to think that some parents just don't care?

[SarahAJ]

Firstly, I know it sounds bad to judge other parents but just as a GENERAL impression of what other parents reckon.The situation is thus.....My DD (reception) is due to start the Read, Write, Inc programme at school. As such, the teachers arranged a great meeting/presentation to help the parents understand the system and show how they can help their children learn to read/write/spell. It was only 45 minutes, starting after drop-off. Out of 50 pupils, less than twenty parents turned up. Its not the first meeting that hardly anyone has attended (we have been to them ALL)and I find it disrespectful to the teachers and quite disgusted that some parents just don't bother.Before anyone mentions the "some parents have to work..... " stuff at me, I fully understand this as both myself and DP work but isn't your childs education important enough to get half a morning off?! My biggest priority right now is my DD's early education. Rant over. Don't get your knickers in a twist too much. Its just a general thing I was wondering. Ta muchly.

Oh good, you realised you were being unreasonable. Apology accepted.

It all depends on the reason they didnt turn up i go to everything i can.i can also take my youngest dc with me sometimes but alot of parents do have work.or more dcs

There is one mum of a school kid in my office all the others have toddlers. Catty comments are thrown around just because she does the school run and starts at half 9 they call her part timer but she knows their only half joking.

The big about "biggest priority right now is my dds early education". Really? That's your biggest priority?

20 parents for 50 kids is a bigger than average turn out.

As you can see - lots of reasons why people wouldn't/couldn't go.

There are things the school can do to improve turn out if they think there is an issue with the attendance rate and parents can be provided with presentations and printed information if the teacher thinks it's necessary.

I suggest you have a weeeee think about how you come across - clue 'smug'.

Lots of people do difficult and amazing jobs, paid and unpaid.

I think when you get to know the other parents a bit more you'll probably find out the reasons why people may not attend along with how they feel about their children's education.

It is very easy to make snap judgements when you don't know people very well - we all do it to some degree. When your child has spent more time at the school and you have engaged with some of the other parents you will probably get more of a feel their motivations.

I think sometimes schools can be slightly unreasonable in expecting parents to be able to go to something like this after morning drop off, or bake cakes, make costumes, come to a class assembly, or to sports day.
Over the years we've been lucky to manage quite a few of these, but lots of working parents (as I've been too) cannot manage them all.
Schools do often seem to operate on slightly old-fashioned expectations where Mum is at home to do all these things.

Some of us work. If we took time off for every school meeting, we would barely be at our places of employment.

I try very hard to prioritise the important meetings but sometimes it's just not possible to make things like this.

Mama - are you telling me it's not your 'biggest priority'?? Really, it should be - over and above keeping a roof over their heads, food on the table, shoes on their feet... you need to prioritise woman!!

Sorry if this has already been said, but I don't make it to any meetings like this at DDs' school, as they are all at 3.15 and I am a teacher at another school. The teachers know they have my full support, as they have most parents' support. I would say around half turn up, the other half were mostly at work. You are lucky you can have the time to go, but don't judge.

I can see where you're coming from, I go to pretty much everything the school invites me in for and always have done.

But if I was in a position that would make going difficult, I'd save my time off for the things that directly involve my child, like assemblies, church services and plays. I'd get info about the reading system from the Internet or ask the teacher when I got a chance. RWI isn't too complicated though, you can just read the information in the books when they start to bring them home.

I imagine the parents who go the most are ones that have their first child starting school.

You need to draw a line under your judgements and move on. You don't know other peoples circumstances, only your own.

In some cases they parents can't read. It's not that they don't care, but they don't see the point in attending because they physically can't help their children at home.

YABU. DS has just started reception. He is DC4. The school haven't changed their teaching so I tend to ignore meetings about teaching schemes such as this. I went for the first 2 children, I already have the information.

I think that's an amazing high % turnout!
No point in repeating all the reasons why people might not be able to get there, but just thought I'd say.

I often miss these meetings for several reasons

1. I work.
2. I have 4 dc's so have sat through them several times.

3, I am a governor so have often sat through these presentation's already. 4..Part of my work involves knowledge of these enrichment schemes. 5, I may be attending a presentation/parents evening for anither of my dc's. 6, Doctor/ dentist etc appointment. etc etc etc etc I am a very involved parent but I am too busy to judge maybe you should try it op.

Re teachers- you suggested all people should be able to get time off work. I'm a teacher- if I asked for time off for this I'd be told NO. Does that make me one of the 30 shit parents who don't care?

I obviously don't care as there is no way I would book a half day holiday to attend this type of session. I prefer to use my holidays for doing nice things with the kids and covering for invariable kids sick days. These things with the best will in the world are tedious and worthy. My dcs are read to every night and do not suffer from lack of attention/ love. My dd is just turned 7 and is a free-reader. In fact I'm downstairs pissing about on mn whilst she reads her younger brother his bedtime story.

Read Write Inc isn't so complicated that you need to attend a special session to understand how it works.

When my DS started this, I didn't go to any of the info. sessions (selfishly, I didn't take a morning off work). I think I googled it & found information about the way it worked. We bought flash cards & DS taught me how each sound should be pronounced. DS now reads very well, despite the fact that I didn't care enough to trot along to the morning session.

YABVU.

Was there a crèche for those with babies? Thought not. Not everyone has childcare on tap for younger siblings.

This has tipped me over the edge.

I need 6 weeks notice to take time off, and am lucky to get two weeks notice from school for these events. DH likewise can't just drop his work. My mother with dementia lives 200 miles away and my PIL without dementia live 400 miles away.

When I am not working I have my two year old at home with me, who would not sit still for such a meeting without the aid of horse tranquilizers.

Add me to your list of non caring parents. You might have apologized., but I suspect you are judging me for all the other things you think I ought to be doing if only I cared.

I work 12 hour shifts, I can't just get a morning off. I don't even know how DS will even be picked up from school when he starts.

I'm lucky that my work is flexible enough so that I get to attend most of these things. But plenty of people can't. It really upsets some of the parents at dc's school that they can't get the time off. But they need to work and they have little choice. Stop being so judgey, its not pretty.