Teachers how about a PARENT Rant

[lyeag]

oh just thought of some more...

How about the parent who can NEVER seem to make it to school for conferences, teacher requested meetings, can't return a phone call, but the first time they think something or someone has been unfair towards their child they are on the steps of the school at 7 am to complain that they are going to sue?


or

How about the parents who ask for extra credit when they have been presented with a list of missing assignments. ( HELLO, extra means in addition to, not instead of)

 

[Mskanga]

I applaud you for this. You marched your daughter into school, and instead of making excuses for her, you held her accountable and made her accept the consequences of her actions.

That is what responsible parenting is all about.

That was exactly my point , you don't want to do it ? no problem , I knew that no recess would kill her and the teacher agreed. Eventhough it took her 5 minutes to do homework she kept her in the class reading after that , she got the message.

Now last year I had my parent teacher conference and I was shocked. I know the teacher knew me and all but the only thing she had to say to me was ( and I am not kidding ) "she's doing fine" , nothing else, no showing what they were working on , nothing! Perhaps I was used to teachers giving me a bit more info and that came as a complete shock.
She's also the one who said I should have her tested for ADD ....instead I had her tested for gifted and proved the teacher wrong. The teacher that she has this year surprised me , she knows my dd to a T and hit the nail in the head on everything , I was so happy after the year from hell last year that I could have cried when I got out.

My opinion is school is very important and I will give them all the tools they need to succeed but what is not tolerated at home , will not be tolerated in school either and if you play you pay. Now if they do have a justified excuse for something like a sickness , I will be the first one to support them , but just because they decide not to do something.....no way, pay the consequences.

 

[Marseeya]

oh just thought of some more...

How about the parent who can NEVER seem to make it to school for conferences, teacher requested meetings,

Something like this happened to me this year (although I do make every meeting). My DD had an IEP meeting and I was going to be there, but my husband's face swelled up the size of a softball from an abscess. The dentist's office wanted to see him right away, so I called the school to tell them WHY I wasn't attending the meeting -- spoke to the office secretary. Just as an offhand remark, I said, "I bet they're going to release her from the IEP... I hope not." She told me she wasn't sure, but that she'd forward me all the paperwork. I asked her to make sure to tell the teacher & sped director why I wasn't there, and she assured me she would.

Yeah, she sure gave them ONE version of why I wasn't there.

The next morning, my DD's teacher called me and was sounding really defensive towards me, asking me why I thought they'd release DD from her IEP, and I explained that it was just my experience with the sped dept, so she told me that they actually didn't. I told her I was glad. She continued to sound really defensive with me and I couldn't figure it out. Towards the end of the conversation, she said something about me not being at the meeting and that it's a shame I didn't go because I mistakenly thought they'd be releasing her.

Huh?

It turned out, the secretary failed to mention the part about my DH being sick and that I actually said I wasn't coming because, why bother? They were releasing her from the IEP. Nice, huh?

 

[lyeag]

Something like this happened to me this year (although I do make every meeting). My DD had an IEP meeting and I was going to be there, but my husband's face swelled up the size of a softball from an abscess. The dentist's office wanted to see him right away, so I called the school to tell them WHY I wasn't attending the meeting -- spoke to the office secretary. Just as an offhand remark, I said, "I bet they're going to release her from the IEP... I hope not." She told me she wasn't sure, but that she'd forward me all the paperwork. I asked her to make sure to tell the teacher & sped director why I wasn't there, and she assured me she would.

Yeah, she sure gave them ONE version of why I wasn't there.

The next morning, my DD's teacher called me and was sounding really defensive towards me, asking me why I thought they'd release DD from her IEP, and I explained that it was just my experience with the sped dept, so she told me that they actually didn't. I told her I was glad. She continued to sound really defensive with me and I couldn't figure it out. Towards the end of the conversation, she said something about me not being at the meeting and that it's a shame I didn't go because I mistakenly thought they'd be releasing her.

Huh?

It turned out, the secretary failed to mention the part about my DH being sick and that I actually said I wasn't coming because, why bother? They were releasing her from the IEP. Nice, huh?

wow, you think they would have passed on the whole message. I don't mean things like that don't happen. I just happened to teach at a school where there were a lot of kids whose parents just flat out didn't know the first thing about how to be a parent. For example, I would have kids come to me in seventh grade who were so far below grade level I had no idea how they were passed on beyond 3rd grade. The team of teachers would try to get these parents in for meetings on how best to help these kids. We offered early meetings, during our team planning time, after school, phone conferences, you name it, we tried it. Couldn't get these parents to school for any reason. Low and behold, the kid gets into it with someone in the hall, and low and behold, there is the parent screaming at 7 am that we didn't protect their baby and they are going to sue the district etc....

