AIBU to think that parents evenings shouldn't be held in a tiny classroom with an audience of four other waiting parents?

[Rumbled]

Precisely that.

Had DS's parents' evening yesterday. His teacher was really positive about his academic progress - brilliant. She talked about his faltering confidence, though, and I wanted to talk more about the social/settling in side and how school is handling another boy who is repeatedly teasing DS - and I felt neither of these things should be discussed in front of other parents.

Am I being a bit precious? Are parents' evenings purely about discussing the numeracy and literacy stuff, and anything vaguely personal or delicate should be saved for a one-to-one at a different time? Even so, if DS were struggling with reading/writing/maths, I don't think I'd want that conversation to have an audience of other parents either.

Bah humbug.

[SpicedGerkin]

No YANBU

I have one coming up that is all the teachers in a hall, first come first served with the parents, for primary school, disaster in the making tbh, i'm going just to see the carnage..

[lovecheese]

I agree with you rumbled. I want privacy when talking to my childrens teacher, no matter what it is about, and would feel very uncomfortable myself if I overheard other parents.

[Poledra]

YANBU. Ours are always held in the classrooms and, if you're waiting, you wait outside. I would think that social development is as important as the numeracy/literacy stuff, and this is the correct forum to raise these sort of things. But it should be in private. Imagine if the parents of the boy who is teasing your DS had been in the room - you could hardly have a frank chat to the teacher about it then, could you?

[Rumbled]

Phew. OK, I'm not fretting because I'm tired, then.

Poledra, as far as I'm concerned, the social/emotional side has always been at least as, if not more, important than the academic. I had a short list of stuff to discuss in my pocket, which almost entirely concerned confidence, friendships, etc. And I felt too exposed - with said audience - to get it out.

I didn't mention the name of the boy who has been teasing DS. I just talked carefully about the "friendship issue". And then his teacher (who is lovely, BTW) mentioned this boy's name. And one of the other mums waiting is a good friend of this boy's mum. FFS! Very awkward.

But because I am prone to being a bit over-sensitive, I have been fretting that, well, I must be being a bit precious about this. Glad to know I'm not. Will have a word with school about changing the set-up in future.

Thanks for the reassurance.

[Galena]

We used to hold our parents' evenings in the hall, but it was manic, and you could barely hear yourself think. We then moved to holding them in classrooms. We had 3 classes per yeargroup and would put the children's trays out in one classroom with a TA to meet and greet the parents, and then all 3 teachers would be in another classroom talking separately to parents. So while there were potentially 6 parents in the classroom at any time, they were all occupied, not waiting and listening.

[ObamaSelf]

No problems with privacy at dd's parents' evenings (been to 2 so far). BUT THE CHAIRS! We had to sit on the tiny childrens chairs - even the teacher did. DH is 6 foot 2 and almost couldn't get up again. You'd think they'd provide adult -size chairs wouldn't you?

[Mallenstreak]

YANBU. We sit outside the classroom and wait while other parents chat to teacher and I do wish they would shut the door sometimes. We once sat outside only to hear another mum tearing into the teacher about our Ds. Cue red-faced very apologetic teacher and embarrassed mum when they were finished!

[primarymum]

Our parents wait in the hall where the children's books are laid out for them to peruse, the interviews themselves are held in each teacher's individual class so no chance of overhearing! The only problems we have had has been with some nosey parents who look through other children's books to see how they compare to their own child!

[Littlefish]

YA definitely NBU

My dd's primary school has a crap system where all the teachers sit around the edge of the hall, and all the parents sit in the middle, waiting for their appointment. I could quite clearly hear the teacher's conversation with the previous parent (even though I was trying really hard not too ), so I was very aware that I could probably be overheard when I was talking about my concerns about dd's playground troubles with certain children.

[dilemma456]

Message withdrawn

[Greenshadow]

Private interviews in DC's class at our current primary school - but at previous school, they have had to stop doing this since a teacher was threatened! They now have all appointments in the noisy hall.

[Galena]

Greenshadow, that's why we used to be in the hall - We had a teacher threatened too. However, that is also why the TAs are now employed for parents' evenings, so they can check we're ok. Also, that's why the 3 yeargroup colleagues are in the same room.

And having a TA in the room where the children's books are mean the parents just look at their own child's books.

[emy72]

oh yes OP, this happens at our school too. No privacy at all! I try not to listen to the previous parent by being as far as possible, but once have overheard the somehow enraged teacher going "he just won't listen, fidgets, is rude and confrontational and just hasn't learnt anything so far this year!" I couldn't look at that parent in the eyes for a few days after, I felt so embarassed!