Family Law

When parents are going through a divorce or are divorced, usually one parent has little knowledge about what is happening in his or her child?s classroom. What do you know about how well your child or children did in school this year? Will your offspring need to attend summer school, have a tutor, or be ready to ?graduate? to the next grade without any problems? Only your child?s teacher has the answer.

Of course, most parents know that parent/teacher conferences are a great way for them to learn about their child?s daily activities in school, whether the child is doing well, or if their child needs help at home. Yet, many divorcing parents don?t communicate with the teacher during this trying time in their lives, or may turn over the responsibility to the other parent.

However, if you are divorcing or divorced, abdicating educational responsibilities is not in the best interest of your child. So, what can you do to avoid conflict with your spouse, yet remain actively involved in your child?s education?

Make sure your child?s teacher is the first one informed if there is a pending or final divorce. Your child spends more time in school than anywhere else, and this situation might have a negative affect on your child. All teachers are willing to have a conference with a parent at the parent?s request. Find out what is happening with your child.

If the parents are cordial to each other, they can attend the parent/teacher conference together. That way, both parents have the same information and can ask the same questions regarding their child?s education. If only one parent attends, the other one is left in the dark. Unfortunately, in most divorce situations, this is exactly what happens.
      
More often than not, sitting together with a teacher is virtually impossible due to the antagonistic and negative vibes radiating from each parent. This makes the teacher uncomfortable, and in this hostile atmosphere, you may not receive all the information you need to know about your child?s academic achievements or areas needing improvement.

To address these issues, ask the teacher to notify both parents about days and times available for in-person or phone conferences. When necessary, schedule individual in-person or phone conference time with the teacher. This will alleviate divorced parents from having to be together, but at the same time will allow equal time with the teacher. The result is that each parent learns the same information about their child.

If only one parent is meeting the teacher in person or having a telephone conference, he or she should take notes. Even if you and your ex aren?t on speaking terms, sending him or her notes about the conference is in the best interest of your child. Both of you need to have the same philosophy and goals regarding your child?s education.

You and your ex still have a child you need to parent together. School is where children learn. If parents aren?t on the same page regarding the child?s educational goals, then the child?s well-being is unnecessarily harmed.

SOURCE: DivorceNet.com in an article by Brian James, C.E.L. and Associates