AIBU to email class teacher?

[Year1Mum]

My DS’s class teacher is off sick and he is missing her a lot. She has been off since Wednesday last week.
Would I be unreasonable to send her an email to tell her we hope she gets well soon? Would love to show our support and let her know how fab we think she is.

I'm a teacher. I'd be touched to get an email like that but if I was off with stress I might not reply. Could your child make a card to give to the teacher when she's back? I always hang on to handmade cards.

I don't know how many times I can say this. She's only been off since Wednesday. That's not that long. If she gets an email from you, she'll know something's up. It's not usual to get emails from parents when you've only been off a few days.

If she's already ill enough with stress/depression/anxiety. worrying about what people might know (quite justifiably in this case) could make things far worse.

The outcome if the email is received possibly doesn't even begin to outweigh the possible downside if it goes wrong. It''s way too much of a risk.

Like I said, I've been there as the spouse of someone in her position. Save the cards and messages for a physical illness, not a mental health one. The outcome is too unpredictable, and if it goes wrong it will go really wrong.

possibly= positively. Stupid autocorrect.

I agree with @saraclara
I have been off with stress, not from teaching but another job with children and families. I would not have wanted any contact from anyone o ly a few days in to my time off. I just wanted to completely detach and have space from work.

That’s just my opinion though. Obviously others would feel differently.

Also again if she’s off with stress she shouldn’t be anywhere near her school emails anyway, so might not receive it.

If you shouldn't know the problem then do not message. However if it was disclosed teacher was off for stress then would have thought messages like that were the better part of teaching, knowing your kids care and can show you the value of the job when you are feeling down. The teachers put up with such low pay for the hours and stress and crap they have to deal with, they can only be in it for the love of the kids so would have thought that would be a lovely thing to do x x x x

Inappropriate to email her. Get a class card if anything.
I’d watch your back with the ‘friend’ who told you confidential information about her too...

Send her a card with a picture from your child, saying Get well Soon . X think you are the best! Love from ......

I'm a teacher and would love that! If she's checking her emails it will be because she's well enough to and to see an email with that sentiment would bring a smile to her face, I'm sure.

Have ds make her a card. But don't say 'get well soon' or anything that could be understood as pressure to return. Maybe 'You're a great teacher' - something positive and light with no expectations or guilt (I miss you) attached.

People are so cranky on this thread! I'd say don't, maybe a card ready in the bag for the day the teacher gets back, but it is lovely that this is the reason for you to be contacting the teacher.

Usually I'd say it sounds like a nice idea but as you've mentioned it's stress related then I really wouldn't especially as she then might have an inkling that the other parent had been gossiping.
When she's back i think it would be ok for your child to draw a picture for her with a wee message saying he's glad she's back or something like that.

Leave her alone!

I am a teacher and would love to get an email like that.

Pp have commented that they wouldn't like knowing that people had been discussing their medical history if they were the teacher. Being sick as a teacher is pretty obvious. You aren't in class! Also there has been discussion whether the teacher is off due to stress. In that case, an email from a 5 year saying "get well soon" is hugely different to an email from the head!

Teachers of 5 year olds tend to love them and this is one of the reasons why.

Another teacher here who would love to receive an email like that.

I'd hate this. I'm a teacher and have experience of a very close teacher friends mental health going badly wrong. At her worst, she felt like she could never be anonymous, we live in a fairly small town so we often see ex students and their families. Shes not been off long, leave her alone, get her a nice Christmas card to give in a week or so.

@OfTheNight

She won’t be checking her emails. Maybe send a get well message via school if you want.

Hahahahaha, teachers, even if they're sick, hungover, in hospital, on holidays, wherever, are always checking emails!

I'd love to get an email from my class wishing me well if I'd been off but please, please don't say anything along the lines of 'can't wait until you're back' as this will put the pressure on. It's been a godawful term for everyone in schools and a bit of positivity is always welcome.

I’m a teacher and I would hate this. At best it sounds like emotional blackmail to return as the kids need her. At worse, you sound prying.

I don’t really understand why you think someone who is off sick should be reading her work emails. Your sentiment might be lovely but I say leave alone. Your child and you have a professional relationship with this teacher, you are not friends.

A hand made card from your son will strike the right note, and he will feel like he's doing something nice, which is an added bonus. Send into school and they'll either forward it on or pop it in her pigeon hole for her return.

@Wishihadanalgorithm

I’m a teacher and I would hate this. At best it sounds like emotional blackmail to return as the kids need her. At worse, you sound prying.

I don’t really understand why you think someone who is off sick should be reading her work emails. Your sentiment might be lovely but I say leave alone. Your child and you have a professional relationship with this teacher, you are not friends.

I completely disagree with your interpretation of the child teacher relationship. It's so much more than just professional, especially with younger children.

I'm a teacher
There's nothing wrong with sending an email to wish someone well - I think its very nice
She can choose when she reads it and it's not like you are expecting a reply.
A little gesture from one human to another is a lovely thing in these trying times

@Year1Mum

Ahh I didn’t think of it like that, there would be no expectation to reply. I wouldn’t want her to feel pressure to reply though! A parent knows the teacher personally and has said it’s stress related (of course the parent should not be commenting on this to other parents!!!) and wanted to show that we’re thinking of her and that DS loves her

If it's stress related I wouldn't send anything that could be interpreted as 'hurry back'. Ie my kid really misses you and hopes you're back soon.

Wait until they are back then let them know how happy your kid is that they've returned or how pleased you are that they're feeling better or something.

If you email it sounds like you're just keen for them to get back to school.

I wouldn't appreciate that at all. Leave her alone.

Send a card via the school?
It seems a shame that she won't get your good wishes, but I agree with the consensus not to email.