The black background really makes all those colors work! I also love the grey table. VERY lovely use of roses/flowers!! Right on! Carol

When I was in school, 30-40 per class was very normal. And I feel fortunate that I was in large classes. Teachers cared about teaching and we came out able to read, write, punctuate and construct at least a semi-coherent sentence, add, subtract, multiply and divide, and all without having to use a computer or calculator. Oh, and you'd better show your work! Unfortunately I'd lose credit because I could add two or three two-digit numbers in my head. Today it seems like, unless they had a calculator, kids would have to take off their shoes and drop their pants to count to 21! I worked for a school district for seven years and watched the decline of education. It was disgusting. Seems to me we need to start cutting education funding. Make them do more instead of have more. Concentrate on teaching instead of babysitting. An analog clock was a teaching device in years past, but can't do that anymore. Can kids tell time unless it's digital? A GOOD teacher is worth their weight in gold. Unfortunately, there's getting to be so few. And of course the lack of parenting further complicates things and makes for a vicious circle. I can forgive teachers being frustrated when they're not allowed to teach, or when they're expected to do things they shouldn't have to be doing. But when they're more concerned about more time off (from a six month job), than doing what they're supposed to, I start becoming annoyed. And yes, drugging the kids because they refuse to parent. Everyone has to have an excuse these days. They're not brats, they're ADD, and so on and so on. And I'm so sick of this I'm not going to raise my kids like my parents raised me... I got (insert discipline here)... Better stop here before the FGs throw a temper tantrum.

I am a teacher and love getting gifts no matter how small or silly. It feels so good to be appreciated. I am a music teacher, so I don't get large presents or often, but usually 5 or six kids will bring something and it makes my day. My favorites include a heartfelt note written by the kid or parent, HEALTHY food gifts like a soup mix or fruit, gift cards to half price books (they go further there), cool magnets for my whiteboard, a nice pen or other practical classroom items. One mom embroidered a tote bag with my name and that was really cool. Another bought a bunch of inexpensive plants from Home Depot (think 6-packs) potted them in baby food jars and tied on a pretty ribbon. She had one for the librarian, principal, etc. and they said Thanks for helping me grow. Not very expensive or time consuming, but so special. No, I don't feel badly towards kids who bring nothing, that is really the norm, but a cute little gift will cheer me up and probably make me a better teacher that day. Honestly, though, when a child draws a picture of me holding his hand - well, that is just as special and uplifting.

I met with his teacher last week. All in all it went well. I let her know I felt he had too much homework, and that I thought for his age 30 min a night was sufficient. She said that she did not think the work she was sending home took much longer than that. The next day my son had minimal homework! I got his progress reports the next day and his grades were better than they had been. Not sure what changed, but I will welcome the change! I think that with me coming in and talking to her it made her not admit any wrong to me, but maybe made her realize her mistakes and correct them! I talked to her about the bullying issues my son has seen and experienced there, she said she would keep and extra eye on the kids and warn lunch supervisors. Unfortunately the same child did bother my son on Friday, saying nasty things to him in gym class. Then at the end of the day the child kicked my son. My son said he told classroom teacher about the kid being mean in gym class and she said to tell the gym teacher Monday. He did not get a chance to tell her about he kick since it happened at the end of the day. I called the principal and left her a voicemail after my son told me. I am going to try to meet with her. The school has a policy about talking meanly to eachother, if my son was to say something nasty back to the child he could get in trouble as well-so he has been good about walking away and ignoring the child. But it bothers my son that it keeps happening, and he says this kid teases lots of kids. Anyways, thanks for all your advice!