A PSA for teachers/school administrators/etc

[Gina]

I don't know anyone that couldn't take a call like this at work. No one I know would have to fear for their job if the school called about this--unless of course they spent 8 hours on the phone with the teacher or something really silly. You could be thankful that your teacher cares enough to call. If your job is that precarious you need to call the school and let them know that work number is for emergencies only and to call your cell or home number for non-emergencies. Schools are automatically going to call a work number during the day because that is where most people that have a work number ARE during the day.

Thankful that his band teacher called me at work, while I have 4 other lines ringing, to tell me that his saxophone is going to need some key repaired?? Are you KIDDING me?!? It's not that my job is precarious, it's that I am AT WORK, and that the information she had for me COULD WAIT. I put a customer on hold to answer that call, when that was about as far from an emergency as you can get.

 

[minkydog]

Yeah, I'd be ticked off about getting non-emergency calls at work. If there is something the teacher is just dying to say, that doesn't involve life, limb, or nuclear holocaust, they can either email me or call me at home.

I was a middle school nurse for 2 years. I learned pretty quick to be judicious about the calls I made to parents. Unless a child was feverish, badly hurt(head or back injury, fracture or sprain) I didn't call parents. Only a few times did I break that rule. Once for a 12yo who was having such bad cramps she couldn't stop vomiting. And once for a 14yo boy who had explosive diarrhea--total brown out on everything within 3 feet of him. (incidently, his parents didn't see it my way. We ended up sending the social worker out there, followed by the police!)

 

[james'mommy]

I'm lucky I'm a SAHM. If it was up to DH he would never know that there was a problem at school, big or small. He won't answer his direct line unless he knows the number, he won't answer his cell phone unless he knows the number, and he won't give anyone his blackberry number because he doesn't want anyone knowing it.

 

[pearlieq]

I don't know anyone that couldn't take a call like this at work.

There are lots of jobs like this. I don't know what your situation is, but I know around here it's easy to forget about that because most people in my upper middle class suburb either have a stay at home parent or a job where they have their own phone at their desk or on them at all times.

But there are plenty of jobs where getting personal calls is a big deal. If someone worked at Target or McDonalds they would have to leave their station and get paged up to the phone. That doesn't look good to supervisors, especially in the middle of a rush.

Or what about people who work in a factory or manufacturing plant? Or folks in a call center? It's quite frowned upon to stop or get out of the call queue to take call. Someone has to pick up your slack. If you get interruped there, it had better be something important!

Hard to believe sometimes, but not everyone is employed as the Senior Associate Junior Development Meeting Planning Coordinator with a cubicle and a crackberry on their belt.

 

[Plannin'Shannon]

I'm lucky I'm a SAHM. If it was up to DH he would never know that there was a problem at school, big or small. He won't answer his direct line unless he knows the number, he won't answer his cell phone unless he knows the number, and he won't give anyone his blackberry number because he doesn't want anyone knowing it.

Sounds like my mother! When people ask me how to get in touch with her, I advise them to send a smoke signal.

 

[golfgal]

Thankful that his band teacher called me at work, while I have 4 other lines ringing, to tell me that his saxophone is going to need some key repaired?? Are you KIDDING me?!? It's not that my job is precarious, it's that I am AT WORK, and that the information she had for me COULD WAIT. I put a customer on hold to answer that call, when that was about as far from an emergency as you can get.

Once again, call the school and let them know that your work number is only an emergency number and they are to call your cell phone or home phone for non-emergency calls-problem solved.

 

[MM27]

I have a student in my class this year that curses like a sailor. One day he walked down my line of students, pointed at them and said, "You're a _________, you're a ___________, ..." (I'm sure you can use your imagination

The kid flipped out and had a full on temper tantrum when I told him I was calling the parent at lunch. I called the father at work, told him what happened and the reaction and he said to me, "I'm at work, I can't be bothered with this now"

So he got my canned comment that I save for my special parents. "I'm at work too and your child is preventing me from doing my job and preventing my other students from learning."

I don't call for permission slips, instruments, etc. Just work, homework and behavior.

 

[JulieWent]

Yeah, I'd be ticked off about getting non-emergency calls at work. If there is something the teacher is just dying to say, that doesn't involve life, limb, or nuclear holocaust, they can either email me or call me at home.

