I’m a good student. I don’t mean to brag, but that’s simply a part of who I am. Some say teacher’s pet, other’s prefer the term brown-noser, others just say keene, but no matter what way, generally, teachers like me. You’d think that that would mean Parent-Teacher interviews are a breeze, but instead, it simply opens up an entirely new list of disasters that can happen.

Situation 1: Your teacher doesn’t actually like you, and you’re just getting a good grade.

A few years back, I took a history class in which I dealt with a particularly inept teacher. My solution was to do my work and minimize contact. However, this resulted in the teacher addressing me as “Tina” during a parent-teacher interview. As you can guess, this didn’t go over well with my parents, and it resulted in a year long grudge against me.

Situation 2: Teacher-student confidentiality is breached.

Ok, so you know that one super personal assignment you handed in for English? This situation typically results in your teacher breaching the student-teacher confidentiality and showing said assignment to your parents. Or informing them that they felt so bad when you started crying in class. Or simply saying that you haven’t been yourself recently. Thanks, Teach. Now I have to answer some really fun questions.

Situation 3-Your teacher brings up that one piece of homework that wasn’t done, or that one assignment that was 20 minutes late, and focuses solely on that.

I mean seriously. Would it kill you not to mention that? I had 4 other tests in 3 days and assignments, and I had it done for the next class. Chill. Also, not doing a single set of homework doesn’t make me an underachiever – I’m still a scholar, leader of the debate team, work with the community service program, am a member of the book club, GSA and half a dozen other clubs, take AP courses, and try to provide support for the girls in my house.

Situation 4-They pull out your diagnostic tests OR they pull out a test they haven’t given back yet.

Really, as a mark driven person, I don’t study for tests that don’t count. I have so much other work, and if getting an 80 on a test that doesn’t count results in me getting a 95 on a different test that DOES count, I will do it. I’m sorry, Teach, but your class won’t always be the priority. Secondly, what the fuck. Are you trying to screw me over? I’ve literally started crying in an interview before because a teacher pulled out a test I hadn’t seen yet, one she hadn’t even finished marking, and proceeded to explain to my parents that the one mistake on one diagram will basically mean I failed my test, even if I end up with an 85% or so.  The amount of mental energy that goes into getting a test back becomes infinitely greater when my parents are there.

Situation 5- “Your child should talk more in class.”

How about no? I don’t like talking in class, it makes me anxious, and it adds nothing to my overall education. So no. It’s not going to happen. It didn’t happen after my kindergarten parent teacher interview, it won’t happen after my 12th grade parent teacher interviews. Get over it.

In case you can’t tell, I recently had parent teacher interviews, and after talking to some friends, noticed some patterns in teacher behavior. Now, maybe it’s just my school, but if you know what I’m talking about, comment below about which you hate the most, or if there’s something else that makes parent-teacher interviews stressful for you.

Post Author: Laetitia

Welcome! I'm Laetitia, and you can find me either in the kitchen cooking for friends, perusing used bookstores with a cup of coffee, studying, or trying to plan my next adventure.

Currently, I'm a Postgraduate student at University College London in the Paleoanthropology and Paleolithic Archaeology program, and am living and studying in London! Throughout my academic career, I've completed an undergrad in Toronto and a year abroad in Glasgow and will continue to post about my pursuits and interests.

This space is meant to centralize the things that bring me joy, which encapsulates my academic pursuits, my hobbies, and my interests, so you'll find recipes next to travel posts, all within the context of pursuing a career in anthropology.

0 Replies to “Parent-Teacher Interviews: Problematic at Best”

  1. I still hate that teacher who called you “Tina”. Unfortunately, our efforts to have him fired merely resulted in his demotion to gym teacher.

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Welcome!

Laetitia Walsh

Laetitia Walsh

Welcome! I'm Laetitia, and you can find me in the kitchen covered in flour, perusing used bookstores with a cup of coffee, studying, or planning my next adventure. Currently, I'm living in London, have a MSc in biological anthropology and archaeology, and am actively re-learning how to live a joyful life after struggling through the isolation during the pandemic. I keep track of the things that bring me joy here, on this little blog! Make yourself at home here in my little corner of the internet, and I hope you too are able to find a little joy in the ordinary.

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