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11-24-2007, 03:21 PM
|  | In Spanish, I'm Marijuana | | Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Lawn-Guy-Land, NY
Posts: 28,768
| | What Not to Say at Parent-Teacher Conferences | |
OK, so this is more like Welcome to Hubby's Day. But he keeps telling me these stories that I'm sure other teachers can relate to.
Teacher (Hubby): Your daughter needs to work more on her math skills.
Parent: That's OK. She wants to be an actress. (turning to child, and in all seriousness  You won't need math when you're an actress.
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MJ
It's extraordinary to me that the United States can find $700 billion to save Wall Street and the entire G8 can't find $25 billion dollars to save 25,000 children who die every day from preventable diseases.~ Bono |
11-24-2007, 03:57 PM
|  | Got my hands over my eyes | | Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Maryland
Posts: 6,732
| | Re What Not to Say at Parent-Teacher Conferences | |
Did hubby point out the number of celebrities who get ripped off by their accountants? Who need to count the number of days left on probation?
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Judy |
11-24-2007, 03:57 PM
|  | thread-killa | | Join Date: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,317
| | Re What Not to Say at Parent-Teacher Conferences | |
Response: Fabulous! Then she won't know or care when her handlers bilk her out of millions of dollars because she doesn't know how to manage money. I'll just let New York State know they should exempt her from the state-mandated curriculum.  |
11-24-2007, 06:33 PM
|  | Epinions Members | | Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Granite State
Posts: 10,466
| | Re What Not to Say at Parent-Teacher Conferences | |
I thought this thread was supposed to be funny? |
11-24-2007, 08:04 PM
| | Got my hands over my eyes | | Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Maryland
Posts: 6,732
| | Re What Not to Say at Parent-Teacher Conferences | |
Quote: phoenixx said
 I thought this thread was supposed to be funny? | Go for it!
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Judy |
11-24-2007, 09:30 PM
| | Registered Member | | Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Millcreek
Posts: 30
| | Re What Not to Say at Parent-Teacher Conferences | |
I think that is funny. Still math is important, even if she becomes an actress. Trusting people will only take you so far. Sure she doesn't have to get an A in statistics and high school math isn't going to tell her if she is getting paid enough in royalties. Taking accounting would help. That's college level. At least there'e a union. |
11-25-2007, 01:17 AM
| | Got my hands over my eyes | | Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Maryland
Posts: 6,732
| | Re What Not to Say at Parent-Teacher Conferences | |
Makes you wonder if the mom is afraid the kid will know more than she does if she actually learns something about fractions.
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Judy |
11-25-2007, 05:50 PM
| | In Spanish, I'm Marijuana | | Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Lawn-Guy-Land, NY
Posts: 28,768
| | Re What Not to Say at Parent-Teacher Conferences | |
OK, so later this week Hubby's going to have more ELEMENTARY SCHOOL parent-teacher conferences and more FUNNY ANECDOTES of crazy things parents said during these conferences. Is there any hope at ALL that we can keep this thread on that, or should I abandon all hope? Not that I don't want to talk about high schoolers taking trig and the need for better science ed in this country, but I really was hoping for a teacher conference anecdote exchange here.
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MJ
It's extraordinary to me that the United States can find $700 billion to save Wall Street and the entire G8 can't find $25 billion dollars to save 25,000 children who die every day from preventable diseases.~ Bono |
11-25-2007, 05:58 PM
|  | Epinions Members | | Join Date: May 2001 Location: South of Bawlmer
Posts: 6,371
| | Re What Not to Say at Parent-Teacher Conferences | |
I've got an Anecdote, MJ: At my Parent-Teacher Conference with my youngest. Back when she was in first grade and being difficult in a precocious way (read: hard to punish or correct when you don't know if it was an innocent act of "show me how" or a contrived act of "give me attention")...her teachers and I had already been through a volley of notes concerning "She did this" and "She did that."
I walk in the room, we shake hands... we sit down.. a moment of silence.
"Well, now, she's piece of work, isn't she?" said I.
We all bust out laughing.
What an understatement.