I am a teacher, and I try to use email whenever possible. Unfortunately it is not always possible to use this method of communication. We do not always have access to a parent's email address. Few districts have the type of online system that other have spoken of (SkyLine). I find it interesting that anyone would think that it is fine for teachers to call parents from their own homes. (See above.) The daytime -- during the workday -- is when teachers are at work as well. That is when we make calls and contact parents who need messages, etc. Yes, I do make calls from my home occasionally, but when I do, I am taking time from my own family, from my own children. When you demand that I contact you ONLY during your home time, you are imposing on my home time as well.

I think other posters have said it most effectively. Teachers really can't win. Either we're maligned for not contacting parents frequently or we're ridiculed for contacting at the wrong time. Sigh.

Julie

 

[Minniemama350]

I am a teacher, and I try to use email whenever possible. Unfortunately it is not always possible to use this method of communication. We do not always have access to a parent's email address. Few districts have the type of online system that other have spoken of (SkyLine). I find it interesting that anyone would think that it is fine for teachers to call parents from their own homes. (See above.) The daytime -- during the workday -- is when teachers are at work as well. That is when we make calls and contact parents who need messages, etc. Yes, I do make calls from my home occasionally, but when I do, I am taking time from my own family, from my own children. When you demand that I contact you ONLY during your home time, you are imposing on my home time as well.

I think other posters have said it most effectively. Teachers really can't win. Either we're maligned for not contacting parents frequently or we're ridiculed for contacting at the wrong time. Sigh.

Julie

I couldn't have said it better!

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

I have a student in my class this year that curses like a sailor. One day he walked down my line of students, pointed at them and said, "You're a _________, you're a ___________, ..." (I'm sure you can use your imagination

The kid flipped out and had a full on temper tantrum when I told him I was calling the parent at lunch. I called the father at work, told him what happened and the reaction and he said to me, "I'm at work, I can't be bothered with this now"

So he got my canned comment that I save for my special parents. "I'm at work too and your child is preventing me from doing my job and preventing my other students from learning."

 

[Gina]

I think other posters have said it most effectively. Teachers really can't win. Either we're maligned for not contacting parents frequently or we're ridiculed for contacting at the wrong time. Sigh.

Julie

I appreciate a teacher's POV, Julie, and I know y'all must get it from both ends. My point is just that my son's district, my son's school *does* have all these wonderful ways to get a message to the parents. In fact, at meet-the-teacher night, every single teacher got every single parent's email address, so they definitely had that. And with all those other methods of communication for a non-emergency, there is no wrong time -- the parent gets and can respond to the message at the time that's best for them.

I just couldn't believe that woman called me just to tell me about the sax key, and then also acted like A.) I must have just been sitting around waiting for her call with nothing else to do and B.) also had nothing else to do but race out the door at that moment to get said sax fixed. She actually suggested to me that I "could go during my lunch hour." Well, thanks for planning my day for me, but I can handle that myself.

One time DS was hit by a stomach bug in the middle of the day, and I needed to get him ASAP from school. That definitely warranted a call to me, and neither I nor my boss minded. But this lady just didn't think, and that's what irritates me.

 

[HsvTeacher]

I am a teacher, and I try to use email whenever possible. Unfortunately it is not always possible to use this method of communication. We do not always have access to a parent's email address. Few districts have the type of online system that other have spoken of (SkyLine). I find it interesting that anyone would think that it is fine for teachers to call parents from their own homes. (See above.) The daytime -- during the workday -- is when teachers are at work as well. That is when we make calls and contact parents who need messages, etc. Yes, I do make calls from my home occasionally, but when I do, I am taking time from my own family, from my own children. When you demand that I contact you ONLY during your home time, you are imposing on my home time as well.

I think other posters have said it most effectively. Teachers really can't win. Either we're maligned for not contacting parents frequently or we're ridiculed for contacting at the wrong time. Sigh.

Julie

You are my hero!!!

 

[golfgal]

I appreciate a teacher's POV, Julie, and I know y'all must get it from both ends. My point is just that my son's district, my son's school *does* have all these wonderful ways to get a message to the parents. In fact, at meet-the-teacher night, every single teacher got every single parent's email address, so they definitely had that. And with all those other methods of communication for a non-emergency, there is no wrong time -- the parent gets and can respond to the message at the time that's best for them.

I just couldn't believe that woman called me just to tell me about the sax key, and then also acted like A.) I must have just been sitting around waiting for her call with nothing else to do and B.) also had nothing else to do but race out the door at that moment to get said sax fixed. She actually suggested to me that I "could go during my lunch hour." Well, thanks for planning my day for me, but I can handle that myself.

