Disappointing Parent Teacher Interview

**wysiwyg** · June 30th, 2014, 06:35 PM

So by not having 'met' the teacher you forfeit any right to feel like you should be informed by the school when you need to be?

If the OP hadn't mentioned this was the first time had met the teacher would peoples reactions be different? How many times do you need to meet the teacher or 'check in' so you can complain about the lack of communication from the school?

**nothing2lose** · June 30th, 2014, 06:43 PM

So by not having 'met' the teacher you forfeit any right to feel like you should be informed by the school when you need to be?

If the OP hadn't mentioned this was the first time had met the teacher would peoples reactions be different? How many times do you need to meet the teacher or 'check in' so you can complain about the lack of communication from the school?

I think at least once is a good start.

If the OP had said, 'I have spoken to the child's teacher previously and this has not come up', that would be different. I think the school should have contacted the OP when issues arose, yes. But you can't complain about a lack of communication when you aren't communicating yourself. And, ultimately, if a parent isn't going to be proactive about the welfare of a child, who is?

I find it staggering that people wouldn't want to be involved in their children's education, even at such a basic level as meeting the teacher. I mean, how onerous is it?? Why wouldn't you?????

**wysiwyg** · June 30th, 2014, 07:00 PM

I find it staggering that people wouldn't want to be involved in their children's education, even at such a basic level as meeting the teacher. I mean, how onerous is it?? Why wouldn't you?????

It isn't onerous, "why wouldn't you?" well because you don't realise that it is expected of you, because you believe the channel of communication is the 'communication' book, because you don't think using teachers time for "progress checks" without any reason to check is a valuable use of their time.

This fascination on meeting the teacher, if the OP had met her first week of school prior to any issues and then hadn't been informed is that acceptable from the school?

If at work I didn't inform key stakeholders of issues just because I hadn't 'met' them, I wouldn't get very far. Stakeholders expect to be informed without having to chase me and then they step up and do the necessary - if I had the attitude well they haven't bothered to meet me they obviously don't care, I will just wait till the next review meeting to tell them, I wouldn't get very far. If I spent my whole time telling them what is going on, and not actually doing anything I would also not get the best outcome.

**Livinthedream** · June 30th, 2014, 07:08 PM

Yes, if I had to update everyone on the status or their order every day, I wouldn't get too much done.
However, the second there is a problem that I can't fix myself, I am straight on the phone to them.
And I have lots more than 25 clients.

**nothing2lose** · June 30th, 2014, 07:14 PM

I'd be interested to hear from some BB members who are primary/secondary teachers.

**Olive** · June 30th, 2014, 07:40 PM

So you expect a teacher to write in 25 kids communication books every day, good or bad?
I had no idea such an archaic way of communication still existed tbh

Our teacher happily communicates via email.

**Livinthedream** · June 30th, 2014, 08:00 PM

So you expect a teacher to write in 25 kids communication books every day, good or bad?
I had no idea such an archaic way of communication still existed tbh

Our teacher happily communicates via email.

No! That's the point.
I expect communication when it is needed.
Which means is my child is struggling in a area and his teacher thinks he needs extra help then they should contact me.
A single line 30 second message asking me to come in for a meeting is NOT going above the call do duty for any teacher.
I shouldn't have to organinse weekly or monthly reviews to be afforded this "courtesy"

**kateo** · June 30th, 2014, 08:08 PM

I am a teacher with a very varied background. I have been qualified to teach for about 25 years. I have worked in a variety of settings ranging from suburbs near Brisbane wih a high level of prison housing to newer suburbs in Canberra's "Nappy Valley" to being a teacher at a youth detention centre and working in tiny country schools.

Every school in in my experience has been a direct reflection of the boss. How parents have been involved in a school has really impacted in the general atmosphere of a school.

Smaller country schools seem to have more parent involvement (per head of kids) in my experience. This may not be the experience of other teachers.

I personally like to invite parents to a "meet the teacher" evening/arvo at the school early every year. Some schools have encouraged this. Others have actively been against it to the extent of not willingly letting me be on school grounds with parents after hours!!!

I tend to run two sessions early in the year. Both usually in the first week. One at 3pm so "pick-up" parents can easily attend and one at 6 ish so working parents can easily attend.
These sessions are usually attended by about 2/3 of the parents and in my experience those who do not attend are usually the ones who complain the loudest and most unreasonably when something goes wrong.

I have used several forms of communication with parents. I personally favour giving carers a call if anything unusual happens or a child gets into a problem. I often wait for the "pick-up" parents and make this a Face to face. If something odd happens (not behavioural for that child, like a lunch gets stolen or kid seems a bit off colour I tend to pop a hand written note in the kids bag for mum.
For children who need more assistance for whatever reason I use communication books. I will often start one of these for kid who has learning issues, gets new glasses, parents report a family incident like a death in the family or a divorce. Kids with behaviour issues get e book just so we all keep on top of things.
In an average class I would write in probably 5-8 books each day.
If a kid really surprises me with their learning in a positive or negative way I would probably send a note home.......just to keep us all on the right page.

I must say at most schools I've worked at we talk about kids a fair bit with other teachers and if we are worried about a negative interview we'd chat to others about positive things we could say.

Hope this helps

As for OP I think perhaps communication systems aren't working for you or the teacher. I suggest look to the schools boss and see what could be done.

There is little progress made in hashing over what's gone wrong. Communicating your concerns is important. Working towards and improvement is more important.

Keep in mind I no longer teach full time ..........................................

**Ginger** · June 30th, 2014, 06:48 PM

So by not having 'met' the teacher you forfeit any right to feel like you should be informed by the school when you need to be?

If the OP hadn't mentioned this was the first time had met the teacher would peoples reactions be different? How many times do you need to meet the teacher or 'check in' so you can complain about the lack of communication from the school?

That is not what I am saying at all. Any other words you'd like to put in my mouth? What I am saying, is that if the op had been more involved/communicated more, then she wouldn't have found the parent teacher interview so disappointing.