‘100pc done with parents’: See what’s tipped one Australian school leader over the edge
It’s only halfway through the year, but a school leader is “100 per cent done with parents” making excuses for their badly behaved children. Read the epic spray here.
A stressed school leader has lashed out at parents who think their child doesn’t ever do anything wrong, questions disciplinary decisions and says they are “never like this at home”.
As stressed, overworked teachers drag themselves towards the upcoming school holiday, a deputy principal details what they really think about the way parents react to their child being given a suspension.
It comes as a multitude of research suggests many teachers and school leaders are close to breaking point, struggling to work in a system where they feel overburdened by time-wasting admin, unappreciated by parents and abused by students.
It’s an honest insight into how teachers are really feeling from a “Deputy Principal at a Secondary School” who starts by saying: “We are 50 per cent done with year. I’m 2 vodka tonics in, 25 per cent buzzed and 100 per cent done with parents this term.”
“All day, every day, on repeat I feel like these are my conversations – most word for word, some are more the subtext to more professional discussions,” they wrote.
The post, on an Australian teachers’ forum, attracted many comments from other teachers applauding them on their honesty and sympathising for what they have to put up with from parents.
One teacher noted: “This should be published in every newspaper in the country.”
Another said: “Thank you so much for backing up your teachers. I wish more leadership were like this.”
And another said: “Your school, and the staff working there, are extremely lucky to have you. That’s without a doubt. You’re the shield against the ablaze arrows that are hurtling towards your staff on a daily basis.”
Here’s what the deputy principal wrote. Let us know what you think in the comments below or at education@news.com.au
1. “Suspension is a reward to the student”
I cannot tell you how many times I’ve told parents that it’s their responsibility to ensure a child’s suspension is not pleasurable. No, I don’t do in-school suspensions – I’m not a babysitter. Your child isn’t welcome if he or she is going to behave like an absolute animal. Also, if you’re not willing to come to a return from suspensions meeting – I’m not returning your child. Simple. Don’t like it – appeal it – but you won’t because that requires effort and paperwork.
2. “Can he just apologise?”
Teacher thinks: Yes, in fact, an apology is a condition of his return to the classroom and it will be in front of the class. Don’t tell me that will embarrass him, because he certainly wasn’t embarrassed to exhibit those behaviours in front of the class so he can apologise in the same manner.
3. “Where was the teacher in all this?”
Doing her job. I’m sorry Mr X but at 16 years old, if your child cannot contain themselves while Mrs Y is writing on the board and has her back turned, we have bigger problems than we thought. My staff member gave an explicit verbal instruction to stop the behaviour, that’s all that’s required.
4. “She’s never like this at home”
Yes, Mrs Y, because nothing is expected of her there. If she has free use of her devices, no chores and no bedtime, there will be no problem. Your daughter is in trouble because we have expectations and requirements of her.
5. “I can’t take her phone”
I assure you, if the phone is in your name and you pay the bill on that phone, you can.
6. “She’s prefers Mr O because he’s fun”
That’s nice – but my staff are delivering curriculum. Some teachers are fun, others aren’t. Your daughter needs to adapt to a variety of teachers and teaching styles. I’m not changing her class.
7. “She has anxiety, she shouldn’t have to do it
I acknowledge the anxiety. To that effect, I’ve engaged her with the counsellor and support officer. Can I ask, have you reached out to your GP and obtained a mental health plan? I can make adjustments but ultimately, she will need to complete the task.
8. “I never signed it because my son never showed me the behaviour card.
Again, I called you about the card, explained the card and sent a letter about the card. Do you think, just maybe, you could ask him to take it out of his bag, look through his bag, set a reminder on your phone to check his card or his bag. If the card isn’t signed and he’s not meeting his targets … I’m suspending him.
9. “What support is he given?
Well, Mrs X, he has access to a Learning Support teacher which he never engages with; he has a classroom teacher who provides scaffolds and activities to support his learning which he never engages in; he has access to homework club which he never attends. He has a Personal Learning Plan that helps him identify his goals. Can I ask what supports are being provided at home? Do you have a chart with his assignment dates? Do you sit down for 20 minutes and talk through his school work? Do you download the assessment schedule from the Google Classroom? Do you encourage him to show his teacher drafts and ask questions about things he is unsure of?
10. What is the school doing about this cyber bullying?
What are you doing about your daughters role in this? She isn’t being bullied – she’s facing consequences for calling other girls names and posting their photos online. What steps have you taken in the home to limit or stop her access to social media? If the phone is for emergencies, is it locked away while she’s at home? If you take away the cyber, we can manage the bullying if it takes place at school.
11. She shouldn’t be suspended. She never swore AT the teacher, she swore while arguing with the teacher.
Feel free to discuss semantics in your suspension appeal. She’s getting three days out and the mail only gets sent out twice a week. Next.
12. He refuses to attend. Can’t the teachers put it up on Google classroom?
Nope. My staff are not doing dual delivery. The lesson takes place when it takes place. We don’t learn remotely. You’re welcome to apply for home schooling but you are responsible for curriculum development and delivery.
