Is this school newsletter too rude?

[RudeHead]

NC as obviously outing to other parents. This week's primary school newsletter had the following from the head^^ about parents' evening...

Thank you for all the positive comments that teachers received yesterday. They all work so hard for each child in their class. Though I have noticed that there are too many parents not attending the parents meeting and making individual appointments with teachers before and after school This will not be allowed. We start at 1.30pm and finish at 7pm so whatever job you have, you can still make the consultation. I have to keep the workload down for our teachers. If there is a reason why you cannot meet on the designated parent consultation, which is dated in September, then please write to me.

AIBU that this is unacceptably rude? I feel like I should write in or something. I get her point but surely there's a better way to make it?

Do, lot of snowflakes on here! Great newsletter, tell it how it is.

6 months notice and appointments starting at 1.30 - 7 pm - If you can't make those times, then I would question your interest in your child's education/welfare.

I bet if it was a dentist/drs/solicitors appointment, people would make that within those hours. Why should teachers work be any different? They have families to look after too.

No point beating about the bush and if they watered it down their point would be totally lost in translation.

as long as plenty of notice is given then I don’t see the issue, it’s straight talking, teachers cannot be at the beck and call of parents, they have a life outside of work.

Caughtinanet...I dont think she was apologising her husband wasn't there, more that she will be taking notes.

Well done that Head, sometimes things need to be said very bluntly!
I recall a Parents' Evening, 6pm - 9pm though often nearer 9.30pm, and all the apointments were made as near as possible to the parents' wishes. However, the local, very big, football team had a draw in the Cup and the replay was the night of the Parents' Evening. So many parents came very early and caused rows about not being seen then, others were 'unexpectedly unable' to attend and wanted to come after school.
Get your priorities right folks, your team or your children!

The letter really isn't about the parents that genuinely can't make that time/date. But realistically that will be a tiny amount of people.

It's aimed at the parents who couldn't be bothered to sign up until the day before and didn't want the times available . Then made an appointment with the teacher the next day instead, usually straight after school because that's most convenient for them.

Parents' evening can end up dragging on for a whole week and I can see why the Head is putting a stop to it.

I can categorically tell those of who you get "a weeks notice" because that's when you get your letter are totally wrong.

I will guarantee there's a whole year calendar with the dates, it's agreed by staff, head and unions right at the start of the school year, actually in July/August previous year if they can.

I sit in September and get husband to book half days or arrange granny sitting for those days.

Every school I've worked in and my kids schools have this.

And it has Inset days on too. Imagine knowing when they are for the whole year instead of flipping out when you realise there's one "you weren't told about" (you were) and haven't planned for.

Not rude at all. I was hoping for a swear word tbh!

My school parents evenings are next week...Twi consecutive evenings, from 3.30 to 7.30. That's a VERY long day for me, as I'm already in school from 7am each day and work in school until 6pm. These two parents evening nights mean I don't get home until around 8.30...having not eaten since midday. I will STILL have to do my usual work that I would have done after school...but at home. So that will mean two nights of working until around 11pm.

So yeah...that particular head has a really valid point! I've had three parents today asking for 'special' meetings outside these times...one because she has a gym class, one because she couldn't get her 'preferred time' of 3.30 (because she didn't send the form back!) and the third because she wants her mum to come too, and mum can't make either of those evenings!

I think it's just frustrating for parents who are keenly interested in their child's education and only get a 5 or 10 minute slot twice a year, which may then be on a time they can't go. Then when you turn up for that 10 min slot you are sat waiting for over an hour!!!! I personally would prefer a quick email telling me if my child is ok or not.

Haven't RTFT but our parents' evenings started at 7pm and continued until 9.30pm which I think is much more realistic when parents are working, need to get the family fed in the evening, etc. If parents' eves are held with time frames that will be difficult for working parents with commutes, then they cannot all be expected to attend - there clearly needs to be a conversation about this.

Individual teachers are being pressured by parents to take meetings before and after school on random days when they may be supposed to do other work, the head is trying to get a grip of the situation and do the consultations in a more organised way. A previous poster said what about people that work 8am-8pm...but what time do you expect the teachers to see you then?

Gym class? Is she the teacher?
Fucking hell.

Our head sent something similar. I think the sentiment is spot on but it was clumsily worded.

What they are saying is not unreasonable, the tone is the problem

Just a thought where someone said they have to speak either face to face or over the phone - would they be able to be scheduled in during the parents evening - ie you get given a slot and can choose either face to face or phone?

Northernknickers....those three examples are really bad, but you might have parents who can't come because of their shift pattern, and only been given one weeks nitice of parents evening, or illness, or other valid reasons.

only been given one weeks nitice of parents evening,

Genuinely, is there absolutely no indication of possible dates at an previous point in the year?

We have a calendar online from the start of the school year. Yes, the LETTER is only send out a couple of weeks in advance, but the DATES are available from 1st September every year.

Many of those teacher could have worked from 7:30 am to 7pm. If parent's evening overruns, then they are expected to stay until it finishes. They will then start the next day at 7:30.

Parent's evening is unpaid overtime. Yes, the parents should try to make it and no, teachers shouldn’t have to keep making extra separate appointments.

@ScarletBitch

Yes those parents should definitely get special consideration - they can write to the head as suggested. I'm sure that wouldn't be a problem - it definitely wouldn't be at my school. I have also done additional meetings for parents who are separated, where a translator is needed etc.

The issue is with (it sounds like many at this school!) other parents who are making appointments outside the normal slot for spurious reasons.

It’s blunt and factually incorrect. But there are so many piss taking entitled parents these days. It’s not aimed at the parents, who try their hardest to be there.

I'm fed up with schools assuming every parent has to run around as they demand.

Jesus, it's your kids parents evening! If it's such an inconvenience, don't bother going.

It's a massive pain in the arse when parents don't bother making alternative arrangements for parents evening and then expect the teacher to take more time out of their schedule to see them at another time. Imagine if all the parents did that.

I think this sounds like a great head who doesn't take crap from parents and values their staff. Perhaps if more heads were like this, teachers wouldn't be leaving the profession in huge numbers.

I am required to speak to every child;'s parent(s), face to face or by telephone, so I have to accommodate it...

You sure about that? We were told by our HT that we have to offer an appointment, but if the parent doesn't attend, that's on them.

Yes, parents must be offered the opportunity.

Many parents don't use those, or request any other communication either, sadly.

I'm fed up with schools assuming every parent has to run around as they demand

Well, how about turning that around, and we teachers will say that we're fed up with SOME parents assuming that schools will accommodate as they demand?
The pendulum is swinging back now, and schools are so hard-pushed to find/retain staff that they are making stances like this Head in the OP. And good for her!