Let's face it. As a teacher with any amount of experience, we've all had them. Not the kids. The parents. Those parents who subtlety work to subterfuge any attempt to move forward with your class. The parent who insists that their child never lies. The parent who believes you and you alone are singling out their child, which is the true cause of their misbehavior. Sound familiar? Good.
As as teacher, we've all been there before. The question always remains, what to do in those situations? Obviously, being completely honest with the parent is never really an option, and subtlety is most often missed by a parent with an agenda. That's where this new book comes in, "How to Handle Difficult Parents: A Teacher's Survival Guide" by Suzanne Capek Tingley.
Both knee slapping funny and filled cover to cover with insightful tips, "How to Handle Difficult Parents" should be a must-read for any teacher, both new and experienced. Tingley, an experienced teacher, principal and administrator herself, approaches these situations similarly. First, she introduces each difficult parent "type" by setting up scenarios that teachers may very easily find themselves in. Through ingenious use of a dialogue, you are suddenly placed in the situation, some of which I have had happen to me in my sixteen years in education. Then, Tingley offers specific suggestions and tips for teachers to follow. Infused with all of this, Tingley practical approach and great sense of humor make reading this book not only informative, but a delight.
For example, Tingley takes on the "Caped Crusader" parent: the one that works to make sure their thoughts and ideas are followed by everyone else. This parent often has issues with curriculum and the choices teachers make. While the parent has every right to complain for their child, they definitely do not have a right to complain for all the children. Tingley offers some great tips about how to fend off this parent, in a polite and congenial manner. All of the tips are practical and professional.
I can envision a teacher, preparing for a conference with a parent, quickly reading a chapter that applies to the parent to "arm themselves" for the conversation ahead. Most often, these difficult parents all work within a certain parameter, that they are advocating on behalf of the best interest in their child. Tingley reminds us, as professionals, our job is to look out for the interests of all the children in the classroom. By using her ideas, teachers will be more empowered for that goal.
I highly recommend "How to Deal with Difficult Parents" to be at least in every school's professional library, if not in every classroom, as a user- friendly guide for teachers to deal with our constituency, and at least to have a good laugh while doing so!
