The wide use of e-mail and other advances in technology equip parents to better monitor their child's academic performance. But excessive e-mails got so bad in Howard County that the PTA group that governs the parent-teacher associations in the school system sent a refresher on e-mail etiquette to all chapters.
"We wanted to give parents the heads-up in the beginning of the year to have common courtesy for everyone," said council President Mary Jane Barbato-Grauso. "I said, `Don't badger them.'"
Another complaint from Howard teachers is that many parents insist that they respond quickly, including during class time and planning periods, DeLacy said.
"Sometimes I think there is a sense of entitlement that parents feel as part of the demands they make on teachers and staff," she said.
Barbato-Grauso urged parents to set up appointments with teachers to discuss concerns and to allow a day or two before expecting a response from a teacher.
"Teachers are pretty maxed out with time at school instructing students," Barbato-Grauso said. "They do not have the time to respond 24/7."
Matters of tone
The miscommunications that can occur when electronic interaction replaces face-to-face discussion often result in teachers feeling attacked and insulted.
"People feel freer to say it in an e-mail than they would face to face," Caplan said. "It's fast and easy. Sometimes people send things out before they have time to think. It can be misinterpreted - the tone that is meant."
Even attempts by teachers to keep parents apprised of their child's progress can lead to problems, educators say. A computer program that enables Howard teachers to frequently update grades online has sparked complaints from parents, DeLacy said.
"They say, `Why does my child have this grade, and why has the grade not been posted?'" she said.
john-john.williams@baltsun.com
