Do you know what pisses me off about parents evenings?

[BretonStripe]

My eldest child is in YR3, youngest in Reception. So just worked out dh and I have attended eight parents evenings so far (two per academic year).

Had ds1's tonight and got told he's working at greater depth, he's polite, works hard, contributes well etc I thanked his teachers for all their hard work...they smiled and nodded appreciation...but failed to thank us? We work hard at raising polite children, who are always on time to school with breakfast inside them, eager and willing to learn. We read with/to them every night, and help them with their homework.

Do teachers generally not credit parents for anything? Is it normal for them not to say something along the lines of "thanks for all you do too?".

I agree to a certain extent, teachers are quick to point out failed parenting orcomplain about difficult little shits children.

Quick?!

Many teachers bend over backwards to try and word things so that the parents of the most appallingly behaved little shits don't get too offended!

'Tommy is a lively member of the class......'

Avegemitesandwich, I see it as this...we’re lucky. Not all kids like school or make friends easily or learn academically well. DS does. DD (19 mths) is at the moment his polar opposite, so...she might not be so easy lol.

Parenting isn’t just about doing the breakfast, school runs, reading and homework thing, though. It’s doing what needs to be done to make sure your kids are secure, safe and happy as possible, and IMO nobody should need or want to be thanked for that? I know it’s what I strive to do at the very least!!

Not rtft but this is a joke surely?

Well done for teaching your children the basics so far in life

Some bloody people

You want thanking for looking after your own children? 😂😂

🤣

LOOOOOOOL!

I think you should have a quiet word with the head. Perhaps they can organise a standing ovation for next time.

Christ alive I’ve heard it all now! Who on earth goes to Parents evening expecting to be thanked for raising their own child?? 😂

Having said that, I actually have been thanked by a couple of teachers at DS secondary school wasn’t expecting it though!



Actually...

At the last parents evening my DDs lovely teacher DID thank us. When we thanked him he said all the credit should go to us and our parenting. Lovely warm man, very talented teacher. Quite a smart thing to do as it was encouraging and made us want to do more and help more. I'm sure he said it to everyone but still 

I think you should have a quiet word with the head
Quiet? You have to be kidding me. I'd be turning up the next morning demanding a meeting. That's the problem with these teachers; they think they're gods when we put all the work in.
If the head doesn't see you then call the governors

I actually have credited parents on a few occasions, not thanking them per se but saying "this is down to your hard work, well done"
BUT
These were parents with children who had additional needs which made them extremely tricky to parent... yet they had dug deep, put the work in and reaped the rewards.
I wouldn't routinely thank the parents of every well behaved, bright child because there's an element of luck in this. A child's natural personality+good parenting.

I'm gutted,I've got my first ever parents evening in November,I was expecting at least a bunch of flowers

I've taught primary (Infants) for nearly 10 years now and I thank/generally 'big up' parents all the time.

If they talk about what they are doing at home I might say "it definitely shows!" or "keep doing what you're doing because it's obviously working!". Sometimes as a parent it's nice to be told you're doing a good job, we are here for the parents as well as the children.

It's hard to compliment parents without coming across as patronising and it is a fine line, but working in a difficult school you honestly do appreciate people who do the little things!

I think being 'pissed off' that you didn't get thanked is OTT though OP.

I am a teacher and parent of 3. Either I am the teacher or the parent at a parents' evening, either way I usually thank the teacher or the parent for their support.

I expect a gold star, but my amazing parenting is never recognised. Not even a sticker. What is wrong with the education system today?

When I thought I’d heard it all then this thread pops up 😂

Agree with the other teachers posting here - you are ‘that parent’.
What next - ‘I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for nurturing little Henrietta in your womb and giving birth to her to the best of your ability’.....
I know children provide us with a job but really!

Why should anyone be thanked for doing their job? No need to thank teachers for doing their job and no need to thank parents for doing theirs

Jesus, do you know how ridiculous you sound? Your child receives tax payer funded state education for its benefit, not the benefit of the teachers. Why the hell should they thank you for your child being there? Imagine teachers in deprived areas of Africa, where children walk 6 miles to school and feel privileged to be there, thanking the parents. Those parents thank the teachers for providing an education. Get over yourself FFS.

This has to be a wind-up! 😂

When mine were at school you got about five minutes with a teacher, a quick run through child's performance and character is then "next!"

There wasn't any time for mutual back slapping.

No need to thank teachers for doing their job

I disagree. Most teachers these days are doing more than their job. Lots of them go above and beyond for very little thanks. That should be acknowledged if it has impacted on your child.

To be fair, in have been thanked by DS’s teachers on many occasions.

He was a bloody challenging teenager; we appreciated the teachers efforts & tried to be a united front with them. We often got thanked and/or mentioned in despatches to DS.

I get what you’re saying, OP - as a previous poster put it, a ‘keep on doing what you’re doing’ never hurts to hear 👍

I'm a teacher and I will say "x is a credit to you", if they have good manners and are kind and considerate; things that parents can actually encourage. I must admit I often say it to the parents of the nice but dim, so we end on a positive note!