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Original poster

Need opinion on teacher's response

36 replies

TinaAnit · 07/10/2023 22:10

Hello everyone, I am a bit stumped and just looking for different opinions on whether teacher's reply was appropriate. The issue in question is use of chatGPT (AI chatbot) to reply to my email, which was about concern of bullying towards DD and other children (won't go into details). Is that acceptable and it only matters what message email was trying to say, or dishonest and rushed way of doing it to get it over with?
I am a bit taken a back and not sure how to take it, what do you think?

Now just for the context it's not possible to prove 100% that it was written by AI, but it's quite close to 90%. I have spotted it immediately because it's part of my study and worked lots of hours on it through research etc. Also AI checker and chatGPT itself confirmed that it's highly possible it was written by it. And even if somebody hasn't used it before it would be strange to them too, as it was written so formally you'd think it was written for media press.

For those who never tried using it you can simply copy somebody's email and say 'answer this email and tell them that..(for example tell them that I will check)' then it would generate quite lengthy email and be super compassionate, talk about school values etc.

In normal circumstances I wouldn't have an issue because I know teachers are so busy even outside of school hours, but not sure how to feel about a sensitive subject such as this one?

OP posts:
Amammai · 07/10/2023 22:18

Would you be as concerned if they had written the response with a colleague? Or if a colleague had written it on their behalf? I ask because we don’t ever really know who has had input to written responses such as emails.

As long as the response isn’t impolite, I would accept it as a response from the teacher. If you require A more individualised response, organise a face-to-face meeting instead.

SirChenjins · 07/10/2023 22:27

AI is becoming more embedded in our lives so many different ways already that using it to create a standard response is just another means of production. I suppose for me would be whether I felt my specific concern had been dealt with effectively or whether I was being fobbed off - the latter would really tick me off, regardless of whether a nifty bit of prompt engineering was involved.

Vintagecreamandcottagepie · 07/10/2023 22:29

This is eye opening tbh.

I still don't entirely know (or trust!) what is happening with AI and how quickly its becoming part of life...

Sorry op, not very relevant to your op.

Hooe the bullying gets sorted soon.

AuroraCake · 08/10/2023 01:14

Presumably, the email just stated they were going to look into it? All emails I get like that would be a quick reply saying thank and I will investigate and get back to you.

Original poster
TinaAnit · 08/10/2023 10:11

AuroraCake · 08/10/2023 01:14

Presumably, the email just stated they were going to look into it? All emails I get like that would be a quick reply saying thank and I will investigate and get back to you.

No it was quite lengthy one starting with 'Dear Parent/Carer, ...' which is the first tall tale that it was written by a bot and the rest is even more obvious.

I guess the most important thing is how this will be handled and if they care about the issue. But not wanting to communicate with us parents directly or address specific issues is a worrying sign to begin with.

OP posts:
BadlydoneHelen · 08/10/2023 11:51

Possibly the initial reply has to be 'non-committal' until they have investigated further so that might be a reason for what looks like a standard message?

fillgap10 · 08/10/2023 12:51

I work in education and can tell you we have loads of 'templates' we use , that are very AI ish, sounds like you got a template reponse where your name is inserted, childs name, etc, etc.

I wouldn't worry about, its a holding email, what are they going to do about it should be your focus.

merryhouse · 08/10/2023 16:29

If you consider "Dear Parent/Carer" a clear sign that it's written by AI, then I suspect you're not as much of an expert as you obviously think.

Original poster
TinaAnit · 08/10/2023 19:56

merryhouse · 08/10/2023 16:29

If you consider "Dear Parent/Carer" a clear sign that it's written by AI, then I suspect you're not as much of an expert as you obviously think.

Thank you for your very useful and helpful input?
I did clearly say that the rest of the email shows that it is, along with other ways of finding it out. I also never claimed that I am an expert, only that I have worked with it for many hours (and it's part of my profession, I know you'll love that) so it's easier for me to spot very obvious sentences. Not sure what was the purpose or aim of your comment but thanks anyways.

I could tell you that people usually address someone they already know by their name and not generic phrase such as "Dear Friend/Colleague.." Which is exactly how a bot would do. You could try it yourself instead of being triggered by stranger's post and then having a need to start ego showdown based on having no facts whatsoever.

