Reply to Question to Teachers: What is it like dealing with parents?

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[quote=Anonymous][b]Not helpful[/b]
Ignoring problems: If teachers raise an issue with you, particularly if it has been going on for more than one school year, please take heed. Even if you think teachers are whiny complainers, few people think it’s fun to complain and complain fruitlessly. There is a reason they’re telling you something. If similar issues come up again and again, particularly from multiple teachers, there may be something you need to pursue. It could be academic, social-emotional, or medical.

Treating school staff like the help: Whatever your beliefs about whether teaching is difficult or easy, no one wants to be treated dismissively or like they are less than. If your child’s teachers are healthy, mature people, meeting them in a spirit of professionalism and collaboration will yield much better results than talking down or using intimidation tactics.

Externalizing blame: I’ve raised serious issues with families only to receive the following responses.
[list]My child is bullying because he is being bullied. [/list]
[list]My child is not doing well in x class because the teacher isn’t funny enough[/list]. 
[list]My child has failed to turn in the math homework more than six times this semester because the “new math” you teach in America is an inferior teaching technique. [/list]
[list]My child has failed to turn in the homework because you teachers have failed to check to see if we parents are signing his assignment book at home every night. (?!)[/list]
[list]My child failed to turn in two rough drafts and did not make corrections to the third. However, I do not think it’s fair that he received a C on the final project. That was too discouraging, and the poster was beautiful.[/list]

[b]Unacceptable[/b]
Abusive behavior is always unacceptable. Swearing, name calling, gas lighting, and unfounded accusations are all grounds for ending a meeting and for calling into question all future interactions. While relatively rare, many of us teachers do see these behaviors multiple times in one year, or we are aware that parents of children whom we teach are directing these behaviors at other teachers or administrators in our schools. It is one of the key reasons why you will see children included in parent-teacher conferences at the secondary level. One reason is that is helps make children responsible for heir own learning. The second reason is that the children's presence greatly reduces the likelihood of abusive behavior. [/quote]

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