Anonymous
Post 08/28/2024 19:13     Subject: I hate back to school night
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I went last night. Walked away so impressed with many of his teachers. Obviously there were one or two questionable folk, but overall such high quality teachers who seem to know what they are doing. In 10 short minutes, they were able to provide a snapshot of themselves, the organization scheme of the class, what the expectations are, where parents should intervene, grading, and how their past classes have done with the AP exams. I walked away feeling my child’s junior year is going to be tough but in great hands.


Was this Oakton by chance?


Nope. Mclean


I was impressed with the teachers at MHS too. That said, I prefer virtual. They must have amazing energy because they all seemed in good spirits despite a full day of teaching. I was exhausted and the hallways were overwhelming. I learned a lot so it was worth it, but would much rather check out some recorded videos during my lunch break.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2024 16:30     Subject: I hate back to school night
Anonymous wrote:Is it just me? I hate running from class to class to sit down for 10 mins, 5 mins spent waiting for people, then the teacher rushes, and on to the next. Yet I go every year because I'd feel guilty not going.


So don't go. The guilt is a you problem.

I enjoy it, get to see people I might not have seen all summer, get a feel for which teachers will be a good match for my kid and which will be a disaster, see who's in their classes, and say hello to the Principal and staff and wish them well
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2024 16:13     Subject: I hate back to school night
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)


We can, with the exception of needing to know if you watch it with an electronic signature (we don’t care), the questions (not for 130+ students and BTSN isn’t a time for questions) and the tour of the room (this is not elementary school). The rest of your ideas are perfect. I would be happy to make a video about my course, policies and expectations.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2024 15:29     Subject: I hate back to school night
I like BTSN. I like putting a face to the name of my kids' teachers. I have a senior boy who also says everything is fine, even if he's getting a D in the class. I also like to see if I know any other parents in the class so I can check in when my son swears there's no test the next week, even though I see one on the Canvas calendar.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2024 15:15     Subject: I hate back to school night
Our elementary teacher just emailed that we should go to the other 4th grade classroom where she will join her partner teacher. She’s sick and can’t speak after taking two days off to vacation in California last week.

My kid mentioned that his teacher lost her voice yesterday but I thought she had a frog in her throat. I think I’m not going to listen to the other teacher’s spiel. I’m very irritated that she’s in school. We’re not allowed to send the kids when they’re that sick.

For context, our BTS night is parents only, no kids allowed, so my child is not going to miss out on anything.

Anonymous
Post 08/28/2024 13:58     Subject: I hate back to school night
Honestly no idea why some people have kids
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2024 12:45     Subject: I hate back to school night
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)
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2024 11:58     Subject: Re:I hate back to school night
I love it! Especially in high school, it is often the only time we will see or hear from them. It's great to put faces with names.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2024 11:45     Subject: I hate back to school night
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don’t go because I am too big to sit in little kid desks where the seat is attached to the desk. So it’s embarrassing. I wish I could go.


Just stand up then? I stand rather than try to cram into the tiny desks. Lots of parents stand. What’s the big deal?


PP is fat and is ashamed of it. What is hard to understand about this?
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2024 11:43     Subject: I hate back to school night
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Zoom suggester PP.

I stopped participating in anything school-related that I had either done before and found to be a waste of time and/or had become overly complicated. That alone eliminated so much!

I quit the following: attending PTA meetings, Back to School Nights, Parent Coffees, Set Up/Clean Up Events Staff, Pre Game Happy Hours (ahead of HS team), hosting family (team) dinners in-house, End of Year class and or team parties, to name just a few.

There is immense freedom in saying no or not participating and opting out.


Do a lot of people enjoy all those things? I feel terrible in a way, but I do not. Growing up my parents did absolutely none of this aside from back to school night, simply because it didn't exist. There is too much pressure on parents to do too many things and be so involved. I'm not sure it benefits the kids in any way. Meanwhile, the one thing I wish I could always attend are games and meets, and those get scheduled ridiculously early, sometimes at 4.30 even. Yet most people seem to attend.


Some people don't, some people do. The great thing about being an adult is that you get to choose how you spend your time.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2024 10:47     Subject: I hate back to school night
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher and I hate it too.

We are not supposed to talk about individual kids (not a parent-teacher conference), yet some parents will try to catch me, expecting me to "just talk for a few minutes" after the event or after a group change. I don't have time for this, and it is so selfish to the other parents who follow the rules.

Also, I'm exhausted and have to teach the next day, now with no planning time. I will be tired and "off" the next day in school.



I’m also a teacher (high school). I find the night very challenging. I only have 10 minutes, so I can only give a basic overview. I usually lose 1-2 of those minutes as I’m politely telling parents that I don’t have time to answer specific questions about their children. And I feel rude doing so, but I have no choice.

I taught all day, and then I’m at school from 5:30-9:30pm. I get home at 10:15pm, and then I’m back in my classroom by 6:30am the next day. It’s exhausting, and I can’t be at my best.


We understand that, Teachers, and we don't expect you to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at the end of a long day. You all seem pretty energetic and upbeat anyway! Thank you for what you do.

Some of us are coming off arduous shifts as well. Let's give each other a little grace.


Maybe the takeaway from this thread should be that all of you parents who are asking specific questions about your individual kids need to stop.. Teachers have said that they don't like it, and as a parent, I can attest that other parents are annoyed too. Please stop.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2024 10:42     Subject: I hate back to school night
I love back to school night
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2024 09:30     Subject: I hate back to school night
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I went last night. Walked away so impressed with many of his teachers. Obviously there were one or two questionable folk, but overall such high quality teachers who seem to know what they are doing. In 10 short minutes, they were able to provide a snapshot of themselves, the organization scheme of the class, what the expectations are, where parents should intervene, grading, and how their past classes have done with the AP exams. I walked away feeling my child’s junior year is going to be tough but in great hands.


Was this Oakton by chance?


Nope. Mclean
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2024 09:00     Subject: I hate back to school night
Anonymous wrote:Just don't go if you hate it. No guilt necessary. I've never learned anything useful at a bts night. I go because I sort of enjoy it and am curious who my kid's teachers are.


Last year I went and sat in a class for dd (I have twins), and her teacher stated this class was mandatory for all Juniors...DS was not scheduled for that class at all! I slightly freaked out, went to guidance and was able to switch him into the class. Had I not gone, my ds would have had to do this requirement as a Senior which is apparently very rare and not done.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2024 08:57     Subject: I hate back to school night
Just don't go if you hate it. No guilt necessary. I've never learned anything useful at a bts night. I go because I sort of enjoy it and am curious who my kid's teachers are.