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Secondary education

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Original poster

Angry 9pm emails to teachers of Independent schools

125 replies

jeanne16 · 05/04/2016 06:52

This is very common apparently, according to Daily Mail article. After a glass of wine, parents fire off angry emails to teachers, expecting instant replies.

So have you ever done this and if so, what was your complaint?

OP posts:

ShanghaiDiva · 05/04/2016 06:56

I have sent emails, but if sent late at night I don't expect a reply that evening. I would expect an acknowledgement the following day, but a detailed response (if required) could take a couple of days which is fine.
Complaint - homework and exams not being marked.

donadumaurier · 05/04/2016 08:50

A relative of mine used to work in an independent school, and had some time off unexpectedly mid-term for health reasons, at the time it wasn't known when or if they would be able to be back. The school sent out a letter to the parents concerned explaining that the class teacher was taking leave, Mrs X would be stepping in to provide cover etc. Mrs X did the majority of the school's supply cover at the time, so the parents and kids would have all known her.

Within hours of the letter going home, the head had 5 emails from parents demanding a date for my relative's return, one wanted assurance she would be back by the start of next term- halfway through a term at the time. There were only 12 kids in the class. Certainly at that school there seemed to be an attitude amongst the parents that they paid the fees so they 'owned' the staff.

Lonecatwithkitten · 05/04/2016 09:03

I rarely drink, but often don't sit down to read things from school etc. till 9pm. So yes my emails to school are time stamped 9pm, but I don't expect instant replies.

lljkk · 05/04/2016 09:12

I have fired off grumpy emails, and they may have been after 9pm, but I only hoped for a reply within a few working days (week days). Wine wasn't a factor, either.

AnotherNewt · 05/04/2016 09:21

Lots of people do their home admin emails in the evening. But most people expect that that means it'll be sitting in the recipient's in-tray to be seen the next morning.

lljkk · 05/04/2016 09:24

oh wait, phew, just realised title said "Independent schools". DC are at state schools. So my data may be retracted.

TeddTess · 05/04/2016 10:20

i hear of this in our state primary
parents sending off emails "at all hours of the day and night"

why the @&*% are teachers checking their emails "at all hours of the day and night" ?!?

if it's a work email then just check it in work hours. it's got to the point where i write an email, save as draft and send the next day incase i'm put in the bucket of "those parents who expect replies 24/7". No i don't. it's just convenient for me to do the school admin stuff (of which there is a lot) in the evening or weekend and not when i'm supposed to be at work myself.

TeddTess · 05/04/2016 10:21

it's the same with parents complaining of school/class related emails disturbing them at work (which there can be a flurry of if people reply all, which is often required)

simple

don't give out your work email
don't have your personal email pinging up on screen when you're at work!

bibbitybobbityyhat · 05/04/2016 10:27

What Tess said.

dottycat123 · 05/04/2016 10:32

I emailed the headmaster of a state comprehensive academy at 9.30pm on a Sunday, did not expect a reply for a few days. Headmaster and head of year had both responded by 10.30pm.

apple1992 · 05/04/2016 10:37

*if it's a work email then just check it in work hours.
why the @&% are teachers checking their emails "at all hours of the day and night" ?!?

As teachers are teachin during most their working hours, this is tricky! Many will be up until 9pm (or later!) planning and marking.

apple1992 · 05/04/2016 10:37

teaching

noblegiraffe · 05/04/2016 10:37

teachers checking their emails "at all hours of the day and night" ?!?

Because all hours of the day and night are our work hours.

I'm usually doing schoolwork 8-11pm so if a parent emailed them they'd probably get an immediate reply. I can't leave it till 'office' hours because that's when I'm teaching.

I'm a state teacher though.

TeddTess · 05/04/2016 10:39

but the workload isn't the parent's fault.

when should they send emails?

or shouldn't they at all? is that the problem?

apple1992 · 05/04/2016 10:43

I don't think parents having teachers email addresses is necessarily sensible, personally. Too easy to be bombarded and actually I don't think responding to partners emails should be your priority. Not when there is barely time in the day for everything else!!

claraschu · 05/04/2016 10:45

The thing about email is that you can answer it when you want.

It's not like an old fashioned phone call which demands to be answered before the phone stops ringing.

Passmethecrisps · 05/04/2016 10:49

If I get an email from a parent which was sent in the evening I don't presume that they wanted a reply instantly. I presume that they have been busy and that this is their opportunity they have had to send it.

I have had emails sent to my work account in the early hours of the morning. Contrary to the daily fail's assertion I am not expected to reply at 2am but when I actually get to work and get to the email. The time stamp does tell me a little about the time pressures of the parent though.

apple1992 · 05/04/2016 10:50

I would say the worse issue for teachers regarding parent contact is parents phoning through the day, and becoming very aggressive when not receiving a call back before the end of the day. Or turning up and refusing to leave (this is common!) until they are seen by that teacher.. Who is teaching!!

TotalConfucius · 05/04/2016 10:50

Just the opposite.
It's a state school, they're not angry emails just clear concise and very firm, and they're always sent at 6am as that's my 'working time'.
Often the responses begin with a remark about the early worm. And DD gets short shrift if she's ever late for school.

Herewegoagainfolks · 05/04/2016 10:53

After 9pm is the only time I have to send emails, I assume that most other full time working parents are the same.

The 'angry' part is the issue surely rather than the time sent.

Passmethecrisps · 05/04/2016 10:53

And I agree about email being better than a telephone call or unexpectedly turning up.

I try to reply immediately to emails to confirm receipt then give a proper reply once I have he actual information. It means I can manage my time rather than a parent struggling to catch me between our different schedules. I also like the paper trail which means I can look back at actions taken

merrymouse · 05/04/2016 10:54

When and how are parents supposed to communicate with teachers? Angry emails are usually a bad idea, and it's not reasonable to expect an immediate reply, but would it really be better to be phoning or trying to catch teachers for a word in school hours?

guerre · 05/04/2016 11:02

I don't usually get to start personal (I.e. family) admin until 11pm 9:30 so lots of my emails to teachers are written late at night. I'd never send an angry email though, ever. I might draft, then reconsider in the morning. I don't drink either!
Looking at my last few communications with school, they were 11:43, 10:52, 12:31, and 02:04 ahem...

guerre · 05/04/2016 11:03

The 2am one was when DS had a medical appointment and I'd forgotten to tell his form teacher!

MrsGuyOfGisbo · 05/04/2016 11:08

why the @&% are teachers checking their emails "at all hours of the day and night" ?!?*

if it's a work email then just check it in work hours

Exactly! When I worked in business I told my team that it was not impressive to see emails fired off in the middle of the night - fine if they wanted to do it, but don't bother just to impress the boss. Similarly with relying to emails at all hours.
Pick up emails in the morning, then reflect and send when you have an appropriate response. I had an out of office message that said that that is what I would do and that they would receive a response by the following working day - after working day it was received.

My DC are a leading indie. We have never had any issues that required an urgent response. on one of the very few occasions I have emailed the tutor I was startled to get a response back within the hour - was not necessary and I would hate to think there was pressure on the staff member to do so.

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