People older than 35; did your dad go to school parent’s evenings?

[Farrings]

I asked my parents to look after our daughters for an hour (they’re primary age) so DH and I could both go to parents evening.

Both kids are at the same school so it’s no bother, and we care equally about their education, so we both want to go.

My dad (born 1943) asked ‘What’s parents evening?!’ He denied any knowledge of the concept, and said he’d never been to one. He has 3 kids who were all in school in the 90’s/early 2000’s.

To be fair, I’m not sure my mum went to many either… they’re not great with supporting formal education…but I was still surprised to hear my Dad say he didn’t even know what one was!

Then I thought, was this normal for the time maybe?

if you’re over 35, please vote -

YANBU - ‘My dad didn’t go to parents evenings either, (or maybe like, one time)!’

YABU - My dad DID GO! Or a few times anyway!

(Obviously whether or not Mum’s went is a whole other question, I will have to save that for another vote)

P.S This is Just for fun! X

My dad was a copper, and shifts got him out of doing all sorts of things. Christmas, for example.

Mine went.1944

My Dad didn't, but then again he wasn't very interested in doing anything other than going to the pub.

Yes. He also did homework with us. They both went. I'm 48.

No. My dad did no day to day parenting at all. Except when he retired when I was 8 he walked me to and from school or the station a lot of the time.

He was Disney dad. Grand gestures, treats, lots of affection but then other times serious tellings off.

So I was kind of scared of him and wanted to keep him happy.

Actual day to day stuff was all my mum. I don't think that was that uncommon in the 80s. Though a few of my friends had much more hands on dads where parenting seemed more of a joint enterprise.

My dad always did (in the 80s), despite a job which meant he often had meetings in the evenings - he kept parents evenings clear.
Having taught (secondary) in the 1990s/early 2000s, I saw plenty of dads at parents evenings. That was probably more the case at the first school I taught at, where the evenings ran from 6.30 to 9.30, to allow commuting parents to come. At the second, they were 4-7 (and there were also fewer kids whose dad lived with them).

Can’t answer because my dad didn’t go but knew what they were. He did shifts and had to do a lot of overtime to keep us comfortable. He died earlier this year and expressed regret for it. I told him not to be so silly….he worked so hard to provide for us and was always interested and helped us with school stuff. Absolutely no way was I going to let him think he wasn’t a fantastic father and role model just because he didn’t go to some crappy parents evening.

Neither of my parents went. My dm didn't drive and f regarded it as a waste of time & petrol.

I was glad he didn't go. He was too embarrassing for words.

My dad went to every single one. My mum went once in a while

My dad raised children in the same decades you mention. It was my dad and only my dad that went to parents evenings. My mum was busy at home with other stuff I think.

Mine did, but he was a huge advocate for the importance of education. Parents' Evening was the only day of the year aside from being on holiday when we had chippy tea. We were always told we would only get the chippy tea if the parents' evening went well but my brother had a shocker one year and still had some. 1980s primary, 1990s secondary.

As long as my Dad wasn't working he'd come to parents evening (shift worker) but also, it was expected that children came as well and heard what the teachers had to say, so I was there too (perhaps that has changed now).

My dad went to every single parent's evening. I am mid 40's.
He also did the school run everyday when I was a primary.

My dad was born in 1945
I was born in 1966
My parents divorced in 1970

He came to all of the parents' evenings except when he was working away.

Absolutely he went and he was born five years earlier than yours! He's not perfect but he certainly valued education.

I’m a female parent of 3 over 35’s. I went alone to nearly all the PT meets.
That said for some yrs H did live away during week or made v long commutes.
I also took DC’s to colleges uni’s etc for visits & interviews etc. alone when older.
There came a point where I gave up with PT meets as I felt teachers/tutors were just “preaching to the converted”, as there were some parents who I knew never went even tho they lived nearby & i knew weren’t supportive to child.

Dad was born in 1936 - went to all mine and my sisters unless he was away with work.

My dad never went to parents evening, he never took us to activities or even the park. My dad worked 3 jobs.

Both my parents always went to parents evening without fail. My Mum was a teacher so felt parents evening was very important and my Dad was very involved. He got that from his Dad, it always confused me when my friends weren't close to their Dad's. It was also about uniting, they both wanted to know how I was doing so if I was struggling with something they were in agreement about how best to support me. Unfortunately my Dad hated visited my secondary school cos they used to make a big deal about his title. Dad had a PHd but hated being called Dr and they always addressed him as Dr.

Yes, always, as far as I remember.

Talking of which. I still remember one of our German teachers getting a bit arsey with a girl in my group (we were 6th form) because her mother hadn’t come to parents’ evening. As we all knew all too well, the girl’s father had recently died.
The girl replied that her mother was nervous about coming on her own, whereupon the teacher had another go, about how ridiculous that was - and the girl burst into tears and left the room.

Another girl did what I dare say most of us wanted to do - stood up and said ‘Miss X, I don’t think you should have spoken to (the girl) like that - it wasn’t her fault.’
For myself, I did badly want to 👏👏!
The teacher did have the grace to look slightly abashed.

Yes, both my parents went together. I started school in 78. My dad was born 1942.

Mine always went - to every single one of them from reception to upper sixth. He also attended GCSE options evening and the meeting with my headmistress to discuss my plans post GCSE and the uni admissions info talk hosted by the school I attended for sixth form. He was a 1934 baby.

My dad always went to parents nights, he was born 1947

I’m in my late 60’s.
My parents came to all our parents evenings, there are 6 of us.
My dm saw education as the way to improve our lives.

Lot older than 35 my dad never went to parents evening and can only remember my mum going couple of times
I went to both my boys primary and secondary but my husband never went as he was never home from work in time