annoying phone calls

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Home : 2000 : November : 24

annoying phone calls
By Carolyn

First of all, I was sorry to hear that you had so much trouble with that parent. I, too, had one bad telephone experience with a parent.

One evening a parent called me at my apartment in Charlotte, where I was living at
the time. I must have called directory assistance, because I had not yet had my phone listed. He began to harass me about my intention to refer his daughter to the office. I was exhausted and didn't feel like speaking with him, but I did anyway, because I was too polite to just hang up on him, and that would also have been unprofessional and fueled his fire! What was really annoying

was that even after I made my explanations to him he kept badgering me with the same questions over and over again. I was nearly reduced to tears. My husband came to my rescue. He picked up the phone from my hands and firmly told the parent that I was tired and that perhaps we should talk another time. He hung up quickly. We have had an answering machine screen our calls ever since.

No, I don't think you were being unfair to this person. Your job with his child ends the moment you leave the school and all school matters should be handled at school. You have a right to your private life.