Orting News Answer Poll

Comment #38: I agree with comment # 35. Parents should have input into which teacher their child has. I don't think that this issue is as black and white as it first appears. There are other things to consider when an administrator is filling a class. They have to take into consideration the class size, make up of boys vs girls, and the number of high needs children in a class to name a few. Also, parents often choose teachers based on advise from friends, which I believe is not okay. What is great for one child is not necessarily great for another. Parents should have the opportunity to visit classrooms and observe teachers, if that is what the want to do, but this also has to be done carefully as to not disrupt the teaching. Also, a 10-20 minute observation really tells you nothing. The most critical piece to your child having a successful year is the communication between the parent and the teacher. It is the parents job to communicate to the teacher the things they think are important for their child's teacher to know about their child. It is the teachers job to listen to the parent, as they were the first teacher. But remember, teachers have specialized training and experience in the area of education of children. Communication, communication, communication!!!

Comment #37: The school board members and school district administration should make these choices, and we should make our opinions known to them. There is too much room for trouble if we were to vote, for example, on specific candidates.

Comment #36: Good teachers and the not so good teachers are talked about. We should have a say in which ones are teaching our kids.

Comment #35: I believe that Orting School District does a great job listening to parent input. They want to place the children where they will have the best experience. I wish instead only a YES and NO option on this poll, there had been an option which said "Parents should be able to have an open, respectful dialogue with the District about their child's needs" I would have checked that box!

Comment #34: I believe that Orting School District does a great job listening to parent input. They want to place the children where they will have the best experience. I wish instead only a YES and NO option on this poll, there had been an option which said "Parents should be able to have an open, respectful dialogue with the District about their child's needs" I would have checked that box!

Comment #33: I have not yet chose to select my child's teacher, but would in the future if I felt there were reason to. I was not altogether pleased with our teacher this year and the effect of their teaching on my son's love for learning.

Comment #32: only if there is an irreconcilable difference between parent & teacher in regards to the best interests of the child. there's no way to adequately teach when teaching becomes a popularity contest. sometimes parents are offered an opportunity to teach their children about relationships/conflict-resolution...

Comment #31: only if there is an irreconcilable difference between parent & teacher in regards to the best interests of the child. there's no way to adequately teach when teaching becomes a popularity contest. sometimes parents are offered an opportunity to teach their children about relationships/conflict-resolution...

Comment #30: I'd prefer to select my child's teacher. The parent would know what type of teacher would interact best with their child. I've lucked out with my child's teacher. My child has Mr Bloomquist at Partnership school and he's absolutely THE BEST!...and we get to keep him for 3 years...6th, 7th & 8th grade)!!!

Comment #29: I think we should have a say who is teaching our children.

Comment #28: Responding to comment #14 - Our current principal at PTR is NOT doing away with parent input. A combination of parent and current teacher input is being used to place students for next year. Lets say you have 500 students and 80% of the families want 5 teachers. Do you really want to have those class sizes for your child? Because if your request is accomodated then all requests should be too. The reality is every effort is made to have balanced classes, boys, girls, academic ranges, teaching and learning styles, you know kind of like the real world. You need to talk with your students teacher if you would like to give input for next year and please make sure you get all of the facts. Also comment #25 if you are concerned about coaching does that mean you are willing to apply for the position? Are you as concerned with education as you are about sports? Wasn't this a question about TEACHERS?

Comment #27: I believe parents always know what's best for their children and allowing parents to meet and choose their child's teacher would greatly benefit their child. Every child learns a little differently and every teachers' teaching style is different. I believe when parents, teachers and students all agree with the best way to teach that child, then success happens. Unfortunately, too many kids are placed in classrooms with teachers that don't teach to their learning style and the student suffers because of it. Parents should definately have a say in WHO is teaching their child. I believe this would be a Positive experience for everyone involved.

Comment #26: I feel the teachers in the Orting School District are some of the best that I have come across. My children transferred from the Puyallup Distict to the Orting, and I am beyond please. My son is (soon to be was) under an IEP, the Orting Teachers have from day one started working a plan to have my son work his way out from under the IEP and to graduate without one. He is well on his way, this is our 3 year in the District and love everyone of the faculty we have encountered. I am pleased and impressed with the staffing of our teachers and competent in the abilities.

Comment #25: I think the community should have a say in who teaches/coaches in the schools. however that is not an easy process to accomplish, what is sad is an administration that has no clue what is going on with the athletic director who does what ever he wants with out no accountablilty other than getting his view without any follow up, just taking him at his word. we have a school versus community mentality and sad to say have coaches with no clue coaching in some of the sports. when confronted there is just this "we will listen but not do anything mentality" how does a coach win 25% of his league games in four years and with nonone monitoring him happen!! the school rewards him with another year? go figure. worse yet the community is told he has had no complaints against him before this year, when in fact a referee called and complained a principle, and parents have called into complain and we are told he has had no complaints. I don't think we are getting the truth!

