Parents being nasty about missing deadline

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Parents being nasty about missing deadline

by Missterrys

Oct 15, 2017

I don't know what else to do, and right now I am feeling utterly defeated.

This is a bit long but bear with me, as I need advice, and want all the info available for review up front.

I am taking my students on a field trip (middle school) and have received horrible emails from parents who missed the deadline because they forgot, and are angry with me because I won't accept their late permission forms.

I posted the field trip permission form on the school website on sept 11. Most forms were complete, but there were still students without their form. No students may attend a field trip without the form for legal reasons. I emailed those parents who hadn't submitted on Sept 20 to let them know about the trip. I sent another email to each parent missing the formon Sep 29 reminding them, always including the link, as well as highlighting the strict deadline. Finally, I emailed the stragglers individually on Oct 6 that the forms had to be submitted by Oct 11. Al...See MoreI don't know what else to do, and right now I am feeling utterly defeated.

This is a bit long but bear with me, as I need advice, and want all the info available for review up front.

I am taking my students on a field trip (middle school) and have received horrible emails from parents who missed the deadline because they forgot, and are angry with me because I won't accept their late permission forms.

I posted the field trip permission form on the school website on sept 11. Most forms were complete, but there were still students without their form. No students may attend a field trip without the form for legal reasons. I emailed those parents who hadn't submitted on Sept 20 to let them know about the trip. I sent another email to each parent missing the formon Sep 29 reminding them, always including the link, as well as highlighting the strict deadline. Finally, I emailed the stragglers individually on Oct 6 that the forms had to be submitted by Oct 11. Also, from Sep 26 every single day I had students take a photo of the website link and text it to their parents, vociferously stressing to the students that I hadn't received their form.

I am taking 250 students over 2 separate days, and have to have waivers from each student for the venue completed and confirmed, organize the wrist bands with student info for every student, organize the medication, divide the students into 32 teams to form four balanced groups so the venue can accommodate the numbers, coordinate the chaperones, as well as coordinate with the venue to ensure they have all their requirements. I am doing this all by myself, and absolutely no assistance from the other teacher (another story, he screwed up so badly that he created more work) and have one week to turn around the information, and get everything completed.

I have had a number of parents contact me by email to berate me for not accepting their permission form that was submitted after the deadline date. After I explained the necessity for the deadline, they got nasty. One father brought out the old chestnut "I'm a lawyer" which didn't give him the desired effect, and has now written to the principal to request that the decision be overridden. In he his email, he was quite vicious about me and my "supposed" deadline, and that this was his first time dealing with such an uncompromising and unsupportive teacher. My correspondence with him was absolutely professional and respectful (I've been teaching for 10 years and was in the private sector for 20 years so I know how to conduct myself in these matters)

My principal is supportive and has said he will back me up. He was astounded when he realized the lengths to which I had gone to contact parents so my students could attend this trip.

What else am I supposed to do? How do I get parents to fill out the forms on time, and stress to them how important is the deadline?

I know there is nothing I can do about the parents who are disrespectful of the deadline, and feel an exception must be made for them. I am looking for suggestions on what else I can do to preempt getting the nasty emails, and make sure the parents don't overlook my request.

Thank you

Comment

(3)

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men52 I am a parent of a now 8th grader, and I agree with the principal that you went over and above to communicate to parents. There is no way that any teacher has done more then remind parents more then twice after the initial notice that the kids are going on a trip. I say don't do anything about those rude parents who are emailing. At the least forwa...See More

Oct 15, 2017

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MacQ You've gone above and beyond. Feel good about yourself!

Oct 15, 2017

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flacka You have done waaaay more than what is required or expected. Don't let the parents put their lack of action back on you - they are looking for someone else to blame and you are it. Forward the nasty emails to the principal and don't for a second feel bad about it or blame yourself. I bet they won't forget the next deadline!

Oct 16, 2017

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