How would you deal with this from a parent ?

[Zena389]

I was covering a lesson yesterday, two girls came in and one has an issue with me because I had previously told her off.
Anyway the girl came in and then started talking about me to her classmate, saying what I had done in a lesson almost a year ago. They then started laughing at me between themselves, laughing at the way I put their books on the table, laughing at questions I asked the class, making little remarks and just in fits of laughter.
I asked the girls if they wanted to talk to me about something but was just met with laughter.

I recorded it on the behaviour system but didn't issue a detention. The head of Year saw it and requested that I contact home. Couldn't get through, so I emailed, being polite but explaining what had happened.

I was met with an angry email from the parent, saying it was very stupid and presumptuous and implying her daughter would never do such a thing and that I must be paranoid.
Her daughter had made something up that others in the class were doing it too yet hadn't been sanctioned, but this wasn't the case.

I feel like just ignoring the email, what do you think would be the best course of action ?

[Zena389]

Bump

[MrsHamlet]

Copy it to the head of year and ask them what to do.
This parent might not like being ignored but the hoy should know ..

[Zena389]

Thanks, I may do that. I guess it's part of being a teacher isn't it, there will always be parents who will never believe the teacher over the child.

[LolaSmiles]

Generally I wouldn't email in those situations. Not much help now, but for future I find it easier to wait to get through before emailing as a last resort.

Some parents can get very keyboard happy and if they're the type to back their child (who has obviously done no wrong) then it's clear why the child behaves that way..

If you recorded it on the behaviour system then did you issue the sanction that corresponds to the level you've recorded. Recording on the behaviour system isn't the sanction so you might come unstuck here if, for example, a C2 is lunch detention and you didn't issue it.


I would speak to the Head of Year, as hopefully they'll be the type not to bend over each time someone sends a rude email. Someone more senior needs to calmly and professionally remind the parent that insults to staff won't be tolerated.

[StaffAssociationRepresentative]

Personally, I would have kept the girls back and spoken to them.

Ignore the parent email. But speak to the girl in question with her form tutor first thing tomorrow.

Do not let this spiteful behaviour snowball