Dear Teacher,

I don't understand why my son/daughter is doing so poorly in your class.  You never send home any of their papers with grades on them.  I never get any notes from you even though I have requested you send me a note every single day.

I have called the school numerous times and you are never in your classroom.  I left a message at the office to have you call me but you never did.

How do I get in touch with you about my child if you don't answer your phone? 

I want to know why my child is failing.

Sincerely,

The parent

Dear Parent,

You did not receive the graded papers because they are still in your child's backpack.  I looked and they are all there.  The notes you requested, the Friday Flash, the Progress Report, everything is still in your child's bag.

Also in the backpack is about 100 unfinished assignments that your child never completed or turned in, the homework folder to help organize your child that I paid for, 3 over-due library books, his game-boy (which I will take if I see it again) and a host of other items that are not allowed at school.

As to the phones?  I do not answer the phone in my classroom during the day.  You can leave a voice mail but I haven't figured out how to use the new system and get my messages off of it.  (In fact, I don't think I want to.)  I am also on duty before and after school so I am not in the room to answer the phone at those times either. (It would be really nice if you came down and voluteered to help with duty before and after school so I could have some time in my room.)

I apologize if the office did not get me your messages.  They are over whelmed right now with all of the new students that have been added to our school.  We had 350 last year and we have over 900 right now.  These are all new files we have to create and get old records for.  It is a harrowing job for just 3 people.  Please be understanding.

Finally, sending a note home every single day is not feasable.  I have too much to do at the end of the day to get a separate note written for you.  I am checking homework folders to see that they all include the days work, cleaning up the floors, erasing the boards, and sweeping the carpet.  I have to make sure they have everything off the floor including their chairs so if a cleaning person ever does come into my room, they can see that we have already done their job for them.  We only have one cleaning person for 65 rooms and long hallways.

In the meantime, I will ask you to check your child's backpack every day to see what is in it.  (I doubt  you will though)

If you do and see this note?  Please sign below and return it to me at school.

Sincerely,

The teacher