I once worked in a school
that had two areas within the staff room. We called one the staff room, the
other, the area for cool people. In amongst us teachers were some of the
administrative and computing staff members.
We loved our breaks and despised being disturbed! So, do not disturb a
teacher during breaks unless it is a dire emergency or you have been asked to
attend the staff room! Most teachers consider breaks sacrilege and feel the
need to not be around students!
Despite that most students
consider that we spend most of the time talking about students. That could be
no further from the truth. One of the most common statements from students is
“Oh Miss, I saw you in a shop at the weekend!” It is as if we are 24/7 teachers
and we do not leave the comfort of a school ever, enjoy sleeping at school, and
on a weekend stay within school walls. It is surprising to some that we have
children, actually go to a pub – we really do try not to go to any pubs within
the school catchment area! - go shopping or even have the audacity to walk down
a road outside from school. Oh and teachers really do not want to talk about
your nearest and dearest in the middle of a supermarket. We might pretend to be
interested, but we would much rather just do the shopping and get back to more
important things.
Never be in awe of a
teacher, or when in a school as a parent, go back to short trousers. Try to remember you are an adult too. I have
met some parents who are actually scared of teachers! Unlike your child, we can
never put you in detention, or give you homework. (Unless we are in a
particular foul mood!)
And those holidays!
Imagine working as an actor for up to 30 hours per week. Providing individual
scripts and plays, providing exciting resources to stimulate your loved ones brains,
and keep them from boredom, filling in registers, writing reports, sometimes in
their hundreds, and attending meetings. Sometimes meetings about meetings.
Sometimes meetings about meetings, that are about meetings. Some schools have
very meeting orientated heads! We need
those holidays! One to refresh ourselves, but also to work. I do not believe
any decent teacher does not spend some time at home, on an evening, or weekend,
or during school holidays doing school work. So do not make jokes about holidays
and teachers, we just don't like it!
And who is in charge? The
Head. (With the exception of one school I worked at that the Administration
team ran the school, but that's another story!) Unless it is very, very, very
urgent or mega important do not go directly to the Head! Your best way in is
through your beloveds Form tutor, or Primary teacher. If you do not get what
you want, then go higher. In the case of Secondary Schools, the Head of Year,
or Head of House – some schools have both, then if you need to go higher, try
the Assistant heads. It is important to note that in some schools, they have
turned heads of House into administrative positions, of people who are not
teachers. OK? Then the Deputy, then if you have to.......The Head. Now the
Head. Do not be scared of a Head. They may appear to your child as being the
Devils own spawn, but most are approachable. Kind of. And don't forget that
most teachers are terrified of the Head anyway.
If all goes belly up, then
your point of contact is the school Governors.
Now they are an interesting group of people. What should happen is that
they dictate what happens in a school. But some are just puppets of the Head.
If it is subject based,
then go to the teacher. Then the Head of Department, then the Head of Faculty,
then the Assistant Heads.
Some schools do differ
from this, or use more fanciful titles, but remember it is all done to give
teachers some prestige, and make it more difficult to get through the maze!
Confused?!!
The best way of contact is
through the telephone. Make sure that the message is taken, you do not have to
say what it is about, but that you want to arrange a meeting, and you wish to
be contacted when this has been arranged, the best time is straight after
school, which gets a teacher out of a meeting........, or before school starts.
Say after 6 pm when you finish work, then forget it! (Told you teachers and meetings!!)
If you cannot get through
on the phone, try writing in your child's planner or school diary. Do not
accept from your child that they do not have such a thing, or that it is only
for them and the teachers. Most Form Tutors will read a child's planner.
Unfortunately notes and letters can be mislaid or lost. In Primary Schools try
attaching a letter or note to the child's reading book. Or even posting it to
the school!
Oh and don't get annoyed
with the Admin staff. Most are under paid hard workers, make them a friend, and
it makes your life as a parent so much easier! Be nice to them, and then they
will make sure the message gets through. Oh and don't ask to speak to a teacher
during school hours, the chances are that they will be teaching or in a
meeting. (I once worked in a school that four out of five days a week, the
staff were expected to attend meetings after school....) Meetings. Not a nice
word for teachers.
Write down what you want
to say, and questions to ask. Do not think anything is inappropriate or silly.
After all it is your child you are concerned about. Not happy? Then go further
up the ladder.
That said there are
schools which are run by such dictators, oops I mean Heads that you are
encouraged to go straight to the top. But be warned. This tactic is generally
to gather information about the teacher themselves. Which is used bully the
teacher about, so be careful what you say! After all it is not the Head that
will teach your child........
And there are teachers,
and there ARE teachers. Some teachers, even other teachers wonder why on earth
they have chosen such a profession when they appear to hate working with
children. Then there are the ones fresh from University, and then others who
have had working experience in the big wide world, then go into teaching.
Teachers will have various motives for becoming teachers, some that is what
their family has always done, some that they think that the pay and holidays
are great (Hmmmm...), some that the have been influenced by a great school
teacher while in school, and decide to follow the profession, and some that
actually enjoy being with young people and children, and enjoy the challenge of
actually teaching, and assisting children to learn. I can promise one thing.
That while your child is in the educational system, you will meet all of these.
Some good, some bad, some who are a waste of space, some who say great things,
but perform badly as a teacher, and some truly inspirational amazing teachers.
So the best policy? Be
nice. We have our ways of getting back at children whose parents get at
us.......
And alike the Queen, we
all go to the toilet........
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