Case
Parents Overstepping Boundaries

I recently emailed a parent about her child not completing her homework. The parent responded and said, "I know. When I dropped her off for Early Bird (our before school program), we looked in her desk and found her homework there". This told me that the parent went in my classroom 1) without my permission and 2) when I was not there. I feel this was wrong. I do not know who allowed them to walk the halls before hours, but other children's information could have been out, the parent could have gone through my things, anything could have happened. I have started locking my doors, and taking the key; I know teachers can be sneaky as well. Am I wrong for going to this extent?

Posted on: 10/18/15 | Views: 1255
Solution #1
Top Solution
No, you have every right to lock your classroom door. However, I would notify the parent and kindly suggest that they not enter the classroom if you are not there. Frame it in a way in which you are concerned for their safety and protecting the confidental files you may have in the classroom.

Pointing out that your wish for the parents not to be in the classroom unattended is for their personal safety and well being is a great way to get them to actually abide by at rule and not get offended by any accusations. Good point!

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Solution #2
No, you are not wrong at all. We are required to lock our doors everyday when we leave. I believe that is very disturbing that someone came in your room when you were not there. I would check with my administrator that it is okay to lock the door if I were you, but yes lock it!

I agree with this statement. This is exactly what i would do.

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Solution #3
I do not think that there is anything wrong with locking your classroom door! It is better to be safe than sorry - you never know what another person might do. If the parent notices this and asks you about accessing the classroom, I would just politely explain that you have recently started locking your door because of the confidential files that are in the classroom. If the parent has a problem with this, maybe make some sort of arrangement where you can leave homework sheets (or whatever the parent is trying to look at) in a folder outside the classroom door for pickup? Or invite them to come in some time when you're there and you can go over the homework sheets with them personally.
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Solution #4
I have to agree with the other posting, I don't think that anything wrong was done here. It is your classroom, your rules, no one should be in there without permission from you.
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Solution #5
Not at all! Many of us teachers will need to pay for materials for the students. It is not made to lock your belongings in your classroom.
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Solution #6
I feel that the parent going in the classroom without consent from you as the teacher is wrong and sneaky. I feel that the parent should have contacted you about wanting to look in the chid's desk first. I also feel that you should keep your door lock when you are not present in the room. This keeps not only your things safe but the students things safe as well. So no i feel you are most definetly not in the wrong.
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Solution #7
No, not at all. You also have your own personal items in the classroom as well that you do not want anyone taking.
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Solution #8
I don’t think you are wrong for this. It is your job to teach and protect your students and their information. No one who is not authorized should be in your classroom without you.
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Solution #9
I don't think that this is wrong of you to do at all! There can be very sensitive information in your classroom regarding yourself and/or your students and for someone other than you to be in your classroom especially without your permission can lead to a very bad situation. I see it as you wouldn't want someone to come into your house without your permission and the same thing goes for your classroom as that is another "house" of yours.
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Solution #10
You are not wrong by any means. I know when I get my own classroom it will be like an extension of my home. My personal space when not in use for my students. There is a time and place for parents and students to be in a classroom and it is definitely not when the teacher is not there
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Solution #11
You have not done anything wrong! I agree that the parent was wrong. Furthermore, the student still should have had time to complete the homework in Early Bird. I would make the school administration aware of what happen and ask that they address it with the parent. Continuing to lock your classroom door would also be a great idea. You want to make sure you are covering yourself and your students' confidentiality.

I agree with locking the classroom door, it's for everyone's safety. The child should have completed their homework before school.

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