What are the various other schools' policy on parent visit ?
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Not meant to offend anyone with this post, but these are my thoughts on the topic and it will be my first and last post in this thread.
In my opinion, if I decide to send my child to a particular school, I am obligated from the day I register my child there, to obey the rules, regulations and policies set up by the school to protect the very people whom we love dearly, non other than our own kids who are students of the school. If I am not happy with the rules set up by the school after my kid has been enrolled, then by all means withdraw the child from that school after knowing the rules, no point whining and expecting the school to make an exception just for me.
Rules are rules for everyone, not with the exception of. The MOE has empowered the school Principal and his/her staff to decide what they deem best for their school and their students, so it is pointless bringing up school rules to the MOE unless it is a matter of life and death issue, which, in my opinion, will never happen. If that happens, then the Principal is not fit for the job if MOE has to step in over some rules that the Principal made.
Parents are visitors to the school. Period. No exception. As visitors to the school, we have to obey rules set up by the school for visitors, no questions about that. Rules are rules, not meant for me to question the rationale behind it, especially if it concerns the safety of my child in the school. I may or may not agree with certain rules of the school, but it is not for me to question why certain rules are meant the way they are meant to be.
Also no point asking around and comparing what other schools are doing with regard to their policy on visitors lingering on in the school premises for a ‘so-called’ personal valid reason as every school has its own different set of rules, unless of course, one is willing to move his/her child to that particular school which has rules that agree with the particular parent’s point of view of lingering on in the school premises for a ‘so-called’ valid reason in the opinion of the parent. Imagine what sort of chaos there would be in schools if every parent insist on lingering on in the school premises for a ‘so-called’ personal valid reason.
I have a friend whose child is handicapped and needs to move around in a wheelchair and needs her help to buy food for him from the school canteen during recess and lunch and if there is anyone with a ‘valid’ reason to stay behind, it has to be her, but she has not overstayed her welcome in the school all these years. She sends her child to school, drops him off at the gates and let the school take over from there. She will drop by again during recess and later at lunch time if he has to stay back for activities, other than that, she has no time to linger on in the school premises and has never come across as being a nuisance or a security threat to the school. Does not staying around in the school from morning assembly to recess to lunch time equate to not loving her son? I don’t think so, but more so due to the fact that she respects the school’s rules for visitors and trusting the fact that the school knows what is best for her handicapped child and his other able bodied schoolmates.
I have spoken my piece. Hope I didn’t offend anyone, just my personal thoughts on this issue. Have a great weekend. -
Replying to 25hourmaid:
Since you said that having differing views does not mean to offend anyone, so likewise.
Rules are made by people. If people don’t question it, just follow it, then it defeat the purpose. Think: in human society, at first, the ‘rule’ is ‘no rule’. Then people encounter difficulty with the ‘rule’ (of no rule), so people say lets have rule; thus there is rule. Thus, rules evolves. Laws need to be reviewed and old laws and rules need to go and make way for new one. Hope I am not too chim here.
Following rule is good. But able to question the rule, and suggest better rule is even better.
The misconception here is a few of you accuse me of whining and trying to make it favourable for me only. That is wrong. You look at what I said before, which one is applicable for me only ? Any reference to that, means you did not care to read my posts carefully.
In your example of the handicapped child. If the rule is strictly no visitor, then the child’s mother cannot even step in during recess. Obvisouly the school allows her, because of the special situation. This is actually an example that fits my arguement. She has a valid reason to back, during recess.
Actually for children of special needs (physical disability and non-physical disability both included) the school SHOULD in fact leverage on the parent or the child’s regular caregiver. Because, the school DOES NOT have sufficient trained personal to care for special needs. (Only parents of children with special needs understand my statement - if you don’t, please don’t even attemp to comment on this.)
So, that school actually give her the flexiblity to go back. It is good. This is what exactly I am talking about.
Why can’t you see my point ? And just want to criticise me because I am bringing up changes ?
You did not offend me, you give me more opportunity to try to point out the ‘current’ set thining, in every school, in every admin managers, that conveniently use a ‘invalid’ reason (security !) to keep parents out.
Each of you may have encountered a type of parent who "like to ask for a lot of things from school" and "speak the most" during parent-teachers meeting, and you may have a certain ‘dislike’ of this type of people. I can understand. But the difference here is, I try to give suggestions and alternatives to the school, which I think is constructive. I also try to involve views and opinions from others - unfortunately those who replied me took it the other extreme.
You have good weekend too. -
Amos2010:
... Actually for children of special needs (physical disability and non-physical disability both included) the school SHOULD in fact leverage on the parent or the child's regular caregiver. Because, the school DOES NOT have sufficient trained personal to care for special needs. (Only parents of children with special needs understand my statement - if you don't, please don't even attemp to comment on this.)...
Amos2010, can I clarify if you are lobbying the school for allowing freedom of access to its premises for
(1) ALL parents, or
(2) for parents or special needs children only?
I don't think you need to lobby any school in the second case. Schools and staff are usually much more compassionate than we tend to give them credit for. -
ChiefKiasu:
It is for all parents.
Amos2010, can I clarify if you are lobbying the school for allowing freedom of access to its premises for
(1) ALL parents, or
(2) for parents or special needs children only?
I don't think you need to lobby any school in the second case. Schools and staff are usually much more compassionate than we tend to give them credit for.