OP posts:
Unabletomitigate · 08/10/2023 20:02

The response to you is secondary. Surely, you care more about how they are reacting in class. If they used chat Ai to respond to you, it says nothing about what they are doing in class.

Ilovenicnacs · 08/10/2023 20:21

As long as the issue has been resolved and the email was polite, it doesn't really matter.

Some parents are so judgemental when teachers make the tiniest grammar/spelling mistakes. I am a teacher and spend so long overthinking and checking all written communication. A colleague of mine recently omitted a word in an email and a screenshot was posted in the class whatsapp with a caption about how they should not be allowed to teach children English.

Thanks for the tip about using chatGTP. I'm going to use it to help me compose emails to the tricky parents.

Spirallingdownwards · 08/10/2023 20:25

My guess is that it is a standard response they are supposed to use to respond to such matters and whether that's AI generated nor a school precedent dafted by a member staff does it matter?

Does it address the points raised or refer you to school bullying policy?

NillyNoMates · 08/10/2023 20:29

When was the email sent? If it was over the weekend or in the evening, maybe they thought that a quick reply (as in using AI was quick) was better than none at the time.

LargeMeateor · 08/10/2023 20:30

Well if the teacher has put into the app "respond to this email and tell them that...." then I don't see the issue.
The AI couldn't fully answer you so the teacher has put their thoughts in and the bot has worded it for them.
Why has this bothered you?

politenesspooch · 08/10/2023 20:35

"or dishonest and rushed way of doing it to get it over with? "

That is your emotional interpretation rather than what the author intended. It makes me wonder about how you feel about the school - do you trust them and have a generally good relationship with them?

It really depends on the message - was it a 'thank you, we'll look into it' (in which case I'd be ok, but others may not) or was it more than that? The school might use ChatGPT to generate standard replies until they can look into it and give a more personal one.

Original poster
TinaAnit · 08/10/2023 20:35

Unabletomitigate · 08/10/2023 20:02

The response to you is secondary. Surely, you care more about how they are reacting in class. If they used chat Ai to respond to you, it says nothing about what they are doing in class.

Not sure why it would or if it should, it's just because I was trying to talk to them about what happened, wrote about my concerns etc. and then received generic AI reply.
In her previous school we kept regularly in touch with the teacher, she was always so helpful and we communicated through school's messaging app (where we also received feedback each week) so I guess I was taken a back with the difference between the two.
I would rather appreciate one sentence coming from the teacher herself than several paragraphs by chatbot. It's true that what happens in the class and how things are dealt with are what matters the most, but how am I going to have any confidence into teacher when she won't even take a minute to reply to me? My DD is still too young to rely solely on what she is telling me, so I was looking for some reassurances on the teachers side.

I'm a bit surprised to be honest that not more parents would be seeing red flags from this, I thought responses would be more mixed but I really do hope everyone is right and that things will be dealt with accordingly.

OP posts:
FloweryName · 08/10/2023 20:36

What was the message of the email and when did you receive it? I don’t think it’s bad if a teacher used a tool like this to quickly try to convey to a parent that they understood their concern and would get back to them, especially if it was done over the weekend.

Maybe the teacher thought it was better to do this than to ignore the email completely until they had a chance within work hours to reply.

Soontobe60 · 08/10/2023 20:44

TinaAnit · 08/10/2023 19:56

Thank you for your very useful and helpful input?
I did clearly say that the rest of the email shows that it is, along with other ways of finding it out. I also never claimed that I am an expert, only that I have worked with it for many hours (and it's part of my profession, I know you'll love that) so it's easier for me to spot very obvious sentences. Not sure what was the purpose or aim of your comment but thanks anyways.

I could tell you that people usually address someone they already know by their name and not generic phrase such as "Dear Friend/Colleague.." Which is exactly how a bot would do. You could try it yourself instead of being triggered by stranger's post and then having a need to start ego showdown based on having no facts whatsoever.

