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Original poster

what the most hilarious and groundless parental complaint you've ever fielded?

341 replies

HanneHolm · 06/02/2013 18:02

I have heard of one parent complaining a member of staff wasn't singing in a parents assembly.

OP posts:
muminthecity · 06/02/2013 22:43

And I'm not even a teacher, I'm a TA. When the parent spoke to the teacher she was very polite about it all, and spoke to teacher very nicely and respectfully.

MavisGrind · 06/02/2013 22:42

Hanne Oh, yes - way! Grin I've been on here for years, have lived all over the world and it's the first time I've recognised an OP from RL.

It was a bit freaky actually..!

muminthecity · 06/02/2013 22:42

Two weeks ago I had a parent shout in my face for several minutes, told me she was reporting me to the head and to Ofsted, that I was in the wrong job and that she had had to restrain her husband for coming to the school that morning because he was so furious she was worried what he may do to me. Why? Because her DD had gone home with wet socks the previous day Confused. The child had no wellies, and it wasn't possible for her to remain inside all day. She hadn't told me her feet were wet, or asked to change her socks. Apparently I should be checking with the children that their feet are not wet on a daily basis, after outside play Hmm.

aJumpedUpPantryBoy · 06/02/2013 22:41

A parent once complained that I was leaving both of his sons out of the rugby team because I was racist against the English (we are in Wales, they had moved here from London)
The rugby sessions were open to all and his sons hadn't attended any, they showed no interest or inclination to play - when I pointed this out he said it was because they knew I was anti-English. When I said I was born and brought up in England he said I was a Welsh liar!

Original poster
HanneHolm · 06/02/2013 22:37

Mavis NO WAY!
Christ

OP posts:
MavisGrind · 06/02/2013 22:31

complaining about me tsk...

Flogship · 06/02/2013 22:30

dangly i swear to you that our kids can tell who a lost jumper belongs to by smelling it. Its a small school with 100 kids but still an impressive feat. Maybe your nutty parent isn't as nutty as all that.

MavisGrind · 06/02/2013 22:30

I will always remember the Saturday morning I was casually clicking through the MN threads and came across am AIBU thread who, on reading, I realised came from a mum to a child in my class. She wasn't (thankfully) complaining about here but was having a good unfounded whinge about school. She had a general flaming and although I'm a paragon of professionalism I've been itching to slip in "It's not unreasonable to say....." into any conversation I've had with her since!

Hanne You might be fond of the vino but I do like your cheekbones and style Wink lover of Scandi stuff

FelicityWasCold · 06/02/2013 22:30

And the "copying in" parent.
Oh yes. They email you with something trivial and copy in every single memeber of the WORLD staff.

IME it's ruder when they write you a scathing/disrespectful email and copy in their teenager! Now that does wind me up!

Original poster
HanneHolm · 06/02/2013 22:25

Lol. Oh yes. You do hear tmi about divorces often.

OP posts:
Original poster
HanneHolm · 06/02/2013 22:24

None!!

OP posts:
Charmingbaker · 06/02/2013 22:17

I've done quite a few desperate parent evenings over the years!
Talking of separated parents once had a mother phone to ask exactly how long her ex husband had been in class helping that morning. She needed to know the exact (to the minute) amount of time as this would be deducted from his weekly contact time.

GingerbreadGretel · 06/02/2013 22:13

How many lead roles do you have, Hanne? Wink

Original poster
HanneHolm · 06/02/2013 22:11

Separate. Not desparate.

OP posts:
Original poster
HanneHolm · 06/02/2013 22:11

Complaints that staff won't do desperate parents evening appointments for FULLY GROWN ADULTS who happen to be divorced. Because they can't sit next to each other.

OP posts:
Original poster
HanneHolm · 06/02/2013 22:09

Of course ANYONE who is on the PTA or a governor their kid gets lead role in plays. Hmm

OP posts:
GingerbreadGretel · 06/02/2013 21:53

(sorry his child... but you know what I mean!)

GingerbreadGretel · 06/02/2013 21:52

But MamaDuck - her child is special!

mamaduckbone · 06/02/2013 21:45

Parent of a (very bright) year 2 child tried to insist that his son should be heard read every day by the teacher. He was asked to suggest what should happen to the rest of the class whilst she did the same x 29 for all the others...

ohfunnyhoneyface · 06/02/2013 21:36

This is brilliant, I'm having a good think to recall my best ones...

Charmingbaker · 06/02/2013 21:29

Parents who complained when child was given lead part in Christmas show. Clashed with prep for entrance exams and child could not fit it into schedule, had already sacrificed TV time and ballet class to fit in extra tutoring,couldn't squeeze out any more. Should point out show took place in school hours, but we did ask children to attend 1 after school rehearsal. I think they were given a small roll in the end but ended up 'being ill' on the day of the show.

Slinky · 06/02/2013 21:28

Ah am loving this thread! Some absolute classics on here! Some explain the very reason I'm leaving the Education sector next Friday!

GingerbreadGretel · 06/02/2013 21:21

Oh, and the same girl missed the class photo and the dad was really, really angry that we didn't reschedule it. We did take some class photos ourselves for her, but he wanted us to get the proper photographer back.

GingerbreadGretel · 06/02/2013 21:18

I was volunteering in a class once and a girl came in with no bandages or visible injury saying "my finger's sore and dad says I don't have to write anything today". I got sent to the office to see if dad had left any note - no note, no notification, but yes, when called we were to let her sit there and not write for a couple of days and why didn't we just believe his daughter, why did we need to check?

Feenie · 06/02/2013 21:17

This one changed her name from something totally different to Britney - because of Britney Spears. At four years of age.

Yes, can think of a couple of Mum/Dad disputes re names aswell, very odd!