This morning I got a sour email from a parent. I am sure you know the premise as all “bad” parent emails have similar characteristics. This one went something along the following lines. My son is an A student. Why did he lose 2 points on that assignment? He said you took off two points for not labeling something, but his friend did the same thing and you didn’t take off points on her assignment. You are ruining my son’s GPA and now he may not get into college… I hope you are smiling after reading this, because I definitely was not this morning.
It is not hard to respond to one parent email a day, however doesn’t always seem that we, educators, don’t just have one email a day from parents. The parent who emailed me this morning also emailed me again in the afternoon (within 5 hours of each other). The second email asked why I hadn’t returned the first email. I wanted to write back “because I am busy teaching students,” but I did not. I think Shirky (2008) sums up my sentiments about email wonderfully:
Email is such a funny thing. People hand you these single little messages that are no heavier than a river pebble. But it doesn’t take long until you have acquired a pile of pebbles that’s taller than you and heavier than you could ever hope to move, even if you wanted to do it over a few dozen trips. But for the person who took the time to hand you their pebble, it seems outrageous that you can’t handle that one tiny thing. “What ‘pile’? It’s just a pebble!” (p 74-75)
Shirky, C. (2008). Here comes everyone: the power of organizing without organizations. New York: Penguin Press.
Why is it that people think their individual emails demand the most prompt, drop-what-you-are-doing responses? Sometimes we forget that fast web connections are not synonymous with personal availability.
ReplyDeleteI think that's funny! :) Only because it's so true! You're nicer than me though, because I would have written back and said because I am busy teaching. I often think parents (and a lot of my friends) have no idea what teachers do all day. I'll get phone messages from friends and I'll call back during my 5-minute break, thinking it's important, and they just want to chat. I don't have time to chat! Funny!
ReplyDeleteAmy
Wow, I would love to get e-mails. Instead they are constantly calling me during the school day, always during a class. Then when I don't answer because I am teaching, I am left nasty voicemails. The ones I love the most are the ones that leave the voicemail and no contact number for me to call them back.
ReplyDeleteI am with Amy about the response. I probably would have responded with the same thing. I wonder how they would feel if we called them in the middle of the work day and left them voicemails or sent them e-mails expecting an immediate response asking why their child didn't complete the work for that day.
My most favorite is when they say, "My son has an F in your class and I want to know why." No name, no contact info, no my son is in your ____ class. It makes me very specific in my own emails and voicemails! :)
ReplyDeleteI actually bite my tongue, but explain when my planning period is, and add something like " I don't BELIEVE in checking my email during class, because I want to give them my UNDIVIDED attention." MOre like, the kids hardly ever gimme a chance to sit down, but hey, it's all in the marketing!
ReplyDeleteWe need to stop putting so much emphasis on GPS. If students followed directions then it would not be an issue. Parents should not defend their students in this way. These kids will never succeed in college or the workplace. Everyone should fail at something... only by failing do we really learn.
ReplyDeleteLinda Burns