<p>How long would you wait after emailing your child’s teacher (that is the stated method of preference) to clarify something before calling the school? I emailed early on Wednesday and still haven’t had an answer. It’s not the kind of issue that requires research or anything.</p>
<p>If it were me, I’d leave a voicemail for the teacher before I went over his/her head & called the school. Sometimes (though rarely, lately) teachers aren’t good w/responding to emails, but will respond to voicemail.</p>
<p>I think the voicemail thing might be useful too.</p>
<p>I had a situation some years back where I requested a meeting via email with a teacher to clarify her reports of missing work, slipping performance, etc (in middle school). I was brief in the request, and I think the teacher may have taken it to be “terse”, because within 90 minutes or so of sending it, I got another email from a different teacher, literally out of the blue, which more or less “slammed” my child with a list of shortcomings and misbehaviours that were completely unrecognizable to me. </p>
<p>It could have been coincidence, but I interpreted it as a team of teachers “circling the wagons” anticipating an attack of some sort. I had a distinct feeling that the second email came because I was “demanding” a meeting with the first teacher. </p>
<p>My point is simply that a lot of teachers are a lot more paranoid about parental interaction than you might imagine. Probably some with good reason. If you recommunicate with the teacher, try to include something that keeps it light and doesn’t sound like you’re about to pull some kind of “gotcha”, whatever the inquiry is.</p>
<p>You might go to the school’s website or check a handout distributed in the beginning of the school year to see if there is another email address listed with the teacher’s name. You may have sent a message to an account the teacher hardly ever checks.</p>
<p>As the mom of a teacher who I know makes sure to answer her emails from parents promptly, I’d follow up with the teacher today. I can’t think of too many reasons why an email shouldn’t be answered within 48 hours.</p>
<p>Everyone seems to prefer email in our district and they forget to check voicemail.
This week I emailed S’s counselor (First time. S needed permission for something–not terribly urgent). The counselor emailed back almost immediately, saying he’d forwarded my message to the principal (1700 students in this school). Before I could finish typing an email back to the counselor, the principal was on the phone to resolve the issue. Wow! I was so impressed with the fast and efficient “service.”
I know these people are super busy, and expected to wait hours or a day to hear back.</p>
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Well, she sent a letter home expressing preference for this email address, so I think it’s probably the best. But it’s not too soon to leave her a voicemail? I don’t want to be a stalker.</p>
<p>I’d give the teacher through the weekend to respond, then do the voicemail thing. JMHO.</p>
<p>Or you can send a second email using the old “in case you didn’t receive the first email for some reason”</p>
<p>Given that it’s so early in the school year, you might want to verify the e-mail address, either by asking the student (who probably wrote it in his/her notebook the first day of school) or by calling the school office.</p>
<p>Send a second email today! I am a teacher, and we are supposed to answer emails within 24 hours. I can’t imagine that this doesn’t apply to most teachers, unless they are ill or away on a school trip. I, for one, would not mind if I got a second email after two or three days. Perhaps s/he let it slip the mind because school has just begun and we are all busy. “I am sure you are busy, and I don’t mean to pester, but …” would work fine for me. You are entitled to an answer and you don’t have to feel bad about wanting it!</p>
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It was printed in the contract that parents had to sign.</p>
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Thank you. I feel better now!</p>
<p>I’m STILL waiting to hear from a seventh grade English teacher about scheduling an appointment with her —and my d is now a junior in college! Some teachers do play the avoidance game. </p>
<p>In this case, just the idea of a parent meeting ended some unprofessional earmarking, and D was able to learn a ton from the teacher.</p>
<p>Email isn’t perfect. Maybe the teacher never got it, or it was sent to junk, or spammed or something. Or she had a whole lotta junk and deleted it by mistake. I know I have done that.</p>
<p>I would resend. Actually, I would “forward” it from my sent mail- teacher will see it was already sent and when. </p>
<p>usually give the benefit of the doubt the first time I don’t get a response. I have been known to error in my typing, so I double check my addresses</p>
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You were probably correct in your interpretation. Such circling the wagons was exactlly what happened in my oldest son’s middle school experience.</p>
<p>I’d send it as a forward from my sent mail box - and would double check to ensure that it has a subject line. Many email programs are now automatically assuming that emails without a subject line are spam.</p>
<p>I would change the subject line too-- if it went into spam its likely to go again with the same line. Add some details to it. </p>
<p>When this has happened (kids’ school is VERY responsive), I’ve found it went to spam. On occasion I’ve called to follow up after 2 emails. </p>
<p>Or in one case, I emailed the person above (dept head) to ask if they could kindly forward it on my behalf, in case I have the email incorrect and/or there is a problem with the spam filter.</p>