By Joe Neff
When I saw Mrs. Jenkins at the end of the hall, I hesitated to walk that
way. As school principal, I believe in being visible and available to parents.
But right then, I didn’t have time for Mrs. Jenkins.
Other staff sometimes felt the same way. They avoided her. She had a
reputation for being critical and hard to work with.
Working together
Our teachers wanted a working relationship with Mrs. Jenkins, but they had tried and failed. A short appointment after school to hear about her daughter’s needs turned into an hour complaint about last year’s teaching methods. When Mrs. Jenkins volunteered to help with music, she made sure to mention that the chalkboards were too high. A teacher’s friendly hello brought a string of comments on the traffic pattern in the parking lot.
Our teachers wanted a working relationship with Mrs. Jenkins, but they had tried and failed. A short appointment after school to hear about her daughter’s needs turned into an hour complaint about last year’s teaching methods. When Mrs. Jenkins volunteered to help with music, she made sure to mention that the chalkboards were too high. A teacher’s friendly hello brought a string of comments on the traffic pattern in the parking lot.
Of course, you may have difficulty with a teacher who battles problems
of her own. Or you may have had difficulties because a teacher’s beliefs
conflict with yours. Then it is even more important to be a parent who works well with teachers.
What a Parent Can Do
If
you want to be a parent teachers seek and not a Mrs. Jenkins, here are seven
suggestions that will help:
1. Avoid agendas. Establish a positive relationship. Try to work
together. If you become acquainted with your child’s teacher before problems
occur, you will have a greater impact when a need arises. A parent known for
her walk with God and for caring is more likely to make a change than a parent
known for pushing her ideas.
Sally, one of the humblest servants and encouragers among our school
parents, always said something positive or asked how she might help. When she
expressed an occasional concern or a need, everyone was ready to listen because
of her kind spirit.
2. Give help, not advice. Most teachers need help, not more information. When
helping, try to do what the teacher wants, not necessarily what you want. And
be careful not to pass on information about children’s behavior that you see in
the classroom. A neighbor shouldn’t hear from a classroom volunteer about her
sister’s son’s problem with thumb-sucking.
3. Show appreciation. Even in the most positive schools, an amazingly small
number of parents (and students!) ever show appreciation. We all work harder
for those who say thanks. After receiving a note of praise from a teacher, my
son would do practically anything for him. Teachers are no different.
4. Be positive. If your child struggles, make the teacher aware of the problem and ask
for suggestions. Don’t be afraid to tell the teacher your plans and how she can
help. Focus on changing your child, not the teacher, the school, or the child
in the next seat.
5. Pick your battles. Don’t overlook important issues, but choose your
battles carefully. Realize that if you fight, people get hurt. Is it worth it?
Many battles aren’t.
I have seen a parent argue over having skim or 1 percent milk in the
school. While an important issue to her, I doubt that the damage to relationships
was worth it. On the other hand, I have seen a parent fight for help for her
learning disabled child—a worthy cause.
If you have a concern, start with the teacher privately. This gives her
a chance to explain what happened, which takes care of most problems. This has
happened to me many times, such as the time a parent thought I favored abortion
because I challenged her child to show me in Scripture why it was wrong. A
simple discussion solved the misunderstanding.
If you can’t resolve the problem with the teacher, ask about the proper
steps to follow. Most schools have a formal procedure to handle disagreements.
Your interest in following their plan protects your reputation as a parent.
6. Respect the teacher. For a good idea of how you might be perceived by the
teacher, ask yourself this question: What would the teacher’s life be like if
every parent did what I do? To show respect, set up appointments to talk and
call the teacher after school only with her permission (unless it is an
emergency). Be careful not to go around, behind or over the teacher.
7. Pray for the teacher. If you multiply your needs as a parent times the
teacher’s 25 students, you will feel the need to pray for her. This is
something I as a parent have often forgotten to do. When I have prayed with my
children for their teachers, the children go to school wanting to help their
teachers. And God answers their prayers.
Special Needs
Special Needs
If
you have a special-needs child, it is easy to feel like you are a Mrs. Jenkins.
But, your child needs someone to speak up for her, and no one can do that
better than you—if you handle it right.
Talk with the teacher before the school year begins. Get to know each
other and let the teacher know about your child’s needs. Offer your support.
And let the teacher know how much you appreciate her help.
Find out how the teacher likes to get and give information, especially
if you need frequent reports. Send thank-yous. Show a desire to work the
teacher’s way, if possible. Let the teacher know your needs as a parent.
Don’t be afraid to send information from your doctor or from articles
about your child’s special needs. But add a note that says, “You probably
already know this, but I just found it” (or something like that). Little notes
show respect that encourages me to read and use the information.
Reminders are important. During crowded days, teachers can forget little
things that make a big difference for some children. Gentle reminders of your
child’s needs can be phrased as questions (“Have you noticed Jenny paying less
attention in the morning?”). Teachers want to help, but it is hard to remember
at times.
Looking Forward to Seeing You
Even though we all knew that Mrs. Jenkins tried to make things better
for our school and her family, her approach failed. Her constant advice drove staff
away. Unrealistic expectations and lack of trust made her hard to work with and
made us find something to do when she came around.
As you work on the parent-teacher
relationship, you will be blessed with a partnership that too few parents
enjoy. While teachers care for Mrs. Jenkins and her children, they can work
best with parents they enjoy seeing. You can be one of those parents.
This article first appeared in Focus on the Family
magazine, September, 1998. Reprint the article freely. Joe served in school
leadership for 32 years at Cedar Valley Christian School, Wheaton Academy, and
Little Rock Christian Academy. For updates on the Rooted Schools ministry for Christian schools, please go to www.rootedschools.org, write Joe@RootedSchools.org, or find Joe on Twitter@ljoeneff, LinkedIn, or Facebook (facebook.com/joe.neff.75).