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11-25-2007, 07:44 PM
|  | I'm Sparkly in Real Life | | Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: It's not heaven, it's Iowa
Posts: 23,990
| | Re What Not to Say at Parent-Teacher Conferences | |
Quote: mjfrombuffalo said
OK, so later this week Hubby's going to have more ELEMENTARY SCHOOL parent-teacher conferences and more FUNNY ANECDOTES of crazy things parents said during these conferences. Is there any hope at ALL that we can keep this thread on that, or should I abandon all hope? Not that I don't want to talk about high schoolers taking trig and the need for better science ed in this country, but I really was hoping for a teacher conference anecdote exchange here. | I love reading funny anecdotes (anyone want to place a bet on how many times I had to re-type that word? Sheesh!!) about Mr. MJ's workday. Keep them coming, I vote. 
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11-25-2007, 08:02 PM
| | In Spanish, I'm Marijuana | | Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Lawn-Guy-Land, NY
Posts: 28,768
| | Re What Not to Say at Parent-Teacher Conferences | |
Any mods around want to try to split this up?
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MJ
It's extraordinary to me that the United States can find $700 billion to save Wall Street and the entire G8 can't find $25 billion dollars to save 25,000 children who die every day from preventable diseases.~ Bono |
11-25-2007, 08:47 PM
|  | Housemother to the World | | Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: A Capital Ship For an Ocean Trip
Posts: 3,291
| | Re What Not to Say at Parent-Teacher Conferences | |
Sorry, MJ. You hit the mother of all hot buttons by mistake, LOL. (And I though breastfeeding in public was the biggie, right up there with waterboarding.)
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11-25-2007, 09:21 PM
|  | Yes, I am just this cute! | | Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: The Gem State
Posts: 7,226
| | Re What Not to Say at Parent-Teacher Conferences | |
Parent Teacher Conference story my sister shared last week (not her BTW)
Teacher is explaining to the parent that his son has some behavior issues that are disruptive in class.
Parent (who is a pediatrician) agrees.
Teacher then suggests to parent that he'd be wise to study up on and learn about childhood development.
Parent agrees. The pediatrician wasn't insulted but was actually glad the teacher was encouraging parents to increase their knowledge.
He never told the teacher what he does for a living but I'm sure someday she'll find out!
__________________ Margo
Quote: | Latter-day Saints as citizens are to seek out and then uphold leaders who will act with integrity and are wise, good, and honest. Principles compatible with the gospel may be found in various political parties. |
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11-26-2007, 01:51 PM
|  | Hello, I'm Deb | | Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Oregon
Posts: 7,208
| | Re What Not to Say at Parent-Teacher Conferences | |
The discussion on math and science requirements is now in the Symposium (do not stop, do not pass Go) and we now return this thread to MJ's original intent . . . until it gets sidetracked again. 
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11-26-2007, 11:05 PM
|  | Hot Lips | | Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: I'm not sure
Posts: 7,886
| | Re What Not to Say at Parent-Teacher Conferences | |
I have conferences in 2 weeks. I'll have plenty to contribute!! I have a funny email exchange tho...
We have an online grading system. Parents can access student grades at any time.
Parent: Is the grade I see on my child's listing the real grade?
Teacher: Yes it is.
Parent: What does IC mean?
Teacher It means that assignment is incomplete.
Parent: Can we do extra credit?
Teacher: No, but your child can do the incomplete assignment and turn it in to have the IC removed.
Parent: Oh, well can we still do extra credit?
Teacher: No.
Parent: When should the assignment be turned in to you?
Teacher: As soon as it is completed, hopefully before the end of the marking period.
Parent: After we turn in the assignments can we do extra credit?
Teacher: (Pouring a huge glass of wine) NO!!!
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11-26-2007, 11:10 PM
| | thread-killa | | Join Date: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,317
| | Re What Not to Say at Parent-Teacher Conferences | |
Note to parents: EXTRA credit is for students who have completed the REGULAR credit assignments. Hence, the term "extra." Not: "replacement." |
11-27-2007, 10:17 AM
|  | Mom of the Four Men | | Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Canada, sort of
Posts: 17,264
| | Re What Not to Say at Parent-Teacher Conferences | |
Ok, funny exchange from when the kids were still in school:
teacher: His math skills are just appalling.
me: They are? (very surprised since he was doing algebra with his dad for fun, in second grade)
teacher: He got most of the questions wrong on this test.
me: That's pretty bad.
Kevin: May I look at the test?
teacher (defensive by now): so, you're saying this is my fault?
me: stunned slience
Kevin: If I can't see what he did wrong, I can't work on it with him.
teacher: look, he got 2 out of five wrong, meaning he only got 80% correct.
