Quick! Is attending MS open house really that important?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm going. This might be my only chance to have any interaction with the teachers. I know it's not much, but I would like to at least see who is teaching my kids.

This. Its better than nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is baffling. Who doesn't want to see the classrooms, put a face to the names of the teachers, see the places you child spends their day?? Not to mention the lesson you teach your child. They'll care about school as much as you do.

Me. I don’t need to see any of that. How does that make you a better parent, seeing where they spend their day and knowing what their teachers look like?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This post and this forum are so ridiculous. I posted last week about high school open house and majority told me not to even go! I swear you’re all contrarian!

Whatever makes you feel most shamed and uncomfortable, you must do that.
/s

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should go, OP, since it's important to your kid.

This is why you go.

I stopped going after my older child’s freshman year, because my kids stopped caring if I attended and I could learn all I needed to know from the course syllabus. Had my kid asked me to attend, however, I’d have gone for that reason alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, you go. It's called being a parent.

I hate that you’re right!

There was not one useful thing I took away from MS open house. And, after attending the first HS one, felt the same about that and haven't been back to one. If you have a specific issue/concern, go. Otherwise, I'd skip it.

[Anonymous]

Ours is tonight and I'm on the fence. DD said she didn't have a preference one way or the other, and we just had their open house and new student orientation a few weeks ago where we saw the classrooms and met the teachers. If I go then she and her sister won't be able to go to their sports practices. I wish they had a virtual option, it seems unnecessary to have it only be in-person when the teachers will be meeting over 100 parents, so it's not like there's a chance for any sort of personal interaction beyond saying hi and listening to the presentations.

[Anonymous]

Last year, some of my child’s teachers emailed to say ‘it’s OK if you don’t attend’. They didn’t like the format (it was more cattle call than what you are describing).
If it matters to your kid, you should go. But will it make any real difference in the year? Absolutely not.

[Anonymous]

Yes, go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This post and this forum are so ridiculous. I posted last week about high school open house and majority told me not to even go! I swear you’re all contrarian!

HS vs. MS

That’s the difference.

[Anonymous]

I went to the MS open house because it was one of perhaps three opportunities to be in the building the entire year. Our kids’ MS actively discourages parents from coming to the school during a regular school day. And I liked meeting the teachers.

[Anonymous]

I go.

I like to get a read on as many adults as I can who interact with my kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This post and this forum are so ridiculous. I posted last week about high school open house and majority told me not to even go! I swear you’re all contrarian!

HS vs. MS

That’s the difference.

I would argue high school matters more!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m still going during the HS years. Perhaps your kids are good about telling you about their day, but I find it really helpful to meet all the teachers and make assessments as to their personalities and teaching styles. It helps me understand what my kids are experiencing and if they complain or are struggling it may shed light on why. It helps me ask them better questions about their day because

This! And, seeing the trek from class to class.

[Anonymous]

I always go to these for my middle and high schooler. I like to put a face to a name teacher wise. I mean what else are you doing? Like if you had to miss work or something important, sure, but otherwise?…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always go to these for my middle and high schooler. I like to put a face to a name teacher wise. I mean what else are you doing? Like if you had to miss work or something important, sure, but otherwise?…

Agree. I always go unless I am on work travel.