An angry parent visits ...?

Question

An angry parent visits you as the result of a fight between their child and another child on the playground. How will you handle the angry parent?

Answer 1

Initially with the emphasis on empathy to reduce the anger situation!

Answer 2

Let the Principal know what's going on.

Ask the parent to have a seat.

If they refuse, I would sit or lean on my

desk. That way I look calm, and not

combative.

Before hand I would have investigated

the fight, talking to each child separately.

Parents hate it when you don't have a

clue.  So know what's going on.

If you aren't aware of what happen, tell the

parent you will find out more about the

fight.

I would never mention the other child's name.

Answer 3

you need to have a administrator in on that visit as well as the other child's teacher

Answer 4

I would conduct a meeting with all concerned parties in the presence of my administrator.

Answer 5

What? That makes no sense.

Answer 6

Get the angry parent away from the kids, if they are around, and somewhere s/he can cool down.  Remain calm.  Enlist help, or at least let another adult know what's going on.

Remember the parent is acting in "defensive animal" mode -- his/her child was threatened and they are reacting -- so don't expect reason, logic or an open-mind until they calm down.  Everything they say or do will be coming out of emotion, not ration, so get them to as calm a mental and physical state as you can, e.g. by letting them blow off some steam, before you even begin to address the situation.

Answer 7

set up a mediation between the parents of the 2 children who fought, unless you were a witness as the teacher i would stay out of it because there is a chance this parent could accidentally get angry with you and vice versa...report the whole thing to the office and let them sort it out, but never meet with one set of parents w/o also meeting with the others...