Kevin: actually, that would be 60% wrong. Is there anything else you'd like to discuss?
teacher: no wonder he can't do math, his parents aren't supportive.
me: muffled laughter followed by a fit of coughing.
Kevin: now, I am going to look at this test. (grabs test)
Kevin: so, the question he got wrong was, "Lucy is sitting at the table eating her green beans. Her mom wachted her eat two, leaves the room, comes back in and the green beans are gone but the dog is sitting by the table wagging happily.How many beans did the girl eat?" #1 wrote that since the mom didn't see the dog eat the green beans, she should assume that the girl ate her beans because we don't know if she's a liar or not.
me: flat out laughing so hard I nearly break something.
me: so, you wrote that test yourself?
teacher: sorry, it's time for my next appointment.
She was probably the worst teacher there. His best teacher was one of those teachers you remember for your whole life, so it's not like I didn't just love some of his others. It's just that this particluar one wasn't bright enough to wrok at McDonalds, IMO.
Last edited by hadassahchana; 11-27-2007 at 10:24 AM.
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11-27-2007, 10:20 AM
|  | Insert witty comment here | | Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Alabama
Posts: 18,575
| | Re What Not to Say at Parent-Teacher Conferences | |
 Soooo... where was the MATH in that question?!
__________________ Melanie
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11-27-2007, 10:22 AM
| | Mom of the Four Men | | Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Canada, sort of
Posts: 17,264
| | Re What Not to Say at Parent-Teacher Conferences | |
Oh! From the other side of the desk, so to speak:
I was teaching piano in university to make extra money. I had a run-in with a parent over her 4th grader's talent. The mom brought in a girl who did not want to be there, and made that perfectly clear. The mom announced that she would pay for one month's lessons if I could teach her child to sound like Elton John in four weeks. 4. As in, EJ is a great pianist and his music shows that he spent a lot of time in the practice room.
I told her that the daughter would have to start with a beginner book and scales, learning to read music etc. just like the other kids. the mom said,"So, you're telling me that you aren't qualified to be a piano teacher?"
Since this camel couldn't take any more straws, I went back to babysitting the perfect children of some of my profs.  |
11-27-2007, 12:14 PM
| | I'm Sparkly in Real Life | | Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: It's not heaven, it's Iowa
Posts: 23,990
| | Re What Not to Say at Parent-Teacher Conferences | |
Quote: hadassahchana said
Ok, funny exchange from when the kids were still in school:
teacher: His math skills are just appalling.
me: They are? (very surprised since he was doing algebra with his dad for fun, in second grade)
teacher: He got most of the questions wrong on this test.
me: That's pretty bad.
Kevin: May I look at the test?
teacher (defensive by now): so, you're saying this is my fault?
me: stunned slience
Kevin: If I can't see what he did wrong, I can't work on it with him.
teacher: look, he got 2 out of five wrong, meaning he only got 80% correct.
Kevin: actually, that would be 60% wrong. Is there anything else you'd like to discuss?
teacher: no wonder he can't do math, his parents aren't supportive.
me: muffled laughter followed by a fit of coughing.
Kevin: now, I am going to look at this test. (grabs test)
Kevin: so, the question he got wrong was, "Lucy is sitting at the table eating her green beans. Her mom wachted her eat two, leaves the room, comes back in and the green beans are gone but the dog is sitting by the table wagging happily.How many beans did the girl eat?" #1 wrote that since the mom didn't see the dog eat the green beans, she should assume that the girl ate her beans because we don't know if she's a liar or not.
me: flat out laughing so hard I nearly break something.
me: so, you wrote that test yourself?
teacher: sorry, it's time for my next appointment. | I think I just hurt something. 
And I think #1 got that one right, because everyone knows dogs don't eat green beans. 
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11-27-2007, 01:01 PM
| | Yes, I am just this cute! | | Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: The Gem State
Posts: 7,226
| | Re What Not to Say at Parent-Teacher Conferences | |
Quote: lynnzop said
I think I just hurt something.
And I think #1 got that one right, because everyone knows dogs don't eat green beans. | I know mine won't. Unless it is still wrapped in the bacon.
__________________ Margo
Quote: | Latter-day Saints as citizens are to seek out and then uphold leaders who will act with integrity and are wise, good, and honest. Principles compatible with the gospel may be found in various politic | | |
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