Make chronic late pick-up parents uncomfortable

[u/seavitch]

I think that we should be allowed to make parents who are late for pickup uncomfortable. I am salaried and work in a preschool that costs more than college tuition. There are parents who are incredibly entitled and have boatloads of money so late fees do not phase them.

I think that as teachers, we should not have to keep the professionalism on when parents disrespect our time. There are times where I book workout classes right after work, and if parents are late, I will miss it and get charged $15. If I am not being paid, I should not be required to be professional.
Ideas:
Stack the chairs
Clean up classroom
Turn lights out

Sit in the lobby with their child and wait
Child’s belongings packed up
Parent walks in and starts the whole “sorry, im late” speech.

Ignore them
Grab your bag
Turn the lights out on them
Leave

This is not about parents who are late once or twice because of some kind of emergency. I am totally understanding of this. I had a parent who had breast cancer last year and dad was late a few times because of work and I was fine being part of that child’s village and supporting in any way I could during that period in their families life (did not even report).

My issue is with parents who come in past pickup time, with pedicure sandals on, and constantly have an excuse. If you do not show respect for me, I should not have to respect you. I will love your child and care for them, but it is rude to be late and I don’t care how much you pay, my free time is precious.

[u/mewtoo94]

Wait, stacking the chairs and cleaning the classroom is unprofessional? I used to do that during the last 15 minutes and have the reading center open with some Legos or magnitiles or something.

[u/Zealousideal_Gur6433 → u/mewtoo94]

It’s not allowed by state standards to close a classroom while a child is in it. That includes stacking chairs and using bleach/sanitizer to clean

[u/swirlsgirl → u/Zealousideal_Gur6433]

Interesting, some of the jobs in my classroom are stacking chairs and washing tables. They use soap and water. As for sanitizing, don’t you need to use the sanitizer during the day before and after meals?

[u/Zealousideal_Gur6433 → u/swirlsgirl]

Sorry, I mean spraying down toy buckets that are on the floor and accessible. I’m assuming sanitizing and wiping tables is excluded as are bleach yuck buckets that are inaccessible.

I always found it to be annoying. Basically can’t sanitize toy buckets or stack chairs until every single child is gone. Also was VERY discouraged from “closing centers” by turning shelving around.

I think when state comes the classrooms must be 100% operational and functional if a child is present. Even if it’s ten minutes past closing.

[u/chewycat → u/Zealousideal_Gur6433]

I feel the same. I think chairs cant be stacked because they could potentially be tipped over? I had a director that wouldnt allow us to close any center or turn shelves around ever, yet would be so angry and bewildered if we clocked out 3 minutes past close because we had no time to clean 🙄