Conferences

*The best quote by a parent to her son: "You need to get serious about school! You only get one chance at it! Don't be like me; I spent two years in fourth grade, and six years in high school. Of course, I did take time off because I got pregnant..." The sad part is that my evaluation as a teacher is reflective of my ability to get kids like this to do well in school. How can I beat that gene pool, however? The odds are stacked against me. *Andy's parents didn't show up for their conference without any email or anything either before to let me know they couldn't make it or afterward to apologize for missing the conference. They also did not attend the fall goal setting conference in October. So after the three days of conferences were over, I sent emails to any parents who didn't show, and gave them dates where I was willing to meet with them either before or right after school. I got a reply from Andy's mom, who said in her email, "Mine would have to be after school. Do you have anything around 5 or is that to late?" Too late? Um, yeah. That is exactly why during our three days of after school conferencing, we had two late nights. TWO! We did that so we would be able to conference with parents like yourself who couldn't come before 5 pm! And yet, you didn't show. So now you expect me to stay for an hour after my long day ends, just so you can come after 5? You are failing your child. And, yes, it is now too late. And no, I won't stay to make up this conference after 5. And your child, who is bright, is still failing school because apparently his parents don't care. *Amanda's parents didn't show up for their conference. I didn't really expect them to. They also did not show up back in October for the goal setting conference. Amanda has an older sister who is apparently gifted in gymnastics, so much so that she could apparently be in the Olympics someday. So she requires all her parents' attention, and Amanda learns to fend for herself to get things done. The day after their missed conference Amanda told me that her parents had to go to a gymnastics thing with her sister... Therefore I was surprised last Friday, the day before our mid-winter break and the Friday of conference week where Amanda's parents didn't show up without even a word to me, to be told by Mr. Way Too Young Principal that Amanda's dad had called to tell him that Amanda lately doesn't like school and thinks I don't like her. Now if Mr. Way Too Young Principal had experience at the elementary (he doesn't) and/or experience being a principal (he doesn't), he might have questioned why, after over 100 days in school, Amanda is all of a sudden complaining that I don't like her. Why, after over 100 days in school, Amanda is all of a sudden unhappy and not wanting to be at school? Good Grief. I shall talk with Amanda on Monday. I sent an email to her parents to reschedule but have heard nothing. And Mr. Way Too Young Principal wants to "be at the conference." God. I need a change.