I just wanted to leave a quick voice mail to you regarding what all 27 of you called for today while I was registering students ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL BECAUSE YOU DECIDED YOU DIDN’T WANT TO COME IN BEFORE THAT.
I’m sorry, but I just can’t go to the A lunch shift when I’m supervising on the B lunch shift because you want me to find your 9th grader and tell him to come brush his teeth because he just got braces. How many kids do you have again, two? Well, I now have 375 students to deal with so I’m sorry. Just can’t do it. Also? HE’S IN THE NINTH GRADE. How about teaching him to be responsible? For his teeth.
I’m sorry, but your child canNOT be in those honors classes because their grades and test scores do not warrant him being there. I don’t care that he’s decided that this is The Year they are going to try harder. He can try harder in the classes that best suit him. He will be frustrated and embarrassed when he can’t keep up with the work everyone is required to do.
I’m sorry, but I won’t be able to call you every day when your child is being “good”. Again with the 375 students thing. How about you just ask them how their day was and if they made good choices and reward them at home if you feel they need that? I will probably only call when I feel like there is some sort of problem. Their teachers will also call when they’ve been doing well, but I wouldn’t count on it. Again with the whole “high school” thing, ya know?
I’m sorry, but when you get all creative with the spelling of your child’s name I can’t be expected to know how to pronounce it. Wait. Was this the first time anyone has ever said it wrong? In 14 years of their life? Those are interesting odds.
I’m sorry, but if you spell the name of your child wrong on the registration form I have to wonder if I should schedule you for a class.
I’m sorry, but your child cannot leave and hour and a half early from school so that you can make it to work out of town. She wouldn’t be able to get enough credits for high school. “Changing diapers” and “playing blocks” with the kids at the day care where you work can’t count for anything.
I’m sorry, but I can’t change the schedule so your daughter can be in a class with all the “nice girls”. There aren’t enough “nice girls” in this school that fit your standards. Hell, there aren’t enough “nice girls” on this faculty. There aren’t enough “nice girls” in the world. Really, there just aren’t. How will you protect her after high school? Oh, you want to keep her in the basement where she can turn pale while listening to emo music while she draws all the figures from Hello Kitty? Ok then.
I’m sorry, but you can’t have me wait for you tomorrow while you get off work at 4:30 so you can register your son. On a Friday. I like to be accommodating, but I’ll be trying to get my daughter back to college for her senior year and I’m not going to miss that. Even if I am one of the “nice girls”.
Thanks for leaving me that voicemail. Don’t bother calling me back after you hear this because I simply won’t give in to some of your ridiculous demands.
Bye-biteme.
August 23, 2007 @ 4:24 pm | Filed under Education | Permalink |
Assertagirl Said,
August 23, 2007 @ 4:38 pm
Holy cow, the nerve (and stupidity) of some people!
>
Mrs RW Said,
August 23, 2007 @ 5:20 pm
Well, like I always say, draw that line in the sand early or the world will take a mile (or something along those lines). Wait, here it is: begin as you mean to go on. You are not an easy mark, no siree! I’m amazed that these children made it high school if even half these stories are true! My god, I registered myself for school! Made dinner every night while mom worked, finished the laundry, and damn it, made straight A’s. What is wrong with these kids? And parents wonder why their kids are still living at home when they’re 30! (oh, and walked 10 miles to school…uphill both ways…in the snow).
kara Said,
August 23, 2007 @ 5:26 pm
oh jesus…
InTheFastLane Said,
August 23, 2007 @ 6:16 pm
OMG! This has been my life in the last few days. My favorite was the parents that came in to register their daughter the day before school started, didn’t have all the required paperwork, were told what paperwork they needed before their daughter could start school, didn’t bring anything in, but yet sent said daughter on the bus in the morning, only for the office staff to try to figure out what to do with her for two hours (on a half day) while trying to get a hold of these genius parents.
Dave2 Said,
August 23, 2007 @ 6:27 pm
If you hadn’t mentioned that this was 9th grade high school, I would have sworn you were talking about elementary school here. Scary.
dawn Said,
August 23, 2007 @ 6:39 pm
I am laughing so hard right now. I have had almost all of those type of requests as a high school teacher. Oh and please don’t get me started on the whole name thing. I had a student named Terria–her mom wanted/thought she spelled it so it would be pronounced Tiara. Mom should have stayed in school. Can you schedule her for a class?
Mocha Said,
August 23, 2007 @ 6:54 pm
I see I’m speaking to my fellow educators as well as those of us who’ve experienced BEING RESPONSIBLE.
Hey, InTheFastLane, I sent 2 kids HOME today, yes HOME, because they weren’t registered. Had an angry mom to deal with after that but I won’t babysit while Mom&Dad determine that they are too busy to register their high schooler. Nope. I can tell how much fun some of this new job will be…
Lovebabz Said,
August 23, 2007 @ 7:12 pm
Sister,
You are the right one baby. This job is tailored made for a Sister. You keep doing your thing and by mid-term they will know, or they better go and ask somebody.
In the words of the late great and fine as hell Adam Clayton Powell, “Keep the faith, baby”
No Edits, Then Delete « Where’s the Mute Button? Said,
August 23, 2007 @ 7:28 pm
[...] premise was “What I Say v. What I Think.” It was some funny shi*! Something like this post by Mocha Momma who I [...]
Heather B. Said,
August 23, 2007 @ 7:44 pm
Wow, Kelly, I had no idea you had so much honesty in you. I am SHOCKED.
Yvonne Said,
August 23, 2007 @ 7:46 pm
Dear Lord, here is where I believe some people should be spayed rather than left to have children. The kids are probably better at being responsible than the adults. And seriously…. 9th grade? Are you sure? You weren’t given the kindy mailbox/phone number by mistake were you?