Comment #24: I have always requested teachers that my son has had. If my child can not get into that teachers class that is okay. The key to having good teachers is the communication between parents and teachers to help the teacher understand their child because yes everyone does learn different and better communication is definately the key to every teachers and every parents success story. But I may add to help the school district take the opperatunity to speak with the priciple or the assistant principles about your concerns as well and state any problems that your child may be telling you. All can be taken care of adult like. Have Faith in the system it works.

Comment #23: All children do learn differently. The teacher who has spent the past year with your child knows them not only socially but academically. Choosing a teacher based on someone elses's experience and another child's experience is poor criteria. Nobody is telling us we can't have input, they are telling us we don't make the final choice, the staff does. I'm fine with that! We have a small district full of great teachers. If you start a school year and have problems address them then. Don't create them before the year has begun!

Comment #22: To comment #1 who's definition of "bad" do you plan on using yours, the dictionary, or a combination? Please tell me what qualifies you to determine if a teacher is bad? I know I don't have that training. Remember that kids at times will request teachers because they have heard that they are "easy". The school and the parents need to work together to do what is best for the child.

Comment #21: It's a nice idea, but I'm sure the class sizes would not be balanced. Kids would be moved around and parent's unhappy. You can request a certain teacher. I have done so to keep my kids away from other children that I do not want my child to have contact with, and the request has never been turned down.

Comment #20: Yes we should be able to select a teacher. I believe that all children learn differently and if we have a teacher that has impacted our childrens lives then we should be able to choose that teacher for our children. School for most children is a difficult place and if they have a teacher that they can connect with then they will learn more due to a comfortable classroom environment.

Comment #19: Before my daughter attended preschool, I would not have known how to respond to this question. Now I can say that all children learn differently and it is essential that our children be taught by the kind of teacher with whom they can connect and feel most comfortable with.

Comment #18: I believe parents should have input in matching their students' learning styles, personalities and interests to teachers' - but not final say. It's important to balance classrooms and for kids to learn how to deal and succeed with less than ideal situations. That being said, I have made the choice of the Partnership School for my sons because I appreciate the collaboration between the teachers that allows them to know the students better (even in different classrooms); the input parents have into the functioning of the school; and the commitment required by kids, parents, teachers and administrators to the success of each student and the school as a whole.

Comment #17: Some kids spend more time with their teachers then they do with their parents. Absolutely, we should select who our kids are with the majority of the day. Parents choose daycares, babysitters ect. It should not be out of our hands just because they go to public school.

Comment #16: Yes.....Yes....Yes......And we are fortunate that at the Orting Partnership School we not only get to know our Teachers in advance but the Teachers already know our kids....We don't have to wait to find out....they are already a part of our family. ;)

Comment #15: I hope the Superintendent is reading this as the new principal at PTR is cutting the parents off from this process. Her style of leadership seems to be divide and conquer. That's divide the students from the parents and then conquer their little minds. Her condesending approach in the community is bad for our schools.

Comment #14: Yes I think we should have input. Because the bottom line is that the child is mine and I know what is best for him/her. Some teachers are better than others. My son had several teachers he should never have been put in the same room with starting in the 3rd grade. ( when he wouldn't want to go to school I asked her if there was a personality problem or anything like that. She responded that she didn't feel there was a problem because she hardly talked to the kid) Yes my son would of been better off if he had never had 2 of the teachers he was put with. The only reason he went to school as long as he did was Joann Tracy. She brought out the good in him by not making the main object the bad in him. She got through to him on some level and made life alot better for him amd me. If teachers don't get requested and are struggling then maybe, like every other job out there. their performance should be evaluated and maybe they should be let go so that we could hire a new teacher that would have a performance that would have just as many parents requesting them. I'm also tired of hearing that all teachers care and they are not in it for the money---then why aren't the strikes for more caring time and not for more money?

Comment #13: As a parent and a teacher, I have seen first-hand what this process does to classrooms. The parents who usually take the time to select a certain teacher (be it on the basis of rumors, detective work, attending the same church or on the same soccer team, etc.), create extremely unbalanced classes for the other teachers who don't get as many requests. Those same parents are more likely to be involved in their children's schooling...volunteering for in-class and out-of-class activities...while the teachers who get the least amount of requests are usually left with children who don't have as much support and tend to have more behavioral problems, little to no parental support, and academically lower students. There are many highly-qualified and excellent teachers. Each one is unique. Each does the best they can with the limited time, supplies, curriculum, etc. Some are "better" or "worse." I believe that despite having a weak teacher or two growing up, I turned out just fine...as I'm sure most people did. My parents never "rescued" me or hand-picked a teacher. They taught me to do my very best and THEY spent time with ME when I didn't "get" something. They never expected every teacher to know everything. Yet there was RESPECT given to teachers due to experience. Sometimes it's good for kids to be in an unfamiliar classroom, with kids they don't know as well...it's a future survival skill of daily adult life--a life lesson, if you will.

