About parents evening?

[Drstrange]

I feel I need to start this by saying that this is not a teacher bashing thread. I think they do a fabulous job and I fully support them in their work.

We have just received a letter home about “parents meetings”, during Covid the traditional evening was replaced with a virtual meeting with the class teacher, brilliant that they tried to keep in touch and provide updates on my child’s progress during challenging times. However, the pandemic has moved on but school are still operating a virtual system for these meetings. The slots for the upcoming meetings are 2.30-5pm on one afternoon and 2.30-4.30pm on another afternoon.

Whilst I understand this ensures that teachers get home at a reasonable time what about parents or carers who work? How are they meant to arrange to attend? There is no option at all for any later than 5pm, and from previous experience of booking the slots, unless you are on there as soon as they’re released then you are only left with limited options to book. AIBU to think there should be some options to book in the early evening, parents evenings have always been a standard thing in teaching?

When you become a parent you accept that you might have to do things that you did not have to before, including taking time of work to support your child's education .

Times have changed, just because there used to be a parents evening, doesn't mean that has to happen again. Personally I really like having my sons meeting online. Both parents can log on as the system allows it. Meeting is on time, ten minutes and no wasting time. No rushing from work to make the meeting. No planning around other children, it's great!

If the time doesn't work, we can request a different time. We are lucky to be able to schedule ten minutes into our work time to log onto it. I appreciate not all people can do that, but a good school would take parents requests into account.

But they are teachers...surely they understand that when they go into the profession? My mother and sister are both teachers and parents evening are just part of what they do! They never complain to be fair.

Why should I be expected to accommodate parents when I’m not being paid for it?

I really love the switch to online parents evenings especially for secondary. It takes so much less time out of my day, previously I had to take a half day off to do both DCs, no rush travel to the school, trying to park, rushing around trying to find classes, no delays due to other parents running over, no self important parents skipping ahead in the queue. Yes meetings are short but I find it keeps things to the point and they always offer to email/ arrange a call if more time is needed.

Surely you knew that teachers are required to attend parents evening or did you miss that part of the job description? If you don’t like it, get a different job.

What is surprising me on this thread is the number of parents who seem to have missed the part where they are supposed to take an interest and support their children.

I’m a teacher because I love teaching. I deserve to be paid a fair wage for the hours I work. I am not one for sitting back and doing something because it’s the way it’s always been or because it suits someone else.

The virtual parents evening have been really difficult for us as separated parents. We couldn't both dial into the same meeting so ended up splitting them. Her dad dialled into half and I did the other half. Not ideal. I found them brutal though! The way they just cut the teacher off after 2 mins was hysterical. Even they were making a joke of it! 😂

Really hoping for face to face this year as our daughter is now year 9 and we've never even been into the school!

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

I’m a teacher and I think parents evenings are pointless these days. We have to contact parents regularly anyway if there are any issues with their child so that we can address them, if the child is doing well we have points in school that automatically create rewards for students and send messages home to update them. We tend to just repeat what they already know.

But I am taking an interest and am very involved in my children school life which is why I have asked the question as I do want to engage in parents evening

Parents evening is part of a teachers role though.

What is surprising me on this thread is the number of parents who seem to have missed the part where they are supposed to take an interest and support their children.

But it's the opposite.
Parents want to support their children and want to attend parents evenings. That's the whole point of thread.

If they didn't care then the timing of parents evening would be irrelevant.

I stopped going to parents evening before covid. Absolutely pointless, same thing over and over again. You sit there waiting your turn and over hear the same thing being told to each parent.

with a report each term and this class chart lark, I can’t see the need for PE too.

Then you will have no problem with attending the parents consultation at the time that the school has put it.

When you become a parent you accept that you might have to do things that you did not have to before, including taking time of work to support your child's education ..

Which I do, but I'm fortunate enough to have a flexible employer. Not everyone is in the same position.

It doesn't mean they don't support their child's education.

A good school understands the demographics of their students and parents and does their best to facilitate parental engagement. That's how it's worked in the vast majority of schools I've worked with.

Not sure if this is prinary or secondary, but if secondary, each teacher will probably do more than one evening as they teach many year groups

I think the timings in the OP are in the minority (based on this thread and experience).

Online is so much better as a teacher. We have to be direct and (sorry some parents) don't have to listen to how History was their favourite subject when they were at school and how naughty they were (some parents have no interest in how their kids are doing).

Parents evenings should run till 6.
Ours go until 7:30 and it's a long time to talk!

DDs school has just went back to face to face parents evenings (tomorrow infact) and were offering appointments from 3pm till 8pm. I have the interesting time of 4.18pm. Anyway its only 1 parent allowed and no other children.

However someone made a good point, what about separated parents, as the letter clearly said 1 parent per child.

I understand your frustration OP as if I'd been given a later appointment I'd have either had to cancel completely or take both children with me.

Some schools just don't think of parents and I don't think it's the class teachers fault, it'll be the higher ups.

@jgw1 'Its a strange world where spending a few more hours at work is more important than supporting your child's education'.

I hate this argument. It's not that people don't prioritise their kids. Not at all. My mother was a teacher for 30 years and she could very very rarely get out of work to be there for school stuff even for just an hour: Sports days, assembly's etc were attended by my grandparents. Does that make her a bad parent or meant that she didn't put us first because she couldn't get out of work? Why is is different for other professions?

Schools can’t win and certainly can’t suit everyone. We run training courses for parents and always ask whether they prefer daytime or evening sessions. It’s almost always a 50:50 split. I would guess it would be the same if schools asked about parents evening preferences.

You are missing the point, parents want to attend but are not always fortunate to clock off at 3.30 and finish their working day.

So what. in a tonne of jobs there are occasional out of work hours/ activities that you don’t get paid for. It’s part of your job.

The amazing thing is that parents in other countries that have parents consultations in the middle of the day, don't ever seem to have this problem.

I agree it's not great. Perhaps raise it with the school / PTA? Evening would be better. I'm a teacher and I knew some late evenings were part of the role when I applied. What system do they use? The system we use has the option for a parent to invite a guest - on one of my appointments last year, I could speak to both parents and one wasn't even in the same country!