Register? That means to enrol the kids doesn’t it? I am going to bbuy you a cat-o-nine-tails in a glass box to display on the wall of your office! That should scare some brains into those idjit parents.
Love you
Sueb0b Said,
August 23, 2007 @ 8:18 pm
My child has a hard time waking up in the morning, and I am already at work when they have to get up. Can you call them to make sure they get to work on time? I have heard that you are nice. And articulate.
Jane Said,
August 24, 2007 @ 1:58 am
Whgen it comes to their kids it’s like even he most intelligent parents get crazy with all the things OTHER people should do for them and their kids… Oh well… I’m looking ahead to having my own kids… With a certain amount of fear…
Oh, The Joys Said,
August 24, 2007 @ 5:38 am
I like the way you put “I’m sorry” and “bite me” together!
Jennifer James Said,
August 24, 2007 @ 6:19 am
LOL! Funny.
RWA Said,
August 24, 2007 @ 6:23 am
“Bye-bite me!!!!”
Hilarious. You tell ‘em!!!!!!
Momish Said,
August 24, 2007 @ 6:28 am
Holy no way. If these are the parents, then I truly fear for the state of this country in 20 years. And you say you got 27 of these calls? Oy!
VENTL8R Said,
August 24, 2007 @ 6:44 am
I have so many comments swimming in the quagmire of pregnancy-hormone-brain that I can’t quite fish out a good one.
What happened to responsibility? People are always so quick to judge and blame the kids, but the kids had to have learned from someone (the parents). I think this kind of indirectly ties into No Child Left Behind. That’s all I’m gonna say for I KNOW this gets a rise outta you, Kelly. D’ya see where I’m trying to go with this one?
Good. Cuz I sure don’t.
Daisy Said,
August 24, 2007 @ 6:55 am
Well,, Have a great year!
‘Nuff said.
Gillian Said,
August 24, 2007 @ 7:23 am
Wait - wait what’s that sound? Getting louder and louder, wicka-wicka-wicka - - - Oh, right, it’s the spinning helicopter blades from these ridiculous hover-parents.
Kim Said,
August 24, 2007 @ 7:42 am
So, glad I don’t have to deal with parents of child, it sounds worse than dealing with parents of dogs and cats:o) Trust me they are almost as bad!!
KC Said,
August 24, 2007 @ 9:31 am
Whoa!! Why do some people become parents if they are simply going to shift all responsibility onto others???? Holy crap - good for you! Wow.. this is going to be some year!
dana Said,
August 24, 2007 @ 11:06 am
I’m just a bit perplexed by the number of clueless parents out there. My mother and father never asked a teacher to make exceptions for me. I had to be responsible and take control of my high school years. My parents only signed papers if a parent signature was required. The rest was up to me.
Janice Said,
August 24, 2007 @ 12:28 pm
Are you kidding me?
Seriously.
These are the same parents that will be hovering around they’re children when they go away to college….helicopter ones I think they’re called.
Give me a freaking break, no wonder so many kids think they are entitled to so much stuff.
Tom Said,
August 24, 2007 @ 4:37 pm
Hey “Nice Girl”,
I read some comment you made on another blog about the dudes in the movie “300″, but since I think this is a “PG” rated blog now, I won’t repeat them.
XXX’s & OOO’s,
Tom
Jazz Said,
August 24, 2007 @ 7:43 pm
Somewhere at the end of your post I was hoping to find the words “it was only a nightmare.”
I hope this is the toughest week of the year.
Marilyn Said,
August 25, 2007 @ 7:45 am
This is (sadly) all too familiar.
I’m the registrar at a jr high and work in the counseling office. We had reg/schedule pickup yesterday for returning 8th and 9th graders…and all I can say is, thank GOD we have some truly wonderful parents…’cause they make up for those few who are truly pieces of work.
radical mama Said,
August 25, 2007 @ 11:47 am
Are you freakin’ kidding me? These parents DO know that you are a busy professional and not a babysitter for their overgrown toddlers, RIGHT?
odd time signatures | Hello, This is the Parent of Your Former Honor Student Calling… Said,
August 26, 2007 @ 2:10 am
[...] by Kelly’s post aimed at parents calling her about their 9th grader’s registration and [...]
Karoli Said,
August 26, 2007 @ 2:53 am
Some of the examples here are classic — but there is another side to the story, which is what inspired my post answering back.
I was particularly sparked by Marilyn’s post up above and also Janice — while there are truly some obnoxious helicopter-types out there, some of us want to be on the same side of the school and yet, we find ourselves having to be in conflict with them.
I really hate it, but fortunately (or unfortunately) it’s unique to this particular middle school. I’ve not had to fight for my kids anywhere the way I have at this one school.
ali Said,
August 26, 2007 @ 3:10 am
ok now imagine what these parents are like when their parents/aunts/uncles/siblings or spouses are in the hospital. we had one woman all last week who truly believed her husband was the only man on the floor and his nurse was her private nurse. she would physically grab the nurse by the arm and pull her into the mans room saying “just one minute”, she cornered the doctors several times a day. every 15 minutes or so she was demanding attention from someone. no he wasn’t that sick. people are like that!
mom2amara Said,
August 27, 2007 @ 10:57 am
Happy first week of school Dean Kelly!
Been out of town but am catching up now on blogs. And I wanted to tell you that I had a horrendous experience at my daughter’s preschool this morning. It was meet the teacher day. Now, I realize my daughter is more independent than most. But when I see parents holding their child’s hand even when they’re being shoo’ed away or when I see moms patting their children’s backs because they got an answer wrong and think their teacher was wrong to call them out on it, I want to gag. I want to say, “hover a bit more! Maybe by high school they’ll be OK with doing their homework on their own!”