Email from Teacher

[POPCITY]

I got the following email from DS's sixth grade band teacher today:

Hello Band Parents,

I have a strange request. I found out over the weekend that my hot water heater is leaking and needs replacing ASAP. Are there any band parents who are either plumbers or *very* handy and would feel comfortable replacing a (gas) water heater? I would need help with pick up of a new appliance and disposal of my current one (I don't own a truck). If you are, or you know of someone who could help me out and give me a decent rate, I would be forever grateful! You can send me contact information to (her school email address)

I've never spoken to this teacher personally. This apparently went out to all the band parents. Is it just me, or is this, well, inappropriate? I mentioned it to a couple of people at work and they didn't see anything wrong with it.

 

[Janepod]

I got the following email from DS's sixth grade band teacher today:

Hello Band Parents,

I have a strange request. I found out over the weekend that my hot water heater is leaking and needs replacing ASAP. Are there any band parents who are either plumbers or *very* handy and would feel comfortable replacing a (gas) water heater? I would need help with pick up of a new appliance and disposal of my current one (I don't own a truck). If you are, or you know of someone who could help me out and give me a decent rate, I would be forever grateful! You can send me contact information to (her school email address)

I've never spoken to this teacher personally. This apparently went out to all the band parents. Is it just me, or is this, well, inappropriate? I mentioned it to a couple of people at work and they didn't see anything wrong with it.

Beyond inappropriate. Now, granted I live in a community where the vast majority of mothers are Gladys Kravitz SAHMs, but this would have been forwarded to the principal and superintendent by a few dozen women before the end of the day.

 

[lizabu]

I got the following email from DS's sixth grade band teacher today:

Hello Band Parents,

I have a strange request. I found out over the weekend that my hot water heater is leaking and needs replacing ASAP. Are there any band parents who are either plumbers or *very* handy and would feel comfortable replacing a (gas) water heater? I would need help with pick up of a new appliance and disposal of my current one (I don't own a truck). If you are, or you know of someone who could help me out and give me a decent rate, I would be forever grateful! You can send me contact information to (her school email address)

I've never spoken to this teacher personally. This apparently went out to all the band parents. Is it just me, or is this, well, inappropriate? I mentioned it to a couple of people at work and they didn't see anything wrong with it.

I think it's weird but I know at our school there are always parents willing to jump through hoops to score Brownie points with their kids teacher. Can't blame her/him for throwing it out there.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Weird, but since she mentioned the rate, I assume she's not looking for a handout.

 

[Tinijocaro]

Dh is a high school band director and I am an elementary string teacher. Never in a million years would either of us or any of our music colleagues send out an email like this.

In fact I don't know of a single teacher of any subject who would do this. Inappropriate.

I would put something like this on our district misc. email-sort of like eBay. We buy and sell things and ask for recommendations but that's it.

 

[coco392]

no problem

just a modern version of school/ community notice board

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

See, now my husband would have responded back offering up his assistance with no charge. I wouldn't have been offended at all.

 

[Minnesota!]

no problem

just a modern version of school/ community notice board

See, now my husband would have responded back offering up his assistance with no charge. I wouldn't have been offended at all.

I agree. I do not see anything wrong with it. Word of mouth is the best way to get a reliable contractor/plumber/roofer, etc. She was just seeing if anyone had someone they recommended (be it an actual licensend person or a handy-type parent). No problem there, I think!

 

[Tinijocaro]

I don't think offense should be taken but there is a line that needs to be in place between most parents and teachers. It's about professionalism. It's about not doing something for the teacher that could be perceived as trying to get favors from the teacher.

Best not to cross that line.

 

[POPCITY]

Thank you for the opinions! The different points of view are interesting. I'm not offended, definitely not going to forward to the principal or anything like that. It just feels unprofessional, not something I would ever send out from work.

 

[wendypooh]

I see nothing wrong with it either. My husband would've been like another poster, he'd have offered to help!!

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

Not something I would do myself...but I don't see any harm in it. I guess you never know until you ask.

 

[mamacatnv]

I think it depends on where you are located.

9 months ago when I lived in N. Nevada where I had lived for 20 years I would have said inappropriate. Then last spring, we moved to a small town in Central Texas and I am learning a whole different sense of community. I like that these folks look out for each other, help each other and think nothing about asking for some help. I like that people help each other and don't have ulterior motives other than to lend a hand.

My answer would now be, absolutely nothing wrong with it.

 

[sam_gordon]

I agree. I do not see anything wrong with it. Word of mouth is the best way to get a reliable contractor/plumber/roofer, etc. She was just seeing if anyone had someone they recommended (be it an actual licensend person or a handy-type parent). No problem there, I think!

I disagree with the bolded. If that was the case, I wouldn't have a problem with it. It sounds like she's trying to take advantage of her relationship with her band kids.

I am not offended or upset by the email, but do not think it's professional.

If she left out a couple lines, you still get the same message across (I need help), but it wouldn't come across to me as "needy"...

I have a strange request. I found out over the weekend that my hot water heater is leaking and needs replacing ASAP. If know of someone who could help me out and give me a decent rate, I would be forever grateful! You can send me contact information to (her school email address)

This opens the door to the "handy" band parents to offer, and looks more like a "bulletin board" post to me.

 

[horseshowmom]

I think it depends on where you are located.

9 months ago when I lived in N. Nevada where I had lived for 20 years I would have said inappropriate. Then last spring, we moved to a small town in Central Texas and I am learning a whole different sense of community. I like that these folks look out for each other, help each other and think nothing about asking for some help. I like that people help each other and don't have ulterior motives other than to lend a hand.

My answer would now be, absolutely nothing wrong with it.

mamacatnv nailed it, I think.

Where I live (which is one of those very rural communities that she's talking about), nobody would even think twice about that email. In fact, people would have been much more upset to find out that somebody had a need and didn't ask for help.

 

[POPCITY]

I think it depends on where you are located.

9 months ago when I lived in N. Nevada where I had lived for 20 years I would have said inappropriate. Then last spring, we moved to a small town in Central Texas and I am learning a whole different sense of community. I like that these folks look out for each other, help each other and think nothing about asking for some help. I like that people help each other and don't have ulterior motives other than to lend a hand.

My answer would now be, absolutely nothing wrong with it.

Lol, I'm from a small town in central Texas!

 

[CopperWife]

Yeah, I think I agree with the OP - something is just "off" about it. Nothing to get your panties in a bunch about, but still...the teacher is taking advantage of the fact that he/she has access to a bunch of email addresses to ask a non-band related question.

My oldest DD's art teacher sends home a flyer twice a year advertising art classes that she holds in her home for a small fee. It's not school-sanctioned, as a matter of fact it says right on the flyer not to return the slip to school, only to send it to her at her home address. This is kind of along the same lines as the band-teacher's email, if you ask me.

 

[happygirl]

I see nothing wrong with it either. My husband would've been like another poster, he'd have offered to help!!

This

 

[mamacatnv]

Lol, I'm from a small town in central Texas!

must be the day to talk about Central Texas band teachers my DD came home complaining how cranky her band teacher was today.

I was serious though, I have never experienced the tight knittedness that is in the school communities around us and I like it a lot.

It cracks me up when teachers ride the bus because its their version of a carpool or when the regular bus driver was out sick and my DD who is the first stop had to give the sub directions because the poor guy had not a clue of what the route was or when the coach shows up in the Math class to change the lightbulb because the ladder happened to be in his classroom.

 

[bittybabygrower]

In the high school we have a very tight knit band and this email would have been met with multiple volunteers.