Teachers I need solidarity before I leave the profession

There is no mechanism this could have been decided that wouldn’t result in a potential complaint.

None.

Look at a recent thread on here. A kid pisses in a bin at school but it has to be someone else's fault. That's pretty much what we're dealing with these days.

And this is why I left teaching kids. It was the parents not the kids that was the problem.

Parents will complain about ANYTHING. Best school I worked at was oversubscribed. In the face of bonkers parental complaints the Headteacher adopted an approach of: “Is that so? Well, it turns out we have a waiting list of students who are willing to wear the uniform/do their homework/go to detention/not twat about in class so if your child doesn’t want to there’s 20 kids waiting who’d love their place…” worked a dream. They soon sorted themselves out. Doubt you could get away with it now!

I found that parents having direct access to staff was having a hugely detrimental impact on staff welfare.

Now everything is filtered via the office and if there is a particularly tricky email I will have a conversation with a teacher rather than just forwarding it.

Sometimes (with the ridiculous and frustrating ones) just having someone else say "Honestly, they are being ridiculous/unreasonable/mean/have misunderstood" and having someone construct a reply with you is helpful.

Not at all

I'm just saying it wasn't the best idea and was always going to cause grief when such a small number of children could attend. Why make life harder for yourself?

If it had have gone well and not provided any stress, there would likely have been chance to repeat this in the future and give more children the chance. But as it stands the moaners have ruined it because OP isn't going to give up her own free time to do it again.

Handed my notice in yesterday finally. Teaching is a proper shit show right now.

Get SMT to send a response.

They can point out that the terms were clear and parents knew it was a draw.
I bet they wouldn't be emailing if their child had been picked.
They can also point out you are doing this in your own time and should be thanked. Not harangued.

Situations like this are why all communication from parents in my school goes via the office so I can shield staff from this kind of stuff whenever possible - or at least let them know whilst reiterating that they have my support.

Not just the parents/children complaining of the 'unfairness' of everything anything they don't win, but the 'I don't feel comfortable' brigade.
This week I've had 'can I move seats, I don't feel comfortable next to a boy', and 'I don't feel comfortable in the detention hall, can you cancel my detention' and 'I didn't feel comfortable waiting to go to the toilet, so I left the classroom (despite being told not to).'

I have adopted a 'hmm, okay' and big smile.

You are absolutely right, only someone who has no idea of what's involved in that would suggest it. At least names out a hat is random (apart from the fact the parents thought it was rigged 🫣). Can you imagine how much they would kick off if there was actual teacher judgement involved!

That's ludicrous, not everyone can be involved in everything! That's life and children have to learn to handle disappointment. The OP has done a lovely thing to give some children a great experience, surely is better some people get to do it that nobody!

If it was my own children than missed out I wouldn't be all poor you, I would be saying I understand your disappointed, but you win some, you lose some and there will be other opportunities!

Not a teacher but I have worked in schools. Constantly shocked by some of the behaviour of parents, I often wonder who they complain to when they leave school.

The issue is you need a good Head. These are far and few between. I’ve worked for a few who were happy to stand up to parents and put them in their place, majority hide or give in.
my own DDs primary head was a total waste of space. Teachers would try and set guidelines for trips/afterschool groups, parents would run and complain to the Head who would immediately relent.

I do have to email DDs teachers. I try not to. It’s usually just for missed work or to clarify homework for her, I would never complain.

This is why I supply my children's teachers with copious amounts of booze at Christmas and the end of the year. It's not for the stress of dealing with the children all day, it's for the bat shit parents they have to deal with!

The stuff I hear from the other parents in the playground is insane. They make EVERYTHING a massive issue. They act more like children than the children do.

I'm not sure how the teachers cope with this petty shit on a daily basis (hopefully the booze helps). 😆

Couldn’t disagree more.

Any number of reasons why parents could also complain about this.

It’s a lack of trust in teachers and time wasting parents.

Love your username OP. I would ignore said emails and forward on to SLT. Don't get involved with the bullshit. They should be so grateful you are running such a nice thing for their children. Some people are arseholes.

@brummumma did you miss the bit where op is doing this on a Saturday morning, voluntarily, in her own time for no extra pay ?

I’m a parent of secondary age DC and a governor at another school.

Some parents are hideous and need telling.

You’ve done a lovely thing you didn’t have to and have given 5 young people an amazing experience. Don’t let em get you down. Most of us appreciate what you do.

”Dear X
It is school policy to not have mobile phones available during the day, moreover for data protection reasons will not disclose the names of other students.”