Parent Bullies

Without going into too much detail, how have you or your administration dealt with parents bullying you or other staff?

Thanks.

Re: Parent Bullies

No advice, but I find parents go out of thier way to hassle a brand new teacher just because they can. My dept chair is always supportive and stands by his teachers.

Re: Parent Bullies

My principal has certain parents banned from coming into the school

Re: Parent Bullies

Message edited 1/20/2011 10:59:21 PM.

Re: Parent Bullies

Honestly it depends. We have a parent right now that every time (and I mean this honestly) a different personality shows up, she attacks another teacher. In this instance, my principal yeses her to death tells her what she wants to hear until the other personality arrives

In 'normal' situations though depending on what it is our administration gives in.

Re: Parent Bullies

Re: Parent Bullies

I have about 5-6 of these parents this year. It's because I'm new to the school.

But I think they are scared of my because I'm from NY. I'm very much known this year for "not backing down", and one student was actually removed from the school by his parents, because they couldn't stand the fact that I wasn't backing down, and my principal was supporting me on it.

It's ok, because he was one of "those" kids, and our classroom is SOOOO much more peaceful without him.

Re: Parent Bullies

That's a tough one. Personally, I haven't run into too many bullies. Tough parents yes, but not so much bullies (knocking on wood )
I have found that not backing down but doing it in a respectful way and explaining why my position is in the best interests of the child can help.
However, there are always those parents that don't listen and at that point the administration steps in. They are usually pretty good about backing teachers up, especially when the parents are unreasonable.
Like someone else said, it's a give and take. My principal tries to balance it out so we don't totally alienate the parents. But he does not tolerate parents speaking rudely to anyone on his staff!

Re: Parent Bullies

YES! There was an incident this year and if there was not another adult in the room I feel that I would have been assaulted and I am not exagerating! I was verbally attacked and felt threatened! I still look over my shoulder!

Re: Parent Bullies

In my second year, I actually had a parent ask me if I had tenure when I called to tell her that her daughter plagiarized. My chairperson (and ultimately principal) handled all of the communication after that. I never spoke to them again (and I made DARN sure that the kid wouldn't be in my class again the following year).

Re: Parent Bullies

Re: Parent Bullies

i had one last year that i was told to call back from the principals office and then my 2 APs stood and listened to her talk to me. She was on speaker phone and they were tellinme what to tell her. she was nutzo

Re: Parent Bullies

does it count as being a bully - that i got a letter 2 days ago from parent that states that me and my coteacher are BAD teachers?

haha this from a parent who abuses her kid, dresses her like a boy AND has her child wear one outfit say mon and tue new outfit wed and again wear it on thurs etc.. and this is everyweek

but im a bad teacher?

Re: Parent Bullies

My administration enables parent bullies!

Re: Parent Bullies

It is not tolerated.

Re: Parent Bullies

I got a note from a parent one year that said I couldnt understand her situation because I was not yet a parent. Talk about a stab in the heart.

Ok so my suggestion is to fire all teachers who do not have kids and see what you end up with - brilliant. If they don't like it, home schooling should keep these parents busy.