School Policy?

[surpassthm]

My daughters' school has implemented a policy that I cannot come to the classroom without an appointment. Can they really do that?

[aniT]

Originally Posted by surpassthm

My daughters' school has implemented a policy that I cannot come to the classroom without an appointment. Can they really do that?

Is this policy just for you or everyone?

[kaspirant]

Hi sister!!!

I asked my sister to ask here guys because I am at a loss. She is not able to go see her daughter at school during the day without an appointment and the whole situation seems very fishy to me. I think there must be some wise mama's here who can help.

[spero]

If this is a public school and you pay taxes - man, I'd be seriously up in somebody's face over that "policy". And, I'd be speaking with an attorney.

[kaspirant]

Originally Posted by aniT

Is this policy just for you or everyone?

It's a school policy so the principal said. She wanted to giver her daughter her glasses and was told quite forcefully that she was not allowed to see in the classroom.

I am a classroom teacher and I can't imagine this policy being implemented in my school....I have parents who come to *observe* their kids all the time and without warning. They get to see what is really going on that way and I think they deserve to be able to at any time. Especially when we all know that not EVERY kid tells the truth 100percent of the time. I know my students have been known to embellish what is going on in my classroom.

[kaspirant]

Originally Posted by spero

If this is a public school and you pay taxes - man, I'd be seriously up in somebody's face over that "policy". And, I'd be speaking with an attorney.

That was my initial reaction and I wanted to see if I was offbase...that's why i asked her to come here...

[aniT]

I think the first thing I would do would be to call the district and talk to the super and see if this is a district policy and why.

If it is just this school and this principal I would be complaining. If for some reason the principal doesn't want this particular parent in the classroom I would demand to know why.

Personally I would have never thought to take my daughter's glasses TO her. When she forgets things I drop them off in the office and they call her to come get them. This way the entire class is not disturbed. However I have never been told I COULDN'T go to the classroom. I think I would be upset not just with the policy but with the forcefulness of how it was delivered.

[spedteacher30]

In the school I taught in, parents were not allowed to come in and out of the building without signing in at the office. From there, a decision was made about how to get their needs met on a case-by-case basis.

But, no parent was allowed in a classroom without a visitor's badge, which meant that no parent arrived in a classroom unannounced.

[kaspirant]

Originally Posted by spedteacher30

In the school I taught in, parents were not allowed to come in and out of the building without signing in at the office. From there, a decision was made about how to get their needs met on a case-by-case basis.

But, no parent was allowed in a classroom without a visitor's badge, which meant that no parent arrived in a classroom unannounced.

That kind of policy I have no problem with and agree with it wholeheartedly...especially being a public school teacher...

This isn't announced or unannounced. It's "by appointment only" I searched the district website. It is NOT a district policy. There is nothing on the schools site even stating it is a school policy. Most of the schools in the district actually had statements like this, "Open door policy where parents are encouraged to visit the classrooms"

::

[UUMom]

Maybe they've had a problem with many interruptions, or perhpas they had a stranger scare? I love that my ds' school allows free access at all times. I wonder of they have had a run of disruptions and perhaps this is only temporary? Give the principal and ring and ask. We don't know what your school is thinking...as much as we would all like to read minds.

[aniT]

Originally Posted by kaspirant

That kind of policy I have no problem with and agree with it wholeheartedly...especially being a public school teacher...

This isn't announced or unannounced. It's "by appointment only" I searched the district website. It is NOT a district policy. There is nothing on the schools site even stating it is a school policy. Most of the schools in the district actually had statements like this, "Open door policy where parents are encouraged to visit the classrooms"

::

Have you, (meaning your sis) had any problems with the teacher? Could the teacher have requested this? Or do you think this is a random policy that are enforcing on everyone?

[spero]

Originally Posted by kaspirant

I searched the district website. It is NOT a district policy. There is nothing on the schools site even stating it is a school policy. Most of the schools in the district actually had statements like this, "Open door policy where parents are encouraged to visit the classrooms"

::

Well, there you go. A simple call to the district superintendent ought to clear things up.

