Communicating with Teachers, How? Options

[andante_in_c]

I am employed directly by the college I teach at, and we are expressly forbidden from giving students our personal details. All contact with parents is made through the music department.

[Seer_Green]

I am employed directly by the college I teach at, and we are expressly forbidden from giving students our personal details. All contact with parents is made through the music department.

mmm...this is what I suspected is usually the direction given. I can see the reasoning behind this; teaching someone in a school is very different to teaching them at home where you make direct contact with the parents.

[Ayshah]

I'm Music Service peri and I think the Music Service is right to tell us not to give out home/mobile numbers and email addresses. If I taught maths I wouldn't expect my pupils' parents to have all these details. I think we are all entitled to our privacy, aside from the protection issue.

The difference for peri teachers is that their contract is with the music service, and I can understand why, in the same way it applies to school teachers, peri's wouldn't be encouraged to give out their home contact details to parents.

I'm not sure the analogy with a school teacher is entirely accurate. I don't have to pay extra for my kids to have their ordinary school lessons, plus there are reasonably clear mechanisms in place for me to contact the school to discuss any concerns face to face.

Absolutely agree...those are clear mechanisms in place for contact to discuss concerns with both parties with the regular school subjects.

I am employed directly by the college I teach at, and we are expressly forbidden from giving students our personal details. All contact with parents is made through the music department.

I have never had a music peri ever refuse to give me a mobile number (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif), but I have had one say "Oh I am not supposed to give this to you but clearly I need to, just dont tell anyone" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
If the music department can cope with contact from several parents of music students re concerns then fine, but I suspect that most Music HoDs have'nt got the time or admin staff to deal with the nitty gritty queries.

[andante_in_c]

I have never had a music peri ever refuse to give me a mobile number (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif), but I have had one say "Oh I am not supposed to give this to you but clearly I need to, just dont tell anyone" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
If the music department can cope with contact from several parents of music students re concerns then fine, but I suspect that most Music HoDs have'nt got the time or admin staff to deal with the nitty gritty queries.

Yes, we have. One full-time music administrator who deals with queries, lesson timetables, exam entry etc.

The daft thing is I often teach students in college who are past pupils from school or home, and naturally their parents (and they) have all my details. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[notmusimum]

The difference for peri teachers is that their contract is with the music service, and I can understand why, in the same way it applies to school teachers, peri's wouldn't be encouraged to give out their home contact details to parents.

I've also had home, mobile and email contacts for some of the Peris that have work with my daughters. I hope that I've always used them in a reasonable way. As my youngest has always attended the Arts Centre and all her lessons have been based there it's never been a problem to speak to teachers.

There is a difference between Peris and school teachers. Parents always know where the school teacher is if they need to discuss anything with them. I'm not suggesting all Peris should give out their mobile numbers but email contact would be useful.

[Seer_Green]

There is a difference between Peris and school teachers. Parents always know where the school teacher is if they need to discuss anything with them. I'm not suggesting all Peris should give out their mobile numbers but email contact would be useful.

I'm not saying which is right either way, but peris are in a different position to private teachers in the sense that their contract is with the music service/school rather than the parents direct, which inevitably means that they are governed by the requirements of their employer. If the general advice to peris is not to give out personal contact details, then this is the advice they are presumably expected to follow; if they choose not to, then that is of course, entirely up to them; however, if anything went wrong in such circumstances, then this could come back to bite them - that is a risk they take. Even as a private teacher, I have to say that I have become more and more concerned about giving contact details out, not just to parents but through advertising and internet listings.

[notmusimum]

There is a difference between Peris and school teachers. Parents always know where the school teacher is if they need to discuss anything with them. I'm not suggesting all Peris should give out their mobile numbers but email contact would be useful.

