Restricting access to teacher during dropoff

[Anonymous]

I started DS age 3 at a new preschool about a month ago. For the first 3 weeks i dropped DS off at his classroom door and sometimes walked him inside. There were no problems. I greeted the teacher, put his things in his cubby, and occasionally let the teacher know pertinent info i.e. potty training successes at home, etc. Last week, the administrator for the first time told me that the policy of the school is to drop the child off in the foyer while she or another staff member escorted DS to his class. She says that all the other parents do this but she only allowed me to drop him to the class because I was new. I dont like this policy. I have never heard of such a policy when we were touring all the other schools. I'm pregnant and have been overreacting about alot of things lately, but it seems this policy promotes secrecy instead of accountability and is not in line with the open door policy they advertise. I'm dreading Monday dropoff because of the anxiety and frustration I feel. I just feel like I need to at least see the person who is watching my child all day. What if there's a substitue I havent met yet? Am I overreacting? Does your child's preschool have a policy like this?

[Anonymous]

You are overreacting - by a lot.

This is not a big deal. And it certainly doesn't fall into the category of restricting access to the teacher and fostering secrecy...

[Anonymous]

You're way overreacting. Your child will be safe going to class. The teacher is there greeting kids and getting the day started. She can't do that if she is talking with parents.

Dial it back...way back.

[Anonymous]

I agree with pps

[Anonymous]

Realistically if your kid has a sub for a day what difference does it make?
Assuming there are 2 teachers in the class he will still know the other teacher and they will still do the same routine they normally do.
You are not going to keep your kid home because theres a sub right? So you dont really need to know.
Make sure your kid knows the new plan/routine then go with it OP

[Anonymous]

You are overreacting. Big time. Mornings can be hectic during drop-off. Teachers are busy getting kids settled in. They don't have time to chat with parents. Their focus needs to be 100% of their kids.

[Anonymous]

If you are talking to the teacher during drop off when other children are in the room, you are not allowing the teacher to do her job. She is supposed to be supervising the children, not having private conversations with parents. The school does this for the safety of the children. If you wish to talk to the teacher about your child, schedule a conference.

Yes, you are overreacting.

[Anonymous]

Did you not notice that you were the only parent dropping off at the classroom? Where I teach it's a classroom drop off, as a teacher I like connecting with the parents. But if it's the culture of the school, they should have told you that before you signed up, I'm surprised that you didn't know.

[Anonymous]

Imagine what morning drop offs would be like if all the parents came in to talk potty training to the primary teacher every morning. A quick handoff to school staff is standard. At some schools parents aren't even supposed to get out of their cars for drop off.

[Anonymous]

Agree with pps. Ours kids attended two different preschools. One dropped off at the front door. The other dropped off at the classroom door. The classroom door had a strict 'parents do not pass' rule. Some kids have a tough time with the transition into class and parents in the room makes it a lot harder on the kids.

I also don't understand how you didn't notice that you were the only one doing this.

[Anonymous]

I disagree with PPs. I'm a preschool teacher, and we allow parents to drop off in classroom. Most of them drop off at carpool, but with such young children it's important for the parents to be able to see their environment whenever they choose.
The director could have "suggested" that you drop off at the lobby, but there's something sketchy if they won't let you in classroom.

[Anonymous]

You would be fuming if all the other parents chatted up the teacher while they were supposed to be getting the children in the classroom, ready and settled for the day.
It's not fair to the other kids and the school has been nice enough up until now to let you do this, probably noting how anxious and perhaps a tad overbearing you are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I disagree with PPs. I'm a preschool teacher, and we allow parents to drop off in classroom. Most of them drop off at carpool, but with such young children it's important for the parents to be able to see their environment whenever they choose.
The director could have "suggested" that you drop off at the lobby, but there's something sketchy if they won't let you in classroom.

But this is not your school. This school has a policy that all the other parents abide by, except OP. You have no idea the setup of this school, how many teachers, how the parking lot or carpool is, etc. It's not sketchy at all, it's what 99% of the parents do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I disagree with PPs. I'm a preschool teacher, and we allow parents to drop off in classroom. Most of them drop off at carpool, but with such young children it's important for the parents to be able to see their environment whenever they choose.
The director could have "suggested" that you drop off at the lobby, but there's something sketchy if they won't let you in classroom.

But this is not your school. This school has a policy that all the other parents abide by, except OP. You have no idea the setup of this school, how many teachers, how the parking lot or carpool is, etc. It's not sketchy at all, it's what 99% of the parents do.

+1 not your school, not your rules. The school was nice enough to allow this family a transition period to make sure the child was comfortable. Sounds like he is and only op is upset.

[Anonymous]

Were you the only parent to walk to and enter the classroom?

I would let it go, OP. It doesn't sound like anything untoward is happening.