Parents often make many mistakes in their child's relationship with their child's teachers. For example, they forget that the teacher is a professional, that he must respect confidentiality, or that they are not allowed to raise their voice.

In the lines below, a teacher from one of the best CBSE schools in Kolkata explains how parents often "poison" the parent-educator relationship.

Parents and teachers have the same goals, right?

Both parents and teachers theoretically share the same goal - namely - the well-being of the child. However, in the experience of teachers from a top English medium school in Kolkata, it often happens that they are in a situation of contradiction and conflict. Parenting is not an easy job and every parent focuses on what is best for their child. Teachers, on the other hand, make decisions about what is best for the group. This discrepancy between teachers and parents frequently creates a conflict of interest when it comes to what is in the best interests of the child.

Both home and school education must complement each other

A good education cannot replace what parents teach their children or the other way around; both are indispensable in raising the child. But, in the experience of teachers at Kolkata no 1 school, it was noticed how the conflict between parties can do more harm than good. It doesn't have to be that way. As educators, we need to be better at transparency in classroom events and building relationships with the families we serve. And as parents, we must stop looking at teachers as an exclusively independent activity and treat the school and educators as partners in raising the child.

To this end, here are what teachers from one of the best CBSE schools in Kolkata think are the four mistakes that parents usually make when interacting with their children's teachers, as well as how the two parties can promote a more positive partnership.

1. Educators/teachers are not treated as professionals

Teaching is a difficult job, however even at Kolkata no 1 school there is a certain lack of respect for the profession. Some parents think that it all comes down to long vacations. Other parents imagine that the job of an educator does not involve more than assigning homework.

Treat the child's teacher with respect - like a doctor. When we receive medical advice or a diagnosis, most of us would not automatically assume that the doctor does not know what he is talking about. Teachers are experts in their field and have taught and educated hundreds, if not thousands of children in their careers. I don't ask parents to blindly accept everything a teacher (or doctor) says - in the end, you have to support your child. That being said, treat educators as professionals trained in their field.

2. We forget that teachers have a high level of confidentiality

Because educators/teachers are often the first to identify mental health issues, disabilities, and abuse at home, they know things about families and children that are extremely sensitive and private. Schools often know more about their children than their parents.

If you feel that the teacher has not told you everything about an incident in which your child is involved, it may be so. And even if it's quite frustrating, you don't have to ask for details about other children in the child's class or their parents. Educators/teachers are trained to honour the confidentiality of the students and families they serve and parents must respect this.

3. Talk to the teacher for the first time

If you have a problem that needs to be addressed with the child's teacher, contact the teacher first - do not go to the principal's office immediately. School administrators are extremely busy people. They deal with an enormous number of issues every day, many of which involve the safety of hundreds, if not thousands, of students. Although you may think that moving the child a few benches forward is of great importance, calling the principal is not always the best way to deal with the situation.

4. Parents automatically become their children's lawyers

Children and young people often perceive a situation only through their eyes and do not think outside their experiences. Add the emotion and chaos of everyday life to school, and the child's interpretation of events can become distorted when an incident occurs.

Although it is important to contact your child's teacher if you think there is a conflict or problem, do not automatically assume that your child's version is also true. Although we would like to believe that all children show remarkable character, children often lie to escape trouble. This should come as no surprise, but sometimes children act differently at school than at home.

During a teacher’s career, there are countless meetings with parents who immediately jump to conclusions based on the version told by their children. Try to find out the version told by an adult first before making assumptions. Educators are experts in resolving conflicts, trust their judgment, and do not forget that they only want the best for your children.

5 things teachers should know about your child

The role of the teacher is extremely important for the student to love or hate a certain subject. But for the teacher to find the best way to interact with each child, he needs additional information provided by the parents. Read about what a top English medium school in Kolkata advises to never hide from your children's teachers. Apart from parents, teachers are the ones who manage to know best the character or qualities of a child. For the education process to take place optimally - a constructive dialogue between parents and teachers is necessary.

1. Hobbies and interests

Teachers need to know about the child's interests and leisure activities. This will make it easier for the child to improve their talents and skills during class. The teacher will be able to recommend meditations and extra activities that stimulate the child's talent.

2. Difficult subjects

Every parent knows the school subjects that his child feels master of and which ones he does not excel at. By providing this information to teachers, you will make it possible for them to pay special attention to the child's weaknesses by finding the right way to transmit the information so that the child can fully understand it; this will help improve the child's understanding.

3. Allergies and health problems

It is vitally important to let the teacher know about any health problems your child may have. Even the most insignificant inconveniences must be shared to make it possible for the teacher to react faster in case of any complications. Some medical conditions require special treatment and attention.

4. Family problems

If there is a newborn in the family, the loss of a parent or relative, a divorce, etc. - all influences the mental health of the child. For this reason, it is very important to inform the teacher.

5. Sensitive things

Some children are shy, have problems with social integration or have difficulty communicating with other children or adults, stutter, or have some fears. By knowing this information about your child, the teacher will be able to take an individual approach to make him feel comfortable and understood or to prevent any threat to his safety or self-esteem.

Make sure you always inform the people you leave your children with about these specific details. This could help avoid any misunderstandings, surprises, or aggressions.