I'm not saying which is right either way, but peris are in a different position to private teachers in the sense that their contract is with the music service/school rather than the parents direct, which inevitably means that they are governed by the requirements of their employer. If the general advice to peris is not to give out personal contact details, then this is the advice they are presumably expected to follow; if they choose not to, then that is of course, entirely up to them; however, if anything went wrong in such circumstances, then this could come back to bite them - that is a risk they take. Even as a private teacher, I have to say that I have become more and more concerned about giving contact details out, not just to parents but through advertising and internet listings.

I see your point for advertising and listings but surely you get to know the parents of your private pupils well enough to be able to make a judgement.

I really don't see how a parent having a teachers contact details could lead to anything inappropriate unless either party were unbalanced in the first place.

Personally I'd always want to afford my daughters teachers the respect I'd want for myself. I imagine most parents wouldn't misuse details. I totally understand other directives like not giving pupils lifts. Thankfully most of our teachers are intelligent enough to judge situations as they arise. I suppose it's slightly different when we've known the Music Service Peris at least six years in most cases.

[Seer_Green]

I really don't see how a parent having a teachers contact details could lead to anything inappropriate unless either party were unbalanced in the first place.

You're probably right, but I think the point is more to do with professional conduct and adhering to the requirements/guidance/advice of your employer. This will apply to most professions in some way or another.

[Dulcet]

I think communicating with a school peri is possibly the hardest thing of all.

I'm Music Service peri and I think the Music Service is right to tell us not to give out home/mobile numbers and email addresses. If I taught maths I wouldn't expect my pupils' parents to have all these details. I think we are all entitled to our privacy, aside from the protection issue.

I completely disagree! With nearly 20 years of dealing with several music teachers I have always been given, when asked, a mobile phone number and/or an email by a Music peri! Previous to the prolific use of mobiles, I have been given a home phone number with an answering machine attached so that the Music Peri can return my call to discuss my child's progress (or lack of it). (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

As a home teacher myself I have - at the last count - five different email addresses and two mobile phone numbers; one for family and friends and one for parents & students.

I agree with tonedeafmum's comment. I know how to contact the maths teachers at school. I don't know how to contact the peris. I haven't been told how it might be possible to contact them. I have phoned the music service to ask about instrument loan and have been told that I'm not suppose to do that, the school is. They haven't actually hung up on me, but still - ARGHHHHH. Peris are, by definition, difficult to get hold of... so at the very least an email address would be a Good Thing. Sometimes I get to drop DS2 off at his lesson if he gets the early slot but I daren't actually TALK to the teacher because 20 minutes between two pupils goes practically nowhere... The children's lessons don't take place in their own school, either - it's only because about once every 6 weeks I take DS2 into the secondary school for his lesson that starts before primary school opens that I have spoken to a member of the music department... I have no idea whether the teachers are employed by the LEA or the school, it has never been made clear to me.

Sorry, this sounds like a whine, but please, do realise that most parents do not know "the system".

[Hedgehog]

I can see the difficulty of getting hold of peris organised by county music services, but isn't there an office where they all congregate at different times. Our peris have a little music depot attached to one of the primary schools and if I've needed to send them a message, I just email the office in the hope and confidence that the message is passed on.

As a visiting teacher paid by school, I expect most communication to go through music dept at school. Then I talk to head of music about it and she relays message to parent. This is not always totally satisfactory because messages don't always get relayed in exactly the right manner, but nevertheless I'm quite glad to have minimal contact with some parents. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

With my own pupils I'm very happy to phone, talk to between lessons, have emails or messages in notebooks. If I'm in a big rush between pupils I'll suggest I contact after I've finished teaching.

We have a little challenge now. Sonny Jim's at boarding school miles away and we shall need to send a sensitive email to the trumpet teacher. I understand from SJ that said teacher doesn't have pigeon hole, doesn't answer/look at email etc. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) So I'm going to resort to sending email to music dept secretary with a request that she makes sure Mr X gets it, and reads it! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mellow.gif) It's the only thing I can think of.