I wouldn't bother with the principal ... it's been my experience that, if you really want some action, you talk directly to the superintendent.

[Zach'smom]

How odd. I am in and out of Ds's school all the time for various things. I do have to stop in the office, sign in and get a visitors badge, but then I am on my way to do whatever. When I came in to drop off a project for Ds ( he didn't want to haul it on the bus) the office lady just had me drop it off to him myself.

What exactly do they mean by "appointment"?

[kaspirant]

Originally Posted by Zach'smom

What exactly do they mean by "appointment"?

Call ahead and schedule it...is how the principal is making it sound. When I went to the district website though I found many district policies...but none for my niece's school directly. I'm so bothered by how this was handled....Especially from the school end, as I am a public school teacher...the LAST thing we need as teachers is a principal alienating the parents fromus...we need to be working together!

[KalamazooMom]

Originally Posted by spedteacher30

In the school I taught in, parents were not allowed to come in and out of the building without signing in at the office. From there, a decision was made about how to get their needs met on a case-by-case basis.

But, no parent was allowed in a classroom without a visitor's badge, which meant that no parent arrived in a classroom unannounced.

That's exactly how it works at my kid's school. I don't believe they encourage people to "drop by" to observe the class or anything. But I know my DD's teachers have been willing to have parents observe if it's set up ahead of time. And they actively encourage parents to volunteer in the classroom in a variety of ways. So it's not like you're never allowed in the classroom.

And if your kid forgets their lunch, boots or whatever you are supposed to drop them at the office-- not go to the kids classroom.

[kaspirant]

Originally Posted by aniT

Have you, (meaning your sis) had any problems with the teacher? Could the teacher have requested this? Or do you think this is a random policy that are enforcing on everyone?

There isn't a history of problems at all so it makes no sense for it to be a policy just against my sister...I can't find any documentation on the policy either which is interesting...

[UUMom]

Originally Posted by kaspirant

There isn't a history of problems at all so it makes no sense for it to be a policy just against my sister...I can't find any documentation on the policy either which is interesting...

Is there a reason your sister just doesn't pick up the phone and ask the school about the policy?

[messy mama]

I would definitely call the school and ask about it. If they insisted I would kindly tell them that as mother to my children, I do not ever have to make an appointment to see them.

Maybe they had a few disruptive parents and they want to try this to see if it helps. Or possibly they just weren't thinking clearly and someone needs to point that out to them. It's weird.




Oh, and to MDC, surpassthm!!!

[Tofu the Geek]

We live a good distance from DD's school, and sometimes things get forgotten at home, and we can't go back and get them without her being REALLY late for school. So, I bring her the items later in the day. I quietly open the door and peak in and there is ALWAYS children that notice me and call out to DD that I am at the door, which starts the rest of the calling them to her, and then looking in my hands to see what I brought and then announcing that "DD, your mom is at the door and she brought your lunch!".

And although I love that I can just pop in and drop anything off for her, it is obviously distracting and can see why they might want to implement a "leave it at the office" rule. If a bunch of parents need to drop things off daily, it would cause a lot of distractions throughout the day.

As for observing the class, I am pretty sure we are welcome most days, but she'd prefer that you showed up in the morning or afternoon before the kids started class and not just pop in anytime which would cause a distraction.

ETA: and I do agree that this specific policy, the way it has been relayed here, DOES seem too restrictive

[Meg Murry.]

I see this from two perspectives.

As a parent, this seems needlessly restrictive. I can fully understand the idea of checking in at the office and not just popping by unannounced. However, not being able to see your child at ALL? Um, no.

As a teacher, perhaps the reason for the implementation of the policy was that they had a disruptive, angry parent threaten a teacher, or perhaps had a noncustodial parent try to kidnap a child, or had some other disruption of this nature occur. There are some parents I've dealt with that I really, REALLY would not like to see showing up at my class unannounced.

That said, I find the policy too restrictive and wonder if they're opening themselves up to something like a kidnapping charge.