Julia Skinner, retired-headteacher and vociferous blogger lifts the lid on an unpleasant phenomenon creeping into some parents’ attitudes to schools… So, do you or anyone you know think of the school as somewhere to ‘put’ the children rather than a source of enriching education?
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg’s recent speech caught my eye especially with his list of things schools and teachers are not:
“We already expect our teachers to be social workers; child psychologists; nutritionists; child protection officers. We expect them to police the classroom, take care of our children’s health; counsel our sons and daughters. Guide them, worry about them. And, on top of that, educate them too.
“When you consider that list, it is phenomenal that so many rise to the challenge. But it is too much to ask. Teachers are not surrogate mothers and fathers; they cannot do it all.”
As a retired head teacher I’m glad someone has identified all the ‘other’ roles teachers are playing. They are all vital and every school will do what it can for each child. More often than not the staff will take on these other duties rather than spend time putting children through a system that may take weeks to get them to the appropriate specialist.
This got me thinking about the roles parents want schools to have. I’m sure the majority of parents reading this will say, “we want you to teach them to read, write, be numerically competent and enjoy learning”. There will be list of other things too I know but what about those parents who are really looking for child-minding?
My headships were in an area of social deprivation. Many homes were ‘workless’ where a number of the adults had not worked for years and didn’t have any aspirations for their children. They saw school as a place to send the little ones to get a bit of peace each day.
They had no concern or interest in what they did all day and could certainly not envisage helping in any way. Children would be brought to school when it was convenient and there was never a message if they were absent.
There were also working parents who had not thought through the implications of not being around during the day. Now I am in no way suggesting that parents shouldn’t go to work – absolutely not! However, it needs careful thinking and organising so that in those occasional emergencies there is someone to come and collect the child rather than them being looked after the school.
If you were a head teacher, what would you say to those parents who see you as someone providing child care rather than an educational professional trying to educate their children?
–by Julia Skinner, www.theheadsoffice.co.uk
About Holly Seddon
Holly Seddon is a writer, editor and community consultant and helped launched the community for Adoption UK, which won charity website of the year just 9 months later. She also writes a music blog.
Curly Mum
Monday 26th of September 2011
I don't really think it's fair to judge parents that need to use breakfast or after school clubs so that they can work. A lot of people need to work in order to make a decent living, and just having a basic 9-5 job does require some extra childcare. It doesn't mean that these parents don't love their children or aren't interested in them, it means that they need to pay the bills, put food on the table etc. I can't speak for all after school clubs, but my partner speaks fondly of the one he attended as a boy. It wasn't like extra school, it was a place he could play, have fun and chill with other children his age.
LagosMum
Monday 26th of September 2011
Being in Nigeria, things are a little different. I worked at a privately owned school and there aren't really government guidelines or anything. School starts at 7.30am and kids aren't meant to come in before 7am as no one is on duty before then (although some staff members are in from much before). More and more often, children were being left, by parents, to roam the corridors and classrooms from 6am - even when they had been requested not to do so. And more often than not, this was done by mums that didn't work. Similarly, school finishes at 1pm or 2pm (depending which year you are in). And if children have after school clubs (which is great - if the child wants to take part in swimming, choir, gymnastics, etc), they have to be picked up straight after. Sometimes, children who didn't have an after-school club weren't being picked up until 4pm. Sometimes even 5pm. Someone will, of course, always stay with the child - that is a teacher's duty... But how long will it carry on for? Parents are well-aware of the policies in place, but I feel they think that if they're paying so much, they may as well milk it! With the traffic the way it is, the child may not get home until 6pm and will then be expected to do homework and get ready for bed. It isn't fair on the children.
HerMelness Speaks
Thursday 22nd of September 2011
We must also, I feel, not always assume a level of intellect it would take to maybe understand some of the 'grey' lines. I have seen children parented badly, who then go on to parent badly themselves (having had no viable role model) who then probably become some of the parents under this radar today. A cycle - if I were to work out the 6 degrees of separation - which would probably make it back to the government's door.
web design company Landon
Thursday 22nd of September 2011
It's great that you have taken the time to comment. Thank you!I agree that parents are essential for schools as they are a vital part of the partnership that children need to really achieve their potential. Many thanks for joining the debate!..
Alison Green
Wednesday 21st of September 2011
Not a Head Teacher, but a coalface Teacher. I work in a school in an impoverished area, just like those of your headships. We have a significant number of parents who expect us to be all things to their children. One of the most difficult issues arose over closing or not for snowy weather. We chose to stay open, teachers who had difficult commutes drove in treacherous conditions to ensure we opened, and we were abused by parents who had a few minute urban footpath journey to bring their children to school. These were the same parents who will not answer their mobiles if they see the school number during school hours. I now have a tiny sofa and a quilt in my classroom so sick children can snuggle up until someone comes to fetch them, often at the end of the day.