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Original poster

row in parking lot with head teacher! (longish)

467 replies

sansouci · 01/10/2005 18:33

There is next to no parking by dd's school. Everyone complains but for the moment, nothing has actually been done about it, except for the police coming round & taking photos of pick-up & drop-off times. The yummy-mummies make it even worse with SUVs but anyway.

Yesterday when I went to pick up dd from school, I had to double park. I left my warning lights flashing to show that I was coming back soon. Unfortunately, dd didn't come to the car easily & then I got chatting with another mummy, as you do, forgetting completely about my precarious parking place.

On returning to the car, a group of angry women were clustered in front of the school & of course I apologised profusely to the one or two I had blocked.

One woman made a rather bitchy comment as I was charging by & when I saw her heading for her car a few minutes later, I asked her what she felt could be done about the parking. It's not my problem, she replied shortly. We got into an argument, which escalated, as things do on a Friday afternoon. She said, I'm a teacher at this school! to which I retorted, My daughter is a student at this school & if you're part of the staff, you should care about the parking problem! I wasn't rude, but I was very angry with her & she was angry with me.

I eventually roared off, furious and shaking, cursing the woman aloud. Do you know that silly woman? I asked DD. Yes, she said, she's the head teacher. Oh SH*T, I thought, Now I've done it.

How can I face her again? She'll be dd's teacher one day. I think I was right to be cross but I was at fault & certainly on the defensive. What do you think I can do?

OP posts:
hunkermunker · 01/10/2005 21:40

OK.

Think of practical solutions to parking problem and present them to headteacher when you apologise.

Investigate a walking bus arrangement.

fqueenzebra · 01/10/2005 21:41

Ooh, ooh, where's me popcorn??

hunkermunker · 01/10/2005 21:41

Didn't see school 5 miles from home - er, investigate purchase of matter transfer device.

Original poster
sansouci · 01/10/2005 21:41

What about the rude, aggressive attack of the head teacher? Doesn't that reflect badly on the school?

OP posts:
hunkermunker · 01/10/2005 21:42

And don't call people prigs.

philippat · 01/10/2005 21:42

actually I am truly interested now - how would you tackle the parking problem if it was your job? Is there a solution?

fimac1 · 01/10/2005 21:42

Dh is a Transport Planning officer - schools do not need to provide parking (even for teachers!) and it probably is far safer for cars not to be in the vicinity of the school anyway - its pretty much a urban myth that children are safer in cars, did you know for instance 4X4's have a high (70%) mortality rate for child RTA's as you go under the car (because of the height of the vehicle) rather than get thrown onto the bonnet.

If parking is a problem and the local council deem your school in need there are School Travel plan officers who will help parents work out new travel methods to reduce car usage - they will NOT build new car-parks! (which raises the convienience of using cars which in turn increased conjestion on the roads)

As an aside - my childrens school have had their car park conpulsory purchased by the LEA to build new houses on - from the start of the Autumn term no cars are allowed to drop off outside or near the school (and, obviously, park!) To be honest, it is heaven and a much safer walk to school and I, and many other parents do not miss the hectic drop off pick up rush hours one little bit!!

Original poster
sansouci · 01/10/2005 21:44

Worse, she says it's not her problem. In my opinion, it concerns everyone connected with the school. Not to mention that everyone has to double park. the access road is so narrow & very long. I just double parked for too long!

OP posts:
fqueenzebra · 01/10/2005 21:44

If you were having a bad day, Sanssouci, and that's your excuse for losing your rag, maybe you should cut the head a little slack, too.

Jimjams · 01/10/2005 21:44

sansouci- not really- most people do get incredibly pissed off with people double parking outside schools because its that that puts the kiddies at risk. You have legs so use them! DS2's nursery can be a nightmare to park outside, so sometimes we have to do a little hike in.

When ds1 was at ms parking was a real problem and the head got into a few battles, - have to say most parents were on the head's side (and she eventually managed to arrange for occasional police visits to get people off the double yellows- it was bloody dangerous).

