Schools not allowing parents to enter- Covid protocol

[Anonymous]

There is a happy medium between (1) having parents coming and going at will, getting in the way, dropping in on teachers unannounced, or posing security risks, and (2) creating a prison-like environment.

I think it's totally fine to limit parents to the lobby/entrance of the school except for events like BTS night or when they have an appointment with a teacher or admin. It's even fine to say "please don't come into the lobby during drop off, it gets too crowded." Of course schools should have limits on how much parents are in the school.

But I think it's weird to not even allow parents in the lobby during low traffic hours, to drop off a kid or items for the classroom or the school. I think it's weird to have parents communicate with the front desk via intercom when picking up a kid for a doctor's appointment, instead of just coming in and telling the security guard or the admin "Hi I'm here to pick up Larlo for his doctor's appointment -- I emailed about it yesterday."

TBH, if anything, it seems more secure for an interaction like that to happen in person in the school as opposed to via intercom -- if the parent was behaving strangely or something seemed off, you'd be much more likely to pick up on it if it was in person.

I will also say that my school doesn't let parents see their kid's classroom until BTS night, which is at the end of September, and I find that weird because I think it would be easier to prepare my child better for the school year if we could do a classroom visit before school starts. At least for early grades, I guess by 3rd or so it matters less. But for a K or 1st grade student, it feels weird to not even know what their classroom environment is until a month into school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a happy medium between (1) having parents coming and going at will, getting in the way, dropping in on teachers unannounced, or posing security risks, and (2) creating a prison-like environment.

I think it's totally fine to limit parents to the lobby/entrance of the school except for events like BTS night or when they have an appointment with a teacher or admin. It's even fine to say "please don't come into the lobby during drop off, it gets too crowded." Of course schools should have limits on how much parents are in the school.

But I think it's weird to not even allow parents in the lobby during low traffic hours, to drop off a kid or items for the classroom or the school. I think it's weird to have parents communicate with the front desk via intercom when picking up a kid for a doctor's appointment, instead of just coming in and telling the security guard or the admin "Hi I'm here to pick up Larlo for his doctor's appointment -- I emailed about it yesterday."

TBH, if anything, it seems more secure for an interaction like that to happen in person in the school as opposed to via intercom -- if the parent was behaving strangely or something seemed off, you'd be much more likely to pick up on it if it was in person.

I will also say that my school doesn't let parents see their kid's classroom until BTS night, which is at the end of September, and I find that weird because I think it would be easier to prepare my child better for the school year if we could do a classroom visit before school starts. At least for early grades, I guess by 3rd or so it matters less. But for a K or 1st grade student, it feels weird to not even know what their classroom environment is until a month into school.

Eh, but schools are of a size that school staff don't recognize every parent, and such a scenario makes it VERY easy for a noncustodial parent to attempt something risky or a school shooter to come in.

Even back in the 80's/90's, if my parent had to pick me up for a doctor appt, they didn't actually come into the school. My parent literally never came into the school besides teacher's conferences and events like recitals, graduation, etc. And for that, there were tickets.

[Anonymous]

The mom wanting to tell the teacher her kid got a flu shot is exactly why parents aren’t allowed in the classrooms. Parents want to talk to me (teacher) about all sorts of random stuff. Send me an email.

[Anonymous]

Jesus people. Parents, stop. Just stop. Get out of the school. You want to meet with the teacher? Set up a meeting. You want to "observe" a classroom? Call and ask to do so and set up a specific time (if they say yes.) You do not need to have complete information or control of everything all the time. It doesn't allow your kids to develop any kind of independence nor does it allow the professional educator to do their job. Don't believe me? Head on over to Reddit and see why we can't fill teacher jobs...

https://www.reddit.com/r/Teachers/comments/17ah0xf/tried_a_seating_plan_for_2_days_gotten_parent/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Teachers/comments/179zb7e/whats_the_dumbest_parent_question_youve_ever/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Teachers/comments/179rxvj/when_will_us_schools_bring_back_consequences/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Teachers/comments/179xzuv/why_is_it_such_a_struggle_for_parents_to_check/

Oh, and also if you didn't already know .... there's a crime wave in DC and a school shooting issue that might affect the way people feel about school safety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Jesus people. Parents, stop. Just stop. Get out of the school. You want to meet with the teacher? Set up a meeting. You want to "observe" a classroom? Call and ask to do so and set up a specific time (if they say yes.) You do not need to have complete information or control of everything all the time. It doesn't allow your kids to develop any kind of independence nor does it allow the professional educator to do their job. Don't believe me? Head on over to Reddit and see why we can't fill teacher jobs...

https://www.reddit.com/r/Teachers/comments/17ah0xf/tried_a_seating_plan_for_2_days_gotten_parent/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Teachers/comments/179zb7e/whats_the_dumbest_parent_question_youve_ever/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Teachers/comments/179rxvj/when_will_us_schools_bring_back_consequences/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Teachers/comments/179xzuv/why_is_it_such_a_struggle_for_parents_to_check/

Oh, and also if you didn't already know .... there's a crime wave in DC and a school shooting issue that might affect the way people feel about school safety.

