Middle School teachers -- would this bother you

[Mickey'snewestfan]

My son came home from school today (day 2) with a note asking parents to write a letter describing their child, and either send it to school in a sealed envelope, or mail it to school so his homeroom/reading/English teacher can read it.

Unfortunately, right now I have no printer, my life is crazy and I can't imagine going out in the evening to Kinkos just to print this. But I think much better on a computer than when I'm handwriting.

If I email it to the teacher, is that a major faux pas? Part of me thinks it's the obvious thing to do, but on the other hand I can't imagine why someone would want it mailed (I'm a teacher, there's no way I'd rather have something mailed to me than just get it in an email), so I figure maybe she has a good reason.

It's an optional assignment but I'd like to do it because there are a few things I'd like her to know about my child.

 

[Hannathy]

Write it out on the computer and then copy it by hand onto paper and seal it in an envelop like she asked.

I don't think it is that hard of a thing to comply with, I doubt she wants 200 kids emailing her letters that she will have to take the time to print and retrieve from the printer. She also probably dioesn't want to use up her allotment of ink printing out all the letters.

Really just write it with a pen.

 

[Go Saints!]

What grade is your son in? Are you sure this is not a lesson on how to write a letter and mail it properly? It says to describe your son. I would take that as your son may actually see what you are writing about him. As a teacher, I would rather get an email than a hand-written response. I think since it is an ELA teacher, this is for some sort of a lesson and not a letter giving the teacher details about your son. I have found that my students do not know how to address an enevelope because of all of the technology. She may be trying to prove a point about that. I would email the teacher, explain your circumstances, and see if there is some reason behind mailing it or sending it in a sealed envelope.

 

[Hannathy]

Why go to all that bother of bothering the teacher when all she has to do is write it with a pen and paper and send it? I really don't get the big deal.
All that has changed is she doesn't have a printer so she will have to hand write it.

 

[dislaney]

Maybe she wants it mailed to protect your son's privacy . Email isn't always very secure?

 

[robinb]

Just use a pen and paper and write it by hand .

I must be as old as the dinosaurs but I remember when people didn't have computers and printers at home. If you were really lucky you had access to an IBM Selectric.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

My kids' middle school teachers made a big deal last year of telling students and parents to please simply email them assignments if printers were broken or out of ink, etc. That's what I would do.

My kids also, this year, got a form from their ELA teachers, as they did last year as well, designed to "get to know" the student and any special concerns, etc. So I think that that is what they're looking for, probably not how to mail a letter (though I agree it's a worthwhile lesson).

 

[Pea-n-Me]

On second thought, maybe they want to evaluate how well parents write.

asking parents to write a letter describing their child

j/k

 

[Hannathy]

Just use a pen and paper and write it by hand .

I must be as old as the dinosaurs but I remember when people didn't have computers and printers at home. If you were really lucky you had access to an IBM Selectric.

Wow you must have been rich! I had a Brother from Montgomery Wards!

I guess our problem was when it ran out of ribbon, but you could always put carbon paper in and use the duplicate page if you were really out of ribbon!!!!

 

[tinkerbellandeyor]

Wow you must have been rich! I had a Brother from Montgomery Wards!

I guess our problem was when it ran out of ribbon, but you could always put carbon paper in and use the duplicate page if you were really out of ribbon!!!!

Never would have thought of it

 

[Becky2005]

On second thought, maybe they want to evaluate how well parents write.



j/k

I *always* worry about this when I have to do these types of things. Especially when I would get reports that some of the issues was that my children won't expand their writings. I usually end up writing stuff that is short & to the point and then stumble wondering what else I should put there.

Like if you asked any of my children to write a paragraph on "describe the sky" - you would get a sentence of "It is blue." and they would consider the assignment done.

 

[FireDancer]

Write it out on the computer and then copy it by hand onto paper and seal it in an envelop like she asked.

I don't think it is that hard of a thing to comply with, I doubt she wants 200 kids emailing her letters that she will have to take the time to print and retrieve from the printer. She also probably dioesn't want to use up her allotment of ink printing out all the letters.

Really just write it with a pen.

Um, why would she have to print them? She could just save the emails and use those for whatever she needs. If I printed every email I got I would kill the rainforest myself. Besides, I would always rather have any document electronic as opposed to physical. We've spent millions of dollars at work eliminating paper records.

OP, just email it if you feel more comfortable that way.

 

[tinkerbellandeyor]

I agree with the above post

 

[Hannathy]

Um, why would she have to print them? She could just save the emails and use those for whatever she needs. If I printed every email I got I would kill the rainforest myself. Besides, I would always rather have any document electronic as opposed to physical. We've spent millions of dollars at work eliminating paper records.

OP, just email it if you feel more comfortable that way.

The teacher obviously wants a physical copy for whatever reason. Maybe it isn't convenient to be at her computer when she is going over them. This is a teacher not someone at a desk. Maybe she wants to save them in a folder and then have the parents write another one at the end of school and compare. She isn't asking for a simple answer to a question she will read and delete. If she had wanted them emailed she would have listed that as a method.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Maybe she wants to save them in a folder

That's what I was thinking.

We always had to do a "Tell me about your child" form, not a letter. Just to give some insight into what our child was like...weaknesses/strengths, like/dislikes, our concerns, the child's concerns, etc.

 

[PollyannaMom]

...
Like if you asked any of my children to write a paragraph on "describe the sky" - you would get a sentence of "It is blue." and they would consider the assignment done.

Mine, too!


OP - two things crossed my mind. The first was that maybe she didn't want the kids to read them, and was afraid they'd all know how to check their parents' sent e-mail folders! The second was that they are for the kids, and she wants them to look special so they'll keep them.

I'm like you, that I'm much more comfortable "writing" on the computer. So, I would compose there, and then copy it over in nice handwriting and send the paper copy.

 

[mhsjax]

Maybe she is wanting something that she can give to the kids at the end of the year.

My DD 5th grade teacher had the kids write a letter to themselves, we had to send in 2 envelopes with our current address and the address of a relative in case we moved. She is holding onto them until they graduate high school and then she is mailing them out to the students.

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

Can you just ask the teacher if it's okay to email instead?

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

What grade is your son in? Are you sure this is not a lesson on how to write a letter and mail it properly? It says to describe your son. I would take that as your son may actually see what you are writing about him. As a teacher, I would rather get an email than a hand-written response. I think since it is an ELA teacher, this is for some sort of a lesson and not a letter giving the teacher details about your son. I have found that my students do not know how to address an enevelope because of all of the technology. She may be trying to prove a point about that. I would email the teacher, explain your circumstances, and see if there is some reason behind mailing it or sending it in a sealed envelope.

No, it was pretty clearly not an assignment for the kids. The direction was to send it in SEALED with your child, or, if you were afraid they'd open it and read it, to mail it in. So, I'm pretty sure he doesn't need to read it. She also was very clear that if the letter didn't give explicit permission she wouldn't share it with anyone, even colleagues.

I don't have anything to say about my kid that would be a secret from him, but understand why other parents might.

 

[abdmom]

If her school is like my school, she probably doesn't have her own printer. Anything printed off from email may be seen by a colleague or even another student. With the sealed envelope method, she can open them at her desk and file them securely. I'd just send it in the sealed envelope, handwritten.