does your school have this policy? long sorry and confusing Update, pg 2

[binny]

Today we ( my friend and I) went to the schools to pick up her kids a few minutes early because they had an appointment ( I was just along for the ride). She has 2 boys that are in my 2 girls classes. 2 are in the same K class and 2 are in the same Pre K class.

ANYWAY, First school no problem, we walk out onto the playground ( after checking into the office) and tell the teacher were taking Kevin and Karissa she says " great have a nice day" next school she goes to pick up her ds and they wont let her go down to the classroom and get him. I had asked her to sign me in so I could take dd to the washroom so I just blew past the office and thought nothing of it. ( dd really had to go!) I stopped by to get her ds and the teacher wouldnt release him to me ( I'm on her pick up list and shes on mine, it isnt a matter of her not knowing this either we volunteer together etc) she wouldnt let him go until the office called her on the intercom even though my friend had sent a note saying when she would be there to get him. They wouldnt let her go get him from the classroom at all! I just happened to be in the room when the office called so I walked him down, by the time I got there my friend was seething.
She had also asked to go and give her other son a message and they refused. They would not let her go past the office. They said she could write him a note and they would get it to him but that she was not allowed to see her son.


Isnt this a little extreme? I mean I totally understand the need for safety and the need to keep some semblance of order in the classroom but then she asked if she could come back at another time and observe and they said "NO" EXCUSE ME?? I am SO not comfortable with that! I think I should be able to observe what is happening in my childs whenever I think its neccesary.

Do your schools have this policy? That parents arent allowed to go past the office unless they are helping? ( and dont even get me started on THAT subject!)

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

More the norm these days, to sign in and wait for the child to be released from the classroom. Someone I work with said her school won't allow anyone in the classroom who hasn't gone through a 3-hour class first. Yes, it is out of hand, but the school's are CTOA.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Yes, this same policy here... Parents go to the office and wait for somebody to bring their child to them. Strict and a little out of hand to adhere to this to 100%... yes... However, I would be more concerned about the school who lets people walk onto the playground and walk away with children. Unless it is a very small private preschool where everyone really does know everyone, etc.

In a larger school, the school is RESPONSIBLE for knowing EXACTLY where each child is at all times, and is completely accountable. They have busy schedules with recess, art, gym, music, lunch, etc.. etc... They just cannot risk confusion, unaccounted for children, etc....

 

[Mom-to-3]

I think waiting in the office waiting for the early-leaving child is appropriate. Picture 20 (or many more at large schools) mom/dads per day walking to the classrooms in the middle of teaching time.

Oh, wait, I just want to remind Junior of something.
Oh, wait, Mrs. Smith wanted to ask me about the class party.

It could really add up to multiple interruptions.

If it is the last 10 minutes of school, then there's less teaching going on, but they still have to account for everyone.

Don't forget: Not all notes sent to school get delivered!

On the other hand, I think a parent should be allowed to schedule a time to observe in the classroom if there is a good reason. And I think letting parents go to the classrooms in the 15 minutes before school starts (once they sign in) is a good policy.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Not really. At the elementary school I am supposed to wait in the back hallway on days I pick them up, but I sometimes wait by the classroom door for DS. I do know that if the teacher doesn't know I'm coming she doesn't want to let him come with me, so I"m careful to send a note (except she knows that I pick them up EVERY Friday, it's like a treat for them). I think it's nice that the kids know me as "Erin's mom" or "RYan's mom", and the moms get to know each other too. I'm sure if something serious happens it will change--for some wacko reason the Halloween parties are now "Fall festival" due to complaints.
Robin M.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

My daughters school doesn't allow you to go to the classes unless you are an approved volunteer that has taken their "class". I know this is a safety thing and that if all parents were just stopping in to pick up the kids, it would be very disruptive.
Face it, we live in a different world...when I was in elem school and lived across the street...I ran to my house one day when my grandparents arrived...my teacher said " ok...hurry back"

 

[JetMom]

This is also the policy at my sons' school. I have worked in public schools as a substitute teacher at various times over the last 15 years and this has been the policy at all of the schools. I feel that it would be very distracting to have parents walking into classrooms unannounced...suppose the class was taking a test.

Actually, if I think back on it, I think that this was the case when I was in school...way back in the '70's. I remember the office buzzing the classroom intercom and saying "So&So's mother is here to pick her up, please send her to the office."

Pre-school is quite a different story. Parents are in and out of the classrooms at all times.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I don't have kids, but I do know that I went to pick my neice up (cousin's DD) at school one day last year and they gave a me a hard time about it. They called my cousin at work and checked with her to make sure it was okay that they release her to me.

I suppose it's a good thing though. I don't know what would have happened if my cousin had not been able to answer the phone though....

