| Author |
Message |
    
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 5886
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 - 11:00 pm: | 
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I feel as if I've asked this before, but I have to ask again.
How do I contact a teacher who won't call me back?
This is a serious matter. The teachers are supposed to be reachable, and they owe me a return call. I have left faxes, messages with the secretaries, and voice mail messages. Isn't that excessive effort on my part already?
Who are the teachers' bosses? There is one at MMS and one at CHS I am trying to reach. |
suzanneng
Citizen
Username: Suzanneng
Post Number: 320
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 - 11:03 pm: |
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Have you tried email? (or sending a written note with your child?)
Maybe calling the guidance dept would help? |
David Kafrissen
Citizen
Username: Somsd_netman
Post Number: 1
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2005 - 9:31 am: |
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Most teachers tend to check their emails regularly, the standard scheme is first initial fist seven charachters of the lastname followed by @somsd.k12.nj.us , for those with common lastnames it can be confusing as some are first initial middleinitial lastname six characters and still others are firstname lastname six characters with a 1, 2 ... following. We only have a few of those so I wouldn't worry.
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somsd_network manage
Citizen
Username: Somsd_netman
Post Number: 2
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2005 - 9:33 am: |
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oops first time I posted, didn't mean for my name to be there, well guess the cat's out of the bag. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 5889
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2005 - 10:31 am: |
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Thanks, Suzanne and netman. But I'm not looking for more media. Any of these should work. I'm looking for a way to go up the management chain to rattle the teachers into doing their duty. Frankly, I want to shame them, too, because they've earned it.
So it's a political question, not a technological question.
And I can't email them, because I don't know the first initials of either of these teachers. One of them is new and doesn't have a phone extension yet. |
Phenixrising
Citizen
Username: Phenixrising
Post Number: 494
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2005 - 10:34 am: |
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Tom,
Contact your child's guidance counselor. I had the same problem (calling, emailing etc.) CHS is the hardest tho as far as reaching teachers.
Good-Luck! |
shoshannah
Citizen
Username: Shoshannah
Post Number: 790
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2005 - 10:48 am: |
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How 'bout the department chair? Or principal (the teachers' boss)? |
lah
Citizen
Username: Lah
Post Number: 322
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2005 - 1:54 pm: |
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The department chair has a lot more contact with the teachers than the principal. I would start with the department head, if your intent it to take the first step in escalating the problem. |
vor
Citizen
Username: Vor
Post Number: 415
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2005 - 2:00 pm: |
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Tom
We had the same problem with a teacher in SOMS. After a couple of phone messages and emails we called the Principal. After hearing the anticipated statements such as maybe she never got the messages and maybe you should wait a little longer, we did get a response from the teacher.
So, my recommendation is to call the principal.
Good Luck |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 5892
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2005 - 2:11 pm: |
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The MMS teacher got back to me. He tried to deflect my complaints, but I told him directly that I would not drop the subject. He couldn't claim not getting the original paper note, since two other teachers got them from the secretary, and they called me back. He said, "Maybe it's in a pile on my desk." He received it over a week ago. Not good enough for me.
I asked for his promise to call me back within a day, from now on. He said he'd do his best. Not good enough for me.
I asked him how long I should expect to wait for a callback, like a day or two? He said he'd do his best. Not good enough for me.
I told him I'll find out what he is supposed to be committed to, because either he won't acknowledge it or he is unaware of his duty. I left a message for Mr. Harrison, the principal. I figured I'd bypass the guidance counselor and the department head. Does MMS even have department heads?
I am awaiting a response to my fax I sent the CHS teacher late last night. If no answer, I'll call the department head or the dean. I expect there are more layers of management in CHS than in MMS. |
maple
Citizen
Username: Maple
Post Number: 18
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2005 - 2:21 pm: |
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Tom
I feel your pain. Although I have not had any trouble with the middle school, the high school is awful. I myself, am still waiting for weeks for that return call. Unfortunately the Guidance Counselor has also not returned my call. Next stop for me is the Principal. |
doctoralissa
Citizen
Username: Doctoralissa
Post Number: 106
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2005 - 3:36 pm: |
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Is dropping by politically correct? I don't have kids in the schools yet, but I remember my dad dropping by the school to talk to principals and teachers. Sorry it's so bad. Not looking forward to that! |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 5899
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2005 - 3:49 pm: |
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Well, it's not acceptable to interrupt a class. It's OK to drop in the office, but it's hard to catch a teacher getting ready for class. I have dropped in the office, but phoning the office is just as good at MMS. At CHS, phoning is nearly useless, so sometimes, I drop in.
Mr. Harrison just spoke with me. He is dealing with the teacher satisfactorily. I felt Mr. Harrison heard me well and fully agrees with me. He said he prefers to call people back on the same day as their call, next day, if necessary. Two days is the extreme limit of acceptability, unless something else gets in the way, such as illness or a conference. That is totally reasonable to me. |
ReallyTrying
Citizen
Username: Reallytrying
Post Number: 604
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2005 - 4:29 pm: |
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Wait a minute, maple. Let's not generalize. I have had some very positive experiences with Guidance and individual teachers at CHS; they've been very responsive. I can't speak for all teachers, of course, but my daughters' CHS guidance counselor is AMAZINGLY responsive, and a delight to talk with, and the individual teachers and department heads I've had occasion to call have been very helpful.
Having three children who have, at varous times, have attended four of the schools in this district, I've had contacts with quite a few teaches and staff members and principals. Of course, I suppose that it helps that I've always been in touch about positive things (with one exception).
All that said, I have, nevertheless, been shocked at the way some teachers view their responsibilities, as if they are granting a favor when they respond. What passes for acceptable (or, at least, not objectionable) behavior in the schools would never, ever be accepted in the business world.
BTW, my child at MMS says Mr. Harrison is "always really serious" and wants everyone to follow all the rules. Perhaps that will bode well for parents, if he expects teachers to follow rules, too. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 5903
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2005 - 4:56 pm: |
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ReallyTrying, that's so funny your MMS kid says that. So does mine! They don't realize what a gift he is giving them, i.e. discipline. But they will one day. MMS is a tight ship, thanks to Harrison, his predecessors, and the rest of the staff there. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 5908
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2005 - 5:53 pm: |
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I should add that the MMS teacher is an excellent teacher in all the other aspects. He has a good rapport with the class and with my daughter, and he seems to get them interested in the material, and he conveys it very well. I just don't want this to sound like some sort of smear campaign. |
Cynicalgirl
Citizen
Username: Cynicalgirl
Post Number: 1213
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, March 19, 2005 - 8:58 am: |
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I adore Mr. Harrison, and I'm glad that he runs a tight ship. I had a problem a little earlier in the year, and I stopped by first thing in the morning because time was of the essence on the particular problem. He saw me right away, even though he could've asked me to schedule something -- and I wasn't loud or out of control, either. His turnaround time on the issue, and the turnaround time he got from the other parties involved, was exemplary.
My kid also thinks he runs a tight ship, but we like that in a principal. |
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