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Mysterious Teaching

Insights behind the perils of being a teacher

Are school parents losing their freaking mind?

I had a parent yesterday who called and interrupted my lesson to talk to me for 20 minutes about her child.  Her child was sitting 3 rows back.  The entire class was listening.  Now what teacher in their right mind would tell a parent anything important or embarassing in front of a class.

Do parents have any brains left?  She was asking personal questions and expected me to answer.  I tried to remind her that the children were in front of me.  But, she persisted.  How embarassing!

Did she want me to tell her the truth?  Your child is a below average student.  She doesn't appear to understand much of what is going on in class.  She doesn't read above a beginning 3rd grade level.  Her math skills are so low that my 3 year old great niece can do better.  Holy Cow!  I would never give out information like that in front of other people.  For one thing, she would be the one to sue when it got around that the kids had heard!

Then there comes the problem of interrupting my class.  I was in the middle of a lesson when she called.  I told her we were in the middle of a lesson and she ignored me.  She just went on and on.  And on!  I have an intern for Social Studies and she said she couldn't believe someone would expect you to talk during class time.

I must admit I was surprised.  Usually calls about the end of school and I have to go do bus duty. 

The worst part was that she wanted to know now (8 days before school is out) what she can do to help her child pass.  I told her she could go to summer school.  She said she looked into it and it just wouldn't do.  So I suggested Sylvan Learning Centers or get a tutor because it was too late to do anything about it this year.  She is not being retained but she is very low.

(She is also absent all the time, tardy and sick)

Published Friday, May 16, 2008 2:00 PM by MysteryTeacher

Comments

 

Mindy Jo said:

This will be my first year teaching.  It is situations such as this that worry me.  You don't want to be rude to the parent, but the students are there are they are the number one priority.  Parents that get interested in their student's life 8 days before the end of school...need to get their priorities straight.

May 16, 2008 10:29 PM
 

Gardenhope said:

Are you required to answer the phone? I NEVER answer the phone during class. That's what voice mail is for. I turn the ringer down low so it doesn't disturb us, and I return calls during my planning period when kids are at art or music or whatever or after or before school. Period.

Once in a while someone in the room will answer the phone (an aide, a volunteer) and  try to get me to come over. I just look at them over all the kids and say, "I'm teaching- please take a message".

One year I had a very persistent parent who would call repeatedly and once I answered on the third call thinking maybe it was an emergency of sorts. When I realized who it was (and no emergency) I said, "sorry, I'm teaching, I'll have to call you back." She kept going, I interrupted her to repeat myself, she kept going, I interrupted her one more time and said, "I'm sorry, I'm going now," and hung up the phone mid sentence.  You have to set boundaries because some parents don't have any and won't respect yours regardless.

May 18, 2008 4:59 AM
 

missusbee said:

Yes, we have caller ID on our phones and if it's not coming from the office or from an inside extension, I will not answer during class time.

May 18, 2008 11:02 AM
 

Rochele said:

Oh, I wish we could do that.  Our office takes all call and is very good about not putting them through but sometimes they are the ones who interrupt.  They buzz into my room right in the middle of a lesson and then want me to come to the phone instead of not using the intercome.  I just want to say " no I can't come to the phone" somedays.  They even called during testing!

May 20, 2008 12:16 PM
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About MysteryTeacher

I am a wild, whacky, weird, wonderful woman and teacher. I am venturing into a previous life by teaching ELL this fall. I use to teach ESL years ago. I am excited, empowered, and employed. I love life.

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