Leaving the school during lunchtimes and breaks?
Different schools have different policies, but if they have a no out policy
during school hours, please remind your child that teachers sometimes leave the
premises and can spot children from miles away, out of school. We can be so
evil sometimes! Mind you, it is so funny when you do spot a victim, and drive
past so slowly, giving the evils, then of course you report it, the child
denies it,
So all fails, and your child has a detention. Make
sure that you have been given at least 24 hours’ notice, and that your child
should have given you some sort of correspondence relating to the reason why
the detention has been given. (So don't fall for the “Oh I was late home,
because Mr. So and So gave me a detention.”) If it is true, then you need to
see the school immediately! Apart from the nasty 10 minutes after the bell,
where we do not have to give notice, you have a right to be notified. We hope that you will ground your child for
the next year, is the reason why. Well maybe not that long, but......!!!
Academic stuff? Any teacher worth his or hers salt
will be impressed by effort and actually trying. The “I can't do it” scenario
when the child can't be even bothered to try, is another ball breaker. (Ooops,
excuse my language!) No teacher minds being asked to explain again, if, and
only if, the child has been attentive and listened to the original information.
And why is it that some children cannot follow written instructions? You write
it out from A to Z, and still some children will not bother to read it, and
immediately state, “Oh it's too hard, I can't do it!” (Another arghhh!!) Instil in your child that they should try,
getting it wrong, is better than doing nothing, at least the child will
highlight that they have really not understood it, rather than not being
bothered!
So I promise you one thing. Follow those steps,
and I can almost guarantee, unless the teacher is a real case, that you will
receive praise come Parents Evenings. Now that's another thing! Although
different schools run different systems for parents and carers, there will be
some evening where you can discuss your child, and you should receive at least
one yearly report. Not seen it? Not heard about it? Asked your little darling,
and they look blankly at you? Contact the school! You may just have found out
that your child is a complete nightmare and is trying to avoid you finding
out! Oh and attendance? Please make
every effort to attend. We on the whole are more than happy to re-arrange to
see you at a more suitable time!
Planners or diaries too. Virtually every school I
have worked in, has a diary of sorts that the child can write a lesson
timetable and any homework that is due. Most schools expect it to be signed at
home every week... I have seen so many faked signatures that I can only smile
as I am writing this! Why? Because we can write in planners if your baby has
been misbehaving, or has forgotten homework. So check, please! And if you have
a forgetful child, ask them to let you know when they need a PE kit, or any
equipment, including cookery ingredients. Another annoyance is children who
forget these!
So have I been too hard? Am I expecting the
impossible? Well no, actually. With the deepest respect dear parent/carer I
have come across so many children who behave just like the above, and it is
lovely!
But that does not mean that we run away from a
challenge! And we, or at least some teachers, enjoy a difference of opinion, or
in fact a child who asks questions. That tells us that the child is listening,
and is interested.
But my final point or points is no one likes a
bully. That's you as a Parent or Carer
as well as your child. And racism. Even
if you have opinions that could be deemed as racist, we know that young people
copy the opinions of their elders. So not only are we disgusted with the child,
we are disgusted with you too. So don't share them with your child!
So there we have it! A happy teacher is a
productive teacher!