And people wonder why teachers leave

[Tanaria]

More of a rant, I suppose, but still.

I'm having a formal complaint put against me. Because I've set a test, which a student failed to complete on time (not IT issues or timing, they were online). Despite giving 100% extra time. Despite announcing the test in advance. Despite tagging the students. Despite hanging around for over 1/2 the lesson to respond in Zoom and in writing for the rest. Despite giving students another chance to complete the test again.
Because the student asked a question about the test 2min after closing time - in my break and while I was in a meeting (IN MY BREAK) and juggling my own children at home. Complaining I took more than 30min to respond. After the lesson. And are now going for my head.

Well, I have given up on dry Jan. And I'm looking into working somewhere I don't have to deal with people anymore.

Who does that? I sincerely hope your SLT are supportive. And if not then I think you're right to look somewhere else. The entitlement of some people is through the roof.

Clearly the parents are being dicks but more importantly what have school said?

The parent is trying it on and the school are probably compelled to investigate but will throw it out. Please please don't let it get you down, I for one am so grateful for the support my children are getting from their teachers right now, as I am sure are most parents. As they say, there will always be one.

I hope your school are supporting you and telling the parent exactly how ridiculous they’re being

Surely your HOD and SLT will back you? Very annoying and totally unreasonable but I don’t think I’d give it any more thought to be honest. Lots of parents are crazy at the moment.

OP, very carefully document the incident (lack of better term, sorry) as you have done here ready for when your HT gets in contact.

Some parents are daft (me included, no doubt, at times!)

If it's anything like my school, they will nod sagely then ignore the parent.

It's hard enough working online without this sort of shite. Today I taught an online lesson to my year 8 tutor group. One was late to the lesson - ok, I understand crap internet connections as well as anyone - but just before I closed the lesson, I said "don't forget to complete the quiz in Assignments then spend the rest of the lesson time practising". She claimed to know nothing about it. Funny that 28 others did complete it immediately.

Formal complaint to who? The head?

Unreasonable parents have always been unreasonable and I don’t think that’s the major reason teachers are leaving. It’s stress and workload.

And I'm looking into working somewhere I don't have to deal with people anymore

Let us know how that goes. Teachers don't have the monopoly on unfounded complaints.

Who does that?

If my ds was in a situation I'd ask how it came about before blaming the teacher.

@Pikoty

And I'm looking into working somewhere I don't have to deal with people anymore

Let us know how that goes. Teachers don't have the monopoly on unfounded complaints.

Unhelpful. Teachers are under mass stress currently and added stress which is unnecessary isn't going to make them feel any better.

I’m sure your Head will listen and nod politely to the parent. Then ignore, as they should do.

I have screenshots of everything.

My HOD is supportive, but couldn't sway the parents, and people above them are far less so. The pastoral support immediately involved the head, not even listening to me.

I'm so done with this shit. Working all the time, homeschooling my own primary-aged kids at the same time, because my childcare refuses to have them, but constantly being torn down. This is just the latest in a long list.

Sympathies here. I've had a dick head this week too. Try to remember all the other students you have helped. This is ONE out of many. Let them complain. Stand your ground, you are entitled to a break.

I'm just so sick of doing everything asked of me and atill being made to feel awful. We HAVE to assess kids weekly (which is more than the every 2 weeks we did prior to Covid) and the data has to be meaningful, so I can't leave tests open-ended in time.

There will always be complaining parents, sounds more like the issue is within?
Pastoral ignored you and went straight to the head?

@Tanaria try private tutoring! I just started (got sick of teaching it was bad enough before the latest lot of nonsense), it's amazing. DH has been doing it PT for a few years and he convinced me to try it. So glad I did. I feel like I get to do what I got into teaching to do-- teach people stuff!

Fuck em! It's been been a long bloody day the complaint won't come to anything as you've said already there was numerous assistance available. Enjoy your drink!

Very frustrating OP but as you are totally in the clear you can ignore. I am teacher too so feel your pain. People aren’t dealing well with the stress.

Collect all the evidence and enjoy lording it over them because you are in the right and they'll look absolutely ridiculous taking it further.
Also, log it with your union.
Don't leave, you sound dedicated and good teachers are harder to find than rubbish parents.
I'd also document any further dealings with that child as parents will be ready to spring on anything else they deem worth making a fuss about.

Have a drink and a bubble bath and forget about it for now. X

Unreal
Maine people need to Fck off

Teachers have gone over and above for many months now

Just stay strong

Many of us have been through this

Xxxx

Let us know how that goes. Teachers don't have the monopoly on unfounded complaints

Op that is awful! No advice but just wanted to say that you would have helped countless kids over the years and don’t let this one kid with their baseless complaint take that away 💐

They'll get nowhere with their complaint, they were completely in the wrong. But this is the kind of entitled society we live in these days OP. I'm a MH Nurse and I've had patients who I've went way above and beyond for put in complaints because one tiny demand hasn't been met when they've clicked their fingers.

I'm also looking for a non people facing job - please advise me when you find one!

Wow that parent sounds like an absolute tosser. Bet they're also the type who believes every single thing that comes out their chlid's mouth and think their child is an angel and sun shines out their arse. Sorry OP you've had such a shit day. Get your evidence together, send it to HT, have a wine and then forget about it. These types of people clearly have nothing better to do with their time than pursue pointless complaints like this. I know that I, and all the other parents I know, are like you- stretched really thin trying to juggle a million things at once all from home.
It's really shitty of your pastoral team to send that complaint direct to head- unless head is your direct line manager? I would have thought it should have gone to your direct LM first before being escalated as far as the HT!
Out of interest are you in a private or state school?