Teacher not caring enough.

H

Hunter

Registered User
My boy has been sick for a week by now, and his teacher has not given us a single call. How should I raise this issue to the school without jeopardizing my son's school life? he is now in K1.

I think the teacher is not caring enough and I would really like to get the Principal's attention about this matter.
 
I don't know what is considered the norm here, but I wouldn't expect the teacher either here or in Australia to call and check out my kids in this situation(WOULD've been nice though)...I cannot comment on whether this in any way demonstrates lacking of care etc., to me when the kids are back home, it is parents responsiblity to care for them...

Just my thought...
I'm sorry to hear that your boy is ill and hope he gets better soon:)
 
I have worked in a local primary and high school. In general, the local school scene/culture is a little more caring than the average international school i reckon. If a child has not turned up for a week, at least the class teacher would have rung. It's quite the norm.
 
That's really nice, then! Great to know...Yeah come to think of it, I'd be most definitely feeling more heart-warming to receive a call like that...But but but I'd never received one to date, so I kind of don't expect it any more...:frown:
 
One week is a long time, I think the teacher should have called. But just wondering if you called up the school and let them know your son wasnt coming because he was unwell??
 
Which school you guys study in ?
My daughter go to Montessori Playgroup only (little Mon), she been sick for a week, but their staff called me on the first day already and ask why my daughter didn't attend school. And then they also call me to ask if I want to arrange the make up class for my daughter as well. I think they are quite nice.
Please let me know which KG , I don't want to let my daughter join in a school who doesn't care of her. Thank you.
 
I would recommend not posting the Kindergarten's name as it could be deemed as defamation.
Anyway, personally, I believe it is the parent's responsibility to call the school to inform what is wrong with the child, how long they may be out for and if they can come and collect homework. Does your work call you to see how you are? Just a thought?
 
it will be nice if the teacher has called, but it is not wrong if he / she doesnt. dont think that warrants a complaint though
 
Our boy wasn't in school one day last week and I got a call the same day to make sure he was ok. Sure they didn't need to do it but it was nice to hear from them and if they have a staff member not doing anything would it hurt to make a call? One week sure is a long time for a child not to be in school. Having said that I wouldn't go complaining to the school, unless something is really serious i don't believe in singling children out unnecessarily. My husband's mother used to routinely give the school he went to and his teacher's a serve and the teachers took it out on him.
 
If I were the teacher, I might be a bit ticked off that the parent hasn`t called to inform that their child is off sick for a week. I don`t know how schools operate here, but I would think the onus is on the parent to communicate first about this.
 
my daughter goes to Highgate House & they always call to ask if she misses the 2nd day of school. then we contact by email & the teacher always sends her love & hugs.
 
Both of the kindergartens my son has attended and schools that I have worked at (in the role as School Nurse). It's the parent's responsibility to inform the school. However, if there were a case of a child being sent home from school due to an accident, injury, or suspected infectious disease the school (not always class teacher) would usually follow it up. I think teachers are usually too busy to provide that little extra TLC outside of the classroom, unless there is a very low student:teacher ratio.
 
I took my son out from school one day last week (not sick --we played hooky together!) and his classroom teacher called in the afternoon to see if he was okay. She explained that the school is also being extra vigilant especially with the swine flu thing going on and would like to know if any child missing class even just a day is okay.

He's been going to this school since baby class and any time he'd miss a day, the teachers always called. My daughter's school, on the other hand, did not call when she missed two days from her school last week on account of a runny nose, but when she went back, she came home with a form from school asking me for a reason for her absence. Either way, it was nice that the schools noticed if a child was not in school and took the time to find out if everything was okay.
 
normally the parent lets the school know if the kid is sick, and if a kid doesn't show up, some schools just assume that the parents are being extra vigilante and not sending their kid to school. of course it'd be nice to follow up with a phone call, etc. but when it's done it really is bonus and not something one should expect (at least I don't think so)...
 
When he was in another school for pre-nursery, his teacher would call to see how he was doing when he got sick and I felt it was really heart warming and I thought that was a norm.

