The tables will soon be turned and I will be the “parent” and someone else will be the “teacher” when Matias starts kindergarten in the fall. Here are some of the things that I will avoid doing, which annoy teachers (or at least this teacher):
-if a notice comes home that says “cut here”, I will cut it and keep the top half that is for me
-I will show up for conferences with the teacher, (preferably at the scheduled time)
-I will not ask the teacher to provide extra homework if I choose to take my child out of school
-if the teacher has a rule, like no birthday cakes to school, then I will NOT bring a birthday cake to school
-I will not buy cheap crap from the dollar store as a gift; a $5 gift card to Starbucks is always a better choice or even just a handmade card
-I will not drop off my older son with the younger one in tow and then hang around after the bell letting the younger sibling run wild in the classroom
-I will make sure my child is on time for school
-I will check my child’s backpack for notices etc
-I will not use the classroom as an economical birthday party venue and waste an entire afternoon of class time having a birthday party for my child
-if notices and permission slips are not returned, I will take responsibility rather than blaming my child
-I will not phone the classroom teacher/my child during school hours unless it’s an emergency
-I will not send chips and cookies with pop as a lunch for my child
-I will not refuse to pick up my child if he is sick
-If my child is not super keen about school, I will try to find a way to make it interesting, rather than resorting to medication to “help him focus”
-I will not go to the school to video every single dance/walk/pajama day/etc
-I will not send my child to school if he is sick
-I will not send my child to school with money, toys, or shoes that light up and/or sing
-I will not refuse to meet my child’s teacher saying “I’m too busy”
These are the ones that come to mind right now. Sadly, they are all things that I have witnessed at school. Some are trivial, like forgetting to cut the notice on the dotted line. Others are plain sad. I hope that next year, when I become the “parent” in the parent-teacher relationship, I could have a positive relationship with my child’s teacher. I have had the privilege to work with many wonderful parents and I aspire to be like them.