Maybe this table will give you a better picture
https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0Ai6bnGldwQd3dE5KTnU0Z2p1OVBkS1pjRFR2MEdmZFE&hl=en
(Will keep this active for 2 days)
What you said about special needs is correct on the surface. However, schools, as I find out, are still very 'reserved' in giving parents of children with special needs the access and modifications needed to help the child. This is really a separate topic, I don't want to confuse the issue here. -
This is how my child’s school system regarding about parents visiting the school. All parents are given ID card with our picture on it and each ID card comes with numbers which can be scanned. Once scanned, all the particulars of the ID holder will appeared on their system. Each child entitles to 3 ID cards. Is up to parents whom they want to register. Some opt for, 1 for Mom, 1 for Grandparent and 1 for maid. Whatever, is up to your choice if you want to opt for 2 IDs for Mom and Dad and the other to maid or Grandparent. There is a security guard to do the scanning job before we enter the school premises. All visitors must register at the guard house and they are given a pass with a big “VISITOR” written on it. These cards come in the size of credit card and parents and visitors are required to wear the ID card and be visible at all times in the school. As parents, we do sometimes see some ‘visitors’ without the pass and we’ll politely asked them if they have registered themselves with the guard. Most times, they put away their pass in their handbag and parents have rights to remind them to put it on. It’s sort of like parents are also looking out for unwanted visitors.
Parents are allowed to enter the school at any time and stay as long as you want. Some parents after sending their kids off, they remain in the school till the school end. Parents are welcome to use the library but of course, if there are reading classes in the library, parents usually very considerate and move to the corner. We are encouraged to have lunch with our kids for bonding sake. Usually, parents of the new kids stay around for the first week or two, but after some time the kids will ask the parents to scoot off because they have found new friends. Some non-working parents stay around and they make friends with some other parents around. I have seen many of these ladies after sending their kids off, they brought food from home to share with other parents like having a potluck or picnic at the canteen. When it comes to lunch time, parents are very considerate and they don’t occupy the seats in the canteen if that day happens to be full due to weather. I packed home cook food for my kid such as sandwiches, sushi, salad , fruits …Too lazy to cook and deliver the hot-hot food. When my child was 7 years old, I stayed in the school for a month but haiz…after that so lazy to go already. Also happened to other parents, and ended up these parents went shopping before returning to pick up their kids. Nowadays, I still drop by to have lunch with my kid but not so often anymore. Sometimes I drop by during lunch just to say hello to his teachers or the admin staffs because they are a friendly lot. -
[no need to quote everything !]
What you just described, is my DREAM SCHOOL !
*3 ID cards - this sounds like quite a bit of work for the school to do ! and they don’t mind doing it.
>>I’d like to add this - I think it would invariably take up the school’s resouces to prepare these ID cards. Given that in your description, the security guard has a computer to scan the card, I think it would achieve the same objective if the photo of that parent, guardian, maid is stored on the computer at the guard post, and no need to print out into a card. The parent would just give the guard an IC number or mobile phone number, for the guard to retrieve the record, and the photo in the computer shall match with the face of the visitor. Then the guard can issue a generic tag - "Parent". Perhaps the school can also allow photographs to be sent electronically to the school to update the record if for example there is a change of maid in the household. This is just a slight modification to see if it can cut down admin. work and paper etc.
*Parents can help to look out for unwanted vistors - that is very good community spirits ! See, if the school accepts that parents are not security threats, and allow them to come in, they feel home, and they will help to keep home safe.
*Can even go to the library ! Wow !
*Potluck in canteen ! This is beyond the imagination of my school, really.
Make sure this is a Singapore school…
So, your school can do it this way, why not the others ? -
Amos2010:
The topic of your thread is “What are the VARIOUS other schools' policy on parent visit ?”, right?[no need to quote everything !]
What you just described, is my DREAM SCHOOL !
*3 ID cards - this sounds like quite a bit of work for the school to do ! and they don't mind doing it.
>>I'd like to add this - I think it would invariably take up the school's resouces to prepare these ID cards. Given that in your description, the security guard has a computer to scan the card, I think it would achieve the same objective if the photo of that parent, guardian, maid is stored on the computer at the guard post, and no need to print out into a card. The parent would just give the guard an IC number or mobile phone number, for the guard to retrieve the record, and the photo in the computer shall match with the face of the visitor. Then the guard can issue a generic tag - \"Parent\". Perhaps the school can also allow photographs to be sent electronically to the school to update the record if for example there is a change of maid in the household. This is just a slight modification to see if it can cut down admin. work and paper etc.
*Parents can help to look out for unwanted vistors - that is very good community spirits ! See, if the school accepts that parents are not security threats, and allow them to come in, they feel home, and they will help to keep home safe.
*Can even go to the library ! Wow !
*Potluck in canteen ! This is beyond the imagination of my school, really.
Make sure this is a Singapore school...
So, your school can do it this way, why not the others ?
Well, this is my child’s school policy. :?
The other 2 IDs are link to the main ID (parent’s ID). Each year, the school will give parents a form to fill in if there are any changes in address, phone numbers or change of maid. The reason for the other 2 sub IDs are for picking up purposes. If the parent of the kids, can’t pick up the kid after school, the grandparent or the maid are allowed into the school to pick up by using their IDs, actually they are allowed to stay in the school whole day if they want to. Security in the school is tight. Therefore, they allow 3 IDs to make life easier for the parents. No ID= No picking up, NO entry into school, simple as that. There’s no such thing as to cutting down admin work or taking up school’s resources. It’s is their job to do so and it’s the school responsibility to ensure they have enough staff to handle the work. Probably, because parents have the freedom to access into the school, library and canteen at any time ( to check on their kid), the school never encounter overcrowding at all because parents are assured that their kids are in safe hand. Dunno if it’s because of forbidden fruit, the more the school controls the parents from going into the school, the more curious the parents are. Infact, my child’s school is pretty quiet.
Why not other school not doing this way?!? Every school has their rules and regulations lor.
“ [no need to quote everything !]”
Hope I didn’t over quote too much this time. :roll:
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