Grrrr....Teacher Vent

[Honey81808]

Whatever! I have no doubt that I would be supported. Not the slightest. Students here are graded on their work, not by the name that the teacher decides she wants on the paper. Talk about power tripping nonsense.

My son will learn that:

A) He has a say in his life.
B) His parents will back him up on matters that are important to him

and the school will learn that:

C) A parent decides what her child is named and how he will be addressed.

Principal is going to support the teacher. Otherwise the union steps in. You're not going to win. As for (C)well then maybe Storm should have been his first name from the jump. or changed earlier on to eliminate a problem. It's high school though and you can't keep "fixing" his problems. As a parent you are teaching him to not respect authority IMHO. Whats the problem with being called Alexander, in one class? Honestly weigh the options. Can your son really not stand it that much. For lack of a better phrase can't he "suck it up?"

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

There is a Storm Davis weatherman in MD. Did you realize that?

I'd heard of a meteorologist named Storm but I thought he was from the NY/NJ area. There's no Storm Davis on TV in the DC area that I know of.

My stepsister, who is the same age as my son, is named Hannah. We chuckled when we realized that their names together were Hannah Storm. Isn't she a sportscaster or reporter of some sort?

 

[declansdad]

As a teacher I call students by the name they request HOWEVER whats so bad about his first name that he doesn't like using it. Also your son is in the 9th grade and while I can see that as a parent it bothers you do you really think it's helping having you involved in something as petty as what name he is being called or is using? You can't helicopter him in High School let him fight this battle himself. The teacher will have more respect for him and you. I would find Storm to be a bit weird in my classroom unless he was an African queen that could control the weather. I'm not making fun but does your son wan to be an Indy wrestler or something? Storm is NOT a very professional name.

It's his name wether you think it is professional or not. Since he is in grade 9, I don't think professionalism is an issue.

The op didn't fight his battles and this is not helicopter parenting. He tried to deal with the teacher but was not succesful. At this point there is nothing wrong with Mom stepping in.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

For lack of a better phrase can't he "suck it up?"

I'm sure he could, but he chooses not to. You seem to feel that conformity is extremely important. We teach him that it isn't.

Maybe the teaching world you reside in is different, but there are strict regulations about grades here in my county. There are no arbitrary deductions. If he writes Storm Lastname and a teacher deducted points because he didn't write Alexander Lastname, the teacher would likely be reprimanded and the points would definitely be restored.

 

[declansdad]

I just think that parents need to get back to normal names. Storm ESQ? Dr. Storm? Come on. I feel like naming a child is a big deal. Have we as a society lost that? I really hope not. Whats wrong with John, Franklin, Alex? There is a difference between different and just over the top. I would do what the teacher says other wise Storm is going to have a rough weathered four years. I'm not trying to be mean but teachers SOSOSOO label students like this. The fact that he's in the ninth grade and mommy is fighting this battle for him...they are going to label him. FYI be prepared. GL

Oh please, don't try to speak for all teachers.

 

[GJM]

I love the name Storm - and I think the teacher is just being difficult. It isn't a nickname it is a given name.

Yes, there is a Storm Fields that is a weatherman in NY!

 

[disney junky]

I had a Storm two years ago. Legal, given, first name.

 

[disney junky]

Oh please, don't try to speak for all teachers.

I was thinking that too. But then I started thinking perhaps a troll had invaded this thread....

 

[RitaE]

A teacher's union does not generally "step in" unless disciplinary action is taken against a teacher. It is highly doubtful that disciplinary action will ever occur in this case. The Mother will confirm that Storm is the legal name, the Principal will if necessary confirm that Storm is the legal name and that should be the end of the matter.

BTW, if you use your wonderful reading comprehension skills you will discover that the child is not "dictating" his name here. He is requesting that the Teacher call him by his name and not the name that the Teacher has decided he should have.

As for what the other teachers will think, there will be a high majority of them that will recognize this teacher for what he is acting like -- a senseless control freak who is pulling a needless power play on a kid just because he thinks he can. They may not tell him so to his face, but they will talk amongst themselves and he will start to build his own reputation.

There are plenty of intelligent teachers after all and that Teacher's Lounge is not reserved solely for gossiping about students.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

I had a Storm two years ago. Legal, given, first name.

Aw man, now we need to get him to change his name to something even weirder.

 

[dimimi]

I teach at a high school. On the first day of school I read the names on my class list. Jennifer, Michael, Samuel, etc. Each child is asked to tell us what he would ike to be called...Jenny, Mike, etc. This isn't a problem! Now, if a teacher had a problem like you described...and a parent called and said what you are going to say....The child would be called "Storm." End of story!

I wish I could teach and having nothing to worry about except bugging some kid about his name. Stick to your plan...it's a good one!

 

[Sandy V.]

Principal is going to support the teacher. Otherwise the union steps in. You're not going to win. As for (C)well then maybe Storm should have been his first name from the jump. or changed earlier on to eliminate a problem. It's high school though and you can't keep "fixing" his problems. As a parent you are teaching him to not respect authority IMHO. Whats the problem with being called Alexander, in one class? Honestly weigh the options. Can your son really not stand it that much. For lack of a better phrase can't he "suck it up?"

You're SURE that the principal is going to support the teacher on this one? Wanna take bets on that?