I missing teaching. I really do. I just don't miss all the games people play.

 

[AC7179]

I told a mama that her kiddo had to start turning in her homework. Her mama told me that her daughter didn't have "to do nothing but stay black and die." I don't mean to bring race into it, but those were the exact words. Of course, wold be just as appalling if it has been, "stay white and die.....Hispanic and die, etc." I just didn't know what to say!

 

[Pinnie]

Here are a couple of mine:

Last week we had on display in the hall a class book the students made. Nearby someone left a pen. At pick up time one younger sibling (4 yr old) took the pen and wrote all over the book. Mom handed me the book and pen and said, "You had this paper and a pen handy, so she wrote on it. " Um, excuse me? YOU were standing there! NO apology. NO accountablity.

I hate to hear, "She was throwing up today but she WANTED to come to school and wouldn't stay home." WHO is the adult?

Because I teach kindergarteners, I keep spare clean clothes for "accidents". I have yet to get back the clothes I sent home on 4 kids this year. A couple of weeks ago, one of the girls was wearing the sweat pants I sent her home in. Mom drives a Hummer.

pinnie

 

[luvmydogs]

Now, I only ever taught 3-4 yr. olds, but this took the cake for me.

A mom once brought her 3 yr. old daughter in--poor thing was crying and holding her ear--she looked awful. Mother says that Michelle is running a 103 temperature and her ear hurts, but she figured that since she gave her some Motrin and preschool was only four hours, her daughter could wait it out because she had Christmas shopping to get done! We gave her a very firm no, and told her to please get Michelle to her doctor.

 

[barkley]

I told a mama that her kiddo had to start turning in her homework. Her mama told me that her daughter didn't have "to do nothing but stay black and die." I don't mean to bring race into it, but those were the exact words. Of course, wold be just as appalling if it has been, "stay white and die.....Hispanic and die, etc." I just didn't know what to say!

or "you can't mark him down for writing it that way-culturaly that's how we talk" (it may be a cultural norm but it's not acceptable when you're learning proper spelling and sentence stucture) . but then here in california we have school districts that buckled and taught "ebonics" for a few years (until the parents and community leaders realised it disadvantaged the kids educationaly).

 

[MsLeFever]

Here are a couple of mine:

Because I teach kindergarteners, I keep spare clean clothes for "accidents". I have yet to get back the clothes I sent home on 4 kids this year. A couple of weeks ago, one of the girls was wearing the sweat pants I sent her home in. Mom drives a Hummer.

pinnie

That is awful. One idea for next year? Give only very ugly clothes. I was going to suggest Pink for boys but someone might get all upset about that. Maybe write your name in shapie up the outside of the leg..."these pants property of Mrs......, so and so school"

 

[TinkerBess_SnowTori]

How about the parents who send their children to school sick, because they want them to earn perfect attendance but infecting the rest of the class with a nasty stomach virus??????

OOoooOO - I hate that one too -- but get this --

We had a woman sent her son to school WITH HEAD LICE -- so he wouldn't screw up his perfect attendence!!! -- WTH??

Someone help me with why perfect attendance would be so important that you would risk spreading those little critters!!

 

[chobie]

oh just thought of some more...

How about the parent who can NEVER seem to make it to school for conferences, teacher requested meetings, can't return a phone call, but the first time they think something or someone has been unfair towards their child they are on the steps of the school at 7 am to complain that they are going to sue?

If my DH had a dollar for everytime that happened....

 

[momm2four]

...parents who give students an excuse to not do work or misbehave by telling their children that they have ADD/ADHD. I have actually had students tell me, " I can't learn math. My mom said I have ADD", or "I can't behave because I have ADHD".

....parents who give their children excuses to fail math by saying, in front of the child, "they'll never do well in math b/c I didn't do well in it either"

....parents who believe EVERY SINGLE word that their child tells them, even when it defies logic.


...parents who think that teachers are out to "get" their child. When I teach, my students become, in my mind, my children too, which means I love them and care for them and am on their side. Why on earth would someone go into the teaching profession just to make their students' lives worse? (Although, sometimes I do think those type teachers exist, lol)

....parents who say they can't afford school fees, field trips or lunch money for their children, but still manage to scrape up enough money for IPODs, $125 shoes, and every gaming system in the universe.

