Modern parenting

[Shadow]

I was down at my older sons school this afternoon for a meeting about his attendence last term.Due to illness-well an eye infection-and an injury he has missed more lessons than usual and I wasnt surprised at all.

In attendance was the schools head of year,the schools attendance officer and the guy from the education authority as well as my son and myself-to cut a long story short-all went well and hopefully bar illness etc he'll be back on track next year.

Its not that ,that I actually started this thread about but I thought Id explain to put this in context.

I was gobsmacked to be told that they were very impressed that I had actually attended the meeting as apparently very few parents do-leaving their kids to attend the meeting alone

I really was shocked that parents let their kids face this alone let alone being not there to hear the childs explanation if they were bunking off.I mean-its them that could end up in court if the child doesnt attend.

It was explained that the school was having a problem with non-attendence-well if the parents cant be bothered to take it seriously Im not bloody surprised

[Roma]

I think that's what could be wrong with kids today , well sometimes anyway, because some parents just are'nt bothered if their kids go or not, and don't take the slightest interest in their schooling, or the where abouts of their kids

[skintagain]

they should make it law that a parent must attend parent teacher meetings unless they have a valid excuse, my 2 eldest hardly missed a day when they were at school and my 2 youngest who are still at school both got certificates for 100% attendance.

[Shadow]

I agree skint.

I go to every one that I can because I want to know how my kids are doing,to show that Im interested and to give the kids my support.

Sounds like your kids are doing great and I know you are an extremely pro-active and good parent.

My eldest lad will be aiming for 100% attendence too from now on-just been one of those terms when it was one thing after the other.

[wilee]

We try to go to all meetings/parent evenings etc or re-schedule them if possible when we simply can't make it. But I have to admit that at times some of the schools still nark me, we've had meetings where we've been cut-short and hurried out while still discussing things or meetings that simply didn't achieve anything.

I certainly know full well though, as a former parent-gov' about parents who don't bother, even when it's been pretty serious meetings that could lead to exclusion if a problem isn't resolved.

I chucked in being a gov' because at times I couldn't agree with either the schools attitudes and methods or the way the majority of the parents would act even when they did turn up. Needs to be less crossing of swords from both sides mutually and more actually working together instead of just claiming they both do....