Parents

Home

Chat

Blogs

Collection

Directory

Home : 2002 : September : 8

Parents
By Kathy

Your post reminded me of an experience I had several years ago. I was just starting out at a very academic school where many of the parents were professionals. I heard many rumors about what a problem the parents could
be, how you had to really be careful, etc., etc.
Even though I'd had virtually no problem with parents my first nine years of teaching, I was a bit leery about what I was in for so I decided to be proactive. I got a little notebook and wrote down the name of every child in the class. Every time I had any interaction with a parent, I conscientiously wrote about it in the notebook for

reference. Every note (however mundane) got stapled to that child's page.

I think it was about midway through the year that I realized there wasn't much point in all this paperwork! The parents--for the most part--were extremely postive and supportive and the notes were all pretty run-of-the-mill--Please excuse Johnny for..." I did keep up the documentation the rest of the year, but didn't do it the next.

I taught at that school for nine years and loved the parents!! (I still miss them! Sure sometimes they were "overinterested", but they really cared and got involved.) I wouldn't worry!! Just put on a good program, do the best you can, and the "parent problem" is usually minimal.

This is my 24th year teaching and though I've had many "discussions" with parents, there's rarely been a problem we couldn't work out together. The "key" I've found is to keep the parents informed, have an "open door" where they feel free to come to you when they have a concern, and make sure you follow-up after you've had a conference about an issue.

It's worked really well for me. In fact, my seventh year teaching I was amazed when the principal told me, "You know you are the only teacher in the school I haven't had parents come to me and complain about." Of course that comment was completely unprofessional for him to make, but I was more surprised than flattered.

I thought, "Well, they sure come to me!" Then I realized that the reason they weren't going to him was because they felt free to come to me with their little concerns. (And first grade parents can come up with a lot of "concerns"--particularly when it's their oldest child!) But you know, that just means they care--and I had many parents laugh with me later about issues they thought were so crucial earlier in the year.

IF you find a problem parent (and, of course, they are out there!), then it's important to carefully document. Until then, just enjoy those people who care so much about the children you teach!