I am a somewhat annoying parent; if you were DD's teacher would you rather email me than have to talk to me at parent's evening?

[KatyMac]

She is in yr 10 & I am an interfering parent & I have been invited to a ball the same night

I'm going to have to go aren't I?

[mnistooaddictive]

In year 10 I would assume you will be seeing 10 different teachers, it is virtually impossibe for them all to be together at a different time and that many phone calls is logistical nightmare so yes you have to go.

[KatyMac]

Um not 10 surely

English, Maths, Science, Spanish, Geography, Music & her form tutor; Spanish & her tutor already email me - so that is only 5

IT, Ethics & Citizenship I'm not letting her tke the exam anyway

It would be a kindness I am a pain

[Loshad]

surely you can fit both in, ball is highly unlikely to start before you can have seen dds teachers. eg my current schools parents eves run from 4-7, previous schools ran from 6.30-9, even if the latter you can see teachers then go to the ball

[KatyMac]

Ball starts at 7 & it's 45 minutes drive

I'll send her in tomorrow to 'ask' if anyone wants to see me (bet they all say no)

[MrsHerculePoirot]

I am a secondary teacher and would before than happy to email and have one less appointment, but I know some others that wouldn't... Email and see, either way, you'll only have a few to see still saving you some time maybe?

[MrsHerculePoirot]

*be more than NOT before!

[KatyMac]

I am a bad, bad mother aren't I?

In my defence DD would get to come to the Ball too.....

email is so easy (for me - I can imagine the poor teacher spending ages composing it to get just the right words)

[Savonarola]

Go in your gown. It'll make everyone's evening a little more surreal, and you shall be ever more indelibly that parent.

[nailak]

does she only have one teacher for science? we had 3, even though we did double science the timetabled science was done as separate subjects. Also we did English Lit and English Lang, with different teachers.

[KatyMac]

Not sure about science but they don't do Eng Lit until next year

Gown - bugger I'd better buy one (maybe I won't go to the ball after all)

[Clary]

oooh yes go in your ballgown!

Seriously, last parents eve for DS1 I saw at least 6 teachers and I was done by 6.30 - had to be as I had to take someone somewhere!

Do you have to be at the ball at 7pm?

[KatyMac]

I could send DD & DH they could eat & I could get there later?

That would work

[MrsHerculePoirot]

Tbh, in my opinion parents' evenings are nice for parents to meet the people teaching their child, but in terms of giving feedback about progress, good things, bad things etc not necessary. If I had any problems, I would have already contacted parents, if children doing really well I will have awarded merits. I write feedback in their books as well...nothing i say at parents' eve should be of any surprise ever...

[KatyMac]

Yes if she was in trouble I would have expected a phone call by now.

TBH I think she is quiet and hard working as she doesn't really want to be there but knows she has to pass

I notice no-one has commented on my 'annoyingness' - I assure you I am a parent that causes that sinking feeling when they see me coming

[complexnumber]

Why do you seem so proud of being annoying?

[mnistooaddictive]

The fact is that as teachers we don't get to choose the parents, so have to put up with your annoyingness politely. You however do have a choice about being annoying.

[KatyMac]

It was more a way to stop feeling guilty about having fun over discussing my child's education

I think I just 'over-worry' really

[cansu]

Why are you so happy to be annoying? If you have any real concerns about your dd progress then make an appointment and see the teachers. If you don't have any concerns then email saying that you are happy with how she is getting on and therefore you won't be attending. Ask teachers who have concerns to contact you by phone or email. I really don't see why you are seemingly looking for conflict??

[Kez100]

I bought my daughter VIP tickets to meet her favourite band when she was in year 10 and it, later, turned out to be parents evening! I felt awful (although she sooooooo deserved to go to the concert).

I read her pre-parents evening report and emailed the teachers where there seemed to be something to talk about or clear up. The others I emailed to say I was sorry I couldn't attend, thanked them for the report which seemed really positive and which I had nothing further to ask but if they wanted to mention anything then if they could email me, I'd be very grateful.

Worked well. No fuss.

[EvilTwins]

I honestly don't think anyone will care. I am not trying to be callous, it's just that when I ask kids at school if their parents want an appointment and they say no, I don't give it a second thought most of the time. There are loads of perfectly valid reasons a parent can't attend. Given how much contact you have with the school, no one could accuse you of not being interested.

[KatyMac]

I guess you are right EvilTwins - I'm really not that important

cansu - me being 'annoying' was merely a devise to make me feel less guilty about not attending rather than an actual pride/happiness

Tho' based on what EvilTwins says I could be right

[sausagesandwich34]

I'm going to have to ask...

why no IT or citizenship?

[picturesinthefirelight]

I'd go to the ball

Dh is a teacher 45 miles away from where we live so can't get to patents evening. I have work commitments that sometimes can't be moved so I can see this situation happening in the future

My own dilemma at the moment is I couldn't go to senior school open day last month due to work. Dh and dd went. Do I contact school and ask for a tour/meeting to ask all the questions dh forgot to and dd was too busy playing with science to think of?

[picturesinthefirelight]

It/citizenship. If its anything like fine of the schools round here they are pretend Gcse di

[picturesinthefirelight]

Gcse diploma things that just take too much time away from the important stuff (like dancing!)