| Parents and guardians should feel free to speak honestly with principals about teachers. Then the principal can speak to the teacher about the issue. The parent or guardian can call attention (1) to a specific event or situation or (2) to an issue he or she would like the principal to watch, or monitor. Principals will keep a parent’s or guardian’s point of view confidential if the parent or guardian makes that specific request. However, sometimes the teacher can figure out which parent or guardian initiated a discussion by the specific nature of the problem. Therefore, parents and guardians should know that when they speak to a principal about a teacher, parents and guardians should ask (1) that the matter be treated confidentially (They should ask the principal that the parent’s or guardian’s name and the student’s name not be used.) and (2) that the teacher should not be notified about the issue. In some cases, the principal will handle the issue in another way. In other cases, the principal will not be able to correct the situation and also maintain confidentiality; parents and guardians may need to choose between taking action or keeping confidentiality. In addition, where the health or safety of an individual is at risk, the principal cannot maintain confidentiality. The Cheltenham School District is working hard to encourage the best teaching, and parents and guardians should feel free to offer constructive advice. For further information about how to proceed, a parent or guardian can contact the school’s PTO officers, whose addresses and phone numbers are listed in the school’s office or in the student directory. For more details, the United Parents Group has prepared a step-by-step list of procedures a parent or guardian can follow, called “How Parents Can Help Students Resolve an Issue…at School.” |
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Speaking to the Principal |