Sibling Policy at School

[mhsjax]

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.

And at our school, not saying all, but at ours, the ones who don't help out at all, are the ones who are the most demanding.

 

[Disney Doll]

I'm sure this all came about from a few incidents with parents not controlling their kids. It's too bad a couple people have to ruin in for everyone, but isn't that always the case?! If DD started acting up, DH or I would take her out immediately, but I know that's not always the case with parents.

I am quite sure you're right. Or a sibling got hurt and the school got sued.

 

[lajones81]

Parents were encouraged to stop in unannounced anytime. Nothing like showing up unannounced and having lunch with your child, they just beam the entire time.

Seriously?! I cannot imagine this ever happening at our school!

 

[disneyjunkie]

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.[/QU ITA. I no longer allow parents to help out in my class. I got tired of dealing with the gossip and hurt feelings.

 

[U2_rocks!]

Our school doesn't have this rule. Siblings are welcome at all sorts of school events, and on sports day there is a special race for past students (who have now moved on to the next school level, and who are there with their parents to support their younger siblings).

In fact, a few years ago my kids had second cousins visitng from Singapore, and our school term wasn't quite over yet. The 8 year old boys spent the day in a classroom at our school - he did a talk on school in Singapore, then he just did whatever the other kids did all day. There was no issue with him being there.

 

[mhsjax]

Seriously?! I cannot imagine this ever happening at our school!

Happens and is encouraged at our school, well elementary school. The kids love it. And while we are there visiting, if the kids around us need help opening their milk or whatever, we are glad to help.

Also on Friday, if your birthday is during the week, you can go up to a table on stage with your parents and also bring 3 friends with you. This is a very coveted position and the friends are all begging to go with you.

I am so glad that we are in a school system that welcomes parents. They are always happy to see you come in and help or come in to the cafeteria to et with your child.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

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!!![/QUOTE



Tell that to all our teachers who rely on parent volunteers. I have graded my share of papers. It really makes no difference to me what grades the kids get.

 

[Kteacher]

I remember one year I had a student whose mom gave birth right before school started in September. His baby sister came in and visited us on a regular basis, and as a class we charted her growth throughout the year, her milestones ( smiling, rolling over, grabbing things, crawling ). I was honored to have this little girl in my class when she was old enough to be in kindergarten .
Most of my parents are respectful enough to know when it is not a good time during the schedule to visit, and come during other times. Parent nights are just that-for parents and guardians, but our school provides childcare in another part of the building. I guess I should consider myself lucky that I've always had wonderful relationships with my students as well as with their entire families

 

[mhsjax]

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.[/QU ITA. I no longer allow parents to help out in my class. I got tired of dealing with the gossip and hurt feelings.

I do think that parents need to grow up. We are supposed to be HELPING the teacher, not in it for ourselves. I do know parents like this. It's like, excuse me but you did graduate form high school didn't you? Get over trying to be the most popular, get a life.

I do volunteer, but I don't care if some one else does it, I am only trying to help, not make a name for myself.

 

[castleview]

Whether a sibling can come to a party is up to the teacher (I rarely did it because I wouldn't be able to give full attention to the class), but any performance or assembly during the day is "no sibling" because of the amount of kids that would get out of class to go. However, this didn't apply to toddlers and preschoolers - just kids in the school. Having said that, I've sat through a few concerts at school and don't think having kids that young there is ideal. Actually, I've found it quite disruptive…and I'm extremely understanding of antsy kids.

 

[mdsoccermom]

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!!![/QUOTE



Tell that to all our teachers who rely on parent volunteers. I have graded my share of papers. It really makes no difference to me what grades the kids get.

I really think parent volunteers overestimate their importance if they think teachers cannot grade papers without assistance.

 

[castleview]

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.

What a ridiculous comment. The teacher has no idea how much work she does?

Anyway, she is correct that if you have annoying parents who are only there to work with their own kids, they can be a drag. I sat through a PTO meeting listening to people complain about not being chosen as room mothers (they were drawn out of a hat which was open for anyone to come watch). Most wanted to be room mothers so they could go on field trips, but those that weren't chosen said they would drive to it anyway, which I think is wrong…and weird (cut the chord people). Field trips are tight operations so kids don't get lost and I'd be pretty ticked off if someone came in and interfered with the my kids' teacher's organization.

