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?

OhDearGod,

It is a requirement set by our head.

if we have no-shows etc, then ultimately they are chased by the head and the appointment is made with us.

In a previous school, I have held parents' evening conversations in the playground, through car windows etc - for a specific disengaged parental group, we were encouraged to do absolutely everything possible to speak to them.

What a brilliant head! Standing up for the right of his staff not to be at the beck and call of parents whims! Love it!

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.

Those teachers would not have been paid for that. What about THEIR families? What about their work life balance? Ok parents work, but as has been said, you would make time for drs appointments etc. My dr's surgery closes at 6pm everyday - I bet you’d make that appointment...

(Note that I am a primary teacher. I know secondary is different)

Of course it isn't rude! The next date is in September so if you work you have plenty of notice to book a day of annual leave.

It is a requirement set by our head.

Maybe time to look for a new school. My HT has the same passion for valuing her staff (from which the children benefit) as the OP's.

Rude

The English is awful. Really bad. Ineloquent. Could be worded so much better.

And she's an idiot if she doesn't realise some parents work shifts, hours that mean they couldn't attend those set times.

My husband leaves at 8am and gets home gone 7 so he wouldn't be able to go.

*Isn't a parents' evening important enough to book annual leave for

Not really, not if a quick phone call can do the same job.*

So when is this phone call to take place? Does the teacher have to arrange childcare on another say so they can wait in school to phone you at a time of your convenience? Or perhaps you expect them to phone you from home?

The heads teachers wording was ill conceived and likely to get parents' backs up unnecessarily; the message itself though was perfectly correct.

We start at 1.30pm and finish at 7pm so whatever job you have, you can still make the consultation.

This is the only aspect really which is off. The 'whatever job...you can make it' is incorrect.

They do appear willing to compromise for those who genuinely can't make it.

I'd love to know the answer to parent consultations really though, having been on with sides. No way seems to suit everyone.

Ok, don't know why the bold type didn't work.

My husband leaves at 8am and gets home gone 7 so he wouldn't be able to go.

Yes but you could.

And all these on here saying they cant make it.Bring the kids with you and have your friend watch your kids.And vice versa.

As a teacher in my school im expected to catch all my parents even those who just didn't turn up for appointments. I'm part time and have to leave on time for childcare, my mornings are similarly tight. I have 8 out of 24 appointments to "catch up on... half of these will not show to my rearranged appointments. It's infuriating!

I think the head deserves a medal.

This will not be allowed

Parents' evenings are not compulsory.

so what's the punishment? detention?Lines? Litter picking?

It's a horrible letter which will get people's backs up.

The expectations of teachers now are just ridiculous. Paid 8.30-3.45 (approx) but expected to work at home most nights for a couple of hours and at weekends. In most secondaries there are teachers in from 7 am onwards and almost all staff by 8. They leave often at 5 or later.
Breakfast sessions at 8 for Year 11 English and Maths, lunchtime sessions. Holiday sessions at eAster and half-term for Y11.
Not paid over time.
Curriculum Leads required to present to governors - meetings often start at 6 or 7pm.
Some academies now requirng them to deliver Saturday morning sessions.
Parents think they can have an appointment at whatever time suits them- whether it suits the teacher or not.

It is madness and this Head is being straight and sensible in talking to parents.

My husband leaves at 8am and gets home gone 7 so he wouldn't be able to go.

Though only one of you needs to go, if that's the case. Obviously tricky if you have children though many of our parents bring them along these days, even for primary. Childcare in the evening is tricky so we accommodate.

It's probably got out of hand otherwise the HT wouldn't have sent out such a blunt letter.
Of course there are people who genuinely can't make the time slot - but with several months' notice the vast majority of people should be able to organize something so that they can come.
If there are 1 or 2 exceptions they could be accommodated. If half the parents start saying they can't come because of this, that and the other, you end up with a chaotic situation with meetings dragging on over a couple of weeks.
If you don't nip it in the bud you end up with loads of people wanting another day/time because Mrs. X down the road got a different time slot.

When I taught in primary school the parents who wanted their meeting on a different day were not those who may have had a particular shift pattern which prevented them coming.

Absolutely fine to me! I think I might love this Head!

For those saying that they really would not be able to get time off, note that the notice also says If there is a reason why you cannot meet on the designated parent consultation, which is dated in September, then please write to me. All perfectly reasonable to me, for this to be sorted via the Head and avoiding the constant badgering of the teachers from some!

Thecatsarecrazy what time would you like the appointment to be at exactly?

I think she’s rude. I find this all the time with people in leadership positions in public SERVICES. Parents and children are the CLIENTS of the schools and they should be treated as such. I’m am not in anyway saying that parents should treat teachers disrespectfully BUT the parents/children are receiving a service not the other way round!

Not rude, just illiterate (assuming you copy/pasted the original). Worse in my opinion!

Parents and children are the CLIENTS of the schools
No. They are not!

When I taught, never would make appointments outside the parent evenings- I would email, if a parent cannot take a bit of time of work for an event schedules months in advance, why should have I sat for an extra hour after work (on top of all the other tasks!)?
Sorry, I am working in a differenr area and I know it's tough, but you parent evenings are done once a year and you know when they are, so should be able to make it or schedule shifts for that one day accordingly.
The communication was maybe not worded in a very sensitive manner, but it was to the point and I'm happy to see there are headteachers out there who care for their staff!

It’s fine - to the point, assertive, not rude. Don’t like a sentence starting with, ‘Though...’, however! Asks parents to contact them in advance if they can’t make it. The language could be a little more diplomatic, but she’s just asking for parents to write if they can’t make it and protecting her staff. I wouldn’t be offended in the slightest.