To ask the teacher to change the live call time

[namechangestory]

DD is in reception and is attending school as we are both key workers (I WFH, DH goes out to work). There is only 3 others from his class and most of his friends are staying at home.

The class teacher is running a zoom call every day so the class can all see each other and listen to a story. The problem is it clashes with pick-up time so DD cannot join and she misses out on seeing her friends who all see each other on the video call every day.

AIBU to ask the teacher to change the time slightly so DD can attend? Push back by half an hour so we are home?

Oh @Shelby2010 if only you knew... online teaching is harder, not easier and most teachers I know are sat teaching lessons on cameras for the full lesson time. It’s more taxing because whereas at school you are not being constantly watched and scrutinised on a camera with kids sitting at the screen you are. I sincerely doubt teachers are released in the day to do more planning and marking. In fact planning online lessons takes substantially longer than real life ones

If you WFH you can keep your child at home with you - the same as everybody else! I say this as a Key Worker myself.

Has OP said what her KW job is? I'm not a KW but sometimes have to make phone calls for my job that would not be suitable for DS to listen to around self harm and suicide and speak to incredibly distressed people. Just because someone is WFH it doesn't mean it's appropriate to have their child in the same room with them.

This thread totally represents why so many teachers must be tearing their hair out at the moment. Approx 50% have said 'it can't hurt to ask nicely'. So, that's 15 parents emailing the school detailing the exact particulars which would work for their family. Helpful polite suggestions of course. Alongside the 30 children emailing their home school work daily. 5 minutes per response. 45 x 5. 225 minutes, 4 hours work. Daily. Before they even start any teaching at all.

Just THINK people. Please just THINK.

@GrumblyMumblyisnotJumbly what's the point of making shit up? What I said is 'I would politely ask' but obviously it's more dramatic for you to pretend otherwise.

Much like the poster upthread who quoted me saying something I didn't.

Debating skills on here are shite.

Haven't RTFT, but many class zooms are scheduled quite rigidly through the day in order to avoid clashes with siblings in different classes: eg two siblings jn different classes may be sharing a laptop, so teachers in their school have scheduled class zooms to ensure there are no clashes for pupils who share devices. Then there is no wriggle room, unfortunately.

@Fatas
I didn’t say it was easier, just that the timing of half an hour later probably wouldn’t make a difference to the teacher’s day.

@namechangestory

But thanks - it seems the majority feel IABU so I won't ask. Just feel a bit sad for my 5YO DC who comes home from a school asking about missing friends.

You can't ask the teacher to change the call time to later in the day. It sounds like it's timed then so that the DC at home have a defined 'end of school' moment, like pick-up is for you.

What you could do though is ask if it would be possible for the 3 DC in school to join the zoom call if they were willing to have it a little earlier, whilst your DC is still at school e.g. if it's at 3pm, could they start 15-30 minutes earlier e.g. 2.30 on a Friday, so that the ones in class can join in whilst waiting for the end of the day and pick-up time.

@CosyAcorn that’s a good point, I’d not thought of that

If you were an ambulance driver and your dh was a nurse, you'd have had a very different reaction to this question! Everyone is hostile because they think you've chosen to send your dd to school unreasonably.

I don't know OP, you can but ask as kindly as possible. In our school we don't know which kids are at school - they include the ones deemed to be vulnerable as well as critical (and not so critical) workers kids.

Arethereanyleftatall, thank you, that is exactly how it is I don't mind corresponding with parents and pupils at all, and try to respond within the hour to emails when I am not actually live teaching. But it does take time!

You would be unreasonable to insist, but I don't see the harm in asking - maybe it was just random and she'd be quite happy to move it a little.

Do it on your phone outside the school gates if its that important.

There seems to be a bit of hostility to the OP based on the fact that their child is in school and getting the personal attention of teachers. This seems pretty mean given that key workers are on the front line saving lives or delivering vital services for all our benefit. Many are having a horrendous time.

But there is only 5 of them in the class and its not as if the experience of them listening in to a zoom call is diminishing the experience of the others at home. And a teacher has replied to say they moved their zoom call to allow the whole class to share time together for this very reason.

@Shelby2010 no you made the assumption that teachers would have spare time in the day (when they didn’t before) which in my book means you think it will be easier. And after pick up time most teachers will either to some planning (which in the current format takes longer) ogle go home and have a break before planning later

It’s a bit odd to have the one live session for reception so late in the day. And presumably the other 2 kids from the class who are in school also miss it?

Is their teacher in school with them all day and scheduling this for when they have finished with children in school?

It could be an oversight? I wouldn’t ask the teacher to move it but I would let them know your DC can’t make it as that is pick up time. They can then chose whether to move it or not.

I don’t understand if your child is at school, but the live video is 3 why don’t you pick them up later?

@IncludeWomenInTheSequel
@GrumblyMumblyisnotJumbly what's the point of making shit up? What I said is 'I would politely ask' but obviously it's more dramatic for you to pretend otherwise.

I directly quoted you, I did not ‘make shit up’ you just didn’t like my response.

Debating skills on here are shite
Oh the irony!

I wouldn't suggest making it later as I'm sure she has a tonne of marking and prep to start after the call and it's not fair to delay her starting this, but I don't know if you'd be unreasonable to ask if it could be earlier?

DD's school does a 3pm call, but the in school kids don't go home until 3:30pm so they're all on the call together talking about the days tasks and listening to a story which is lovely.

Maybe your DD's teacher would think a 2:30pm call with all the kids would be easier, maybe not. Maybe there's a safeguarding reason one or more of the vulnerable kids can't be on the call.

Surely nothing to stop you popping her straight on your phone on the journey home?

As it's at pick up time, I would suggest it's deliberate. She's supporting the children in the classroom all day & this is the time when she supports the home learners. It's a different discipline.

@Chloemol very good point, didn’t think of that either!!

Why are people suggesting picking the child up early? Schools have systems in place for managing drop off and pick-ups that have been planned and risk-assessed. Schools have set hours and are not some sort of drop-in childcare, where you just collect the child whenever it suits you. I can't believe one person even suggested collecting after the zoom call - so you'd leave your child for the teacher to supervise when the school day has already ended?

Yabu- delaying the call is keeping the teacher at school longer (she might have a child needing picking up) and it might be inconvenient for the children at home who need the call more than the kids at school.

I'm not going to judge you for wfh and using a school place. I've seen many people explain how their job as a social worker for instance involves content that no child should overhear and during a pandemic there is obviously going to be more children needing assistance.

The purpose of the call is for the children at home to see the teacher and pretend they are at school for 10/15 minutes a day. The children will probably have their mics muted so they don't chat to each other so your dd will be none the wiser how people are. If her friends don't log on will she worry more? The goal is to give the kids at home some stability/comfort by seeing the teacher. I wouldn't be surprised if your dd heard the same story earlier in the day from her teacher in person.

If your dd is missing her friends could you set up a zoom chat with her friends even if it's just for 5 minutes to show each pets or whatever they are into?

You inferred that I don't appreciate teachers' efforts which is 100% incorrect, so yeah, you did literally make shit up @GrumblyMumblyisnotJumbly

The teacher has better things to do then bend to your Princess demands - unbelievable!

My oh my, precious first born by any chance?

Your child is lucky to have face to face interaction with staff and children daily, this call is for the children who can’t have that luxury.

Give your head a shake.