Types of Parents That Teachers Secretly Avoid.

 

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 The Special Snowflake Parent

This kind of parent is the one who feels his or her child is so special and can do no wrong. It’s true that all children have their uniqueness, but in class, they should all be regarded equally.

 

 No child is not special enough that they don't have to do their homework, be on time or follow classroom procedures. As a parent, too, my kids are my world, but parents have to be grounded enough to accept that the rules apply to all children, even theirs. These are the same parents who are so sure that their little precious child can do no wrong, ever!

 The Magic Bullet Parent

Every parent wants their children to do well in school, but this particular parent wants higher grades and improved reading levels without needing to do any extra work. While this parent is told  the need for reading together at night, like a storytelling time which would excite the child or children, he is still looking for the quick fix or any other solution where he doesn't have to be involved.

 

This attitude of isolating himself from his responsibilities and leaving everything solely to the teacher with high expectations is a minus!

 The Overhead Parent

This kind of parent has no consideration of meeting with her child’s teacher to discuss issues bothering on her child but goes straight to the authorities to express all kinds of displeasure.

I will paint a scenario. I had been summoned to the office of the head of school abruptly when I was supposed to be teaching my class.

 

I was racking my brain to think of why? I knew I had no backlog of work unsubmitted then right there, it hit me really hard. ‘The yelling over the phone parent,’ who had spoilt my morning!

I was a victim of the Overhead Parent. This parent had a problem with something that has happened in my classroom, but she skips the step of talking to me and goes straight to my boss. Not only was I sheepish at being sent to the principal's office, but frustrated that a conversation between the two of us wasn't the first course of action.

 The Hovering Parent

This is a parent who is everywhere, hanging at the back of the classroom long after the other parents have gone about their day. These sort of parents never seem to be able to give their kids the space to tie their own shoes, manage their materials or make a few mistakes.

The effect on the child is that they grow to lack independence.

 The Ghost Parent

This parent's name is on the roster, but does she really exist? This parent has never actually been seen, and it makes one a little nervous because it’s known that connected parents make successful students.

 

It’s quite understandable to know what it is like to be a working parent, but it’s most important that  she would take an opportunity to reach out by phone or a parent's teacher’s forum.

The No-Boundaries Parent

A funny one!

If I get a call at 12 midnight, I don't even have to check who it is.

 I know it's the No-Boundaries Parent "just checking" on something for the next day.

 

 Every time I check my messages, I have quite a number from this parent. They aren't short notes but are more like epics.

 

 If I am rushing off to the bathroom to prepare for the day, break or rushing down my lunch during my 20-minute lunchtime, I can count on this parent to find me to talk! Apart from the volume of discussion, the timing is practically ridiculous!

 The Competing Custody Parents

This pair of parents is a dynamic duo of danger. They share custody but fight over everything else. They obviously compete to see how they can make themselves look the best while making the other look the worst.

 These parents happen to be on different pages.

They are like two elephants that fight, leaving the child always as the loser. Communication about what happens at school is always flat.

 The Boss Parent

This is a parent who brings a business sense to the classroom. He wants to make sure the teacher is aware that he falls below him because he pays school fees. He never feels remorseful for making this stand known.

Even when he is wrong in most cases, he believes that as a client, he is always right.

Such parent would at the slightest mistake of the teacher or school threaten the removal of his ward.

 

 The Teacher-Hater Parent

This type of parent hates teachers, but it’s uncertain why it’s that way. Attributing it to some kind of mindset or experience is obscure. This parent relegates the teaching profession and believes that it’s some sort of unserious work.

 

Or worse, he thinks the teacher creates ways to punish children or even make them suffer. Whatever the reason, it's clear that this parent is convinced that the teacher is always at fault.

 The All Drama Parent

This type of parent takes a minor school incident, blows it out of proportion, and repeat as often as necessary until she gets her way. Tears and sometimes, yelling follow the scenario, but there is always drama.

She aggravates the situation until the school board is involved and every single parent on the ground has heard about the ‘supposed injustice’.