Smyrna Traditional Elementary School

MY SON WENT FROM GOOD GRADES TO FAILING GOING TO 3RD GRADE IN MS. DUFFYS CLASS THIS YEAR, SHE IS RUDE WITH BOTH THE STUDENTS AND THE PARENTS, I HAVE SPOKEN WITH OTHER PAERENTS IN HER CLASS AND THEY ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES, SEVERAL HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE PRINCIPAL (MRS.COMPTON) ABOUT THIS, AND SHE INSIST THAT MY SON IS IMMATURE, THOUGH HES NEVER GOTTEN A COLOR CHANGE, NOTE HOME, NOTHING, NOR DOES SHE KNOW OF HIM RIGHT OFF HAND. SHE SUGGEST I HAVE HIM PLACED IN A ADVANCED 2ND/LOWER 3RD GRADE CLASS MIX. HE'S NEVER HAD BAD GRADES IN THE PAST, AND IS AFRAID TO ASK HIS TEACHER QUESTIONS BECAUSE SHE IS PLAIN OUT RUDE. I ASKED TO SIT IN THE CLASSROOM FOR ONE DAY TO GIVE HER THE BENIFIT OF DOUBT, BUT THEY DONT WANT ME TO DO THAT. IM AFRAID IM GOING TO HAVE TO REMOVE THEM FROM THIS SCHOOL ,AS NO ONE WILL WORK WITH THE PARENTS! i DONT RECCOMEND THIS SCHOOL TO ANYONE, WE ALL WANT ARE CHILDREN TO SUCEED, HOWEVER I FEEL THEIR SET UP FOR FAILURE WITH THIS SCHOOL AND IT'S TEACHERS. tHERES NO ONE TO COMMUNICATE WITH, THE PRINCIPAL DOES NOT LISTEN. OTHER PARENTS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE.
--Submitted by a parent

The Principal is not involved enough! Most of the brightest teachers that once made this school an outstanding place for all children have been driven away by the negative atmosphere steming from the Principal. The Science teacher does not have a clas room, he works out of a storage closet off of the main stage. I found it amazing that the school did convert a classroom into a teachers lounge, but failed to have an area reserved for this science teacher. Very disappointing. Parents are worked to death over fund raising contests, volunteering, more so than any other elementary school that we've seen before. We had to leve after 2 years due to the disappointment in the overall performance of the school.
--Submitted by a parent

This is my sons first year at Smyrna elementary and I feel that his teacher and assistant, Mrs. McCawley and Mrs Fowler, the counselor, Ms. Childress, the ece teacher, as well as the family resource advisor have been more than helpful with our new transition. They have been very helpful and open dealing with behavior problems with my son and especially his teacher and the counselor have been open to my suggestions and opinions as a parent in dealing with my son and the problems he is facing with speech and behavior problems. Kudos to Mrs. McCawley and Ms. Childress!!!
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter has been at Smyrna since kindergarten. She has had some good years (Mrs. Putt and Mrs. Kinney) and some really bad years with other teachers. They now have a counselor that has been there awhile and is a good communicator who puts a good effort into her job. Mrs. Compton could do more with the staff to keep them happier and have less turnover with teachers. A little too rough with some bullying issues, I've personally seen, but ongoing efforts are being made to move in the right direction. I just wish that more could be done to curb children's aggressions at an early age and respect could be taught so that the middle school and high school years could be less worrisome. But that is a social issue and begins in the homes and we can't expect our schools to fix what we've overlooked in our homes!
--Submitted by a parent

I have 4 children in this school, all of which are in different grades. This year my fifth grader has an excellent teacher,'Ms.Scott'. Unfortunately I have never been pleased with the principle. I do want to also mention that our experience with the second gr.teacher'Mrs.Quick', & first grade teacher'Mrs.Milligan', &K teacher 'Mrs.Thacker', have been outstanding. The other teachers we have experienced, not so great. I think your perception of this school depends on how luck you get as to what teachers your child will have. For the most part I would not send my kids here if they did not have these teachers I have mentioned. Good Luck!
--Submitted by a parent

This school doesn't emphasis parent-teacher communication, which should be a priority.
--Submitted by a parent

We have had upps and downs at smyrna, ms bedford and her asst were a great combo, my son and i both enjoyed the whole experience in K, 1st grade we were not so fortunate. Ms Forcht was very strict and made most of the year unpleasant for my son as a student, and me, as a parent. I must admit though, she set high goals and she got high results out of a somewhat stubborn 7 yr old. I'm looking forward to what this year will bring. As far as other staff in the school,
--Submitted by susan, a parent

My children are getting ready to enter 4th grade. I have had mixed reviews with the teachers. Some are the best and some need improvement. There has been a lot of turnover in this school. There has been a new counselor each of the last 3 years. Hopefully, the current one will stick it out for a while. I have not had any problem with teacher communication. The kids' agendas are completed each day and I receive phone calls when there is something I need to know. I always attend parent/teacher conferences. It is very important that parents be INVOLVED to make sure your children are getting a good education. Remember there is 1 teacher for about every 24 kids. They need our help. Make sure you help/review homework nightly & ask what happened at school every day.
--Submitted by a parent

My child is in k-1 Ms. Bedfords class she has learned alot,but there is no communication between the teacher and parents. With the experence I have had with Smyrna a parent can call about concerns that they have and start questioning the teacher about it and get hung up on during the conversation. The same goes for the principle you call and talk to her and get the same result. You are also told that children around five will not tell you the truth ever according to the princible. So my children will never attend this school again.
--Submitted by a parent

My little boy attended pre K and is now in a split K-1 class. There are many goods and bads about this school. I find the homework level is tremendous he is five and has at least 1 hr to do a night. No Recess and limited PE also, they have no music or cultural class. As far as the teachers there needs to be a lttle more communication, the agends are great if they are read by the teacher each day. There seems to be a slight bulling problem but all in all my son deals with it. He has had steady progress with his learning. Overall this is a good school for strong children but for kids that might be quite I would rethink sending them here.
--Submitted by Melissa Widman, a parent