Do you have a question for me?

If you have an education question, post it here. You can post with your name or post anonymously.

Just click on the word "comment" next to the picture of an envelope at the bottom of this post, or click "post a comment," and follow the directions. I will try to help and our readers may post comments to help as well.

Your questions, without names, may be included in my OC Register column which runs every Wednesday on page 2 of the Local section.

You can also email me directly to goasktheteacher@yahoo.com or for South Orange County readers, you can email me at southocteacher@yahoo.com

Comment on this week's column

My column runs every Wednesday in the local section and on Thursdays and Fridays in the local South Orange County papers. Let me know what you think of my column this week and post comments (you can leave your name or post anonymously). Mention the topic.

Teacher Taking Out Religious Songs in Holiday Concert

My child’s school is putting on a holiday concert. My main complaint is the way the music teacher plans to celebrate every ethnic holiday without celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. He is planning to sing the dreidel song, a song about poinsettias for Las Posadas, a song about Kwanza, and then “Santa Clause is Coming to Town”. When I suggested “Away in a Manger”, he said that he was sticking with his original program. It is either a time to recognize all holidays or it isn’t.

Teachers work hard to find an acceptable balance while still tapping into the fun of the holidays for all children. I have a feeling your question will stir quite a reaction, both from those who agree with you and those who don’t, but I must admit that I feel for the teacher in all of this. His is a tough job: please everyone. As much as I am sure he would like to, it just isn’t possible.

Your music teacher is obviously trying to touch upon those holidays celebrated by all children. Rather than focusing on what he isn’t including, look at what he is. The dreidel song does not address the religious significance of Hanukkah, it is a song about something children play with as the holiday approaches. The Santa Clause song is a fun staple many children associate with the Christmas holiday. These titles suggest to me that we are talking about very young children who just need a chance to sing and learn about celebrations.

The difference between a Charter school and a Public School

What is the difference between a charter school and a public school?

A charter school is still a public school, but it does not report to a district board of education. Charter schools are like little self-made districts. A group of people - parents, teachers, administrators, entrepreneurs, or some combination thereof - gets together to write a charter plan. These plans often include high standards for accountability and a unique or particular academic focus like science and technology or the arts. If the state approves the plan, the school is directly funded on a per pupil basis. Charter schools can accept students from near and far, but they are not supposed to discriminate against any one group of people. Tuition cannot be charged to students attending these charter schools either, but sometimes these schools ask parents for ‘donations.’ Parents and students choose to attend schools such as these, they apply for admission and adhere to the rules and regulations set forth, and this contributes to the success of the programs.

How to Choose a Preschool (San Clemente Question)

Can’t There are so many options and we recently moved to San Clemente. How does one choose a preschool from the myriad of choices???

Choosing your child’s first school is difficult for more reasons than one. If you are new to an area and cannot rely on recommendations from friends and family, make an effort to reach out to other parents. Try to find a mom’s club in your area. Also, walk right up to parents at the park, church, or in the mall, and ask them where their children go to school. For the most part, you will find parents willing to share their experiences and their tricks of the trade. We are all new moms once, and others will reach out to help you find answers to questions we all ask.

After you receive some recommendations, plan to visit several schools. There are preschools and child development centers linked to churches, community colleges, and universities. Then there are independent schools. Each environment is unique and you will find one that suits your child.

When you visit, schedule a tour and plan to ask questions at the end. Make sure the facilities are clean, safe, and adequate for the amount of children in attendance. Stop when you are in the classroom and watch how the staff interacts with the children.

After the tour, have your questions ready (you might even want to have a notepad so you’ll remember to ask everything and perhaps take notes). Ask if the school is licensed and accredited. Licensing covers the minimum health and safety guidelines, but accreditation means the school has achieved a higher level of quality. Jot down what the student-teacher ratio is and compare it to the schools you visit. Always make a mental note of how the children function in the classroom and compare this to the ratios. Sometimes schools will claim low student-teacher ratios, but there are way too many kids in one room even if there are several adults. You want adequate space with low student teacher ratios. Inquire as to the teachers and don’t be shy. Ask how long the teachers have worked at the school, what the turnover rate is, and what type of schooling is required of the staff. Make sure to get a list of fees, hours, and schedules. Before you leave, ask what the teaching, discipline, and learning philosophies are and compare the answers to what you saw on your tour.

When you get a warm, fuzzy feeling about a school, and you have done your research, you will know you have found the right place.

Charity Taught in the Public School Classroom

My daughter’s teacher deserves some kind of medal. She proposed a project to her fifth grade students, and it ended up changing our family. All of the kids decided to raise money to buy presents for abused and abandoned children. The teacher proposed fundraisers like car washes, cookie sales, even housecleaning (all to be done by the children). My daughter offered to clean the houses of three of my friends and was able to contribute $75 from this alone. My daughter even asked if I would spend half of the money I was going to spend on her (she still wanted a few gifts herself) and give the other half to the cause. In the end, the kids raised a ton of money and they spent the week before vacation planning to buy shoes, clothes, coats, books, and toys for these children. Several parent volunteers did the shopping, and we had to rent a small moving truck to haul all of the gifts. Watching those children pack up the truck brought tears to my eyes. They learned the biggest lesson this year, and we are going to continue this spirit of giving as a family in the years to come. This teacher taught us all what it means to give.

I bet this will be one of the most memorable years in your daughter’s schooling. She will look back on this year, and she will remember something awakening within herself. Your daughter participated so fully in this activity because it felt right to her. She wanted to help. Children want to give and reach out to others, and this teacher showed her students how. Of all the lessons we teach our children, it is the life lessons that remain the most important. It is so nice to hear about the amazing things teachers do.