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 born in 1944.
He never went to an open evening, ever.

Sadly no he worked shifts and long hours/overtime money was tight for us in the 80s/90s he would occasionally manage to swap at work but I know he always wanted to be there for more things but just couldn’t be. Mum always went along to everything at school and they were both very supportive of education at home. It’s quite sad really he missed so much my husband is now able to attend for our girls

Yes.

I'm 50.

They used to serve wine when I was a kid!

I'll add that I taught for 40 yrs from '84 and often saw dads at parents' evenings.

Yes (when not on call). I'm 49, he was born in 1940, this would have been in the 80s and early 90s

I think he went to one. It wasn’t his thing. He was good in other ways but we definitely went to his things rather than the other way around. I think about this a lot. I sometimes wonder if parents these days are too involved in their kids lives. There’s loads of benefits of that for sure but it’s definitely got downsides.

Yes, always both parents. I’m 48

Just my Dad went to the secondary ones for me and my 2 older siblings.
We had 2 younger siblings at home, one of whom was very difficult.
So just Dad went. He was an alcoholic so it was often really embarrassing - not stumbling about, but not adhering to the time schedule and making wise cracks.
He was born late 30s.

No never, he was always working. He would always come to concerts, presentation evenings etc though as they were in the evening after 6pm.

My Dad (born 1927) went to every single one of my parents' evenings, much to my distress, 'cos I didn't want either parent to go and find out what a little shit I'd been :)

I'm impressed everyone can remember!

Primary School I have no idea.

Secondary School I can only remember 2 of them and my Dad was there both times.

He was born in 1955 but was also a parent of school aged children in the 90s/early 00s. I actually thought he was on the older side of parents for that time but maybe not!

My Dad did a few times (born in 1951) but he and my mum were both university graduates and took education very seriously. I doubt if he went to every single one but he was very involved with our education over all.

My mum was a teacher and a couple of times had to do her own parents evening on the same night, sonny dad went to ours on his own. The rest of the time they went together.

My dad was born in 1935, I was born 1964. Both of my parents attended all my school parents evenings in both primary school and grammar school.

My parents both attended my parents evenings together, and didn’t take me. They were both teachers so probably more interested in my education than some. This was in the 70s, so perhaps children’s involvement was sought less at that time, maybe it was just my parents, I don’t know. As a shift worker, my husband rarely came to DS’s.

Yes but probably because my mum couldn't drive.

I am 70 and my Dad was born in 1929. He and my mother went to all my parents' evenings as far as I can remember. There may have been the odd one very early on where they couldn't get a babysitter. I don't remember being allowed to go (by the school) until we started our O Level syllabus in the fourth year (Year 10). It wasn't a thing then.

My dad was born in the 50s and both my parents went to every meeting.

No because my parents split when I was 3 and we moved the other end of the country. My dad would have gone given the chance

Parents born in the 50's. Dad in the police so worked various days and shifts.
Primary school in the 80's and Dad went to most parents evenings.
For high school in the 90's only 1 parent was allowed to attend and dad went.

Our children are late teens/early 20's and both primary and secondary expect the child to attend the parents evening with you.

I don’t remember my dad ever missing a parents’ evening and he frequently travelled abroad or worked late. I’d imagine his PA organised it for him to be there but he was.

Dad never went as wasnt home from work yet.

I don't remember any parents evenings in my schooling.
My mother did come once to a nativity play in infants school.
Probably to check that I really had been told to find a shawl to drape over my head as I shuffled along as part of the crowd.
Another incident may be more relevant to your enquiry.
1980s a construction foreman was complaining about one of his young workers who said he needed to leave early to fetch his daughter from school or take her to the dentist.
Mr foreman was indignant and incredulous.
What do you have a wife for??
He demanded.
Then went on to boast about his own domestic arrangements and how he had chosen a wife whom he could rely on. He declared with pride
When my kids were young I didn't even know where the school was.

So I'm a little younger than this, I'm 30, and there were primary school parents afternoons only my dad came to. My mum worked Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and my dad worked full time, but around KS2, his work started offering flexy, so on a Monday he started later and finished earlier so he could do the school drop offs and pickups, so they didn't have to pay for wraparound cars on a Monday (grandparents had us Tuesday/Wednesday). Our parents afternoons were on a Monday, so my dad would take the latest appointment and come when he finished work at 2:30, when my mum was working until 5. All this said, he thinks he was the only man at his work (he was an electrician for the council - so lots of traditionally working class men) to take the option of flexible working for childcare reasons. Apparently his colleagues were confused about why he was.

In my opinion it's not normal. My dad used to go to parents evenings for me and my brother. I think my mum used to drag him there though 😂