Some parents could use some manners

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2003
Some parents could use some manners
5
Sat, 12-17-2005 - 3:23am

Can I just let off some steam about some of the parents at school? (BTW, the emoticon isn't entirely appropriate. I'm totally NOT losing sleep over this)

Today was David's last day of school before the break. I was in the classroom as he was getting his stuff all packed up, and I could see that there was a crowd of little girls around the teacher, all giving her gifts. Now, the teacher sends us a weekly email, and last week she very politely requested no personal gifts, but suggested a donation to UNICEF if we felt like we had to give something. But there were a whole lot of kids who gave personal gifts anyways. One little girl looked realy sad, and said, "Mrs. M, I forgot to get you a presents." Mrs. M. said, "Sweetheart, just seeing you come to my class, and watching you learn and grow is all the present I need." That was sweet, but I felt like the parents who sent their kids to school with personal gifts (which she respectfully asked to NOT get), were a bit out of line.

Incidently, it's the exact same parents who "help" in the classroom, and stand around chin-wagging at the back of the room at full volume while the teacher is trying to teach. I even mentioned once to the teacher that it looks like the kids do great sitting quietly and listening, but the adults make a lot of noise. She said it really puts her in an awkward position because she doesn't want to sound disrespectful for telling parents to be quiet.

I just thought I'd come and gripe about those moms here. LOL! I must seem so anti-social. Oh, oh! And one of them actually shouted into the classroom that she needed to pick up her child immediately because she was parked illegally. Like, hello? Who chose to park illegally?

There. I just had to share. That feels so much better that getting to bed at a decent hour. ;)

Evelyn

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Registered: 06-25-2003
Sat, 12-17-2005 - 9:18am

Evelyn,

I hear you. Some of the moms at Siobhan's preschool were extremely rude. Now I rile pretty easily, so I thought it was me, but the day DH came back from the preschool and launched into a tirade about how rude and disrespectful they were, and how had I not punched one of them? (lol he was proud of me!), was the day that I knew they actually were bad.

-Paula

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-26-2005
Sat, 12-17-2005 - 9:59am
Evelyn,
My sister's little girl strated pre-school this year and listening to her horror stories about some of the other parents has me almost considering home schooling my kids!
Teresa
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 12-17-2005 - 10:33am

Evelyn,

How well do you know the principal? If the teacher doesn't want to be rude with the parents perhaps you can talk to the principal about this situation. That is part of thier job and the principal can talk to these parents. They aren't "helping" when they are volunteering if it is a social gathering and they are disrupting the class. The principal may even be able to send home a generic reminder to all parents of volunteering guidelines or something. Then it would be totally annonomous.

Most teachers I know set up a policy and schedule around volunteers so that they only have 1 or maybe 2 at a time in the class and the volunteer has a specific job. If the teacher doesn't need them she just respectfully sends them home.

Perhaps your teacher could do something like that. Just say that she wants to set up a schedule so it is more consistent for the children and gosh, she loves all the help but really doesn't need it all and doesn't want to waste thier tiem, then sets up a schedule and sends home those she doesn't need. She doesn't have to have her classroom constantly overrun by less than helpful parents. They can go for coffee if they want to socialize.

The teacher sounds very nice, but she does need to get some backbone for the sake of the children. I am guessing she is very young?

Renee

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Registered: 09-11-2004
Sat, 12-17-2005 - 9:35pm
Another reason not to send my kids to school.. hadn't even thought about dealing with the other parents...


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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-13-2004
Mon, 12-19-2005 - 3:42am

I hear you on the rude parents in the back of the classroom. And I agree that speaking to the teacher or principal is the way to go.

However, I disagree on the gift giving thing. It is not out of line if you consider the likely circumstances. Not everyone runs around in the last weeks before Xmas buying gifts. I purchased the teacher's gifts in late November. Telling me only last week that UNICEF is preferable was waaaay too late. I'm not going to return my gifts because of a late request by the teacher....I'm far too busy doing other things.

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