One of the things I enjoy most about being in education is the fact that not one day is like the last. As a school administrator I always try to stay prepared for anything. One common mistake in dealing with the school I see many parents make in an effort to stand up for their child is what I have named the “Office Charge”. This is when the angry parent will forgo calling ahead to make an appointment and will come in the office kicking and screaming. While as a parent you have every right to speak with your schools administration, you do your child a disservice when you approach the situation in a defensive accusatory manner. Not only do you make yourself look bad, two other more important things can happen. One, you set a bad example for your child, this is not a proper manner in which to deal with others, secondly you will only really succeed in getting the school administrator in a defensive posture which is not good if you wish to get anywhere with them. A few TIPPS for dealing with disagreement:

• Remember whenever you find yourself in opposition there is always another side. You owe it to everyone involved to hear all the facts not just your child’s story. Keep in mind most administrators and teachers have no interest picking on your child.
• Remain open minded and understanding. School rules apply to every student, so regardless of your opinion or philosophy regarding discipline or policy, keep in mind the school is just carrying out the mandates set forth by the school board. Rules were not just created to get your student.

This posting was written by Justin Aaron Foster