....parents who forget that I teach 105 students every day, not JUST THEIR CHILD.


......parents who call me on the phone with concerns and don't ask their child to leave the room. There are certain conversations that they really don't need to hear.

....parents who don't take attendance seriously. I have a student who out of the last 99 days of school, has missed 58 of them. She has been referred to a social worker, but it hasn't done any good so far. She knows absolutely NOTHING, and when she does make it to my class, she only wants to pass notes and find out who's dating who. AARRRGGHHHH!

On the flip side,
I love parents who say thank you on occasion and who remember that I am human and do make mistakes, however unintended they may be.

I also appreciate parents who come to me with a problem, instead of running to the principal first.

Lori P.

 

[Microcell]

I am somewhat of an interloaper here, but I am a girl scout leader and have 11 of the most irresponsible parents ever. I have to hold thier hands for everything. I have no idea how you get supplies for the year or how the kids even make it to school in the morning with parents like I have to deal with!

That being said, THIRD GRADERS need to know about menstruation and Deoderant?

DD is going to be in 3rd grade next year, I guess it will be a summer full of talks! I honestly thought I had a couple of years.

 

[Nancy]

First I have to say that I have never helped my kids with their homework, I might have answered a question or two, but they did their work themself. I did my homework a long time ago and do my own homework now, they can do theirs too. I don't even look it over now (middle and high school).

I know my kids are not angels. My oldest daughter's second grade teacher told me she needed to be put in a mental hospital because she had serious issues, her issues? She refused to hold her pencil correctly and she rolled her eyes at the teacher when she tried to force her. I know my daughter probably was rolling her eyes and I'm sure she was probably making all kinds of faces. While I didn't appreciate the comment from the teacher I did tell DD to stop rolling her eyes in school and to make an effort to hold the pencil correctly. (which now that she is almost 18 she does!)

I send in lunch money every day, or they pack their lunches. I worked nights so if they were sick I was home. BUT I did not get involved with anything at the school, no PTA, no room Mom, nothing. But on the other hand, I never complained about anything either!

I do feel teachers get a bad rap a lot of times. When I was in school if the teacher told the parents the kids did something wrong, the parents backed up the teachers, you got in trouble at school and wsorse trouble at home!

 

[lyeag]

If my DH had a dollar for everytime that happened....

Hey, good to see you. Where have you been?

 

[soccerchick]

...


I also appreciate parents who come to me with a problem, instead of running to the principal first.

Lori P.

Yes, or who don't call every other parent in the class/neighborhood and make those proverbial mountains out of molehills. My principal, who is darn good, tends to ignore parents who do that because he knows that type of parent...

I picked up DD at a Bday party yesterday and some parents were standing around critiquing some poor teacher's style -- no apparant real issues, just being nasty

 

[daisyduck123]

Call me a bad parent, then, because that happened to me!!!

One morning we were getting DD ready for school and one of her shoes was missing. Hmmmm, wonder what happened to the shoe??? Hmmmm... She had another pair of shoes, but they just happened to be in daddy's car all the way in Pittsburgh where he works. I had to wait until 10:00 when the ONLY shoe store in our town opened.

But yes, I'm SUCH a bad parent.

Well, that excuse was good for you...but I was talking about a girl who missed a LOT of school (as I mentioned in my post #29).

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I'm not a teacher, but I do sincerely feel for you guys. I have nothing for respect for teachers- keep up the good work you guys!!

I always said teaching would be awesome if it weren't for the parents.

 

[Daxx]

Kdg. teacher here ..... everyone has basically covered things I'd say!

But ...... I am loving this thread!!! I wonder how many parents are looking at it going "I/My Child NEVER do those things ......." yet keep bashing us. Hahahaha!!!

Thanks for this thread!!!!

 

[Marseeya]

Well, that excuse was good for you...but I was talking about a girl who missed a LOT of school (as I mentioned in my post #29).

I forgot to mention that my DD actually did happen to miss a lot of school that year! Plus she's a struggling reader. She gets sick a lot. If she gets a runny nose or sore throat, she gets a fever with it. Plus she started getting migraines.

My point about the post was (aside from it being a funny story, although not funny the day it happened), people could mistakenly assume a lot about me based on my kids' behaviors and performances, but they'd be wrong.