I Survived My PTC!

Our first PTC (Parent Teachers Conference) held last Aug.12 went on smoothly. nothing eventful happened. well, not that i'm expecting for it. last year, I wasn't able to hold an advisory class, so this year it's like doing it again for the first time. being a class moderator (or the adviser to the graded school) as opposed to being a subject teacher who's general concern is her subject, requires you to do multi-tasking. one has to religously attend the PTC, class mass/retreats, other school assemblies (like concerts, film showings, miting de avance of the student council etc.), intramurals, is also responsible in handing out communication letters to parents, reports absences and tardiness, collect fees (for field trip, retreats, costumes etc.), communicate with the Guidance office, host Christmas parties, the list could go on and on... 

having to confer with 43 parents (yes that's huge) in just one day from 7:30 am -3:30 pm, makes you assume a variety of roles, either that of a dynamic persona, a confidante and a psychoanalyst rolled into one!
**a dynamo, i've been doing this for a number of years already but each time the scheduled PTC draws near, I automatically switch on a sleepless-night-mode. so even with black circles around your eyes (well thanks to concealers and a shot of espresso),and four hours of sleep, i should appear enthusiastic, vibrant, and flash my Close-up smile whenever you extend your hand to them, and that is 43 times! after all this is done only every two months and i should expectedly exhibit my bouyancy and objectivity in their presence. but make no mistake about it, i do savor talking to the daddies or mommies of my students. so i make sure that i give them my best shot!

**you're considered a confidante if the one your conversing with has a full TRUST in you. and parents are not an exception. they just love to talk about their children be it their joys, heartaches, anecdotes on them and even domestic/work related problems or just about anything unimaginable sometimes. and this is not an easy task mind you, divulging a piece of yourself to a person whom you barely know, being a parent myself. just learn how to "switch" the conversation, 'cause others tend to monopolize it. to return the favor, one should be tactful not to divulge these afterwards to your co-teachers in the "silent" halls of your faculty rooms. good thing we get rid of faculty rooms a long time ago due to obvious reasons.

**and somehow in the course of our conversation, i tend to assume the role of that of a psychoanalyst. though most if not all of them are equally professionals (i have nurses, doctors, teachers, businessmen, accountants, OFWs, even a newscaster), parents can't help but seek your advice and strategies on even practical things which would work best for their child not only in their academic and behavioural performance, but moreso at home. most of the time they complain on their children watching too much TV, playing the PS2/computer games for long periods of time, lack of interest in reading and sports, eating too much junk foods, petty quarrels among siblings, being disrespectful, among others.

i'd been hearing also not-too-nice stories on PTCs like parents shouting at teachers, lambasting other teachers, parents scolding their children in front of you as if they are in the comforts of their homes which makes you think afterwards "is it just pakitang tao or a genuine concern?", but i was fortunate of not having experienced them yet. it's been a fact that some parents get offended if they hear a negative feedback about their child. so it's just proper to choose the appropriate words and phrases. in other words one has to be tactful. some parents are bold enough to admit their shortcomings and the guilt of not having quality time with their kids because of being preoccupied with their work and other trivial concerns.with this incapacity, i do remind them that it should be remedied ASAP because it couldn't fix itself cause what we are dealing here are young minds and spirits. each learner is unique and should be dealt accordingly. guess, at the end of the day, it just really boils down to one thing - there should be a strong HOME-SCHOOL COLLABORATION. both are responsible in strenghtening this connection. after all, it takes two to tango for a child's education to succeed...

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