need to be connected, so I have not been able to update. Hopefully I will be able to connect tomorrow.

After School Snack

After School Snack, originally uploaded by allysther.

The boy and I pass this vendor on our way home from school. He sells waffles and a red bean filled pancake shaped like a fish. I've seen him in the afternoon with no customers, but yesterday was a nice day, and he was swamped with kids and their parents. He was falling behind on production as we left

Song from music class

The boy told us that they sing this song in his music class. It even has hand movements.

Oh I’ve got a home in Glory Land
That outshines the sun
Oh I’ve got a home in Glory Land
That outshines the sun
Oh I’ve got a home in Glory Land
That outshines the sun
Way beyond the blue


Here's the problem. I googled the song (because alarm bells were ringing in my head) and found the rest of the lyrics. Here's the part that Eva Cassidy had in her version:

Oh do Lord, oh do Lord
Oh do you remember me?
Oh do Lord, oh do Lord
Oh do you remember me?
Oh do Lord, oh do Lord
Oh do you remember me?
Way beyond the blue

And here's the part that is included in the full version of this traditional folk (gospel) song:

I took Jesus as my savior, You take Him, too.
I took Jesus as my savior, You take Him, too.
I took Jesus as my savior, You take Him, too.
Look a way beyond the blue

Eva Cassidy's version is titled "Way Beyond the Blue", and is on the "Time After Time" album. The traditional version is called "Do Lord", and I found it on quite a few Christian albums and on a Johnny Cash album.

So...can I be done? Can I run away from this awful place? Is he too young for me to turn and fight this school?

I was good. I did not get upset when he sang the song for us. I did have him repeat it to be sure I was hearing him correctly. He says that they sing it at the beginning of every music class (once a week). The moment I heard the phrase "glory land" I knew it was a gospel song. I actually really like gospel music. I just don't think it has a place in a public school.

Any advice?

Who is Coming?

Who is coming?, originally uploaded by allysther.

The photo is a page from a story that the boy brought home as homework. It is possible that this might just be the thing I've liked best about his school so far.

I think the school photo thing was made ok. I talked to the photographer who took my check and promised to find the session. It should be fine.

I also stopped by the desk at the school library. The boy asked me to ask about a certain book which he thought he might like to read. He was not sure if he was allowed to check it out. I asked the librarian and was told that he would be encouraged to leave it for another student as it was beyond his reading level. First graders are only allowed one book at a time and the book should be at their reading level, because "why would they bring home a book that they could not read?" I replied "Because their parents could read it for them!"

The library did not open at all until late September, and until it was open the kids were not allowed to touch any of the books. It looks like most of the library is off limits to a large portion of the kids, and the boy is disappointed. So am I.

This week is the anti-drug week at school, which means it was the perfect time for the elder Wendall's latest project to be delivered. He is going to try his hand at home brewing. After sitting through a lecture from his son he will set up his Mr Beer kit in the spare room. It should be fun, and will be a good alternative to spending $10 for a German beer downtown.

School Issues

I still don't like the boy's teacher. I just don't think she is a good teacher, and I'm starting to wonder if she is a good person to be around young kids. Let me be specific about this. I do not think she is a bad person. Not dangerous or harmful in any way, just ill suited to her job. I could never be a first grade teacher, and I know it. I am too set in my ways, would want the kids to behave in ways that six year old children find difficult, and would really really just want to have a few moments to myself. I think she is the same.

Friday was popcorn day. The entire school was invited to purchase popcorn at 50 cents a bag. The sale was a fund raiser for the Parent Teacher Organization and it was run by the parent of one of her students. She told her students that they were not allowed to purchase popcorn. She did not want them to be distracted by the thought of popcorn in their bags. Most teachers have a rule in place where students must wait until they are at home before they are allowed to eat their popcorn. Instead, her students went home with no popcorn, but just as much distraction. It was the first thing the boy told me when I asked him about his day.

Today was picture day. Will any of you get pictures? I don't know. I sent the boy with money, but she did not collect the money from the students. She did not even ask about the money. Tomorrow I will walk to the school, find the photographer, and ask if it is still possible to order the prints. The form clearly states that no money on the day of the photo = no prints, but I will stay hopeful. But what kind of first grade teacher allows her students to go to the school photographer without at least reminding them that they should bring the money?

There are other issues. I will leave them for now. These are the two which are upsetting me today. Parent teacher meetings are in three weeks. I dread dealing with her, but I am very interested in what she has to say about the boy. In our eyes he is making great progress. I hope she sees it the same way.

Ancient Chinese Warrior

Ancient Chinese Warrior, originally uploaded by allysther.

Click on the photo for the whole story.

TargetCat and I spent a wonderful morning excavating this ancient Chinese warrior. He now stands proudly on the boy's dresser, and is one of his favorite things ever.

A huge thank you goes out to the clever Auntie who sent this to us.

Hooters concert, 3 October 1987

Hooters concert, 1987, originally uploaded by allysther.

Twenty years go fast, don't they?

Yellow Belt

Yellow Belt, originally uploaded by Zanla.

YAY!!!!!

The boy is looking dapper in his 도복 dobok (uniform) and his brand new yellow ti (belt). It was a wonderful surprise, but showed his dedication. He attends a one hour Taekwondo class five days a week, and is really enjoying himself. Look at the smile on his face!

Thanks to Wendall for getting such a great shot of the boy.

Update on the school situation

Things are better, but still not good. The teacher obviously dislikes me, and I believe she does as little as possible with the boy. He is bringing home 4 to 5 sheets of homework per day, and the work is getting harder, which is good, but it still isn't what we wish he was doing.

The really good news is that his reading has improved a great deal in the past two weeks. I do believe he is learning something with this teacher. I still wish there was an alternative t leaving him in her classroom, but I have not found one, so he will stay there for now.

Testing something new.

National Museum of Korea

Museum interior, originally uploaded by allysther.

The boy and I walked over to the museum and spent the day being wowed. It is a beautiful space.

School stuff

We met with the teacher on Friday. She will never like me but I think she and the boy will be fine together, and we have decided to keep him in the class. I talked to as many parents as I could before we made the decision, and also spoke with the boy. We think we have made the best decision possible.

I don't have time to go into it here, so if you want more detail, please go to my LiveJournal page. I tend to write more over there, so you can catch up on other things, too.

The main thing is that all is well, and that the boy is happy.


In other news, the boy is taking Taekwando. He has class five days a week, for an hour each day. He is really enjoying it, and it is great that he comes home tired. The class is not terribly structured, but he has learned a few things, and he will be able to take this knowledge further if he wants to. Of course it does not help thatthe class is in Korean, but he attends with a boy who is bilingual, and who translates for the handful of English only kids in the class.

We will be meeting with the boy's teacher tomorrow afternoon. I think this can be resolved and I hope it can be done without making him switch classes, but I have a feeling that I will never actually like this teacher.

I've talked to some of the other parents in the class. I am not the only one to have a reaction to her, but the others have had an easier time shaking it off and moving on. I will do my best to do the same. I have had parents tell me that they would love to have their child in her class, and I have not heard that bout any other teacher. I have not heard much about the other teachers, which has me wondering.

The boy has been complaining that he has no friends, and that no one wants to play with him. Today he asked me to write a letter to his teacher asking her to do something about it. It is hard to explain to him that his personality is much like mine, and that casual friendships are difficult for me (and I believe for him, as well.) His friendships have all been very intense, and have run deep. They have also all been with children either older than him or different in some way, or both. There is not much I can do for him until he finds "the one" here.

Blue Horse

Blue Horse, originally uploaded by allysther.