We have since done away with room parents because a few teachers had some very bad apples who gossiped, competed, and made it all about them. Every party became major drama. It was extremely stressful to the teachers to try and appease every parent while doing her JOB.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

What a ridiculous comment. The teacher has no idea how much work she does? ..

Need help with reading comprehension? That isn't even close to what I said.

 

[mhsjax]

What a ridiculous comment. The teacher has no idea how much work she does?

Anyway, she is correct that if you have annoying parents who are only there to work with their own kids, they can be a drag. I sat through a PTO meeting listening to people complain about not being chosen as room mothers (they were drawn out of a hat which was open for anyone to come watch). Most wanted to be room mothers so they could go on field trips, but those that weren't chosen said they would drive to it anyway, which I think is wrong…and weird (cut the chord people). Field trips are tight operations so kids don't get lost and I'd be pretty ticked off if someone came in and interfered with the my kids' teacher's organization.

We have since done away with room parents because a few teachers had some very bad apples who gossiped, competed, and made it all about them. Every party became major drama. It was extremely stressful to the teachers to try and appease every parent while doing her JOB.

Well there is the problem. In our school being a room mom has nothing to do with field trips at all.
Room moms were responsible for getting class parties together and asking for donations, a thankless job and really no one here wants it. WE have one mom that does it all the time, she is good at it.

For field trips they have an alloted number of spots available for parents. If the number of parent requests exceed the number of alloted spots then they draw names. I personally hate filed trips and would rather have a root canal than sit on a bus with all those kids. But I will help in the class when the teacher asks.

 

[livie1205]

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!!!

when my ds14 was younger I helped in his class all the time and graded papers/tests and even helped the teachers do reading assignments with the kids..this IS a common practice even if the teachers dont tell you...sometimes they just dont have enough hands.....at least it is common here.We also do not have a no sibling rule,if we did I would not be able to attend school funtions because we do not have anyone to babysit...all my mom friends work and family lives out of town but my dd knows how to behave herself and has never caused a problem.

 

[castleview]

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!!

I think that depends upon age. Kids get less needy as they get older. By third grade, it's pretty easy to just ask the parents to send things in and the teacher can handle it. As for the full time teacher's aide in every room - WOW! That only happens here if there is a severe special needs student.

Our school is very family oriented with an active PTO, some parents quietly volunteer their time during the day and the teacher's are very appreciative. However, you always have some parents who are only involved with their own kids. They come into the classroom whenever allowed to be near their kid and do nothing else for other school functions.

 

[castleview]

Need help with reading comprehension? That isn't even close to what I said.

Reading comprehension is just fine. I've looked at a few of your posts and unless I'm missing one, that seems to be exactly what you're saying. Please clarify and work on your description if you want your intentions understood.

 

[mhsjax]

I think that depends upon age. Kids get less needy as they get older. By third grade, it's pretty easy to just ask the parents to send things in and the teacher can handle it. As for the full time teacher's aide in every room - WOW! That only happens here if there is a severe special needs student.

Our school is very family oriented with an active PTO, some parents quietly volunteer their time during the day and the teacher's are very appreciative. However, you always have some parents who are only involved with their own kids. They come into the classroom whenever allowed to be near their kid and do nothing else for other school functions.

Strange people. I am with my kid all the time, I don't want or need to be around him in school. We actually have parents and I did this one time also, but we volunteer in a class that our kids aren't even in. Maybe a teacher that your child had previously, like me. We got along great and I did some work for her. I have no need to hover over my kid.

The work I do now involves no interaction what so ever, and I like it that way. lol. IN fact if they weren't in a portable, I would actually be in the teachers office doing it and I would barely even see the kids.

 

[Tinkermommy]

My daughter's school has an "open door" policy. So I can go in anytime and have lunch with her unannounced. Just sign in and you are good to go.

I brought my son when he was a baby/toddler to performances at the school. Never a problem.

If I was volunteering (Science Force, Parent Reader, parties I was organizing), then he stayed with our nanny or a sitter.

As others have said, since he's been at the school from birth, many of the teachers already know him and ask about him. That's not a bad thing.

The only event we have with no kids is Curriculum Night. I totally agree with this so my husband and I coordinate who will stay home with the kids. Its nice to be able to pay attention.

 

[jodifla]

Siblings are welcome at our school. I find it rather strange that they'd be barred in fact. That wouldn't fly here.

The only "no kids" time is Curriculum Night. But if parents have to bring kids then, they normally just sit in the hall.