It’s been two days and I am still seething. The Home Economics essay issue was further aggravated by problems with the Math teacher who seem to find pleasure in terrorizing fifth graders. I’ve kept my cool for three months and I have had enough shit from this bitch. I have requested a one-on-one conference and, if she does not agree to meet with me, she will be sorry. My daughter has an average of 85% in all subjects, except Math. And I know it isn’t because she does not know the lessons. I do her assignments with her and I know that she knows her lessons. The problem is that she freezes the moment she is inside her classroom. And that is an issue that I will settle with that teacher.

I do not understand what is happening with our educational system. My kids hardly have time to rest and play when they get home from school. They arrive at 4.00 p.m., eat a snack, watch some TV for about half an hour and then we start on their homework. On really bad days, we finish at around 10.00 p.m. What the hell are these schools doing to our kids? And to us parents? What the hell do they think they’re doing passing on to us parents more and more of their responsibilities? When I asked them why the lessons did not get finished in school, my kids told me that there were days when they hardly had lessons–they were just practising for the school program or for the intramurals. Shit! And I was supposed to make sure that they were prepared for their quizzes and exams? Like, I was the one who’s supposed to feel guilty and insecure if they got low grades? Like I didn’t do enough? I am not the teacher, for chrissakes! I am supposed to support and do some follow-throughs, not take over the responsibilities of teaching!

The amount of homework keeps rising.

The quality of teaching keeps plummeting.

We’re going to the dogs.