One time DS was hit by a stomach bug in the middle of the day, and I needed to get him ASAP from school. That definitely warranted a call to me, and neither I nor my boss minded. But this lady just didn't think, and that's what irritates me.

WOW, that is really condescending. How do you know what she thought? Maybe that is the only number she had for you, what if the admin has your work number listed as your home number by mistake? Maybe your kid told her it was ok to call you at work???

 

[luvthatdisney]

I work in the office of a school and I know first hand how every parent wants communication from the school differently. Problem is our student database does not accommodate most of these requests. We try our best to make sure we remember who to call, who to email, etc... But we do make mistakes. Not every school system is able to provide cutting edge computer programs for their schools to maintain phone numbers, addresses, etc. We make due with what we have, it is not perfect.

One other issue is the information (phone numbers, addresses, when to call, etc) we get from the parents. Many times we do not get any information. We have to use what we had in prior years, which for the most part is not working any longer. We have had to send our resource officer (police) to a child's home due to an accident requiring an ambulance and we had no working phone numbers. We are usually the last place people advise when their phone numbers change. It is very frustrating. Sorry to vent

I can see the OP's point, but I am sure this call took all of a few minutes. Just make sure the teacher/school knows your preference as to what numbers are used when. We are only human and unfortunately mistakes do happen.

 

[kangareaux]

I misread your 4th item as "the child hadn't returned from a field trip." Must not try to read without my glasses.

We have an automated calling system in our schools now that I really like. Our son was late for school (we overslept)...actually I took him in at 8:05 (school starts at 7:30), and later in the day my home phone and cell phone rang at the exact same time (they called DH's cell phone as well) to inform us that he was late and what time he arrived. If it was a problem for DH to get a call on his work phone, I guess he could just call the school and change the info. But I do like that they're keeping track of these kids, esp since we've had a few bomb threats lately, and letting parents know.

Yes, but it is a little creepy when all the phones in the house start blaring at once., isn't it? The first time it happened it scared the crap outta me...I about jumped out of my skin! LOL!

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

For every parent that says "Don't call me unless it's an emergency," there is another demanding to be called for for anything and everything. Schools can't win.

You are right, that's why our school system makes parents fill out a form stating how they want to be reached. You can choose email & put down which email address(es) you want to use, or by phone & list which number you want to use. The nurse only calls when the child needs to be picked up, otherwise the child brings home a note saying why they went to the nurse. I choose email because I can read it & respond when I have time. I know some moms prefer the phone call on their cell. I'm glad we have a choice in my town.

 

[DeluxePrincess]

I really wouldn't call a place of employment to inform a parent about an instrument or misplaced book, etc., etc. I think it should be common sense to only use a work number for emergencies only. Non emergencies can be dealt with a note, email, or message left on the home answering machine.

 

[Crystal0608]

I've had two jobs since my kids have been in school. I started the first the year dd started K. We were not allowed to have cell phones on during work, so I gave my work # and extension. I worked in the office, not the factory so quick school calls were always ok.

At my current office job I have to have my cell on me at all times since I run errands, so I always sign notes or emails teachers send me with my cell so they can get hold of me any time. I appreciate when teachers communicate with me, even the small stuff, but with both jobs I have the ability to talk with them.

 

[Gina]

WOW, that is really condescending. How do you know what she thought? Maybe that is the only number she had for you, what if the admin has your work number listed as your home number by mistake? Maybe your kid told her it was ok to call you at work???

It's not condescending, it's a fact. My child is almost 14 -- has been in the same school district since he started kindergarten. They have the correct info. DS told me she badgered and badgered him until he gave her my cell #. Tomorrow, that WILL be fixed.

I'll say it again -- it's a matter of common sense. I don't care if it was 1956, and moms were actually still sitting at home just hoping the phone would ring to break up their day. THINK about the information you need to relay, assess its importance, and then decide the most appropriate way to get that information across! Bleeding? Call! Tornado warning? Call! Saxophone needing repair? Hmmm....

 

[ktaggie]

I disagree with the OP. I am happy for the school to call me at any time of the day for any reason. I also work for the school (not a teacher) and have to call parents all the time for non-emergancy reasons. I am not going to call a parent at home at night when I am home with my family. I need the parent to talk to me during the work day. I agree with the person that said put a note on the file. But I am also going to tell you that not everyone will see that note and you may still get a few calls.