How do I deal with this?

[savvymoo]

Dd starts school in September. Have just received our second written communication from the school. Both
Have had several typos/errors including in each letter one significant error which actually alters the facts within it. E.g. First letter had an error which required them to call all recipients to clarify as they had essentially told everyone to come into the school on the wrong day. I am an unashamed pedant and some of the errors are things most people would not bat an eyelid at (but I happen to think schools should make damn sure that everything is grammatically accurate to set a good example and demonstrate commitment to quality). However it is the factual errors and obvious indication that no one has bothered to check/proof read that really bugs me.

I am really tempted to send a note to the head saying something about t but I realise this probably mark me out from day 1 as a nightmare parent. What would you do?

Yes I have just re read the above and spotted proofing errors and I do spot the irony.

Do nothing. You really don't want to start the first communication with the school by being picky. Errors happen. Unless it makes a huge difference in the meaning, in which case you may need to confirm the details. Otherwise just smile to yourself that they are human and leave it.

Just to clarify. I realise that they had to send a second message due to the mistakes, at least they noticed. IME the office staff's ability to send a message does not indicate the ability if the teaching staff to teach.

i would just leave it for now, like you said a note would probably mark you out as a nightmare parent.

Definitely do nothing. I have a dd going into year 2 and this won't be the first or last time you receive communication with "errors" from your dd's school. I'm more immune to the spellings/grammatical errors now. However what still gets my goat are inaccuracies that factually change the communication and when this happens I have a good moan (to myself and perhaps my dm!) before calmly approaching the school for clarification!

Ok. So a big deep breath required then. Thanks!

Hi savvymoo:

We have this thing at our school and it extends to changed prices for trips/ events, changes of date for trips/events and last minute letters home that a costume is needed the next day.

My advice for surviving primary school correspondence is this:

Change of cost: complain (especially if you paid more)
Change of date (especially if at short notice): complain
Poorly spelled homework (especially if spelling): complain
Grammatically dodgy homework (especially if resulting in confusing instructions): complain
short-notice: complain (or let them hear you grumble)

typos - not worth it
spelling mistakes (general) - not worth it

To be fair I think a lot of the problem is that a letter was generated the previous year and in rushing to get it out into school bags the next year things like dates, days of the week and price can be missed in proof-reading. It's an honest mistake that speaks of rushed/ interrupted staff.

Should they put more care and attention into communicating information to parents - of course. Can they? Well that depends on the priorities/ issues of a school. If they're focusing on other things and getting that right, perhaps it is something you can live with.

Having worked as both admin in a school and as a teacher, I can be sure that the school secretary already probably feels shitty enough as it is, knowing an amended letter had to be sent out without having a parent complaining about it.

I'm not excusing sloppy admin, but letters out to parents often take a back seat when having to deal with certain emergencies that crop up daily in a school office and teachers demanding a letter gets sent out like yesterday and the photocopier has broken down again.

Life is too short.

Hi:

Just realised I didn't explain 'complain'

What I do is a quick e-mail to general enquiries e-mail address (secretaries) and usually point out what the confusion is.

I try to be polite and tend to begin with something along the lines of:

I'm sorry to have to raise this....

I'm slightly confused by this.....

If you can attach original letter and new letter (if data is conflicting) it's a real help.

In general I've found complaining usually results in an e-mail to all parents concerned clarifying date of trip/ event, price, etc... and saving a lot of confusion for both parents/ staff.

Just to assure frecklygirlabroad - I wasn't trying to make staff feel worse about the mistake - just trying to sort out for myself & any other parents who (for exampe) paid £25 for a field trip the previous school year that the new price £15 was in error or that they will be refunded the £10 they've overpaid.

Hopefully this kind of thing just happens at our school.