I would just like to point something out… but guineapigmum said it, almost a year ago.
Older children are uncommunicative. Younger ones are not a valid conduit for essential or complex communications. The bush telegraph is useful for those of us who haunt the playground, but it excludes working mums. Nor can it guarantee to pass on the information which the school wants us to know.
I’m always willing to open my mouth and ask questions, BUT IF I DON’T KNOW ABOUT SOMETHING, I CAN’T ASK ABOUT IT!
I wonder what the teachers think about the kids who don’t supply whatever item, info or response is anticipated, and how long it would be before they followed it up. Today I discovered that a bright, chatty, keen-to-get-involved Little Soup hadn’t told me about some outstanding ongoing requirement because they “thought I just knew”. So they’d been left out of that activity. And if I haven’t heard, what chance for the kids who have poor attention spans, who struggle retain information, who need encouragement to speak up? They could miss out all year.
Some days my Offspring bring home piles of letters on topics which - to me - seem to be of little relevance or importance compared to the things I’m *not* told. Letters seem to originate from the Office, not the Classroom; I get the bigger, wider, longer-term info but without a sense of the more immediate requirements. Result? It’s all too easier to feel disempowered, and so less inclined to get involved in all the topics the Office letters promote.
A little more direction, especially at the start of the school year, would be very welcome. I know I’m not the only parent who feels this way. Goodness knows the teachers are busy right now, but if we get some more direction, we can provide the support as valued partners and teamplayers, which has got to pay off in the long-term.
I hear what you’re saying and as someone who’s now ended up as a head teacher (how did that happen, eh?) I know that communicating the guff, bumph and, frankly, nonsense which comes into the office everyday is of secondary importance to the real goings on…I’d love the chance to do more feeding back to parents on the real issues - how theire wee folk are doing and what they can do to help.
I’m tired already of all the extra things I’m supposed to do which just get in the way of the teaching and learning. If I was able to let parents know what needed to be known and say what needed to be said without having to spend umpteen hours filling in forms and ticking off quality indicators (?!) I’m sure I could do my job better, parents would be happier and - paydirt - children would engage more and learn more.
Rant over. Where’s my cup of tea?
Hi Bryan - I’m afraid I’d lost sight of you over the summer, so I’ve just spent a merry few minutes catching up on your blog. Only thing is - can’t get it to accept comments on what I’ve just read (yep, I’m registered) so I’ll post them here instead. Here goes:
Yes
Absolutely
Me too
Just the same here
Congratulations
It’ll never work
Nice try
(they may not be in the right order, but I’m sure you can find homes for them all…)
Anyway, you’ve inspired me for another posting - but no time to write it now, after all that blog-reading - watch this space!