Parents evening, should I complain about this teacher

Ignore me, OP. I'm making sarcastic comments trying to cheer myself up because I'm ill. Apologies.

Maybe she was using her experience of getting an older child into a good uni to reassure you that the things you were worried about were not going to be an issue. Hard to say without knowing what you were wondering about.

Teachers don't get paid a lot, it's a pretty thankless task. Please don't hold them to such high standards and just find another way/time of asking the queation. If this happened at work (someone not answering your Q directly/talking about something else that you deem unrelated) you wouldn't email the person's line manager would you?

I notice the OP hasn't been able to answer my question about Bristol in over two days. That says something, doesn't it? Not as easy as it looks, eh?

At parents' evening, you get 4.5 minutes to "get it right". Sometimes, a conversation just doesn't go the way you were expecting, you get a negative vibe off a parent, and it makes you panic, and you end up jabbering on about something not particularly helpful.

Every single minute in teaching is "visible", every single word throughout the whole day has to be "right". There's almost zero margin for error. Many teachers genuinely are barely coherent by 8pm.

Sorry @StuartSheehyisBack , I meant to quote someone else!

Is it something that she could give a definitive answer on? Or was it something that she was just trying to use a real life example to reassure you?

Eg, "ds has had 3x supply teachers during this autumn term and I need to know if it's affecting his work" and she then rightly used an example where someone else has had similar and didn't seem to have any negative effect?

I didn't say it was @Hayliebells 🤔

Another meeting isn't necessary. She just needs to communicate by email.

To be fair OP we don't know how the conversation went.
Pop an email to the school office and it is done.

It is unprofessional and inappropriate. A small percentage of teachers are unfortunately. Most are focused on the correct things.

Yes I'd email. I'd ask to speak to the HoY and explain you the info you need - list the questions in writing.

To office@bigschool for the attention of Chatty Teacher

Dear Chatty Teacher

Following our recent meeting at Parents' Evening.
Could you please let me know the answers to the following questions.

1

2

3

If it is easier I can be contacted on 079723231234

Kindest

namechanged221 mother of Billy Scoggins.

I would say, 'I'd really appreciate a few minutes of your time to catch up on XX. Our chat got a little derailed, can you help?'

The teacher was at fault but complaining is OTT you could have interjected politely.

It sounds like the teacher thought they were answering your question with their info about their kids, not that they were spending the appointment just chatting.

Email the school asking for a specific answer to the question as you don't you got the required information during parents evening.

What would the desired outcome of the complaint be? To get an answer to the question? You don't need to make a complaint to get that. If your desire is to get the teacher told off for not answering the question in a way you thought was appropriate, then you probably won't get any joy there.

Was the information she gave about her children in any way relevant/linked to what you were asking? Like her kids went through something similar to your son and now they're at uni and doing great, as a way to reassure you that whatever happened is not that bad/an impediment/can be overcome. Or was it completely irrelevant/unrelated?

Storm in a teacup. Email your question then take further steps if it’s not answered.

Teacher recruitment and retention is falling off a cliff and I can see why.

It is very unprofessional to talk about your own kids at Parents Evening as a teacher.

Anyone who blames exhaustion/ "we get it wrong sometimes" etc is just being ridiculous. Why on earth does being tired mean you talk about something unnecessary and not what the person in front of you is asking about?

It is hardly like the teacher has been forced to stay awake for days on end and are jabbering on incoherently - they've had a full day yes, but that's it

I love the ‘dont complain’ answers….

Not one who rd about the fact the OP herself might be exhausted too. And that emailing, setting a new appointment, having time off to go to said appointment is also added work for her.

Yes people can get tired.
Yes some people make mistakes.
But not answering a question 3x and talking about your own dcs as if the parent in front of you didn’t want (or need?) any input from you isn’t on. Not at a parent evening.

Teachers are human. Some are superb at performing faultlessly for 3 hours after a full-on day of wrangling reluctant teenagers to do a tiny bit of work. Some are not very good at it. Most of us are pretty good at it most of the time, but get it wrong sometimes, especially when we're exhausted.

Don't complain. Of course do ask for clarification about specific questions that you need the answers to.

Just email the school email address, FAO X Teacher, and ask your questions. If you don't get answers after that, then complain. Why would you want to complain first? I can only think that you're more interested in getting at the teacher for a perceived wrong than actually getting your answers. If that's the case, you're one of the reasons why we have a recruitment and retention crisis. Dealing with difficult parents who complain first without seeking a resolution just make teachers feel unappreciated, so they think sod that and leave to do something else.

I think plenty of people don't appreciate teachers being human instead of robots.

What information do you think you will get from the head of year?

It has been two days. Did you type the questions out and email them? Just head it FAO: teachers name and she will receive it.

Also, your questions are really not going to identify you on a worldwide site.