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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think schools have got to reliant on technology

162 replies

Jelllytotss · 16/10/2020 12:32

When I was primary school a very long time ago now. We were sent home a report on paper for parents evening and then they saw our parents on the bigger parents evening later in the year. Our kids school have decided they want to do parents evening on camera through zoom this year because we can't go into the school. I have no more room on my phone for this app. But my partner will have to download it. There's 30 seconds in between every ten minute call and you can't be a second late. They've advised you lurk for an hour online or something to ensure you are ready.

I have toddlers in the house. A partner who works often until 7pm and I just wish she could email across some basic details about the first month at school or arrange a phone call if there's anything serious to discuss.

All homework is done now on a seperate app on phone too. Plus parent mail is constantly pinging throughout the day with loads of stuff about online this and that. Setting up accounts. Etc etc.

Do they not realise parents are busy working, caring for other children and only have so much space on phones for the required stuff.

My daughter's 5 and it's already this technical.

Well aware of the situation. But surely a message on parent mail to each parent is enough!

OP posts:
musicalfrog · 17/10/2020 07:20

I agree with you, too many apps and its not just school but at work too. I understand why they've had to adapt but this feels like forever.

Once upon a time i could search my emails or look on the fridge and find what i need but now it could be in any one of several different places.

I feel the same about WhatsApp vs texts tbh!

SueEllenMishke · 17/10/2020 07:34

You could ask for telephone call......

I'm not sure what you want to happen? Physical parents evenings aren't happening this year and Zoom/Teams is the best alternative.

If you're struggling then you need to speak tonight school as the use of technology to facilitate all aspects of learning isn't going anywhere. They will look to support you but won't change the way they're doing things across the board as this is the way things euro now.

Soletsgotothepubearlierthen · 17/10/2020 07:35

OP - I'm complaining cos my kids school is making to much effort with them
MN - ShockGrinConfusedBiscuit

PurpleFlower1983 · 17/10/2020 07:41

They’re doing the best they can in difficult circumstances, schools can’t win, people complain one way or another!

year5teacher · 17/10/2020 08:11

I don’t think many parents at my school would be satisfied with an email. No one is MAKING you go to the zoom meeting, just say you don’t want to and ask for an email or phone update. I had a parent do that.
When we set home learning, yes it is uploaded online but we do it in a way that assumes the parents don’t need to print stuff or give child access to the internet. It’s all stuff they can do with paper. We scan in pages of textbooks etc. We have tried very hard to make it accessible to all.
YABU

Fatted · 17/10/2020 08:32

As a working parent, I would much prefer a video call with teachers at 7pm than trying to get to parents evening at 3.30pm when DH and i are both in work until 5pm.

PS you can buy a memory card for your phone for a tenner.

ohnothisagain · 17/10/2020 08:50

This reminds me of the post a couple of weeks ago where (another) OP demanded an in person parents evening with full PPE, 10 min slot, deep clean, 10 min slot, etc
Schools can’t win (ours did a zoom based parents evening, it was great!)

CeibaTree · 17/10/2020 08:54

I think you need to contact the school and tell them you can't afford the required technology as there may be a local authority scheme to help your family.

Maireas · 17/10/2020 08:55

There was another one where a person was complaining that school emails were switched off at 5.30 or whenever. Either schools do too much or too little. There is never a way to satisfy every parental wish. However you do it, you will always, always get complaints.

whatsyournamenow · 17/10/2020 08:58

Glad you manage the MN app OP, maybe delete that one and replace with a school
One?

Ratatcat · 17/10/2020 09:06

You’re being really unreasonable. Surely a zoom call is much more convenient given you have toddlers? What would you have done in normal times for parents evening? It seems much easier to me.

flumposie · 17/10/2020 09:07

We can not win at the moment. I had to buy a new laptop over lockdown to enable the remote learning I had to provide, costing £400 as my old notebook had no camera. Did the school or government provide this?Nope.I had to do a Parents' evening on line on Thursday. I spoke to some parents via camera, rang one parent when the tech didn't work at their end and emailed 2 parents. I literally tried everything. The government have made it law that by next week all schools work like this. Yet schools will get the blame. Again.

CooperLooper · 17/10/2020 09:13

YABU because it's 2020 and we live in an age of globalisation and digitalisation. 3 apps, really...

tortillachipsanddips · 17/10/2020 09:13

As a full time working mum I love the use of technology to help parents keep in touch.