Comment #12: I don't know many parents who are not concerned with whom they leave their children. I've had children in the Orting School district for 13 years with still 8 more years to go. If you pay attention you quickly learn what teachers are just doing their time, which ones are good and who the great one's are. I feel very fortunate to have my children in Orting's Partnership School, not only do the parents have input when a new teacher is selected, but we are welcomed into the classroom to participate in our childrens education.

Comment #11: It is important I know the teacher of my child, he/she allows me to volunteer in the classroom, and their best interest is for my child and other children in the classroom. I also feel that teaching is a call. They do not do it for the money but for the love they share of learning and being a part of our future. I feel teachers do not intent to be what some have considered "bad" they can be "bad" elsewhere and make more money with less politics, and they would not have to deal with us crazy parents. My heart goes out to every teacher! I have also checked out the Partnership School and have seen how wonderful the teachers are. They are def. setting the bar for OSD.

Comment #10: I definatly feel that parent should have the option to request a particular teacher for their child. I do however think that this should not be the only input into the decision. The childs current teacher should also weigh in on the decision. Parents should know thier children best and therefore should have some input into the process. I have also made the choice for my children to attend the Partnership School and have been extreemly happy that I took the time to reasearch this valuable asset to our community. For those families that want to be involved in their childs education it is a welcoming option open to all children in the Orting School District. We have 4 multi-age classrooms that interact and participate together to form an unique educational community that many children will thrive in. It is not for all children but it is a valuable choice for many in our community.

Comment #9: It makes a big difference in, who the teacher is, how they teach and what type of classroom setting my child is in. I know what my child likes and needs and if I can help select my child's teacher, then I will know that they will have a good and fun school year.

Comment #8: I have to second the Partnership School. Same teacher for two years, multi-age classrooms and the family type environment that comes with a small school. Not to mention the unique field experiences that all grades get to participate in each year!

Comment #7: You should definately necessary for you to have input in your childs educators. Teachers have different teaching styles. When you know your child will not be successful with a certain teachers style...you need to speak up and have the right to be heard. I think the district has to go through and assign the numbers for even ratios etc. but need to listen when a parent has a concern for the learning style of their child. The administrators should know the learning styles of their teachers and therefore be able to recognize a legitimate rational as opposed to just I want the popular teacher! Reading the comments also---there is no question in my mind that the union has protected staff who should be GONE at the expense of children they did NOT teach..........

Comment #6: It is a great opportunity at the Orting Partnership School - a choice Kindergarten thru 8th grade school within the Orting School District - that we have already built a bond with our child's next year's Teacher. They've had the opportunity to visit that classroom and that Teacher knows your student and the family because of the great collaboration within the 4 Teachers that teach at the Partnership School. The student feels comfortable right from the start.....because they know what to expect in that classroom. It is like a one-room school house feeling.....and what schools these days are reverting back to. Staying in one classroom for 2 to 3 years....starting out as the younger child and learning from their peers and then the next year they are the older child in the multi-age class teaching and reading to the younger student. If you have any more questions or would like a tour of this school - please call our Principal Jerry Black @ 893 7047 ext 1. So I say YES it is an opportunity that the Partnership School already provides to families to be able to know who their child's teacher will be for the next year and years to come until 8th grade!

Comment #5: You should be able to give "input"

Comment #4: A parent should be able to make a request for a specific teacher. A parent should have the option to put in their request to the group making the decision and have that request weight as heavily as that of the child's current teacher or of the group making the decision. I also feel that a school and classroom should be open to the parents in the form of a volunteer. A teacher having the option to not allow any parent volunteers in the classroom or from observing the classroom should not happen in a public school.

Comment #3: A parent should be able to make a request for a specific teacher. A parent should have the option to put in their request to the group making the decision and have that request weight as heavily as that of the child's current teacher or of the group making the decision. I also feel that a school and classroom should be open to the parents in the form of a volunteer. A teacher having the option to not allow any parent volunteers in the classroom or from observing the classroom should not happen in a public school.

Comment #2: A parent should be able to make a request for a specific teacher. A parent should have the option to put in their request to the group making the decision and have that request weight as heavily as that of the child's current teacher or of the group making the decision. I also feel that a school and classroom should be open to the parents in the form of a volunteer. A teacher having the option to not allow any parent volunteers in the classroom or from observing the classroom should not happen in a public school.

Comment #1: The Union needs to get out so you can fire bad teacher and Orting has a lot of them, Also the same for coaches.