Writing names on backpacks?

[luvmy3]

But teachers do listen and they are intelligent enough in most cases to realize when they get upset parents/complaints they need to change their policy. Do you think they get some kind of joy in getting complaints?

I am not sure in this instance I believe the Principal is warranted either as I don't feel like it needs to initially go beyond the parent/teacher discussion. If the teacher was resistant or insistent on what they were doing only then would I involve the Principal. If they were receptive, understanding and indicated they planned to change their policy then I think it is fine. Teachers are professional adults and deserve to be treated as such..part of that is having a discussion with them about your concerns and issues and only if you don't get resolution do you escalate.

Why would you think I think that, all because I'd go about my complaint in a way you wouldn't?
I think what the teacher did was wrong, I think the Principal should know what she did. Thats fine if you don't, its fine if the OP doesn't. If it happened to my kid, I'd inform the Principal for the reasons I have already stated. And, of course those reasons don't mean that I don't think a teacher can figure things out on their own, or I think they like to get complaints, it just means I think the Principal of the school should know what the teacher's in their school are doing to someone's personal property.
Maybe in your school you only go to the Principal when you want to escalate something, but here our Principal is very involved with parents and with what goes on in her school, from little things to much bigger. I happen to like it that way, YMMV.

 

[luvmy3]

Exactly. Parents and teachers need to be able to communicate. If a parent runs to the principal the first time they have a problem with a teacher (especially on the first day of school) that line of communication is going to be difficult for the rest of the school year.

In our school our Principal makes it known, on the first day, that we can come to her with anything that concerns us So in my case, informing the Principal is not "running to her" its just letting her know what is going on with her teacher in her school. And, I never said I'd go above the teacher, I just said I'd go the Principal also.

 

[declansdad]

But don't you see? Me and others think going to the principal and asking for the backpacks to be replaced is overreacting.

Going directly to the principal, yes that is overreacting. The teacher should always be your first point of contact. Asking for the bags to be replaced is not overreacting. The teacher marked up a piece of personal property that she had no authority to. She could have placed a temporary name on the bags and asked the OP to attach a name in a more permanent manner herself.

What would you do if someone defaced a piece of your personal property without your permission?

 

[declansdad]

In our school our Principal makes it known, on the first day, that we can come to her with anything that concerns us So in my case, informing the Principal is not "running to her" its just letting her know what is going on with her teacher in her school. And, I never said I'd go above the teacher, I just said I'd go the Principal also.

Then this principal will not maintain a good relationship with her teachers. The teachers will not trust her to have their backs if she allows parents to go directly to her without trying to work out issues with the teacher.

 

[sunshinehighway]

In our school our Principal makes it known, on the first day, that we can come to her with anything that concerns us So in my case, informing the Principal is not "running to her" its just letting her know what is going on with her teacher in her school. And, I never said I'd go above the teacher, I just said I'd go the Principal also.

All principals say that to parents.

I don't understand how going to the principal is not going above the teacher.

What exactly is going on with a teacher? They wrote on a backpack? One might want to find out why and if it even was a Sharpie.

A parent might look like quite the fool to go to the principal with something like this and have it turn out the marker is washable and there was a notice informing them it would happen but the parent missed it.

 

[luvmy3]

But don't you see? Me and others think going to the principal and asking for the backpacks to be replaced is overreacting.

Actually what I see is you trying to make the overreaction you seem to think we have, much more dramatic than it is.

Originally Posted by sam_gordon
I didn't say you did. You all have convinced me... this teacher overstepped her bounds so much, she has no business being in charge of kids. Kick her to the curb! Make sure the local media is notified... they love doing stories on this.

Originally Posted by sam_gordon
You're right! Fire the teacher!

Good gravy, someone suggested asking the teacher why she did what she did, but apparently that's a bad idea.

 

[luvmy3]

All principals say that to parents.

I don't understand how going to the principal is not going above the teacher.

What exactly is going on with a teacher? They wrote on a backpack? One might want to find out why and if it even was a Sharpie.

A parent might look like quite the fool to go to the principal with something like this and have it turn out the marker is washable and there was a notice informing them it would happen but the parent missed it.

Oh, I'm sorry I guess I should have added, "after my CSI team investigates the type of marker used"

I don't care what all prinicpal's say to the parents, all I care about is that mine actually means it. YMMV in your school.

 

[sunshinehighway]

Oh, I'm sorry I guess I should have added, "after my CSI team investigates the type of marker used"

I don't care what all prinicpal's say to the parents, all I care about is that mine actually means it. YMMV in your school.

CSI? How about talking to the teacher about it?

 

[luvmy3]

Then this principal will not maintain a good relationship with her teachers. The teachers will not trust her to have their backs if she allows parents to go directly to her without trying to work out issues with the teacher.

Well all I can say is that if you want to assume you know what is going on in our school based on my posts here, that's fine. I actually know what is going on

 

[luvmy3]

CSI? How about talking to the teacher about it?

Didn't pick up on the sarcasm, huh?

And please if you are going to address what I'm saying, try to make a point of actually reading. I never said I wouldn't go talk to the teacher. Did you think you deserved a transcript of the conversation I would have?

YAGING, you all can continue to discuss it, I have to go label school supplies.

 

[sunshinehighway]

Didn't pick up on the sarcasm, huh?

