In about 14 hours my parents will be sitting in front of various teachers from my school during the annual ritual where for one evening, teachers struggle to remember students names and parents grudgingly refrain from assaulting particular teachers who have it in for their son.
For the past few years, my parents never paid much attention to the “PTM’s” because generally I was doing okay. Now that my future is going to be decided within the next 10 months, my parents have been paying close attention to my education and once my rather lacklustre Christmas report came in, they implemented “The Final Solution” which thankfully doesn’t see me being threatened with a gas chamber but instead my computer usage is being limited and particular emphasis is being placed on studying.
Usually I wouldn’t be worried about PTM meetings, but because my parents will be keen to see all my teachers, they’ll be willing to queue for ages and then discuss my performance compared to my (supposed) ability in great detail. What I’m extremely worried about are the numerous days of unexplained absenteeism, something our year head has been Buckleying down on. If my parents do find out about my voluntary days off school, they will come down on me like a tonne of bricks!
So here I am, totally powerless and just praying that when my mother comes home tomorrow she won’t run upstairs and throw my PC out the window!
Ha I wrote about the parent teacher meeting from a parent’s perspective in my column this week. When I put it on my site, I will be sure to link to this and dont forget to tell us how it goes.
Good luck! Here’s hoping you keep your computer:)
Hey Adam,
I am a school psychologist working in Okinawa, Japan. I am in the process of setting up training for teachers for holding pro-student, productive PTMs.
My question for you. Would you have felt better being able to attend your meeting? I don’t mean the nerves of anticipation, even your parents and teachers have those believe it or not, but the satisfaction of being able to know what was said and more importantly, be able to contribute your view point to the discussion?
Let me know!
David
My neighbour asked if he could use my lawnmower and I told him of course he could, so long as he didn’t take it out of my garden — Eric Morecambe