Parent spying on teacher..is it right?

Question

I am a pre-k teacher and there is a parent that has been spying and documenting what time i get to work. Now i feel really uncomfortable knowing this. What should I do?

Answer 1

I've taught in daycares, preschools, and Sunday school classrooms. I believe that every parent has a right to know what the teacher is doing when the children are in his/her presence. I applaud the daycares who have decided to use web cams, that require parents to log in to keep an eye on their children throughout the day. The first question, I would be asking myself if I had a parent watching me arrive at work, is do I arrive at work late. If so, is someone else left in charge when I arrive late. If the answer to those questions is yes, maybe the parent doesn't trust the other person left in charge. Or, it could be that the parent thinks that they are constantly "waiting around" for you to arrive and they want to make sure that you are held accountable for your actions, especially if it's affecting the parents schedules. I don't know about where you are, but most places want teachers there 30 minutes prior to check in start time, not the actual school start time. Get there early, do your job, and don't worry about parents who are being overly concerned. Chances are, they either have reason to believe something is "not right" with you, or they've been in situations in the past, with other teachers where something was "not right" and now they are just holding all teachers accountable because of past experience.

Answer 2

I watched my kids teachers because I am primarily responsible for education and their moral and emotional development. I wanted to know what was going on in their daily lives, and the teachers weren't sharing that. I would suggest talking to the principal about policy on parent presence, but if the parent isn't actually doing anything then I don't know what to tell you.

About what time you get there, is there an ongoing issue? I have a child with special needs, and the teacher was using arrival time as an excuse to not provide services from the beginning of the school day. i assume this isn't an issue for you, or you would have mentioned it. Are you arriving early enough to start your day properly? Some teachers at our children's school would walk in at 8am, and then waste half an hour of the school day organizing their papers and coffee. The principal worked with both parents and teachers to straighten it all up and  it was somewhat better.

Answer 3

If you  are doing every thing right,who cares who is watching you as long as you know who they are a parent.

Answer 4

it's okay because they are probably just a parent who likes to be involved with their kids and want their kid to have a good education. but if the spying get any seriouser then it could be a problem. if they are following you around other than at school then you should tell someone immediatley. the parents should not be going into your personal life. just try to ignore it for now. hopefully this advice will work!

Answer 5

yes.They are simply observing your teaching methods

Answer 6

talk to that parent in private. ask her why is she doing that.

Answer 7

Ask the person why they are spying on you. Maybe they don't think that you have noticed.

Once they know that you know...The spying should stop.

Answer 8

I've popped in from time to time to see what has been going on in the classroom, that's just normal concern for your child......stalking them and watching them arrive at work is a little creepy

Answer 9

yea pretty much cause I did that before on my cousin's child...

Answer 10

The director of your school needs to speak to this parent immediately, and ask what they are doing, and why. The times you get to work and leave are between you and your boss, not the parent. Does she think you are late all the time? Doesn't matter - if your boss is ok with it. She needs to be told to MYOB or find a new childcare center. If you see him/her doing this and the director does nothing, then I would tell your boss to take  care of it or you will file a report with the police and local department of social services, as they others above have said. She or he will not want that.

The other thing you could do is, if you are comfortable or your boss doesn't take care of it, is just confront the parent.  "I have noticed that you are documenting my in and out times. I'd like to know why you are doing this, as it makes me uncomfortable, and franklyI feel like I am being stalked." Then see what he or she says. If he or she says that it is because you're late or whatever tell them that that is between you and the center director, and you will expect this to stop immediately, or you will file charges.

We had a male single parent at our school who would sit in his car and watch the staff on the playground. I had to start staying late and approaching the vehicle nightly to see "if I could help" He got a clue pretty quick. Often confronting them is the best, since once they know they've been found out they are more embarrassed than anything..

Answer 11

If you punctual in your timings and work why are bothering about them? May be it is coincidental.

Answer 12

You must talk to the school administration right away. Tell the school administrator you feel you're being "stalked" by a parent and ask that the school put a stop to it.

"Stalking" is a criminal offense  so use that term to force the school to have to get law enforcement involved. "Spying" is not a legal term and cannot be easily enforced.

Do not talk to that parent as someone has advised you to do. It may become a fight and then that parent will make it an issue, not him/her having stalked you but that you confronted him/her and starting a fight. Let the school administration handle it.

Answer 13

just be a good teacher and do nothingwrong and you will be safe ,and the parent will get bored with it

Spying is never really right ,

but this is an imperfect world and many wrong things happen

confront the guy and ask what the problem is.

Answer 14

Hello.  I don't think there is much you can do, concerning the spying parent.  Have you had a conference with her regarding this?  If you can...have the principal or director in on the conference...take notes, document all that you notice or what has been said to you.

Answer 15

no is not right..........unless the teacher does something bad to your child...

Answer 16

That parent is doing that for a reason... is someone asking her to do that?  Is she a parent of aone of your students?  Talk to your principal or immediate supervisor about this.

good luck,

Answer 17

are you coming to work late? starting class late? some moms are just real busy-bodies. I remind parents class starts at 9, and they should not come to the room before 8:50. I have two families still this late in the year that are sitting in the parking lot when I arrive at 8:30! (and they promptly say I was late if the director is in the room!) I explained to the director the situation, and she shrugs off any parent comments, and has even told the families that THEY are arriving too early! If you are not starting class late, then don't let it bother you!

Answer 18

file police report..

actually one can call it stalking--a crime.

Answer 19

Any good pre-school should welcome parents into the classroom from time to time. How do you know that parent is documenting what time you get to work? Maybe they are just making notes for work while they wait. Invite that parent into the classroom to spend a few hours with the kids. Maybe this will ease both your minds and maybe you'll find out what is really going on. Or maybe that parent will just turnout to be a syco parent and you can be done with them.

Answer 20

This person sounds crazy.Are you doing anything wrong?Thats what  they are trying to figure out.I would stay away from this person.Talk to your boss and have him deal with this parent .I think there is a stalking law in every state.

Answer 21

Talk to your boss. Start documenting what time you realize they're there and when they leave, so you have proof of the stalking. I had a mother of student in 5th actually stand at the door and wait for her daughter for like a half hour. Her daughter liked me and would hug me and call me her "school mom," which I discouraged even before I learned this woman had "been away." It's very scary and if you get no satisfaction with your boss, I'd talk to the police and ask them what can be done.

Answer 22

You should discuss this with your superiors but I think the parent is just concerned. If your school has an open-door policy, why don't you invite her to sit in and observe the class?

Answer 23

If it were me, go to your principal and have him/her confront the parent and find out what they are up to.  That just sounds wierd.  I think that borders stalking to me.