I am proud of the fact that when my girls were little, they thought there were only 2 channels on television: 13 and 21---both are PBS stations. And they were allowed to keep those channels on all day long if they wished. Consequently, they watched lots of Sesame Street, Mister Rodger’s Neighborhood, Thomas the Train Engine, Reading Rainbow, Wishbone, and Ghostwriter. And all that public television paid off because when Briana was four years old, her nursery school teacher made a discovery: Briana could read. Briana could pick up any level one book and read the words.
So I decided prior to her entry into Kindergarten that I should consult with the principal, Dr. Marie Braccia regarding Briana’s reading skills. Dr. Braccia was a prickly character. She did not hide her disdain for parents and the jury is out as to whether she always had the student’s best interests at heart. But as my educational resources at that time were limited, I decided that seeking advisement on the best Kindergarten placement for Briana with her principal was a solid option.
So I made an appointment and I went in to see Dr. Braccia. Dr. Braccia said So Karen, (and by the way that always bothered me—she called me Karen but I still had to call her Dr. Braccia) what brings you here today—what are your concerns? And I told her that Briana was already reading and that I wanted to make sure she was placed with a teacher who would nurture her skills. And Dr. Braccia’s response was this: Well why did you teach her to read? In this district we do not teach reading until the first grade.
Now, I should have been put off by that statement. I remember thinking: Are you kidding me? Are you suggesting as an educator that the fact that my child can read is a bad thing? But Marie Braccia was a very intimidating person, and despite the fact that we were both grown women and we should have been able to have had an adult conversation, she made me feel like I was a seven year old guilty child and I overcompensated and told her in a hurried manner: Well I didn’t’ teach her to read. I have 2 other children and so I don’t really have time for that—Briana picked it up on her own—it was her nursery school teacher who discovered her ability to read. I had nothing to do with it. To which Dr. Braccia then said Reaaally? (in a disbelieving tone) She taught herself? I have never heard of that before. Are you sure she hasn’t just memorized the words in her books? Children do that. And I said no—she can pick up any book that she has never seen before and read it. And so Dr. Braccia, clearly annoyed, rolled her eyes up into her head, made a bored sigh, and said I will do my best to place her.
When Briana’s teacher assignment came in the mail in August I was pleased. Briana’s teacher was Mrs. Millot—the former reading specialist who was reassigned back into the classroom. I thought hmm Marie Braccia had listened to me after all.
But when I went to Briana’s first parent-teacher conference, Mrs. Millot sat down, wrapped her arms around her crossed legs, and in a gleeful tone said So what do you want to talk about? Now, Briana was not my first child—I had had parent-teacher conference experience—and I knew that typically the teacher would present a file of some sort with samples of work, and some sort of grade book, and test scores. But no. She had prepared nothing . She just sat there smiling and waiting for me to tell her something about my child’s academic experience. So, despite my rising anger, I decided to go with the flow and I ask her a generic question: So how is Briana doing? And she thought for a second or two and said You know Briana spends too much time in the reading area with books. And I said Oh? Is that a problem? and then she said Well, all the other little girls like to play in the kitchen area. And I said Well you know that Briana can read right? And she said Really? I didn’t know that-- and anyway she is not supposed to be reading until next year—she might make the other kids feel badly if they know she can read.
And there you have it. The former reading specialist turned Kindergarten teacher a) couldn’t figure out my child could read b) thought my child spent too much time with books c) shouldn’t let the other kids know she could read because it might make them feel bad and d) should spend more time in the kitchen area with the other little girls playing house.
So the year was wasted. But at least Briana continued reading and watching PBS. And when June came around I went to see Dr. Braccia (again). This time I had a better plan. I used the fact that my father had been recently diagnosed with a terminal illness to strongly request that Briana be placed in Mrs Smith’s class for first grade. I explained (in a nice way) to Dr. Braccia the less than academic experience Briana had had with the former reading specialist turned kindergarten teacher. I assured her that I knew that she (Dr Braccia) had the best of intentions when she placed Briana with Mrs Millot but the experience had gone array. Marie Braccia didn’t agree with me, but the fact that she didn’t defend her teacher either led me to believe that she acknowledged that I was indeed correct.
And so, that’s how Briana came to be in Mrs. Smith’s first grade class. And Ana Lee Smith was wonderful (as she was with Samantha and later with Kara). And Mrs. Smith enriched Briana’s brain and allowed her to enjoy being who she was. And Mrs. Smith embraced Briana’s desire to learn. And every day Briana came home with work. And every week she came home with reading backpacks. And Briana flourished.
I had quite a few more run-ins with Dr. Braccia over the next few years. And eventually I learned how to handle her prickliness in the best possible way--wearing gloves and applying cortisone.
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