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Last week we had our parent/teacher/student conferences in an “arena style” format. What that means is that all the middle school teachers set up shop in the commons. Families come in, get their child’s progress report and visit each teacher in turn. In about half an hour or so a family could meet with all of their child’s teachers (longer if there’s much to talk about). And for that students got two days off with no school.
A mailer was sent home with the following schedule, which was also put on our middle school website:
Thursday, October 25: 8-11:30am, 1-4pm, and 5:30-7:30pm
Friday, October 26: 8-11:30am only
The end times were set to give us an hour lunch and dinner break. Lunch was scheduled from 12 to 1pm (the 11:30am cutoff time was set to give those parents arriving at that time a half hour to meet with teachers before we took off for lunch) and dinner was from 4:30 to 5:30pm. Otherwise, we were there from 8am to 8pm that first day, Thursday. We were only available from 8am to 12noon the second day, Friday, because we stayed so late on Thursday (to make time for working families).
So what should we do when a family comes in at noon or 4:30pm? Most of us went out to eat lunch and dinner. An hour was barely enough to order, get served, pay, and get back in time. Now I don’t think this is so easy to answer. Both sides have merit. There are those who will wait and meet with the family that shows late. They’ll miss lunch or dinner or just cut it short. Then there are those who will ask the family to come back in an hour while they take their scheduled break.
So who’s right? One way sends a message that our time is valuable and important. The other way sends the message that we are flexible and caring. It just so happens that our middle school has a majority of teachers who will wait and stay to meet. I did. For better or for worse I sent the message that my time is not that valuable. Or did I send the message that I care enough to be flexible and take a shorter meal break? I got to eat my lunch and dinner on Thursday and I wasn’t late getting back. I also don’t think it fair to make those who show up on time after lunch and dinner to suffer by having us return late. It wasn’t their fault. And I did get to my family, albeit a bit later than if I had left on time.
So I’m not sure which way is right. I just know that I will wait and meet even if it means I will have a shorter break or be a little late getting home. I can’t and won’t expect others to do the same though so as a parent, I show up on time for my children’s conferences.