And please if you are going to address what I'm saying, try to make a point of actually reading. I never said I wouldn't go talk to the teacher. Did you think you deserved a transcript of the conversation I would have?

No thanks, I can't imagine the headache it would give me.

 

[sam_gordon]

Going directly to the principal, yes that is overreacting. The teacher should always be your first point of contact. Asking for the bags to be replaced is not overreacting.

But according to luvmy3, going to the principal is the RIGHT thing to do. But you think that's overreacting. You think having the teacher/school replace the bags is the RIGHT thing to do. I think that's overreacting. Different strokes for different folks.

What would you do if someone defaced a piece of your personal property without your permission?

It depends on the reason they did it. I said earlier in this thread, in THIS situation, a) I would try to get the names off the backpack, b) I would contact the teacher (email, note, phone call) and politely say I'd rather she didn't mark up my kids things. If she needs something labeled, let me know and I'll take care of it.

 

[declansdad]

Well all I can say is that if you want to assume you know what is going on in our school based on my posts here, that's fine. I actually know what is going on

I have seen it happen in more than one place of employment including schools. It could also paint you in a bad light with the teacher. If they feel that you will always go to the principal no matter what they do or say, they may not be as receptive to you.

I'm not trying to tell you what goes on in your school, I have no idea about that. Just commenting on a management practice that typically doesn't go over well with employees.

 

[declansdad]

But according to luvmy3, going to the principal is the RIGHT thing to do. But you think that's overreacting. You think having the teacher/school replace the bags is the RIGHT thing to do. I think that's overreacting. Different strokes for different folks.

It depends on the reason they did it. I said earlier in this thread, in THIS situation, a) I would try to get the names off the backpack, b) I would contact the teacher (email, note, phone call) and politely say I'd rather she didn't mark up my kids things. If she needs something labeled, let me know and I'll take care of it.

Yes I think it is overreacting but luvmy3 described what would happen in the school her kids attend; she also said she would talk to the teacher. She didn't say she would run to the principal.

As to my second point, I am going to guess it is ok with you for someone to deface your property as long as you can politely ask them not to do it again.

 

[eeyoremum]

I personally would have seen the principle immediately. I don't take well to damage of property and that is what the teacher did. I would make it clear in no uncertain terms that the bags are to be replaced.

 

[luvsJack]

Well, this thread made a decision for me. I am taking dgd shopping for preschool tomorrow. We WILL be getting her backpack monogramed!!

No sharpies for US!!!

 

[sbell111]

... its clear the intent of the teacher was to make it permanent.

How is that clear? It isn't even clear that the marker that was used was 'permanent' or washable. Even if it was labelled as 'permanent', it's still removable.

The only thing that is clear is that the teacher attempted to be able to match up the backpacks to the children. Is that even clear? Are we basing all of this angst on something a five-year old told her mother?

 

[englishteacha]

Hey OP...I did actually read this whole thread. I usually skip teacher threads.

As a mom and as a teacher I think writing your child's name on the backpack was not appropriate. As a mom, I think you should talk to the teacher. As a teacher, I also think you should talk to the teacher.

Funny, I often find myself being asked by my students to write their names on things, because my handwriting is so much neater than theirs! But I teach middle schoolers and if they want something labeled, they're old enough to ask me to do so. I would never take it upon myself to write a student's name on anything without permission. I had a student ask me to write her name on her coat (nice coats had been stolen at our school), so we wrote it inside the pockets. I figured her parents wouldn't get mad at me for putting her name there! (My thought was if they tried to sell it or hand it down to a sibling, having "Mary Smith" written where it was visible even inside would really decrease its potential.)

The teacher probably won't replace the backpacks, but talking to her is a really good idea. She may not even realize that what she did was inappropriate. She probably thought she was being helpful. If you bring it to her attention, she may offer to replace them, or have them cleaned, or offer to get a cool patch or something to put over the spot where the writing is. But she can't try to make it right if she doesn't know that something is wrong to begin with.

 

[sam_gordon]

As to my second point, I am going to guess it is ok with you for someone to deface your property as long as you can politely ask them not to do it again.

That's not what I said. I simply said I'd take the REASON they "defaced" (your word, not mine) my property into account.

True story... when our youngest was a baby, she was crying about something in her crib. DS (then 2 or 3), took a Sharpie (yes, a Sharpie), and drew a smiley face on the wall above the crib. He got talked to about why he shouldn't do that, but that's it. He was trying to cheer his sister up. To me, the reason DOES matter.

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

That's not what I said. I simply said I'd take the REASON they "defaced" (your word, not mine) my property into account.

True story... when our youngest was a baby, she was crying about something in her crib. DS (then 2 or 3), took a Sharpie (yes, a Sharpie), and drew a smiley face on the wall above the crib. He got talked to about why he shouldn't do that, but that's it. He was trying to cheer his sister up. To me, the reason DOES matter.

And I wouldn't expect a 2-3 year old to completely get the whole permanent marker thing.

I do expect a 22-33 year old professional to understand that you don't write on others' belongings. What would this teacher do if her students wrote on her belongings?

Let's take this to a different hypothetical... what if the teacher took the same sharpie and wrote a kid's name on the outside (not in the pocket, inside, or label) of the kid's sweater or hoodie? Would people still feel the same way?