This is definitely NOT a union concern; this is a day-to-day administrative matter well within the principal's realm of control. And the day that a teacher makes the rules as to what a child's name is going to be is the day that the schoolhouse roof should cave in and close the place. Additionally, any teacher who runs to the union steward to complain about being "forced" to call a kid by HIS NAME has more control issues than I can even begin to address on a chat forum.

I realize you're a teacher, but it seems pretty likely from your posts that you're not also a parent. You honestly have no idea about what an amazing force one really pissed off (and yet reasonable) parent can be, and how quickly a school administration will often bend over backwards to make things right.

Teachers are there to TEACH, not to install insane rules in their classroom that have no bearing on education, respect, work ethic, or discipline. Power plays don't count as any of that.

 

[disney junky]

Whatever! I have no doubt that I would be supported. Not the slightest. Students here are graded on their work, not by the name that the teacher decides she wants on the paper. Talk about power tripping nonsense.

My son will learn that:

A) He has a say in his life.
B) His parents will back him up on matters that are important to him

and the school will learn that:

C) A parent decides what her child is named and how he will be addressed.

 

[Honey81808]

9th grade does begin his professional career. Everything from now untll 11th grade is going to watched and reported if he plans to go to college this is not the way to start off. Conformity is a way of life living in the USA you conform everyday and you sit back and you enjoy it.
Your statement of, "we don't teach conformity"...hahah the real world is going to be a hard smack in the face for your child if you don't. I'm not sying bend over backwards because yes for the big things you should fight back if there is an injustice on you. But to make a big stink about a name. REALLY? And YES a teacher can take points off whether you thing so our not. Participation grade, effort, behavior. Those all hold a weight in class and 1% can be the difference between and B and a C.

 

[disney junky]

There used to be a weatherman in Binghamton, NY whose name was Skip Church, and I did go to college with a girl named April Showers.....since names are being discussed.

 

[disney junky]

9th grade does begin his professional career. Everything from now untll 11th grade is going to watched and reported if he plans to go to college this is not the way to start off. Conformity is a way of life living in the USA you conform everyday and you sit back and you enjoy it.
Your statement of, "we don't teach conformity"...hahah the real world is going to be a hard smack in the face for your child if you don't. I'm not sying bend over backwards because yes for the big things you should fight back if there is an injustice on you. But to make a big stink about a name. REALLY? And YES a teacher can take points off whether you thing so our not. Participation grade, effort, behavior. Those all hold a weight in class and 1% can be the difference between and B and a C.

It is illegal to deduct points for behavior. I know. I went to principal college!!! An academic grade is that and that only. The closest you can get to anything remotely close to your claims is work handed in late, and that must be prefaced with a clearly stated policy at the beginning of the school term. Look it up....

 

[Honey81808]

It's not like the teacher is giving the child a new name, he is calling him by his mother and father given FIRST NAME. Also I know in MA if a principal tried to tell a teacher to change a rule in his or her class, the teacher would have a union rep next to you in 2 seconds. That's a BIG no no here. I guess MA is one of those states that still believes that a teachers classroom is his/her on and what they want as long as it's not illegal, is the rule. I know my principal would tell the parent that the teacher has the final say. Otherwise when would the rants of angry parents stop?

 

[declansdad]

9th grade does begin his professional career. Everything from now untll 11th grade is going to watched and reported if he plans to go to college this is not the way to start off. Conformity is a way of life living in the USA you conform everyday and you sit back and you enjoy it.
Your statement of, "we don't teach conformity"...hahah the real world is going to be a hard smack in the face for your child if you don't. I'm not sying bend over backwards because yes for the big things you should fight back if there is an injustice on you. But to make a big stink about a name. REALLY? And YES a teacher can take points off whether you thing so our not. Participation grade, effort, behavior. Those all hold a weight in class and 1% can be the difference between and B and a C.

So how would like to have your students and peers use a name for you besides your given name.

 

[RitaE]

9th grade does begin his professional career. Everything from now untll 11th grade is going to watched and reported if he plans to go to college this is not the way to start off. Conformity is a way of life living in the USA you conform everyday and you sit back and you enjoy it.
Your statement of, "we don't teach conformity"...hahah the real world is going to be a hard smack in the face for your child if you don't. I'm not sying bend over backwards because yes for the big things you should fight back if there is an injustice on you. But to make a big stink about a name. REALLY? And YES a teacher can take points off whether you thing so our not. Participation grade, effort, behavior. Those all hold a weight in class and 1% can be the difference between and B and a C.

gee -- how in the world did I ever make it through High School, College, an MBA, and a CPA license with my rebel nonconforming nature? BTW Honey, I've worked in 3 piece suits in really tall buildings with persons named much more outlandish things than Storm, and no they were not serving the coffee either. I'm not quite sure where you got that idea. In fact, the first person from my college graduating class to be promoted in the Accounting firm was a 39 year old ex-hippy chick that spent the first 18 years of her "professional life" training dolphins on a Kibbutz in Isreal. I'm honestly not sure why she ever decided to be an Accountant, but she sure as heck isn't a conformist.

 

[MushyMushy]

I was thinking that too. But then I started thinking perhaps a troll had invaded this thread....

I suspect you're right.