Parents' evenings could be replaced by the Interweb
Reduces fist-fights
SCHOOL PARENTS' evenings could become a thing of the past, replaced with online reports and text messages, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Ed Balls said yesterday.
Balls told a gathering of the Parent Know How programme that research shows parents prefer informal chats with teachers rather than parents evenings and want to be able to moinitor their children's progress online.
Only one in five parents thinks parents evenings a good idea, according to the reasearch.
Mr Balls said parents, "tell us they like informal contact with their child's school - whether that's a chat in the playground or the chance to go online and see their teenager's marks and make sure they're going to all their classes."
He said parents' evenings would become less important.
As it happens, part of the Parent Know How programme is the idea of giving parents more information through the Web or by phone and text messaging. The scheme has government backing to the tune of £44 million.
Children's minister Kevin Brennan said: "All parents need a bit of help sometimes - and the best way to get that advice may be by text message or in a chatroom. We want to reach out to parents who may not normally ask for advice or might not know where to go." µ
Comments
Whatever next .....
We are headed down a dark path indeed if a text message is judged a better substitute for actually talking to a teacher . The net is infamous for losing the nuances of speech and ending up misinterpreted .And we wonder why our kids dont do well in school . This seems a great idea for the multitude of parents who find parents evenings an absolute chore and generally leave the child to it.
Its your childs future and the chance to see how little Johnny is actually doing rather than going on what he tells you . If your child needs help what better way to find out than talk to the people that teach them .
Lazy parents bring up lazy children .
Mixed Message?
"whether that's a chat in the playground or the chance to go online and see their teenager's marks"I know when I was a teenager my parents sure didnt chat to my teachers in the playground. Just calling it a playground would have got you a shoeing
What?
How silly, this is preposterous. Where is there room for parents' feedback and personal insight? As a parent and teacher I am totally opposed. Our children are worth more than this hideous idea. Put the £44 million back into the classroom and cut class sizes, increase pay for nurses, teachers, police..........instead.