Parent wants to observe a classroom? After grade 2 or 3, that's potentially going to get your kid picked on. I'd have been mortified if my parent tried that growing up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jesus people. Parents, stop. Just stop. Get out of the school. You want to meet with the teacher? Set up a meeting. You want to "observe" a classroom? Call and ask to do so and set up a specific time (if they say yes.) You do not need to have complete information or control of everything all the time. It doesn't allow your kids to develop any kind of independence nor does it allow the professional educator to do their job. Don't believe me? Head on over to Reddit and see why we can't fill teacher jobs...

https://www.reddit.com/r/Teachers/comments/17ah0xf/tried_a_seating_plan_for_2_days_gotten_parent/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Teachers/comments/179zb7e/whats_the_dumbest_parent_question_youve_ever/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Teachers/comments/179rxvj/when_will_us_schools_bring_back_consequences/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Teachers/comments/179xzuv/why_is_it_such_a_struggle_for_parents_to_check/

Oh, and also if you didn't already know .... there's a crime wave in DC and a school shooting issue that might affect the way people feel about school safety.

Parent wants to observe a classroom? After grade 2 or 3, that's potentially going to get your kid picked on. I'd have been mortified if my parent tried that growing up.

These are going to be the same people who complain to the teacher about every grade, every peer experience. They are also the same ones who never let their kids experience any consequences and then wonder why their kids are such anxious, miserable young adults.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're at a Title 1 DCPS and have the same policy, OP. Though they no longer refer to it as "Covid protocol." They just don't want parents in the building.

We are allowed in for special events but, for instance, if my kid has a doctor's appointment, I have to tell the security guard at the front door that I'm there to pick her up, and then she is retrieved and brought to the front door to me. And when I drop her back off, I can't walk her to her classroom or even enter the building -- I drop her with the security guard and she walks to her classroom alone. She's in kindergarten.

I hate it. I get limiting how much time parents spend in the building because you can get overzealous parents who are around all the time and disrupting classes or just clogging up hallways. And I understand having security protocols in place and making sure any adult entering the building is actually a parent and has a reason to be there.

We started school during Covid so I have no idea if it was like this before.

There is literally no reason why you should be able to pick your daughter up from class or walk her back to class after a doctors appointment. What you described is exactly how a school should work.

I think it's weird that a parent can't even enter the building. I would be find with a policy where you walk your kid into the front office and then they either walk to their class alone or get escorted, once the admin has confirmed that the class is in the classroom (they could be at a special or at recess).

I also think that on a case-by-case basis, a parent might walk a young kid to the classroom, say if there is something they need to inform the teacher of regarding the child's absence (like if my kid just got a flu vaccine I might want to tell their teacher so they understand if he seems low energy). Yes, I can text the teacher or send a note with my kid, but I could see in certain situations where it would be useful of the parent to just drop the child off directly.

There are ways to limit parents in schools without having a policy that requires them to hand their children off to a security guard at the door. It's a very cold and impersonal way of interact with families, IMO.

Randomly entering the classroom to "tell the teacher something" is extremely disruptive. You just write a note, FFS. If you are concerned about your kid's "low energy" keep them home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're at a Title 1 DCPS and have the same policy, OP. Though they no longer refer to it as "Covid protocol." They just don't want parents in the building.

We are allowed in for special events but, for instance, if my kid has a doctor's appointment, I have to tell the security guard at the front door that I'm there to pick her up, and then she is retrieved and brought to the front door to me. And when I drop her back off, I can't walk her to her classroom or even enter the building -- I drop her with the security guard and she walks to her classroom alone. She's in kindergarten.

I hate it. I get limiting how much time parents spend in the building because you can get overzealous parents who are around all the time and disrupting classes or just clogging up hallways. And I understand having security protocols in place and making sure any adult entering the building is actually a parent and has a reason to be there.

We started school during Covid so I have no idea if it was like this before.

There is literally no reason why you should be able to pick your daughter up from class or walk her back to class after a doctors appointment. What you described is exactly how a school should work.

I think it's weird that a parent can't even enter the building. I would be find with a policy where you walk your kid into the front office and then they either walk to their class alone or get escorted, once the admin has confirmed that the class is in the classroom (they could be at a special or at recess).

