I hate back to school night

[Anonymous]

My son is in his second year of high school and I'm not going this year. Last year it was interesting because we weren't familiar with the high school and my son was new, too. But it was very uncomfortable. The parents seemed clique-ish and not very friendly. I appreciated the information we got, but don't feel like I need it this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why can't each high school and middle teacher take a 10-15min video about their class, show around the room, then go into a power point of expectations, homework, how to study, grades, retake options, personal rules, and class syllabus.

Then the parent signs an online electronic form saying they watched it and can put down up to 3 questions and the teacher has a week to get back to them.

I just see no reason a teacher has to do this in person 5-6 times a night while parents go thru the halls of the big schools. And you always get the parents asking questions and wasting the small allotted time anyway.

And with the video, you can watch it with your child and rewatch it if there is a discrepancy (like your kid lying about how the grading works lol)

I love this idea!! but I bet the teachers won't care if parents watch it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t ever learn anything very valuable, but I like talking to my kid about their teachers and their school. It’s just a little thing to remind them that you’re interested and invested in their education.

+1
It’s not a waste if you have the right goals for the evening.
For me that’s getting a sense of what her environment is like so that I can accurately picture her surroundings when she talks about school and can visualize her teacher and get a feel for his or her tone, communication style, and presence.
Plus even high schoolers want to know you care enough to make this about them and not about what YOU get from it. It’s saying “you matter to me so I’m showing up.”
Kids like to know their teacher met their parents and vice versa. (Unless they really really dislike you and then don’t go)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can't each high school and middle teacher take a 10-15min video about their class, show around the room, then go into a power point of expectations, homework, how to study, grades, retake options, personal rules, and class syllabus.

Then the parent signs an online electronic form saying they watched it and can put down up to 3 questions and the teacher has a week to get back to them.

I just see no reason a teacher has to do this in person 5-6 times a night while parents go thru the halls of the big schools. And you always get the parents asking questions and wasting the small allotted time anyway.

And with the video, you can watch it with your child and rewatch it if there is a discrepancy (like your kid lying about how the grading works lol)

I love this idea!! but I bet the teachers won't care if parents watch it.

Ugh y’all are insufferable and this is why human connection is dead.

Seriously.
Watching a video is not interpersonal communication and contact. It’s not relationship-building and it lacks the shared experience of establishing rapport and familiarity that can be gained from the in person interaction.
Maybe back to school night won’t establish a one-on-one connection, but if a one-on-one meetup is needed later, the interaction will be made easier and more familiar if you’ve at least already met once and had this one exchange.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Find out if there’s a Zoom option.

Oh my god, I wish my school did this via Zoom.

I'm a teacher.

OMG you’re free to work somewhere else, wearing your pijamas and eating in front of the screen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Find out if there’s a Zoom option.

Oh my god, I wish my school did this via Zoom.

I'm a teacher.

OMG you’re free to work somewhere else, wearing your pijamas and eating in front of the screen.

Asking teachers to do this is stupid. They are exhausted. BTSN for high school are a complete waste of time

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids were 1 grade apart. BTSN was like Sophie's Choice trying to navigate which teacher to omit. Before you ask, my DH was always traveling for work.

Sorry, but you’re gross comparing your little predicament to Sophie’s Choice. Please don’t make comparisons to the Holocaust like that ever again when describing your problems - it’s disrespectful.

Im sure someone will say lighten up but I had the same reaction and would like to retire this phrase. I heard people using that ohrase for years and then finally saw the movie (without knowing what it was about — it was just on TV) and I was like “holy sh—t, that’s the choice?!?” Makes me sick whenever I hear the phrase — it’s so disturbing.

I just looked it up. I honestly had no idea and will be removing the phrase from my vocab. Holy moly. I feel awful I’ve used it flippantly like the earlier poster

[Anonymous]

I love it. I love seeing where my kid spends their day and yo put a face to the names.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids were 1 grade apart. BTSN was like Sophie's Choice trying to navigate which teacher to omit. Before you ask, my DH was always traveling for work.