Before the school would use the notice board in the playground or posters in the door which I never saw as I didn't do pick up or drop off.

Now I feel much more connected to the school.

I can message teachers when I'm worried about something.

I had parents evening via zoom and rather than the stress to leave work two hours earlier I just sat at my desk and had a call with the teacher.

I also know most schools offer alternatives to people who can't access everything which is great

Maryann1975 · 17/10/2020 09:30

@SaltyAndFresh How do you expect schools to teach children who can't be in school? Would you like us to call in your front garden on the way home from work and do a little mime through the window
If you wouldn’t mind doing this, I’d be grateful. There is very little joy in my life at the moment and dds teacher doing a little comedy sketch through the window might actually bring a smile to our faces! I appreciate you are busy and also have a life of your own after work, but it shouldn’t take long to get round all 30 children in your class.

I was actually thinking earlier in the week how much easier school communication is now it’s all online. No more asking the dc if they have a letter and them replying they think they did, but they can’t seem to find it. Maybe it’s in their tray at school. Or them forgetting they had a letter and me finding it when I empty their bag at the end of the week.
Home work on line is so much easier. No more missing home work sheets And the panic that brings with it. No having to remember to Send the home work book in on the correct day (because god forbid it should be sent in a day early). It’s all online and there when we need it.

As for parents evening, I sat in front of my 9 year olds teacher 3 times last year (so between September and March) and she still neglected to tell me some really crucial information about my daughters development (she has changed school over the summer and her new teacher has picked up on it straight away). My eldest started high school 12 months ago and I haven’t even met her teacher yet and she is in year 10. On this basis, I wouldn’t Be worrying about A parents evening for a 5 year old. Just don’t make an appointment. Speak to the teacher and request a phone call if there is a problem.

Education has changed massively since we were at school and the amount online has massively increased even in the last 10 years since dd1 started school. But believe me, the new online Way is far easier than the old paper ways!

Kolo · 17/10/2020 09:30

Just tell the school you're not that bothered about having a discussion about your child's progress and definitely not interested enough to delete your Mumsnet app and install zoom for an evening. Teachers have 30 of these 10 minute meetings to do - 300 minutes, 5 hours of their time after a full day of work - sure they'd be more than happy to drop yours.

musicalfrog · 17/10/2020 09:35

Do people on here not realise it's possible to use MN without an app?

WildfirePonie · 17/10/2020 09:37

Yes OP, same for the NHS tracing app that my nursury want us to use to check in. My DP doesn't even have a smart phone and has been told we will be handed notice if he doesn't bring a phone! They don't care that he doesn't have a smart phone. Why does everything revolve around having a smart stupid phone?

middleager · 17/10/2020 09:45

YABU because you could no doubr have the option of a call if you explain to school. YABU because your DH has a phone and presumably mobile data at least. YABU because many of us don't get in from work until that time, not just our husbands!

Technolology has been a Godsend during this pandemic.

Kolo · 17/10/2020 09:45

@musicalfrog

Do people on here not realise it's possible to use MN without an app?
I do realise that. I could have said candy crush, but I have no idea what apps OP has on her phone, obviously.
Maireas · 17/10/2020 09:52

@Maryann1975 - you're far too sensible to be on here. Get off this instant, or start to make unreasonable demands.
@SaltyAndFresh - that really made me laugh!

Oncemorewithfeelin · 17/10/2020 10:08

Presumably this is in place of a standard parents evening. How would you cope with the actual interruption of leaving the house to speak with the teacher? Then waiting for 30+ minutes as the appointments run over?

If you are having difficulty with online activities for school speak to them. Schools and teachers are doing their best in current circumstances and will be more than happy to try and accomodate you with a phone call.

FrippEnos · 17/10/2020 10:24

@Oncemorewithfeelin

I suspect that the OP would be on e here moaning about a 'normal' parents evening.

jellytotss is just that parent.

CandyLeBonBon · 17/10/2020 10:30

Bloody hell. Who pissed on her chips?

Cocomarine · 17/10/2020 10:51

“Don’t they realise parents are busy”

If you’re too busy with your toddler to have a zoom call about your 5 year old, you shouldn’t have had another child 🤷🏻‍♀️

I have lots of sympathy where people haven’t the funds or skills to access technology. But I have zero sympathy for people basically saying, “I’m too busy to make time for a child I chose to have.”