In the past parent teacher conferences have meant two days off of school and a nice break at the end of the week for teachers. This year though, conferences took place for four hours, on two days.
Not only were the conferences, but one evening was scheduled during Homecoming Week! In addition to having to go to school during the busiest week of the school year, teachers had to stay after until 8:00 p.m.. Not to mention half of the parents who have come in the past were not able to make it this semester; the later times were inconvenient to work schedules for those who worked later into the evening.
The fact of the matter is that this is truly an inconvenience on our teachers and staff. Issues can arise with students not getting a day off of school, but the fact remains that the ones who are truly inconvenienced by this change are our teachers. Our teachers who wake up at the crack of dawn to get to school no later than 7:35, are being rewarded with an extra four hours added onto their day.
Once the day starts, it’s no easy task for teachers. A slate full of work, lesson plans, and teaching makes for a busy and tiring day. To ask teachers to not only stay till 8, but then to give them as little of a break as 55 minutes in between students and then the stress of parent teacher conferences, barely gives them time to scarf down a quick dinner.
All in all, the whole process this year was a fail for all involved, the teachers, the students and the parents. We should learn from this year’s unsuccessful attempt, and improve conferences to benefit everyone.