Sorry, but you’re gross comparing your little predicament to Sophie’s Choice. Please don’t make comparisons to the Holocaust like that ever again when describing your problems - it’s disrespectful.

Im sure someone will say lighten up but I had the same reaction and would like to retire this phrase. I heard people using that ohrase for years and then finally saw the movie (without knowing what it was about — it was just on TV) and I was like “holy sh—t, that’s the choice?!?” Makes me sick whenever I hear the phrase — it’s so disturbing.

I just looked it up. I honestly had no idea and will be removing the phrase from my vocab. Holy moly. I feel awful I’ve used it flippantly like the earlier poster

Thank you, I really appreciate you taking the time to realize this and correct it. It’s never appropriate for anyone to exaggerate their problems as if they are anywhere close to the ones actually faced by those who lived during the Holocaust.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Find out if there’s a Zoom option.

Oh my god, I wish my school did this via Zoom.

I'm a teacher.

OMG you’re free to work somewhere else, wearing your pijamas and eating in front of the screen.

Asking teachers to do this is stupid. They are exhausted. BTSN for high school are a complete waste of time

Many parents are telling you they find them helpful. I understand it’s a burden on the teachers and I thank them for giving us their time. But while BTSN might be “complete waste of time” for you, doesn’t make it true for some of us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can't each high school and middle teacher take a 10-15min video about their class, show around the room, then go into a power point of expectations, homework, how to study, grades, retake options, personal rules, and class syllabus.

Then the parent signs an online electronic form saying they watched it and can put down up to 3 questions and the teacher has a week to get back to them.

I just see no reason a teacher has to do this in person 5-6 times a night while parents go thru the halls of the big schools. And you always get the parents asking questions and wasting the small allotted time anyway.

And with the video, you can watch it with your child and rewatch it if there is a discrepancy (like your kid lying about how the grading works lol)

I love this idea!! but I bet the teachers won't care if parents watch it.

Ugh y’all are insufferable and this is why human connection is dead.

Seriously.
Watching a video is not interpersonal communication and contact. It’s not relationship-building and it lacks the shared experience of establishing rapport and familiarity that can be gained from the in person interaction.
Maybe back to school night won’t establish a one-on-one connection, but if a one-on-one meetup is needed later, the interaction will be made easier and more familiar if you’ve at least already met once and had this one exchange.

You must go to private school. I have 6 classes of 26-38 kids (yes two of my classes are over 35 kids) and there is absolutely nothing personal about BTSN. I forget to say some things and there are always parents coming in and out and being disruptive or raising their hands to ask questions. I don't remember a face or a thing I even say. It's stressful and I would do a much better job making a quick video and power point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In our school, we all sit in a classroom, and the teachers come to us. It's much better than the other way around.

My teen attends a W high school in MC with 2200 other students. This sounds lovely and clearly won't work there.

[Anonymous]

I like going if I can. First year of high school was great because we were able to see that when he said how long it took from class to class, he really meant it. And I like at least getting a glimpse of who the teachers are, even if only briefly. There was one I felt might be a tougher personality to work with. When that actually happened I think it helped DS to know we totally understood because we'd had the same feeling after meeting her as well.

[Anonymous]

My kid often complained about his freshmen history class. The kids were noisy and disruptive, they didn't do the work, a few were sophomores who had failed it the year before. When we went to BTSN, all his other classes were completely filled with parents. But, only three other parents showed up for that history class. Hmm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son is in his second year of high school and I'm not going this year. Last year it was interesting because we weren't familiar with the high school and my son was new, too. But it was very uncomfortable. The parents seemed clique-ish and not very friendly. I appreciated the information we got, but don't feel like I need it this year.

The only parents that go just want to socialize and live like they are in high school. It is funny to observe though