School open houses

[ellone]

I went to my first last night. If I were a teacher I don't know how I'd deal with one every year.

A couple questions the teacher had to field:

Why can't they have a bottle of water at their desk all the time? Seriously? These are kindergarteners. That's just asking for multiple interruptions due to spills. There is a water fountain if the kid is dying if thirst (and they do get snack time when they can drink their bottle of water).

Why can't kindergarteners buy cookies? Really? I've looked at the lunch menu - pizza, hotdogs, burgers (and the option of nuggets everyday). They eat enough crap during lunch, they don't need a dessert after that.

 

[tvguy]

My son goes to a very small middle school. I have had a child at this school for six years including this one. My son was not interested in going to open house this year. Why would he? He knows the teachers, he knows where everything is).

Clearly there are different open houses. Kids have never been allowed at any I have been to, parents/guardians only.

 

[cabanafrau]

Clearly there are different open houses. Kids have never been allowed at any I have been to, parents/guardians only.

Maybe that's an indication judging everything by one's own experience doesn't always return valid results.

 

[tvguy]

Maybe that's an indication judging everything by one's own experience doesn't always return valid results.

Maybe. This thread has certainly stirred some discussion in our newsroom. We will be trying to see if there are any parents in our area that are of the same mindset. Haven't found anyone yet, however. Could an interesting discussion.

 

[sam_gordon]

Maybe. This thread has certainly stirred some discussion in our newsroom. We will be trying to see if there are any parents in our area that are of the same mindset. Haven't found anyone yet, however. Could an interesting discussion.

Which mindset?

 

[tvguy]

Which mindset?

That these events are not important.

 

[sam_gordon]

That these events are not important.

The problem is that would/could vary by school system. Our open houses gives a chance for the parents to meet the teachers, AND to drop off the "school supplies".

Is it important? Well, at least one of us goes every year, most times both of us. Would our child's scholastic future be doomed if we don't go? Of course not. Do we sometimes have other events that prevent one of us from going? Yes.

However, for someone with a child with peanut allergies (for example), it might be more important for them to meet the teacher and make sure they understand what to try to avoid and what to do if there is contact.

Maybe a single parent has sole custody of a child and the other parent is to have no contact with the child. I think it would be important to make sure the school knows that.

So whether an open house is "important" will depend not only how it's handled at the school, but what personal issues are in place for a family.

 

[tvguy]

The problem is that would/could vary by school system. Our open houses gives a chance for the parents to meet the teachers, AND to drop off the "school supplies".

Is it important? Well, at least one of us goes every year, most times both of us. Would our child's scholastic future be doomed if we don't go? Of course not. Do we sometimes have other events that prevent one of us from going? Yes.

However, for someone with a child with peanut allergies (for example), it might be more important for them to meet the teacher and make sure they understand what to try to avoid and what to do if there is contact.

Maybe a single parent has sole custody of a child and the other parent is to have no contact with the child. I think it would be important to make sure the school knows that.

So whether an open house is "important" will depend not only how it's handled at the school, but what personal issues are in place for a family.

Absolutely it could vary by school system. I shared some of the comments here at work, and I think we're going to try and put together a November sweeps story on it if we can get all sides of the story. Newsrooms tend to be collections of very young people, so a big chunk of my co-workers with kids have kids under the age of 1. And the one's that have school aged kids seem as surprised (okay in 1 case, a lot more surprised) than I was that folks don't think that is important.

 

[livie1205]

Maybe. This thread has certainly stirred some discussion in our newsroom. We will be trying to see if there are any parents in our area that are of the same mindset. Haven't found anyone yet, however. Could an interesting discussion.

So your saying that a whole " area" thinks that if you dont go to your childs open house you dont care about their education? Ok seems on the up and up... Not tring to be rude but that does not even sound like the truth in any way.
Maybe it can just be a matter of not judging everyone by your life?

 

[sam_gordon]

Absolutely it could vary by school system. I shared some of the comments here at work, and I think we're going to try and put together a November sweeps story on it if we can get all sides of the story. Newsrooms tend to be collections of very young people, so a big chunk of my co-workers with kids have kids under the age of 1. And the one's that have school aged kids seem as surprised (okay in 1 case, a lot more surprised) than I was that folks don't think that is important.

Here's my question though... WHAT is so important that an open house shouldn't be missed? I'm speaking in general, not about a specific child.

Like I mentioned, we get to meet the teacher. Both of us get to put a face to a name, and we might get an idea of what the kids will be learning through the year. We'll learn where the classroom is in the school. If we didn't get to do any of that, do you (anyone who is "surprised") think our children are then doomed to fail? What do you think will happen if you miss an open house?

