Sibling Policy at School

[clori]

I don't think we have an official rule but some teachers do specify no siblings. Basically events in the gym, cafeteria, or auditorium are open to all and things in the classroom are up to teachers. When my oldest started kindergarten I had dd1 with me when we toured the library. The librarian asked me to volunteer but I said I couldn't due to youngest dd. A week later I got a call saying that the principal approved my volunteering with dd with me. I did help for the school year while dd slept in a stroller.

Both dd's had the same kindergarten teacher. Siblings were invited to all classroom events as long as we took them out if needed. I was surpised when my youngest was in the class and the kindergarten teacher asked my oldest dd's teacher to send dd down for a special classroom event. My kids are in the spring concert this year (alternates with winter) but for the winter concert this year there was a notice that said siblings in the school could not attend events like concerts during school time. Things like Title 1 talks and family nights always include younger siblings.

 

[laughinplace199]

At our school, Curriculum Night is parents only. Also, our school does not allow siblings for class parties, field trips, or when parents are volunteering (working in cafeteria, book fair, etc), but siblings are welcome at any other event or performance.

Our school is Nursery through 6th grade. My youngest is in Nursery. When they have their Christmas show, the principal takes the nursery kids' older siblings out of class and brings them over to the gym to watch the little ones perform. All of my DD11's and DS9's friends wanted to pretend they were related to us so that they could leave class to watch the little kids' Christmas show.

 

[bunkkinsmom]

This policy seems odd to me. I am very glad my school doesn't have it. Our school is VERY much about parent involvement, and my DH and I volunteer for lunch duty twice a month per classroom. We ALWAYS have our smaller DD with us. The teachers are grateful for the help, and encourage the time together. They already all know my other DD (the good side, anyway!).

The flip side of this is that if people weren't afraid of offending parents of kids who act up (i.e. asking those specific parents to keep their children in check) this might not have to be an issue. I for one would NEVER let my DD act up in the classroom to distract. I realize that sometimes her just being there can be a distraction, it doesn't last past the first couple of visits.

In our situation, we would not be able to volunteer at all if there was a no sibling policy.

 

[monorailsilver]

I asked my dd's Kindy teacher (she is in 4th grade now) & she said not for volunteering but anything else they are welcome.

My younger kids (I have 3-a 4th grader, 2nd grader & my youngest will start K next fall), have all gone to classroom parties. The teachers bring them a chair if needed.

I even bring/brought my kids to help at the book fare. And I bring/brought them to field day so I could take pictures.

 

[TwinsinCA]

For school day events siblings are not supposed to attend at our school. Yet I see people think the rules don't apply to them quite often. How are you supposed to concentrate on helping a child read, running a center, correct papers, etc when you have a younger child who needs to be watched?

Just right before Christmas I was in a classroom and some mom brought a younger sibling and he kept touching the belongings of one child who was NOT happy about it. The mom was completely oblivious because she was helping with the party. I really wanted to tell her to keep an eye on her kid, but it really wasn't my place to do so.

There are space issues and liability issues. Toddlers and babies really have no place on a school campus while other kids are trying to learn. They are often a huge distraction.

 

[Cinderella94]

As a parent who helped a great deal in classes at these events I can say, do it all without the parent's help then.

But do you really think parents would like being told that they can't participate in the classroom with their child, period? At least this way they have the option to get a babysitter.

 

[emma'smom]

My dd's are in a private, Montessori school and I never thought about "no siblings" as a policy.

My younger dd always went to older dd's performances, picnics were always family picnics, etc.

Now that they are both in school, dd8 comes to dd6's room to read to her class (as do other older siblings). They play together on the playground. The younger children go up to the elementary classes so that the older sibs can help them use the Smart Boards, etc.

Yesterday dd6 had her birthday celebration and dd8 came down to participate and celebrate with her.

I pull dd6 out of her class to see dd8's make presentations (during school).

I think the younger children should see the kind of work that older children are doing and the older children love sharing the traditions with the younger students.

It's all very family oriented....why separate them out?

 

[Suellen]

Could it be a liability issue?

 

[PaulaSue]

Youngers are only allowed at lunch at both schools my girls have gone to. Heck this school the student is not even allowed for parents night or conferences.

 

[aprilgail2]

How are you supposed to concentrate on helping a child read, running a center, correct papers, etc when you have a younger child who needs to be watched?

:

NO parent should be doing this regardless of having a sibling with them or not! Its none of a parents business how another child does on a paper/test! I would have a major issue if our schools allowed this practice!!!

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

As a parent who helped a great deal in classes at these events I can say, do it all without the parent's help then.

