I had some not-so-nice parents meet with me. I'll just share the highlights...
- The woman whose daughter isn't turning in homework in my class...she told me that her daughter has always loved language arts, so it must be me. She proceeded to tell me how I should teach...because apparently I didn't go to school to learn that.
- "I know you're not paid enough to go above and beyond..." I wanted to say, "Well, I did become a teacher for the money, so that's kind of an issue."
- The woman who implied that one of my students has a bad home life because his lesbian mother and her partner are the ones raising him. Apparently students like this can go one of two ways: they can emulate behavior and become effeminate or become loud and obnoxious.
- The parent who asked why I didn't assign more homework...Well, I'm pretty sure I'm swamped with grading as it is, so I don't know that I'll be assigning any more than the assignment per night.
- The 6'10" military man who told me that I'm young and attractive and his son can be very charming...so, he wouldn't want his son to charm his way into getting away with anything. Are you kidding?? I'm 24 years old. Does he seriously think I can be charmed by a 15 year old??
- The woman who told me she knows her son is disrespectful and that he's the same way at home, and she simply does not know what to do with him....I've got a lovely idea...Punish him!
- Smiling and attempting to be sympathetic throughout all this....
13 comments:
The absolute biggest perk about being the art teacher this year is not having to deal with parents! The art teacher simply does not get requests for parent teacher inteviews at a primary school. It's most excellent. I tend to get a lot of praise and 'wow these displays look great' instead.
I totally feel for you though. I have been through my fair share of bitchy and idiotic parents.
I'm really glad p/t conferences are only once a year...couldn't handle any more.
I enjoyed the one where a parent was pushing me to have her child tested "into" special ed so she could claim more gov. money. Who would want their child in special ed simply to raise their gov. check?
BYW---the student is just lazy and would never meet guidelines for special ed. Wonder where the child learned the lazines? Hmmmmm
The only thing worse than crappy conferences is being blown off for crappy conferences - which I was - four times this week.
I only have conference when parents want are not happy with "Baby's" grade. Either don't work them hard enough, or I work them too hard! Go figure!
Elementary, I just found out the other day that parents receive more money for special ed. students. I now know why some parents push so hard. Blah!!
Brookelina, I almost wish some of them would've blown me off. At least I would've left with some self-esteem...and more grading finished.
Onyx, Most of my conferences were regarding my freshmen, half of whom are failing. Mom and dad were not happy...with me or with their child.
Hang in there, AT. I really suspect that part of the problem is that you are 24. There are some parents who see "raw meat" whenever there is a young teacher. If their little darlings aren't doing well, and the teacher is young, it must be the teacher's fault. The older I've gotten, and the grayer my hair has gotten, the easier my conferences have become. But despite the fact that my conferences are easier now, being 24 again doesn't sound too bad.
Ah conferences. My team has had more conferences this year than ever before. And I'm thinking the parents are nuttier. Are there just a zillion parents out there who bemoan the fact that their offspring is a disrespectful brat and they can't figure out what to do with him/her? Good gracious if I had a dollar for every time I heard that...
Oh yea, we've all heard that "I don't know what to do with my out-of-control child" story many times. When parents say that in conferences they are reaching out to us and are actually expecting me to give advice, right? No? Oh well.
Most of the conferences I have had this year are from parents whose children are actually doing pretty well, but have screwed up a few assignments or a test or something. I assure them that their students are doing okay and that I appreciate their good parenting and send them on their way. I don't mind. Sometimes parents need a little confidence booster, too. The other parents, though? Like their children, I don't what to do with them that would really make a difference.
I'M AMAZED -- BUT MORE ASHAMED OF YOU TEACHERS. YOU SHOULD ALL QUIT TEACHING -- BECAUSE IT'S YOUR LOUSY BITCHING ATTITUDES THAT COME SHINING THROUGH TO OUR CHILDREN. THE PROBLEM IS NOT THE PARENTS... IT'S THE TEACHERS -- MOST OF THEM DON'T HAVE THE PATIENCE OR KINDNESS NEEDED FOR CHILDREN... AND SHOULD PICK ANOTHER INDUSTRY. **EVERY TIME** A TEACHER BITCHES ABOUT STUDENTS AND PARENTS... SHOWS JUST WHAT KIND OF PERSON THEY REALLY ARE... GROW UP -- YOUR WORSE THAN THE CHILDREN AND THE PARENTS YOU COMPLAIN ABOUT.
You thought that only Indian education system has faults and problems. However, just go through the links below and you find out that the UK education system is equally bad.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/7542176.stm
http://www.politics.co.uk/news/opinion-former-index/education/balls-announces-sat-results-delay-$1230376.htm
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Teens_marking_SAT_papers_in_UK/articleshow/3247143.cms
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2008/jul/28/sats.fiasco
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d89a3aec-49f6-11dd-891a-000077b07658.html
You thought that only Indian education system has faults and problems. However, just go through the links below and you find out that the UK education system is equally bad.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/7542176.stm
http://www.politics.co.uk/news/opinion-former-index/education/balls-announces-sat-results-delay-$1230376.htm
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Teens_marking_SAT_papers_in_UK/articleshow/3247143.cms
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2008/jul/28/sats.fiasco
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d89a3aec-49f6-11dd-891a-000077b07658.html
It is a nice conference. The only thing worse than crappy conferences is being blown off for crappy conferences - which I was - four times this week.
interaction
Post a Comment