Teachers: Students Parents Who Are Not Involved

Whether they are super talkative, the kid that grosses every other kid out, or the misbehaving and out of control kid, every year I seem to get them. I'm referring to that one student who will push your buttons during the school year. This is the one student who you can count on to make your day a challenge. What makes having such as student even worse, is to have a parent that is simply not involved. I'm talking about the parent that just doesn't seem to care at all! While it may be challenging, here are some ideas to try to get through and reach that non-involved parent.

Find some means of communicating. Email, telephone, letters to the parent. Find some way to communicate with the parent. You got to find some means of at least attempting to get information to the parent. I recommend documenting everything. Every attempted phone call should be logged. Every email should be saved and copied. Keep a track record of what you attempt to do so that the parent can not come back later and say no one told them what was going on.

Talk with your guidance counselor. Guidance Counselors often have a way of getting through to parents. If you personally can't get through to the parent let your school counselor know what's going on. Sometimes just speaking to another person is all it takes to turn a parent around. Furthermore you will show your concern for the child by going to other adults in the future. This will again cover you should the parent try anything funny before the year is over.

Get DCS involved when necessary. If you feel a child is being neglected or mistreated you need to get the Department of Children Services involved. It's not always an easy call to make, but you have to keep the child's best interest in mind. Even if you think DCS will not do anything, as an educator it is your responsibility to inform of any neglect or abuse that might be going on.

Put the parent on notice. By this I mean let the parent know that their child is in danger of failing a grade. Document this by sending a letter home communicating this point. If a parent knows their child may be kept back a year, and they still don't get involved, there is much that will get them involved.

Don't give up. Persistence pays off. Don't give up trying to get through to the parent. Furthermore don't give up on that child. Even the most talkative, out of control brat needs love. Sometimes they simply aren't getting that love at home. Don't let a parent's lack of involvement, keep you from trying your best to reach a child that's been put in your care.