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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to send this letter to DS (Yr8) History teacher

135 replies

notapushy1 · 25/01/2011 21:31

Parents Evening is coming up and one teacher has said he doesn't need to see me.
OK, I know DS is doing OK, but that's not the point. AIBU to send this letter?

Dear X

I have been looking forward to Parents Evening for some time, and am therefore
pleased with DS' keen efforts to secure an appointment time with all his teachers,
almost all of whom are different to those he had last year.
I was therefore very disappointed to learn that you did not feel the need to discuss DS
progress with me and chose not to allocate a time slot.

Of course I understand the huge pressures all teachers are under with targets and admin and realise they are overworked and underpaid.
DS enjoys your lessons very much and I am grateful for your efforts as he is clearly learning.
I can fully appreciate why you might wish to spend the limited time you have on Thursday night talking with the parents
of children who are having serious difficulties, whose studies may not be overseen by a doting graduate mum...

But given that XXXX is such an enormous office-like institution with precious few opportunities to talk to teachers
I am keenly anticipating the Parent's Evening as a chance to disabuse myself of the notion that it might be an impersonal
exam factory, concerned with more the punctuality and attire of future wage slaves than nurturing pupils and individualising
learning so that each pupil is stretched and intellectually challenged.

I welcome Parent's Evening as a two-way process and a valuable opportunity to:
-Put a name to a face,
-To have greater insight into the nature of lessons by meeting the lesson-giver face-to-face
-To ask questions eg how is he doing in relation to his peers, does he contribute to discussions, recommendations for homework websites etc
-To reinforce the notion that there is partnership between parent and teacher and that both sides take their roles seriously

I look forward to being able to talk to you

OP posts:
NonnoMum · 26/01/2011 18:50

The central allocation is a very simple computer programme that lines up teachers and their availability with parents who have made a request to see specific teachers.

It saves the embarrassment/reticence/neglect of lowly Year 8s wondering around the school, pouncing on teachers as they come out of the loo trying to book a slot, and it saves the double-booking/midnight appointments/avoidance of appointments by teachers.

And saves the OP having to write her letter (in greek ink).

I believe that you are genuine, OP. Don't be fobbed off.

Ormirian · 26/01/2011 18:53

But it's not April 1st

BubbleBobble · 26/01/2011 19:06

This is genius! From now on, I'm going to sign all my letters as 'BubbleBobble, BSC, SSC.' *

*Bronze Swimming Certificate, Silver Swimming Certificate. Any other Red Dwarf fans out there? Grin

pointydug · 26/01/2011 19:08

har

what a hoot

NonnoMum · 26/01/2011 19:10

green ink.

LaurieFairyonthetreeEatsCake · 26/01/2011 19:17

You should take up writing properly for a living

Get a job in BBC situation comedy.

I heart you op.

Lamorna · 26/01/2011 19:29

I want OP to come back and tell us if she was serious.

Maisiethemorningsidecat · 26/01/2011 20:31

Has she still not reappeared? I wonder if it's parents' night tonight? Grin

DuelingFanjo · 26/01/2011 20:34

brilliant Grin

FellatioNelson · 26/01/2011 21:29

Well, whilst it's hilarious and very apt, it will make the atmosphere quite difficult once you are actually in front of him, for your 1 min 37 second slot, won't it?! So - whilst I'd love you to send it, unless you have a steely demeanour and the hide of a rhinoseros, don't.

But then I live in fear of being the nightmare meddling mother they laugh at in the staff room. Grin

notapushy1 · 27/01/2011 00:51

Sorry to disappoint those who thought this was serious, (had no idea there are so many touchy teachers out there)!This letter was merely an exercise in venting...so never intended to be actually sent- AIBU is often jokey and hypothetical is it not? Glad some you liked it :o

OP posts:
Goodynuff · 27/01/2011 04:48

My cheeks hurt from Grining too much! Fab♥ writingGrin

Deciduousblonde · 27/01/2011 05:09

I knew it had to be a joke..

NOBODY looks forward to Parents Evening Grin

GotArt · 27/01/2011 05:12

notapushy1 Too funny. Good vent. I do see your point, even if you weren't intending to actually send it. Grin

jenga079 · 27/01/2011 07:23

Ouch, now YABU. "Touchy teachers"? I think all the teachers told you to send it, or advised you to get in touch with school in a more sensible way. Not touchy, simply realistic.

52Girls · 27/01/2011 07:39

Blimey, some of you are quick. Smile

v good!

mummytime · 27/01/2011 07:45

I thought it might be something a teacher had genuinely got.

brightlightsandpromises · 27/01/2011 07:54

your second paragraph made me absolutely hoot with laughter!!! Just love the way you get into your letter that you are a graduate - wtf difference does that make?? If you have specific concerns regarding your sons progress then by all means ask for an appointment, but otherwise stop using it as an excuse to big yourself up and preen at your sons excellent performance (well done for that by the way, it IS something to be proud of), but seriously, get over yourself luv x

brightlightsandpromises · 27/01/2011 07:58

oh notapushy1, i missed your second post - very good, well done Grin i'll have my Biscuit with a cup of tea, sorry :) whole perspective changed, love it!

pagwatch · 27/01/2011 08:35

Thanks op Grin

And you have given me DGM ..
I have seen a select few of those, the ones who take 20 mins with the teacher every day asking if the scope of the French lessons should really be including more cultural references as recent research suggests that immersing a child in the culture and history rather than simply the language of a country aids.......

I will be able to nod and mutter Doting Graduate Mum.

idontlikemondays · 27/01/2011 08:41

This reminds me of when I was at school... I didn't bother to a slot for my parents to see my english teacher and when they asked why I said he didn't need to see them or there were no slots or some such excuse.
Needless to say they bumped into him on parents evening anyway and he gave me a massive telling off in front of the class... I was mortified... and he was clearly fuming!

Bearcrumble · 27/01/2011 08:51

But even if it was an 'exercise in venting' - that's how you chose express yourself. Still quite insane.

I think you should write a few more 'excercises' to people who've annoyed you and then publish them. It would be like Diary of A Nobody meets the Timewaster Letters. Amazing.

FluffyMummy123 · 27/01/2011 09:03

ToOP.

You sound nuts

You will so so so regret that letter which by ow will be on the staff room notice board.

He obv doesnt need to see you!!

FluffyMummy123 · 27/01/2011 09:04

Of course it's serious.

She's backtracking

NinkyNonker · 27/01/2011 09:07

The fact that you even think in those terms ("doting graduate mum"?!) is a little Hmm

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