 

[tvguy]

Here's my question though... WHAT is so important that an open house shouldn't be missed? I'm speaking in general, not about a specific child.

Like I mentioned, we get to meet the teacher. Both of us get to put a face to a name, and we might get an idea of what the kids will be learning through the year. We'll learn where the classroom is in the school. If we didn't get to do any of that, do you (anyone who is "surprised") think our children are then doomed to fail? What do you think will happen if you miss an open house?

The information is what is so important. Expectations. Class rules. Homework policy. Material to be covered. Access to the teacher if there are questions. What major projects are planned and due dates. Especially any group projects that will require coordination by parents. Any field trips, cost and due dates for the money, need for parent chaperones so I can arrange time off work.
I took a week off work to chaparone a week at a outdoor studies camp, and when my son was in high school chaparoned a 8 day trip to Las Vegas for a baseball tournament. DW chaparones DD's Pioneer Camp for a week and her class trip to Washington D.C.

 

[mjkacmom]

The information is what is so important. Expectations. Class rules. Homework policy. Material to be covered. Access to the teacher if there are questions. What major projects are planned and due dates. Especially any group projects that will require coordination by parents. Any field trips, cost and due dates for the money, need for parent chaperones so I can arrange time off work.
I took a week off work to chaparone a week at a outdoor studies camp, and when my son was in high school chaparoned a 8 day trip to Las Vegas for a baseball tournament. DW chaparones DD's Pioneer Camp for a week and her class trip to Washington D.C.

Our high school has 8 periods, and parents follow the kids' schedule, and spend 4 minutes in each class. By the time my kids are in high school, they should be able to deal with rules, projects, due dates, etc., without parental involvement.

Dd18 just texted me her college schedule (I was curious - up until today I had no idea what classes she was taking). She completely changed her schedule yesterday anyway.

There are about 350 kids in each graduating class - not a lot of parent/teacher meetings going on, unless the kid has issues. Dd graduated with a 4.0 - I only remember a handful of her teachers' names.

These are the last 4 years left - they have to learn to fend for themselves, while they still have parents who can step in. I want nothing to do with coordinating group projects, though! So far, so good, both dd and ds16 got them done.

 

[sam_gordon]

The information is what is so important. Expectations. Class rules. Homework policy. Material to be covered. Access to the teacher if there are questions. What major projects are planned and due dates. Especially any group projects that will require coordination by parents. Any field trips, cost and due dates for the money, need for parent chaperones so I can arrange time off work.
I took a week off work to chaparone a week at a outdoor studies camp, and when my son was in high school chaparoned a 8 day trip to Las Vegas for a baseball tournament. DW chaparones DD's Pioneer Camp for a week and her class trip to Washington D.C.

So the ONLY way you can get that information is by going to the open house? You can't email the teacher(s) to get that? There's not handouts that go out the first couple days of classes? The class rules aren't gone over the first day with the class?

I personally don't care what the class rules are (unless there's a dress code, which I would hope the parents get notified about before school starts). That's my kids' responsibility.

We'll get field trip notices a week or two before the trip (at least for the school day stuff). Any thing overnight we hear about at least a month ahead of time.

Again, I'm not saying open houses aren't informative and/or helpful, but "important"? I'm still not convinced (in general. I'm sure there's certain family situations where they are important).

 

[Colleen27]

So your saying that a whole " area" thinks that if you dont go to your childs open house you dont care about their education? Ok seems on the up and up... Not tring to be rude but that does not even sound like the truth in any way.

I could see that... What is normal/common in education tends to vary from place to place, and in an area where open house is an event packed with important and relevant information parents probably would feel more strongly about it than in areas where it is just a chance to see the classroom and shake hands with the teachers, or worse, a book fair and fundraising recruitment effort.

Around me it is certainly a "no big deal" thing to miss because we have smaller schools with consistent standards throughout. Often we aren't even meeting any new teachers, only teachers we've had experience with in previous years. There are specific parent meetings for some of the things TVGuy talked about being part of open house in his area - the 8th grade DC trip, winter camp, band or sport trips, etc. all have their own meetings for participants and parents, rather than being rolled into open house. And those meetings I don't miss if one of my kids is involved, but I don't mind missing open house if I have something else to do that evening.