Show quote history

Blimey - did you get that response via ChatGPT?

fattytum · 08/10/2023 20:47

its probably a template, we have template responses that we are supposed to use - it is nothing new, has been that was at least the 40 years I have been in education

Soontobe60 · 08/10/2023 20:48

How old is your DD?
Why are you complaining that someone replied to your email with an email?
How many times have you emailed the school?
How precisely do you know that AI was used?

Original poster
TinaAnit · 08/10/2023 20:49

politenesspooch · 08/10/2023 20:35

"or dishonest and rushed way of doing it to get it over with? "

That is your emotional interpretation rather than what the author intended. It makes me wonder about how you feel about the school - do you trust them and have a generally good relationship with them?

It really depends on the message - was it a 'thank you, we'll look into it' (in which case I'd be ok, but others may not) or was it more than that? The school might use ChatGPT to generate standard replies until they can look into it and give a more personal one.

Yes of course, I recognise that emotions are clouding my reasoning with this issue, that's why I posted this to get different perspectives. I didn't intend to confront the teacher or anything like that, especially if things are being sorted it's just to see how others would take it.

I can't say if I trust the school or not because she just started going there recently. I asked teacher if we can speak to tell me anything I need to know (like which apps they use, about PE day and many other things) and never got that conversation. This is the second time I tried to talk to her about said issues and received generic reply (not written by her). So it did hit me on the emotional side as a red flag.

The message was more like something you would read on the school websites about bullying etc. so paragraphs and not addressing specific situations I tried to talk about.

Again I accept their response if the reason of doing it was lack of time or I don't know what it could be, as long as this is not the way they are doing everything else including (not) sorting issues.

OP posts:
LadyHag · 08/10/2023 20:56

A teacher won't speak to you re pe days etc - that 1-1 communication as a reminder of weekly activities isn't feasible. Verbal reminders or conversations with you, then multiply by 29 other parents having the teacher chat 1-1 with them as reminders re e days etc means a lot of teaching time being g spent having unnecessary conversations with parents and carers.

It may be the office are acknowledging all queries on behalf of staff. At our school we respond with 'Dear parent/ carer' to queries as it uses s template communication method.

LadyHag · 08/10/2023 21:02

Your posts that you want the teacher to verbally update you about regular events (do the school have a newsletter and / or electronic communication system such as MYCAS or dojo etc) and describing an email as being on the emotional side of a red flag do seem as though there is an expectation school can't meet.

Does the email address your concerns, but nit how you hoped it would, or does it not address any at all?

Original poster
TinaAnit · 08/10/2023 21:10

LadyHag · 08/10/2023 20:56

A teacher won't speak to you re pe days etc - that 1-1 communication as a reminder of weekly activities isn't feasible. Verbal reminders or conversations with you, then multiply by 29 other parents having the teacher chat 1-1 with them as reminders re e days etc means a lot of teaching time being g spent having unnecessary conversations with parents and carers.

It may be the office are acknowledging all queries on behalf of staff. At our school we respond with 'Dear parent/ carer' to queries as it uses s template communication method.

Of course not just any feedback to all parents. The way it worked in her previous school was teacher would text us if there was anything of concern, any advice on their progress if needed, being involved in any SEN support or progress even with appointments which she would often push along with the school to help lead anyone in right direction. Weekly feedback was pictures and text of all children (kind of like private FB). Plus we were welcome to stay for few mins after school to come and sit to discuss and learning concerns/how to help them etc.
I guess the care each child received through her pervious amazing teacher and rest of the stuff has left us spoiled, and must be the reason it shocked me to see how very little (or no) communication goes in the new school. That's a digression from my original question but it helped me be aware of why I feel the way I do, thank you.

OP posts:
LadyHag · 08/10/2023 21:20

It does sound like you had z fantastic previous teacher - whether that was the staff making g the extra effort or school.policy, it dies sound amazing, especially in comparison to usual school communication systems.

If the email hasn't answered your questions it might be worth contacting thr school asking for a telephone appointment to discuss concerns directly with the staff as tje email hadn't answered all your concerns- that way by acknowledging the email and saying it isn't sufficient you are demi strating you are using schools channels of communication but they are nit fit for purpose on this occasion.

Good luck, hope you get the issues sorted