I called the school every day to inform them that my son wouldn't be going to school. I did expect his teacher to call, at least once, but I started to get disappointed that his teacher didn't call even on the 5th day.

yes I can understand that teachers can be really busy. but as a kindergarten teacher, TLC is an important prerequisite. Parents can feel the teacher's TLC by just a simple phone call, so why not???

Sorry I cannot disclose the name of the kindergarten as I don't want to have the slightest chance to jeopardize my son's school life (isn't it sad??)
 
As a parent, I find it my responsibility to inform the school as soon as possible, when my child is sick. I cannot imagine keeping my child at home, and not "being bothered" to call the school (not saying that happened here, but that's something I would never do). The school needs to know because it may be something that is a risk for others as well (e.g. swine flu, lice, etc.) and it's just a matter of respect to the school and the teacher who are counting on your child.

My oldest was sick last week. Emailed the teacher (that's the form of communication they prefer, she's in P1 ESF) and informed her what was wrong and how long I expected her to be off school (one day). It's my responsibility to keep her (or the school) up to date.

In case you inform the school head (not the teacher), it would be nice if the teacher after a week of illness would inform how your child is doing.
 
Jo Bowd said:
I think teachers are usually too busy to provide that little extra TLC outside of the classroom, unless there is a very low student:teacher ratio.
Click to expand...

It is the parent's responsibility to inform the school.
But a little TLC says a lot about the school.

My class ratio is 1:44. I have 2! Every class teacher will take the time to call. If you are sick, the teacher calls to find out if you are ok and if you are keeping up with your school work or if there is someone looking after you. If you're in a hospital, the teacher will organise a visit with your good friends to cheer you up. This is the norm. Sometimes it makes you wonder if the local system is all that bad. If we spoke Cantonese, I know where I'd be dropping my son off.

International school teachers are 'REALLY' busy with their smaller class sizes and shorter working hours. My son attends an international school and I don't expect his teacher to ring or drop an email and WOULDN'T COMPLAIN as that is just how it is but if she does, it's a plus and I recognise it as a bonus and he got lucky with his class teacher. And I would make sure the Principal knows that he/she has gem in his/her midst.
 
Where do you get the impression that international school teachers work 'shorter' hours? At the moment, I am at school 50 hours a week, including 8+ hours of 'after school' activities. When I worked at a local school, there certainly weren't any staff I knew who were there for 10 hours a day. As for smaller class sizes - that's true: but the other side of the smaller class is that each and every parent expects their kids to have lots of personal attention, and emails and calls to parents answered 24/7. The number of students is smaller, but the expectations per student are much higher.

Anyway - back to the complaint. Yes, it would be nice, but I wouldn't expect it.


spockey said:
It is the parent's responsibility to inform the school.
But a little TLC says a lot about the school.

My class ratio is 1:44. I have 2! Every class teacher will take the time to call. If you are sick, the teacher calls to find out if you are ok and if you are keeping up with your school work or if there is someone looking after you. If you're in a hospital, the teacher will organise a visit with your good friends to cheer you up. This is the norm. Sometimes it makes you wonder if the local system is all that bad. If we spoke Cantonese, I know where I'd be dropping my son off.

International school teachers are 'REALLY' busy with their smaller class sizes and shorter working hours. My son attends an international school and I don't expect his teacher to ring or drop an email and WOULDN'T COMPLAIN as that is just how it is but if she does, it's a plus and I recognise it as a bonus and he got lucky with his class teacher. And I would make sure the Principal knows that he/she has gem in his/her midst.
Click to expand...
 
I am a primary school teacher and to be honest I've never called home to a student's house. If a call needed to be done, the principal usually did it. I don't think the teacher is not caring, but most likely has a lot of his/her plate and has to plan for 20 other students who are healthy and at school. I am sure she/he is thinking about your child!

To be honest, I would expect updates from the mother via email/phone to me about the health of the child.

I also agree with HappyV, international school teachers work extremely hard and very long hours. I was at work at 7am and would leave at 6pm almost every day......
 
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