QueenOfQuotes · 01/10/2005 21:45

ooo - only just seen this thead - got to stick my oar in too (of course )

Briefly -

YES:

  • You were wrong to park where you were (and to forget about it )
  • Yes I think a letter apologising (even if it's only for "the memeber of staff who...."
  • A bit suprising you don't recogonise the head!
  • You've realised your mistake - and I doubt you'll be doing it again

NO:

*I don't think it should be the schools problem to organise car parking - if the school is in a 'bad' parking area (unless it's newer than the houses around it) then I don't think it's their problem.

OK - said my bit - not going to go on the offensive against you SS - we've all done things that we've regretted/knew were wrong etc etc - that's life

Jimjams · 01/10/2005 21:46

It's not her problem sansouci- park further away and walk- unless the school is situated directly off a dual carriageway that should be possible!

moondog · 01/10/2005 21:46

How exactly was she rude and aggressive?
Can't see that she was from what you posted.
There is no parking problem,merely a can't-be-arsed-to-walk 200 metres problem
(and you having the nerve to post on the eco friendly thread. Bloody hell.........)

Original poster
sansouci · 01/10/2005 21:46

The school has plans to move location. It's actually an offshoot of a larger school which is very well established and very respected. For the time being, the school has asked to use an adjacent vacant field as a temporary pick-up/drop-off area & has been refused.

OP posts:
QueenOfQuotes · 01/10/2005 21:47

ok - crossed posts with lots of people.

Why not park a few streets away and walk the rest? Even on a bitterly cold winters day it's not going to hurt you (or any children you have with you) as long as they're wrapped up warm.

edam · 01/10/2005 21:47

Good point re 4x4s and child mortality, Finmac1. Bizarre how many parents have them ? do you think they don't realise how dangerous they are for child pedestrians, or just imagine they will never hit a child? Or just don't care?

Original poster
sansouci · 01/10/2005 21:47

Moondog, stop growling and barking, please.

OP posts:
TwinSetAndPearls · 01/10/2005 21:48

As fimac1 said schools do not have to provide parking for parents and I would imagine in the current climate they would be discouraged from doing so. At dd soon to be primary they have been given money to build a shelter to park prams/ bikes to encourage more parents to walk or take another method of transport to school.

foxinsocks · 01/10/2005 21:49

4x4s and certain people carriers are even worse when they are reversing - you cannot see small children behind them. In fact, there was a recent case where it was proved that below a certain height (and I can't remember what it was but I remember thinking that at the time dd and ds were smaller and they were 4 and 3), you would not be able to see a child standing behind the car. Truly frightening.

hunkermunker · 01/10/2005 21:49

The headteacher should have handled this better. Of course parking is her problem - it's her school.

But it is also the problem of the people who are braving the school run every day.

You say the head had made a bitchy comment as you passed - she's only human. Most people don't look too kindly on people who double park - it is extremely selfish behaviour. She's probably sick to the back teeth of parking conversations and didn't want to get into one with a woman who was obviously irate in the middle of the road.

You say you weren't rude, but no doubt she would tell a different story - arguing angrily in the street is rude.

There will be problems in the future if you don't apologise now. Like I say, come up with ideas about solving the parking - can you lobby the council for space somewhere nearby? Can they make the road one way (if it isn't already)? Are there other schools nearby that could help raise funds for a schoolbus?

fimac1 · 01/10/2005 21:50

Edam

They don't care (imo) They are safer in the 4x4, I think, and I guess that's all that bothers them?

I wish this fact would be given more publicity -

Original poster
sansouci · 01/10/2005 21:50

There is no parking allowed within at least 500 metres of the school. We are in Switzerland, not that that should make any difference but perhaps things are slightly different here. Try not to judge me with the sin of double parking but imagine that you have been verbally challenged and attacked by a senior teacher of your child's school. Okay?

OP posts:
edam · 01/10/2005 21:51

I was vaguely aware that 4x4s were far more dangerous but had no idea was a 70 per cent mortality rate if they hit a child. Terrifying.

What's the mortality rate for normal cars?

Original poster
sansouci · 01/10/2005 21:52

I must admit that I'm astonished and hurt by the aggresivity and inability of some MNers to put themselves in an objective position.

OP posts:
Jimjams · 01/10/2005 21:52

so what;s wrong with walking 500m? Makes sense to me!

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