To be perfectly honest, as an elementary school teacher, there are times when parent volunteers are great, or like field trips indispensible, but for most things, especially parties, having them is a whole lot more work than not having them.

 

[daisyduck123]

To be perfectly honest, as an elementary school teacher, there are times when parent volunteers are great, or like field trips indispensible, but for most things, especially parties, having them is a whole lot more work than not having them.

There are some occasions when this is true.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

To be perfectly honest, as an elementary school teacher, there are times when parent volunteers are great, or like field trips indispensible, but for most things, especially parties, having them is a whole lot more work than not having them.

Right - then explain how the teacher would do all of those things that my wife and I did as classroom parents for all of those years. Seriously, you have no idea how much work they do to make your life easier. No idea.

 

[mhsjax]

NO parent should be doing this regardless of having a sibling with them or not! Its none of a parents business how another child does on a paper/test! I would have a major issue if our schools allowed this practice!!!

I don't correct papers, but every Tuesday I stuff al of their work into a Tuesday folder to go home to the parents. It has all of their graded work. I wouldn't worry about it too much. They probably don't even pay attention to the names on the paper and they may not even know the names and faces of the kids in the class. I know I don't. Last year I was actually in the teachers office doing this, and I could tell you maybe 3 or 4 or the kids names in that class. Same this year.

It is a common practice at out school for these folders to be stuffed by the parents, no teachers do them, only the parents.

 

[aprilgail2]

To be perfectly honest, as an elementary school teacher, there are times when parent volunteers are great, or like field trips indispensible, but for most things, especially parties, having them is a whole lot more work than not having them.

Our teachers manage to get all their work done without parents help at all-- no parents stuffing folders, marking papers, making copies, hovering around the cafeteria etc yet it all gets done. I think that some parents like to be in the classrooms so the teachers give them "busy work" to do.

 

[mhsjax]

Our teachers request parent help. Every year at the beginning they have a list of what they want parents to do and we sing up. Hardly qualifies as parents liking to be in the class room. I am sure some do, but I can't stand it, but I do the folders as my way of helping. And this way I don't have to interact with the kids. I have 3 at home, I could care less about getting in there and being with all those kids. But I am a SAHM and I know teachers have a lot of work to do, so if my stuffing their work into a folder helps, then I will gladly do it.

Just yesterday my DS was sick, so I e mailed his teacher to see if she wanted me to stuff folders, She asked me to please come in if any way possible, because she didn't have a break and couldn't get the papers in for the parents to see. I don't think that is busy work for her to give me, especially since she asked me to come in if I could at all.

 

[Suellen]

Well if the teachers really don't want us there I wish they would stop asking for volunteers to help with parties, book fairs, office work and everything else you can think of - because it just makes me' feel crappy that I cant go help because I have dd 3 during the day.

My dd's school has a full time teachers aid in the room with the teacher (as far as I can tell from hearing dd talk anyway) plus they have a parent volunteer in the office to do copying at least four hours a week. They were begging for one at the one and only PTA meeting I went to.

So if teachers don't really want us there - for Gods sake stop asking!!

 

[HelenePA]

until the internet I had never heard of parent helpers or whatever ya call them.. Our teachers do just find with out them.. It never even dawned on me that my kids should go to each others classrooms for their birthday parties or what ever either.. I will get my girls out of class for my sons K graduation this year but other than that they have little to no contact with each other in school..... is this really a big deal?

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

until the internet I had never heard of parent helpers or whatever ya call them.. Our teachers do just find with out them.. It never even dawned on me that my kids should go to each others classrooms for their birthday parties or what ever either.. I will get my girls out of class for my sons K graduation this year but other than that they have little to no contact with each other in school..... is this really a big deal?

It is entirely possible that it is happening at your school. As classroom parents, we never got help from about 80% of parents - never even heard from most of them when we reached out.

 

[kirstenb1]

Our teachers manage to get all their work done without parents help at all-- no parents stuffing folders, marking papers, making copies, hovering around the cafeteria etc yet it all gets done. I think that some parents like to be in the classrooms so the teachers give them "busy work" to do.

School systems are so different. Here there are no aides (except for para's for special ed). So if we didn't have parent volunteers, teh teachers would spend their entire lunch opening milks and tupperwares for the kindergarteners, getting everyone ketchup, etc. Then they could stay late afterschool to do their own copying and laminating, etc. Our elementary teachers do get a planning period, and they do get some copying done then, but if they teach k, 1st, 2nd or 3rd, there's a LOT of copying and laminating.

I always enjoyed volunteering when our older dd was in elementary, and am waiting for the youngest to start kindergarten so I can help out again.