[Dulcet]

I can see the difficulty of getting hold of peris organised by county music services, but isn't there an office where they all congregate at different times. Our peris have a little music depot attached to one of the primary schools and if I've needed to send them a message, I just email the office in the hope and confidence that the message is passed on.

If there is, no one has ever told me... which I suppose it what really makes me cross!

As a visiting teacher paid by school, I expect most communication to go through music dept at school. Then I talk to head of music about it and she relays message to parent. This is not always totally satisfactory because messages don't always get relayed in exactly the right manner, but nevertheless I'm quite glad to have minimal contact with some parents. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Sorry, I do have an issue with this - I think that teachers should make sure that parents can contact them directly. Email is pretty unintrusive!

With my own pupils I'm very happy to phone, talk to between lessons, have emails or messages in notebooks. If I'm in a big rush between pupils I'll suggest I contact after I've finished teaching.

I really don't see why school pupils should be treated differently! My son's academic teachers will speak to me without going through the head (they will inform the head I am sure but conversation isn't routed through the head)

We have a little challenge now. Sonny Jim's at boarding school miles away and we shall need to send a sensitive email to the trumpet teacher. I understand from SJ that said teacher doesn't have pigeon hole, doesn't answer/look at email etc. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) So I'm going to resort to sending email to music dept secretary with a request that she makes sure Mr X gets it, and reads it! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mellow.gif) It's the only thing I can think of.

So you now see what drives me up the wall? At least you actually know that there is a music department secretary...

[all ears]

I find this is very individual - each teacher is quite different in their preferences. I'd love it if teachers handed out their contact details in order of preference...and ideally even with a comment on the kind of contact they think is reasonable. Surprisingly enough, what is "common sense" to one teacher is anathema to another!

Some teachers are really offended by an impersonal e-mail, while others dislike being "invaded" by a phone call, and still others have lessons scheduled so tightly that they don't want to start a discussion even within lesson time in case it spills over...it's hard to get it right by guesswork every time!

Top two communications hitches: "never checked" webmail addresses, and mobiles that default to "refuse" unknown senders - the teacher will send out an e-mail, and then wonder why there is no reply, not realizing that s/he hasn't set Viohazard's address to "trusted".

[Hedgehog]

As a visiting teacher paid by school, I expect most communication to go through music dept at school. Then I talk to head of music about it and she relays message to parent. This is not always totally satisfactory because messages don't always get relayed in exactly the right manner, but nevertheless I'm quite glad to have minimal contact with some parents. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Sorry, I do have an issue with this - I think that teachers should make sure that parents can contact them directly. Email is pretty unintrusive!

With my own pupils I'm very happy to phone, talk to between lessons, have emails or messages in notebooks. If I'm in a big rush between pupils I'll suggest I contact after I've finished teaching.

I really don't see why school pupils should be treated differently! My son's academic teachers will speak to me without going through the head (they will inform the head I am sure but conversation isn't routed through the head)

Hmm, I don't think it's entirely the teacher's fault. I suspect in fact that we're not encouraged to communicate with parents too much. I suppose there are quite a few visiting teachers and we might all have a slightly different viewpoint on certain aspects of school. I do actually have a few email addresses of parents for the purposes of giving exam results in holiday time, and sometimes we have a little bit of communication.

Otherwise our school is good because we have an open lesson in the autumn term to which every parent is invited so they meet us and can ask questions etc. It's very useful for new pupils to set out ideas and expectations.

There would actually be no difficulty in a parent enquiring about progress or otherwise in instrumental lessons. Communication is actually very good between staff so they'd get a reply quickly.

[jessy]

Speaking as a Music Service peri, I'd most definitely NOT want parents having my personal email address! I get enough rubbish already! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) If I had a school email address it would be different, but I still think we are entitled to a bit of privacy in the same way that class teachers are - i.e. contactable through the school or the Music Service. I don't see why that shouldn't be sufficient. I am always quite happy to phone parents.

[Halka]

Whoops! Posted in error!