 

[binny]

they do know us really well at both schools. We checked in first ( at the Pre K) and they all waved to us ( its a small school and we all know each by name). All the teachers in this wing know us really well too so it wasnt a question of them just letting strangers onto the playground


I guess what really bothered me the most about the whole thing is that they said she couldnt go and see her son at all. This is a Kindergartener and there wasnt anyone else to walk him down to the office, they let him go on his own instead of letting his mom walk down to the classroom to get him.

 

[padams]

DSs' private school has the same rule. It's a security issue. At our school, parents are also required to sign in and wear a name tag while volunteering. I wish it didn't have to be this way but when I read about and saw the pictures of the school in Chechnya (sp?), I decided that I could live with the security at DSs' school.

DSs' school's doors are locked 24/7, and parents are given a security fob (like a key) to open the main door during school hours. All entrances are monitored by security cameras. We also have big iron gates at the entrance to the parking lot, which are closed except during drop off and pickup times. The security fob will allow a parent to enter the closed gates during school hours.

 

[disykat]

The only part I think was really unreasonable was not allowing a parent to schedule a time to observe - parents should definately be welcome.

I do think it makes sense not to allow the teacher to release without a call from the office. I substitute teach and it would be very hard to know who was coming and going if the office didn't control that. We try very hard to make sure every adult in the building has been checked through the office and is wearing identication - otherwise how can we guarantee the safety of the kids?

I am in my kid's school all the time as a volunteer or substitute and I still don't walk into their classrooms uninvited. It's not because I would be unwelcome, but because I would be a disruption. Even when we deliver stuff for PTA etc. we have the office send a morning e-mail to the teachers so they know we'll be stopping in. That way if they are testing etc. they can watch for us and minimze the disruption.

Every teacher expects a certain amount of disruption, but if the office doesn't try to control it it can get to the point of ridiculous.

 

[CheshireVal]

With so many child abductions as a result of custody battles these days, schools HAVE to be careful about who they release children to.

And would you want your kids in a school that allowed just anyone to come in and wander the halls?

I think the rules are inconvenient but are at least there for a good reason!

 

[kasar]

This is our school's policy as well. With all the ins and outs of the students (maybe for their special help or other issues), special classes like music, gym and art and all the other interruptions, the teachers were getting very little uninterupted teaching time. Can you imagine if parents were in and out as well? I think it would be very distracting.

Also, in our school ALL adults (even older siblings) who come into our school for any reason including library time or spirit day-type things, must be CORI formed. Not saying that you're not, just another reason why they may not want people walking around the halls.

It does seem extreme, but I, for one, am glad for the extra steps. I was never comfortable with the old system of just going to each classroom and taking kids out without any sort of checking. Crazy world we live in, huh?

 

[binny]

I volunteer here at this school, we dont have any classes to take.
The Pre K Is actually part of the regular public school so the same policies should hold true.

This was literally 5 minutes before release time ( she just didnt want him riding the bus because she needed to get going) and the kids were just having quiet reading time or getting their backpacks ready.

I might add there were 2 other parents and a helper in there as well as someone I didnt recognize ( dont know if it was another teacher or what) .

oh and the teacher had gotten the note, she was holding it when I walked in.

 

[binny]

oh Im fine with the whole sign in/wear a name tag deal. I have NO issues with that. Its just being able to go down and get my child that I would think should be ok. Or if I needed to speak with my child about something I think I should be able to do that.
I know the whole " what if 20 parents for each class did it that would be a mess" well how often is that ever going to happen?



Let me say this is a small school, they know who we are, we spend a LOT of time in the schools here volunteering.

 

[Magickndm]

Same for my daughter's middle school, we go to the office and wait till she comes down. I have no problem with that. If I need her to get a message, I call the front office and they get it to her.
Seriously, you think parent's should be able to disrupt a classroom whenever they want to? I think it would become a problem faster than you think.

 

[mrsmom]

It's our schools policy as well, I have to check in the office and they call my kids to the office, i sign them in or out. It's been that way at every school my children have been in. My oldest is 18. I feel really safe with it that way.

Kim

 

[Beth76]

Originally posted by binny
I guess what really bothered me the most about the whole thing is that they said she couldnt go and see her son at all. This is a Kindergartener and there wasnt anyone else to walk him down to the office, they let him go on his own instead of letting his mom walk down to the classroom to get him.

I see this as a potential (major) distraction, especially for kindergarten. I wouldn't have a problem with it. If it's really "urgent" that you need to speak with your child and interrupt his day, then you should sign him out and take him home. Otherwise, I don't see why a note couldn't get the job done.

 

[binny]

well I guess were all on our own here. All the other moms at this school that Ive talked about this, 6 or 7 of them, are as upset about this as we were. Maybe Im leaving something out of the story or something....
Oh well thanks for the opinions.

 

[aprincessmom]

Do your schools have this policy? That parents arent allowed to go past the office unless they are helping? ( and dont even get me started on THAT subject!)

Yup. I have no problem with it.