What would you think about this email from school? Sudden change of class teacher.

[Junglemoon]

We had an email yesterday evening from our (primary age) child's headteacher saying that his class teacher Mr Smith had left and that as of tomorrow his teacher would be Mrs Jones. No further details as to what on earth was going on, the email was literally three sentences.

Mrs Jones has been teaching them the last couple of days but our son was told and believed that Mr Smith was just off ill. He and most of his class were very upset in school this morning that there would apparently be no chance to say goodbye to Mr Smith, who is much loved by the children. Neither the children nor the parents were given any notice of this or any preparation.

On top of this the headteacher and the deputy head are apparently away at a conference and unable to answer phone calls or answer any questions and none of the other staff appear to know anything about the issue. The student counsellor was in the classroom this morning trying to reassure the children but she had no answers for them or anyone else.

Some of the parents have phoned and emailed (we are in contact with each other) to express concern and unhappiness about how abrupt this has been and how little information we've been given and the head has replied to an email from one father saying that Mr Smith had left suddenly and she couldn't provide any further details.

Obviously my mind is going all over the place. I can think of a few things that could be sudden and confidential, but if it was something that had to do with the children's safety, the school would have to inform us, wouldn't they? If something awful has happened to Mr Smith I suppose we wouldn't be owed that information but it does seem very hard on the children to just be like 'Mr Smith is gone, you won't see him again, Mrs Jones will be your teacher now'. Which is all they got.

Of course they do. They also have responsibility for the teacher's welfare.

This sums up exactly what I was thinking.
It could be anything.

He’s entitled to his privacy. You’re not entitled to know why he left.
He’s left. That’s the explanation.
What if you left a work place and they told all the external people you dealt with all the reasons why. Would you be happy?

People leave their jobs all the time. Sometimes it is with little notice and the reasons are nothing to do with anyone else.
I certainly wouldn't feel entitled to any of the details and think it's strange that people do.

It’s the people who don’t do anything without explaining everything in minute detail to their DC, who have issues. They don’t know how to explain to little Freddie that the teacher is gone, and are over anxious that they wont know how to process any information without a full and frank disclosure, hand hold and check in to make sure they are feeling ok with it all at the end.

None of it is concern for the teacher.

I taught autistic children in a special school. Twice in one year, I disappeared overnight, as far as they were concerned, for close to a term each time. You'd think they'd have struggled, but they didn't (or so I'm told). The teacher who took over was known to them, and the class TAs were still there. Everyone was matter of fact with them, and carried on calmly with all the familiar routines.

Children cope. Parents not so much (though to be fair, the parents of that class were sensible folks and didn't stress about it)

I sometimes think some parents feel like they actually own their child's teacher!

They really do!

I've seen an awful lot of children who are anxious because that's what their parents model to them. Overexplaining, overthinking, overcompensating. A lot of adults have forgotten that children need role modelling and leading by example. Dysregulated adults who go into a tailspin every time something happens that they don't like raise children whose only response to things going wrong is dysregulation.

I really dont think anyone is suggesting this. Of course people will wonder. And children will have feelings.

What is concerning on this thread is the initial attitude and response, which seems to be that something nefarious is going on that the school had a duty to tell the parents about in full. Surely if you had a teacher you liked and respected, and a school which you are generally satisfied with your first response would not be that they had done something wrong but that something terrible must have happened.

Added to the recent threads implying teachers having any social interaction with parents is wrong doing, that teachers are fully responsible for running behind at parents evenings and reports of increasing disrespect towards teachers by children and parents, this is worrying. A PP posted very movingly about the gross violation of her privacy when she went off sick as a teacher - no one had the right to that information about her.

So have your feelings, but instead of coming from a place of violation of rights, perhaps come from the position that sometimes things happen which are hard and we have to cope with it.

Exactly this its nobody else’s business and the school are not required to explain themselves either

there could be a number of reasons and they’re got a replacement in they’re not shutting the school so its a bit of a non-issue really

kids are resilient they won’t be that
bothered.

when I worked in a school a female teacher went off suddenly as her daughter was really poorly and she authorised an email to go out to parents saying she was taking some time out for “family reasons” and hoped to be back in September (this was around May half term)
but that email was with her agreement.

The problem with that, is that once one teacher has done that, others will be expected (by the parents) to do the same.

And that's how we get to situations like the one in the OP. Your colleague absolutely should not have been asked/allowed to do that.

We are coming a very unresilient society. Parents who can’t cope with things being said to their child at school, that child had to move seats, that child was upset about something etc etc. The list is never ending. Teachers spend half their days dealing with these parents and their ‘right’ to know why this was said or not said to their child, the children then believe that the teacher is wrong not themselves.
And children are becoming less respectful to teachers because the parents have no respect. And so we come to where we are now….. God help us!

He isn’t school or parent property, he doesn’t owe anyone a goodbye.

My teacher left one day, it turned out she had cancer.

This comment wins the thread 😂😂

My kids lost teachers like this - intriguing but nothing to see here, move on none of our business and your dcs should be reassured and encouraged to move on too - I can’t believe parents are pushing for more info!

Well what a strange, obsessed person you are

I would assume he’s very unwell and feel sorry for him but appreciate he’s entitled to medical confidentiality. Id get my kid to make a card if upset and ask the school to pass it on.

Seems like a n extremely over the top reaction from parents, calling and emailing. He’s left, it’s a job, just explain that to the kids. Parents carrying on and making it worse. What the hell has happened to parents these days that they think it’s acceptable to bombard the school for information?

I have seen this happen with a terminal diagnosis. Staff member was starting life prolonging treatment the following week. She only survived a few more months and it was only after her death that the school community knew why she had left.

The parents in this situation need to be think before they act it seems. Idiotic bombarding the school with questions and e-mails. Things like this are uncommon and don’t happen for no reason.

He’s a human being, something dreadful might have happened in his life or maybe the stress of the job got too much. Who knows, it’s none of your business!

Just explain to your child that a new teacher will be around going forward.

Perhaps a thsnk you card from the class?

Move on and welcome new teacher.

Job done!

I would guess from my previous experience with colleagues, he has given notice while on long term sick leave, so he doesn’t have to return and therefore his replacement teacher has started immediately. The school can not and should not inform parents of anything related to his health. Teachers just as all other employees are entitled to have their privacy respected. It’s not ideal but teachers are human beings and these things happen. I find parents outrage when these things happen really strange, as if they can’t acknowledge teachers are more than just their job. I have known parents to tell colleagues they are selfish for leaving to have a baby mid year with venom 🙈

The DC will forget Mr Smith very quickly, especially if Mrs Jones is nice too.
Personally I'd not be making drama out of 'never seeing him again' 'no chance to say goodbye' as it focuses the DC on being upset. These things are better dealt with on a low key basis imo, with a focus to what's happening going forward.

This could be a Netflix show
"Whatever Happened to Mr Smith of Class 2A"

Why is this any concern of yours OP? All children learn nothing is permanent and I am sure the replacement teacher will be just as nice. If Mr Smith wanted people to know, the school would have stated it. It is only the business of him and the school.

Take up a hobby and get on with your weekend.