 

[Ceila]

sorry - duplicate

 

[Lisaren]

Open house here, classroom rules are not given out. They are given to the kids the first day of class. Class objectives are not given out, they are given out the first day or first week of school if at all. Upcoming field trips are not discussed. Those have their own meetings later in the year before the trip - usually done by notes before fundraising begins and then a meeting for parents scheduled to chaperone. Student information forms are only given to the new students (I don't have a new student at this school) and I do go to the first open house for a new school. Open house is just go see the school, shake hands with the teacher, and leave. Nope, not wasting my time. And I do make sure my kids do their homework, I put their due dates and check in dates for projects in my calendar. I do read the weekly update sent from the school. I do answer emails and calls from the teachers promptly (sometimes the next day with an email if I am working).
If you can't tell, I did get a little offended by the holier than thou folks that think I don't care about my kids education if I don't go to open house.

 

[Ceila]

The information is what is so important. Expectations. Class rules. Homework policy. Material to be covered. Access to the teacher if there are questions. What major projects are planned and due dates. Especially any group projects that will require coordination by parents. Any field trips, cost and due dates for the money, need for parent chaperones so I can arrange time off work.
I took a week off work to chaparone a week at a outdoor studies camp, and when my son was in high school chaparoned a 8 day trip to Las Vegas for a baseball tournament. DW chaparones DD's Pioneer Camp for a week and her class trip to Washington D.C.

I have never attended a school open house or back to school night that covered that level of detail, and as both a parent and teacher I've attended them at 7 different schools (and NOT all in the same region). For heaven's sake, stop assuming that all schools' open houses are the same as the ones you attended years ago.

And why the list of chaperone gigs? Are we supposed to be impressed or something?

 

[tvguy]

I have never attended a school open house or back to school night that covered that level of detail, and as both a parent and teacher I've attended them at 7 different schools (and NOT all in the same region). For heaven's sake, stop assuming that all schools' open houses are the same as the ones you attended years ago.

And why the list of chaperone gigs? Are we supposed to be impressed or something?

Well, at some point that information needs to get communicated. Yes, it has been 4 years since I attended one, not sure that is "years ago".

The list of chaperone gigs was just an example of the issues discussed, and , not meant to impress. DW and I did 2 each over 13 years of our kids schooling , there were some parents that did 2 a year. I'm kind of a slacker compared to those folks. My issue is, DW and I need to put in for time off 6 months to a year in advance, so these meetings are critical if we need to take time off.
While I am getting flamed here, it was interesting today at work when we discussed this topic to see that..... at least among my group of co-workers who were parents...... how similar their attitude was towards their kids. But this is California, and we do march to the beat of a different drummer sometimes.

 

[Ceila]

Well, at some point that information needs to get communicated. Yes, it has been 4 years since I attended one, not sure that is "years ago".

The list of chaperone gigs was just an example of the issues discussed, and , not meant to impress. DW and I did 2 each over 13 years of our kids schooling , there were some parents that did 2 a year. I'm kind of a slacker compared to those folks. My issue is, DW and I need to put in for time off 6 months to a year in advance, so these meetings are critical if we need to take time off.
While I am getting flamed here, it was interesting today at work when we discussed this topic to see that..... at least among my group of co-workers who were parents...... how similar their attitude was towards their kids. But this is California, and we do march to the beat of a different drummer sometimes.

Are you being obtuse on purpose?

FTR, I've never missed a back to school night for either of my kids. However, that doesn't mean I think I'm better parent than others who don't.

 

[mrshoffman]

Funny. I'm a teacher at a k-12 school. Because of this, I've never been able to attend my children's open houses (I'm conducting my own!) My children's teachers know it is not a big deal. They give me the packet of handouts (class rules, procedures, "big" field trips) & say, "You can read. All information is in here. Let me know if you have any questions." If parents are at open house, they are given this packet of information. If not, it is sent home (or emailed home to all parents) before the first day of school.

I teach over 100 students & there is no way I could tell you which parents were or were not at open house. (I have other ways of identifying bad parents! Lol!) Many parents decide not to attend--not a big deal. All important information is over-communicated--handouts, emails, topic-specific meetings, 1:1 conferences, etc.... I would never communicate important information that "all good parents" need to hear only verbally. Good teachers always use several different modes of communication. Perhaps since the original poster works in a very "verbal" occupation, he & his coworkers prefer to have this information communicated face-to-face. Many other parents though forget these conversations, find open house chaotic, & would prefer a welcome letter with the same info. Open house is more for families/friends to see each-other & drop off school supplies. I'd encourage parents to attend because it's fun to see each other outside of the school day. However, it's not worth stressing out over--teachers aren't judging you!