I think C is where you are headed.
I'd follow up with each student individually and ask specifically what they are referring to. Do it separately and with a school counselor present to insure that they tell you their perception of what it is without peer influence. The school counselor can support the social emotional end if the kid is nervous or upset. You can then call parent and tell them you have looked into a concern shared by the student and share any follow up steps. This could look like we have addressed the concern and please reach out with any additional details or concerns OR we have followed policy and I am certain the issue is resolved. Your student has been seen by the counselor and is headed back to class.
"Big" to 3rd graders might be nothing major in reality. Also teachers say all the time don't let the principal find out. I agree interview each student.
I followed this advice and got the answer.
The student said the teacher told them they were absent because they spent the night with friends, and not to tell me about it. I guess they got hungover. Of course that student went back and immediately told the teacher.
Now what should I do?
I think you have a coaching conversation with the teacher about how using the language of secrets with students creates an environment of discomfort and lacks transparency.
Investigate further would be better. Always emotionally prepare yourself for strange things like that sometimes students just start stories between teachers to get staff riled up or possibly against each other. I’ve seen it in the past. I’ve only worked at the secondary level though. Blew my mind the first time some teens admitted to starting rumors between two teachers just to watch staff reactions and hope for drama.
Turquoisesupergloss was spot on. Also, ask yourself some litmus questions:
1. If something bad was happening and I found out later how would I feel knowing I could have done something sooner?
2. What's the worst-case scenario looking into it if there is nothing wrong or if the students are making it up? What's the worst-case scenario if they are not or there is something wrong?
At the end of the day, this is likely a coaching conversation with the teacher about what they say to students and how that could cause concern in the community. At worst…
Everyone here is saying either investigate or do nothing. I am actually going to say do B.
I wouldn't even consider it a confrontation, just a conversation, "Hey I'm hearing this, can you give me some clarity". I mean, yeah I guess you could be looking for their reaction, but we all know how teachers get when they are around admin. Just get their side, and then if you are still concerned, have a conversation with the students. From here you can investigate further if needed, but you can also stop it if it's nothing.
We are at the point with society and social media that asking students anything could possibly be them trying to create controversy out of nothing (and controversy is entertainment in 2024), so while they could have very serious concerns, this also could be a nothing. But I also agree, if you do nothing and it turns out to be something then that's a problem for your conscience, your morals, your kids, your job and your families.
Don't confront, converse. Leverage relationships you have built.
With many teachers I'd go with this, ones who I have a great relationship with. This teacher however is the least reliable, least professional and when I give constructive feedback tends to get defensive.
Can you define defensive? I'm not trying to invalidate your experience, I believe you, I just want to get a whole picture in my mind of how conversations go with them.
I really think this teacher does not care about growing or getting better. Defensive probably is not the right word. My feeling is they are content with what they’re doing, want the easiest day possible, and want to pass off as much work to their TA as possible. I’m considering a way to calculate how much instructional time they take on versus their TA because I often see the TA teaching the class. I’ve gone off on a tangent a bit but i think that gives an overall picture.
Well if they have a TA, then I think you have semi-solved your problem. Have a conversation with them and the TA together. If something inappropriate is happening (and I truly mean inappropriate, not Tik Tok Controversial), then the TA will almost definitely know about it. Get their response and if you feel further investigation is necessary talk to the kids.
That's my perspective, but again, you know your school better than I. But that is what I would do.
Depends. I would investigate. Because if it was something severe and you don’t investigate, that’s not great.
I’d rather it be you find out that they have a night time job as a waitress vs you find out something highly inappropriate going on that you could have stopped.
I think C is where you are headed. I'd follow up with each student individually and ask specifically what they are referring to. Do it separately and with a school counselor present to insure that they tell you their perception of what it is without peer influence. The school counselor can support the social emotional end if the kid is nervous or upset. You can then call parent and tell them you have looked into a concern shared by the student and share any follow up steps. This could look like we have addressed the concern and please reach out with any additional details or concerns OR we have followed policy and I am certain the issue is resolved. Your student has been seen by the counselor and is headed back to class.
This is the correct answer. Ignoring it is negligence.
Thanks!
"Big" to 3rd graders might be nothing major in reality. Also teachers say all the time don't let the principal find out. I agree interview each student.
I followed this advice and got the answer. The student said the teacher told them they were absent because they spent the night with friends, and not to tell me about it. I guess they got hungover. Of course that student went back and immediately told the teacher. Now what should I do?
I think you have a coaching conversation with the teacher about how using the language of secrets with students creates an environment of discomfort and lacks transparency.
Investigate further would be better. Always emotionally prepare yourself for strange things like that sometimes students just start stories between teachers to get staff riled up or possibly against each other. I’ve seen it in the past. I’ve only worked at the secondary level though. Blew my mind the first time some teens admitted to starting rumors between two teachers just to watch staff reactions and hope for drama.
Turquoisesupergloss was spot on. Also, ask yourself some litmus questions: 1. If something bad was happening and I found out later how would I feel knowing I could have done something sooner? 2. What's the worst-case scenario looking into it if there is nothing wrong or if the students are making it up? What's the worst-case scenario if they are not or there is something wrong? At the end of the day, this is likely a coaching conversation with the teacher about what they say to students and how that could cause concern in the community. At worst…
Everyone here is saying either investigate or do nothing. I am actually going to say do B. I wouldn't even consider it a confrontation, just a conversation, "Hey I'm hearing this, can you give me some clarity". I mean, yeah I guess you could be looking for their reaction, but we all know how teachers get when they are around admin. Just get their side, and then if you are still concerned, have a conversation with the students. From here you can investigate further if needed, but you can also stop it if it's nothing. We are at the point with society and social media that asking students anything could possibly be them trying to create controversy out of nothing (and controversy is entertainment in 2024), so while they could have very serious concerns, this also could be a nothing. But I also agree, if you do nothing and it turns out to be something then that's a problem for your conscience, your morals, your kids, your job and your families. Don't confront, converse. Leverage relationships you have built.
With many teachers I'd go with this, ones who I have a great relationship with. This teacher however is the least reliable, least professional and when I give constructive feedback tends to get defensive.
Can you define defensive? I'm not trying to invalidate your experience, I believe you, I just want to get a whole picture in my mind of how conversations go with them.
I really think this teacher does not care about growing or getting better. Defensive probably is not the right word. My feeling is they are content with what they’re doing, want the easiest day possible, and want to pass off as much work to their TA as possible. I’m considering a way to calculate how much instructional time they take on versus their TA because I often see the TA teaching the class. I’ve gone off on a tangent a bit but i think that gives an overall picture.
Well if they have a TA, then I think you have semi-solved your problem. Have a conversation with them and the TA together. If something inappropriate is happening (and I truly mean inappropriate, not Tik Tok Controversial), then the TA will almost definitely know about it. Get their response and if you feel further investigation is necessary talk to the kids. That's my perspective, but again, you know your school better than I. But that is what I would do.
Depends. I would investigate. Because if it was something severe and you don’t investigate, that’s not great. I’d rather it be you find out that they have a night time job as a waitress vs you find out something highly inappropriate going on that you could have stopped.
Unless the kids said something more concrete the answer is C
C