Are parent-teacher conferences outdated?

Illustration by Tuoi Tre Cuoi newspaper

Around the series of articles "Parents' representative board: who do they represent?", many readers have had diverse opinions.

The representative board only "collects, collects and collects"

A reader frankly said: "Most of the parent-teacher associations are extensions" of the school board in collecting, collecting and collecting.

Account lehu****@gmail.com commented: " The parents' representative board is for the school to inform parents about these and other fees that the school cannot talk about. Before the parent meeting, the school has worked with the representative board first."

According to reader Thien Sang, that "extended arm" is "a powerful tool for the principal and the board of directors to collect illegal amounts of money.

Therefore, instead of representing parents, the parent-teacher association represents the school."

Reader leva****@gmail.com commented: "The principal wants to use the parents' representative board as a tool to collect fees outside of regulations. At the same time, if there is any reaction or frustration, the responsibility will be pushed onto the parents' representative board."

"Many parents are afraid of conflict and trouble for their children, including me. Therefore, the annual parent meeting, which should be an opportunity to share and give advice on studying and playing for the children, has become a competition, bargaining over how much to contribute to the fund, and how to compete with the next class.

The voluntary commitment paper to contribute to the education fund but requires signature says it all," reader Anh Vu wrote.

Is the board of directors still relevant?

Faced with that situation, many readers suggested abolishing the parent-teacher association because its activities are useless and no longer relevant.

"I still maintain my position of proposing an absolute ban on the so-called parent association. I am a parent, and a single mother who works hard to raise my children. The burden of books, tuition, and extra classes has made it difficult for poor working parents like me.

From primary to secondary school, I see that the parents' association, besides calling for donations to this and that fund, does not help the children's studies" - account phuo****@gmail.com shared.

Meanwhile, reader Nguyen Hoai Tam said: "Parents' rights are nowhere to be seen, they just represent the school to collect funds and all. Let parents come to meetings with an excited mood, don't let them be afraid of having to pay for funds."

Claiming to be "on the board of representatives", reader Minh kute expressed his opinion: "In my opinion, in the 4.0 era, with digital transformation, this board of representatives should be eliminated. Teachers will directly communicate with parents through chat groups or phone calls. The board of representatives is no longer suitable for real life."

The feelings of the "prisoner"

However, also among the representatives, a reader shared: "This is my seventh year as a representative, since my child entered first grade. To be honest, I love my child so I try to help the class and the teachers.

For every 10 dong parents contribute, each representative spends 12-13 dong. For any unexpected expenses, the representative always pays out of their own pocket and never dares to touch the class fund.

If the class has any decoration or damage, the board of directors will spend time and money to support it quickly so that the children are not affected. That's why there is never any bad reputation. All that matters is the heart and the way of doing things."

According to reader Thanh Thanh: "Without paying the class fund, where will the money come from to spend on the children's fun and festivals? The air conditioner is dirty, and where will the money come from to spend on the classroom amenities? Paying the fund is only to create amenities and activities for your children to enjoy. It's really a hundred sins falling on the representative board."

Agreeing, reader Ba Phi said: "In my opinion, there should be a class fund. Those who have little should contribute little, those who have much should contribute much so that the children can have fun in learning and have group activities together. As long as the income and expenditure are clear, that's fine.

If the board of directors does not collect the funds, who will collect them and who will organize activities for the children when teachers focus on teaching and according to regulations, they are not allowed to collect class funds?

"You can't just say that you're going to abolish the representative board for no reason."

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/ban-dai-dien-cha-me-hoc-sinh-da-loi-thoi-20241009184851262.htm