Letter Sent Home About Walking Children To Class

[1xmom]

I received a letter in the mail today from the school pretty much stating that the first full week of school, parents are discouraged from walking their children to class. Although my child is going into the 5th Grade, I have walked her to class on occasion, mainly b/c I may have had a question for one of her teachers and we were there in plenty of time before the bell rings. Now the letter states to "support student independence and minimize disruptions as they day begins"

That letter almost makes me feel like they do not want parents coming in. My child is in the magnet program at her school and that is the best part about the school. I worry more about the mainstream kids than my own. I guess it kind of bothers me, b/c I have seen firsthand teachers yelling at students, I have gone in to have lunch w/my daughter and the vice principal was absolutely HORRIBLE. She was yelling at the kids and telling them they had to eat everything, she threatened to take recess away from whole classes. At one point the kids were not allowed to talk at all. I think she was louder than the kids and was more of a disruption.
I am seriously considering sending a letter to the board. Or maybe I will just leave it alone and see how it goes.

[TCMoulton]

Our school has a similar policy and it is in place for two reasons: first just as you were told, to encourage independance, but probably more importantly because with so many open entrances in the morning that it is hard to monitor who is coming in the building (and in light of the Kyron Horman disappearance in Oregon) it seems unfortunately like a good rule to make. Once school begins and all doors are secure parents are welcome to visit after signing in at the main office. Honestly, while I too used to walk my daughter to her class I understand the need for security and appreciate it.

[lauren]

It sounds a bit like there is more than one issue with this school. Not walking your child to school isn't going to fix the problem of teachers and Vice principal yelling at kids and treating them horribly.

Perhaps your letter to the board needs to include broader topics?

[Linda on the move]

They didn't mention lunch. Why are you assuming that you can't still have lunch with her?

[Alyantavid]

We've never gotten a letter discouraging taking kids to class. We do walk ours in for the first day and there are always random pick ups during the day. There's never been an issue, but I do make sure to stop in the office on my way and let them know I'm wandering around the school.

I'd ask about lunches, I don't see why they'd have a problem with that.

[Aquitane]

We have a similar policy at my school and there are several reasons why:

1- We can't keep track of who is in the school. This become a security concern.

2- Some parents want to talk to the teachers for more than just a minute or two. Also, when you have 30 parents who want a minute of your time at the beginning of the day, it adds up. (i.e. - The students need their teacher!)

3- We try to encourage independence also.

Really, as a teacher, I don't mind if parents walk their student to class the first day. (I teach 4th grade.) What I mind is when a parent wants a parent-teacher conference every time they drop their child off. (I have had several parents who would come in with their child and proceed to talk to me for 20+ minutes. I finally had to tell them to schedule an appointment for a conference.) My students are my first priority. If I am speaking with a parent, then I am not with them. (And, again, I don't mind a minute or two, or a quick question.)

If you are really bothered, and you truly just want to see your DD to class, then call the principal or see the teacher a few days before school starts. Explain your concern. If they aren't okay with you walking her in, then something is not quite right...

[Heavenly]

I think the two issues are completely separate. I agree with the school on noy walking a 5th grader to class. They are certainly old enough to get themselves to class and they do need to learn independence in regards to school IMO. If you have questions for the teacher set up a meeting outside of school hours. The yelling issue is completely unrelated and you will need to deal with that seperately because it really has nothing to do with the first issue.

[CarrieMF]

before the bell rings here the teachers are often not in or near the classrooms. they're usually in the staff room unless they're on supervision.

It is not a problem for the parents to walk thier kids to their classes(especailly the first week of school).

Before school starts here all doors are open. Once the bell rings all but 1 door are locked. Then parents have to sign in at the office IF they are there to help in the school. If they are there to pick up a kid they don't have to stop at the office. If they are dropping off lunches they prefer them to drop them off at the office(so to not interrupt the class). however none of their lockers are locked so if you are putting it in their lockers it isn't a problem to skip the office.

When you pick your kid up after school you have to wait in the main lobby until 5 minutes before the bell rings. Our school is the only one that does it & it drives us nuts. They had a problem with 1-2 parents being overly loud & it interrupting classes so the principal put this rule in.

Signing in at the office was supposed to happen years ago but only last year did it get enforced & the rules on it laxed alot over the school year.

I could see trying to get parents to not walk their kids to their classes if that kid needed to become more independent. In Grade 5 parents aren't walking their kids to their classes becuase they aren't independent it's because they need to do something in that class(ie, talk to the teacher).

[LynnS6]

If I had to guess, I'd say that this was (a) because it was taking far too long to get everyone settled and (b) the result of Kyron Horman's disappearance (or something like that).

The more unknown people that are in the school, the harder it is to keep track of the children. This is doubly hard during the first week of school when you may not know all your students and everyone is relearning the rules.

The said this was for the first week of school, not forever. If your dd were in 1st grade, I'd be more likely to say "well, they said "discouraged" not "forbidden" and walk my kid to class. But for a 10 year old? Nah. Heck, our ds went off to first grade and was adamant that he didn't want us walking him to class. This year our dd starts first grade and she's fine with her big brother helping her. (Actually, she's dying for big brother to help! He's already prepared to be embarrassed.)
As someone else said, I'd be much more concerned about the unprofessional behavior you've seen.

[imagine21]

Originally Posted by Aquitane

Really, as a teacher, I don't mind if parents walk their student to class the first day. (I teach 4th grade.) What I mind is when a parent wants a parent-teacher conference every time they drop their child off. (I have had several parents who would come in with their child and proceed to talk to me for 20+ minutes. I finally had to tell them to schedule an appointment for a conference.) My students are my first priority. If I am speaking with a parent, then I am not with them. (And, again, I don't mind a minute or two, or a quick question.)

:

As a teacher (albeit high school) I would be incensed if a parent showed up at my door unannounced and wanted to have a conversation with me as I was beginning the school day. Granted, perhaps elementary teachers feel differently. Of course, if there is a significant emergency, ok; but in 17 years of teaching there has never been such a time in which the student is able to be in class and the parent not able to wait for a call back or an appointment.

[MaryJaneLouise]

Our school has all kids report to the gym. Then the students are escorted to the classroom by their teacher.

That way the parents can either drop off at the school building's door, walk the child into the gym, or allow the child to walk from home. No bother to the teacher, and allows kids to come in at varying times with no logistical problems.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

This is a new policy here as well and it sucks since I cant talk to teachers in the hall like I used to. They say it is for security reasons which I totally am OK with but it seems to me that something else could be done to make things easier.

[MichaelsSahm]

In my DS's school it said it was discouraged to walk your student to school AFTER the first week of school. But welcome to come eat lunch, volunteer.

[One_Girl]

I would have sent a letter when I saw what the vice principal was doing but I wouldn't send one about this. Kids aren't suppossed to be in the building until the bell rings and their teacher comes to get them from their line at the schools in our area. They are fine with the occassional child coming in with the parent and have no problem with a parent popping in for a truly small question, but they encourage kids to be outside and parents to make appointments to talk with teachers about anything beyond big issues. Not a lot of parents would even think to come inside for a small question from what I have noticed. I think if you live in an area where a lot of parents do come in then it would be very disruptive to the teacher. One person is no big with one small question is not really a big deal, but several people with small questions coming in so their question can't be put off until a convenient time is a big deal. The mornings are for planning for the next week, adjusting plans based on students understanding, grading, updating boards, photocopying, conferencing with parents about big issues if necessary, returning e-mails and phone calls with questions in them, etc...