I also think that on a case-by-case basis, a parent might walk a young kid to the classroom, say if there is something they need to inform the teacher of regarding the child's absence (like if my kid just got a flu vaccine I might want to tell their teacher so they understand if he seems low energy). Yes, I can text the teacher or send a note with my kid, but I could see in certain situations where it would be useful of the parent to just drop the child off directly.

There are ways to limit parents in schools without having a policy that requires them to hand their children off to a security guard at the door. It's a very cold and impersonal way of interact with families, IMO.

Randomly entering the classroom to "tell the teacher something" is extremely disruptive. You just write a note, FFS. If you are concerned about your kid's "low energy" keep them home.

And for the love of God, don't text your kids teacher's phone. Email them like the professional they are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jesus people. Parents, stop. Just stop. Get out of the school. You want to meet with the teacher? Set up a meeting. You want to "observe" a classroom? Call and ask to do so and set up a specific time (if they say yes.) You do not need to have complete information or control of everything all the time. It doesn't allow your kids to develop any kind of independence nor does it allow the professional educator to do their job. Don't believe me? Head on over to Reddit and see why we can't fill teacher jobs...

https://www.reddit.com/r/Teachers/comments/17ah0xf/tried_a_seating_plan_for_2_days_gotten_parent/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Teachers/comments/179zb7e/whats_the_dumbest_parent_question_youve_ever/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Teachers/comments/179rxvj/when_will_us_schools_bring_back_consequences/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Teachers/comments/179xzuv/why_is_it_such_a_struggle_for_parents_to_check/

Oh, and also if you didn't already know .... there's a crime wave in DC and a school shooting issue that might affect the way people feel about school safety.

Parent wants to observe a classroom? After grade 2 or 3, that's potentially going to get your kid picked on. I'd have been mortified if my parent tried that growing up.

That and it’s also an issue around child privacy. If a kid has a 504 or IEP and gets extra support, pull out, extended time, whatever it is none of the other parents’ business to witness. I’ve heard stories of parent ‘volunteers’ in classroom blabbing to other parents about who has extra supports, who gets extra time, etc.

[Anonymous]

When we think about school security, we often contemplate some outsider getting into a school to do harm. Unfortunately, schools have common issues with students’ parents and relatives. It can be relatively benign, like a parent who wants to have an impromptu conference with a teacher who is mid-lesson. However, sometimes things get more serious—a non-custodial parent or relative trying to get access to educational records protected under FERPA or someone who wants to physically threaten a teacher (or even another student) over a perceived slight.

There are also administrative concerns that are simpler to manage when building access is tightly controlled. Keeping parents to the front vestibule minimizes the number of visits to bring forgotten items and food deliveries from home. It also makes an accurate census during lockdowns and evacuations easier.

For schools that have changed access policies, it’s not so much a Covid policy but a Covid-era reconsideration of security and appropriate boundaries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're at a Title 1 DCPS and have the same policy, OP. Though they no longer refer to it as "Covid protocol." They just don't want parents in the building.

We are allowed in for special events but, for instance, if my kid has a doctor's appointment, I have to tell the security guard at the front door that I'm there to pick her up, and then she is retrieved and brought to the front door to me. And when I drop her back off, I can't walk her to her classroom or even enter the building -- I drop her with the security guard and she walks to her classroom alone. She's in kindergarten.

I hate it. I get limiting how much time parents spend in the building because you can get overzealous parents who are around all the time and disrupting classes or just clogging up hallways. And I understand having security protocols in place and making sure any adult entering the building is actually a parent and has a reason to be there.

We started school during Covid so I have no idea if it was like this before.

This is how schools were pre-covid too. It's not safe to have random adults wandering around the building.

[Anonymous]

I think schools realized that barring parents from the building reduced the burden on staff and decreased security risks. So while they may claim "Covid", actually, it's just more operationally convenient for them.

I get that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do parents need to be in the school? I don’t recall my parents ever being at school during the day. They came for Back to School Night, and Parent-Teacher conferences, and that was it. Maybe to pick me up when I got sick a couple of times.

Allowing parents to come in and observe classes, etc., is useful for fostering trust and may help to avoid those annoying emails from parents teachers on this board constantly complain about. As a parent it is hard to know what is going on in the classroom, particularly with young kids.

Allow parents to come in and observe classes? I've literally never heard of this. WTA helicopter F?

Parents of kids with disabilities have the legal right to observe (or send someone, like an educational consultant) so that they are informed enough to participate in IEP meetings. But it's not a thing outside of IEP-land.

[Anonymous]

I agree there should be some middle ground. Maybe not unlimited access but one should be able to deliver cupcakes on a birthday and see kid's face light up rather than dropping them off with security.