Parents evening..how would you feel if..

"Key subject" isn't a technical term. "Core" is...

I teach a core subject, yet I certainly see MFL as "key" for my year 7 DS.

I'm not bickering Fallen I'm saying that in technical speak Spanish in Y7 isn't 'key'. Claiming that it is is hyperbolic. That's really just saying why be dramatic.

seeker apart from appearing to hugely obsess about every last detail of your DCs' education and appeal for the grammar school even after you're told 'no', then no, nothing unrelaxed whatsoever.

I am amazed his teacher was allowed to skip the evening, very unprofessional of her imo. I have had to miss my own children's parents evenings on the odd occasion, however it is much easier for me to contact those staff, than miss appointments for 40 students (apart from the really poor impression it gives the parents if you don't tip up), and it is my job, I am paid (obliged) to be there.
I don't find parents evening useless, i find them useful, and a good way of starting to get to know parents, so if you ever have to phone over a problem you have a little bit of an idea as to whether they are supportive of school or not.

I'm with Fallen Madonna here. Being at parents' evenings is the job. There isn't an option to miss it except through significant illness, whether you are the Maths teacher, the D&T teacher, the Music teacher or the PE teacher. You should be there, because parents have a reasonable expectation that they should be able to get feedback about the performance of their child from you.

'Key' subject or not is not relevant. DS's first priority for me is to see his Music teacher (because that's the only 'Good' rather that 'Excellent'grade he got, and he wants to know how to improve it). If she wasn't there, I would be grumpy.

I was very keen to see my DS's French teacher at his first parent's evening. Bickering over whether it's a "key" subject is a bit daft.

Teachers should be at parents' evenings. It's the job. You make other arrangements for yourself if there is a clash.

On any interpretation though, Spanish still isn't 'key'.

seeker has any teacher ever told you to relax?

It was vaguely along those lines glaurung, so thanks :)

Is it seeker? I rather thought it would be as compulsory as English in Welsh medium schools and pretty much a key subject. I guess the locals despise everything spanish, but there you go. Perhaps spanish in spain (or any other spanish speaking country) would be a better example then.

I would say, as a teacher, it really depends on the age of the teacher's child. If a vital parents' evening, day A Level choices or one linked with some change, then I could see the need to attend for one's own child. However, if the child is in Primary, and so the Spanish teacher Mum is just seeing one teacher, then she should see her child's teacher at a different time: inconveniencing 80 sets of parents for one child does not seem right.

However, I would imagine she would not have been allowed to simply go. She would have had to have permission and a really good excuse. Also, surely there would be an HOD there who could answer generic questions about the course, future plans with the chance to phone / email for further information. Missing a parents' evening as a teacher is a pain in the arse as you then have to spend far more time on contact.

Ragwort

Does your child come second to your job?

maybe kent as opposed to say catalonia. We do have quite a few internationals on here.

They'd gone off around the village in groups - so weren't being supervised as such (not that they should need much supervision). I've sent an email - I don't think there's much point calling at the mo as they'll all be at work.

I have never seen dp so angry on ds's behalf - he is absolutely steaming. We'll see what reponse they give before allowing him back. I know they've had bullying problems before but the culprits were kicked out.

And yes, I'm intrigued as to the Kent reference!

Thank you, and sorry again for highjacking - I was in a right old mess last night (worse than ds!) :)

I'm writing a sternly worded email to the leader. Ds loves Scouts but now he doesn't want to go.

Do they do two MFLs in Y7 at your dc's school, beachy ?

I wish we hadn't seen the Y7 Spanish teacher on Monday....she was very shreiky and witchy....

Preferred the German teacher...

Jenai,

DS left Scouts - after many happy years in Beavers and Cubs - for very similar reasons. Scouts took advantage of weak leadership to thump anyone who wasn't 'one of their gang'. Complained, was told that 'Scouts wasn't like school, they don't want discipline'. Left.

If a primary teacher in any of the schools I have any experience of tried that excuse, they'd be laughed at. If my children's parents' evenings clash with my class ones, tough, either DH goes or we have to miss them.

(I did miss one when I lost my voice to the extent that I could neither whisper or hum, as sign language was deemed a poor way to communicate to parents. Who were very understanding, though several made clear - rightly - that not being able to co-ordinate meetings for their several children in the school was an issue, especially for e.g. night-working parents)

Only that they kicked him again and again, but he couldn't do anything because they're younger.

Poor sod.

I will start my own thread once I've come up with a catchy thread title :)