Children of teachers/employees

Specialties School

Published

I have, as I am sure you all do as well, several students who are the children of people who work in my school. Several teachers, a few cafeteria workers and custodians. Do you guys ever notice that some of these students have a sense of entitlement or deserve special treatment because their mom or dad works at the school?

One 4th grader in particular comes to mind. He comes to see me kind of frequently and it's always for ridiculous stuff. Invisible injuries, wants an ice pack, vague symptoms. I've yet to see him actually sick or injured. I don't mind how much he comes to see me as much as I mind his attitude when he does. He acts like we are peers or, worse yet, like I am his subordinate. I'll never forget once he walked in, dropped his pass on my desk without making eye contact and said "medicine."

I said "Excuse me?" and he goes "I need medicine" and sits down.

I was so annoyed. I said "You do not walk into this office and just demand things. Take your pass, go out into the hallway, walk through the door and tell me what you need using decent manners." I was so irritated. He also walks through the office with his mom at the end of the day and takes things off the secretary's desk (candy, pencils, etc)

I think a lot of it is his mom. She's... not my favorite and seems to encourage the thought that her kid is the most specialest snowflake on Earth. Once, I was locking my office after dismissal. Sunglasses and coat on, ready to go and mom comes up and asks if I can reapply first aid cream to little darling's paper cut that was so urgently sent down to me earlier.

Seriously? All that is doing is sending a message to the kid that every little discomfort needs to be treated AND that his needs are more important that those of other people. Like my need to go home at the end of the day!

Does anyone else have this experience with kids whose family members work at the school?

kidzcare

3,393 Posts

I've noticed this with some kids, regardless of if their parents are employed there-- and it absolutely boils down to parental influence.

tining, BSN, RN

1,071 Posts

Specializes in School Nurse.

Redirecting with acceptable behavior is my choice as well.

Flare, ASN, BSN

4,431 Posts

Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

exactly. My kid goes to my school. I'd be appalled if she ever acted like that and she'd never see the light of day she would see so much discipline, but other special snowflakes can do no wrong. As for me - i have an equal opportunity treatment policy. I treat everyone the same whether you're my daughter (who may even get it a bit tougher than everyone else, just because i can) or not

Eleven011

1,250 Posts

Specializes in Home Health,Dialysis, MDS, School Nurse.

Most of my staff's kids are either fine or they don't come see me because they just go see their parents for whatever they need first. I do have the snarky holier than thou kids come down, but no real correlation between who their parents are...

OldDude

1 Article; 4,787 Posts

Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

It's kinda coincidental I have a kid like that on my campus. Every time, literally, every time he comes in here, I'll do one of two things. If he's complaining of being sick, I'll check his temp, write it on the note, and tell him to go to his mom's room for her to write what she wants me to do about his visit. If he's complaining about being hurt I send him to his mom's room without doing anything and let her write what she wants me to do about it. It took about 3 months but mom finally got tired of him coming into her room while she was teaching and his frequency has dropped greatly. Last semester he got into a habit of hurting himself every time his class went to recess, injuries that would not stop hurting - all day. I'd send him to his mom every time he came in. Finally she voiced her frustration to me, so with her permission, I banned him from recess out of concern for his own safety; he could sit in the library and read or work on school stuff. After two weeks he was begging to return to recess, I turned him loose, and hasn't been in since for a recess injury.

OldDude

1 Article; 4,787 Posts

Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

Having said that...All of my kids came through my school and I'm positive they were afforded extra attention by the staff. I do the same for staff member's kids. I still look upon district employees as part of a family in the same boat.

BeckyESRN

1,263 Posts

I had the son of our superintendent tell me "My mom is your boss, I can get her to get rid of you" because I wouldn't call home for his fake illness. I did call home after that comment. We've not had any problems since:). The next day there was a written apology waiting for me~go mom!

Specializes in School Nursing.

Yes !! Yes !! Yes !! I have seen this too. The teacher's kids seem to feel entitled because their Mom's work here. Come without a pass, expecting "special" treatment, etc. NO ! I have also had teacher's ask me to let their sick child sleep in the clinic for the rest of the day until they finish out the day. Ahh....NO ! Just like every other kid, they need to go home if they are sick.

No special favor's here from me. OLD SCHOOL !! That's how I roll !

Specializes in School Nursing.

We have several kids of teachers/employees at my school, and none are frequent fliers. There is one that when she comes in (rare) there are usually tears involved and more drama than I'd like, but that is just her personality when she is sick or injured.

NICU Guy, BSN, RN

4,161 Posts

Specializes in NICU.

My mom was the high school cafeteria manager. Sense of entitlement? LOL I feared doing anything at school. I had 100 spies to tattle on me. There is no way of hiding anything from her.

Specializes in OB.
My mom was the high school cafeteria manager. Sense of entitlement? LOL I feared doing anything at school. I had 100 spies to tattle on me. There is no way of hiding anything from her.

Same for me! My mom taught 4th grade at my elementary school and I was very well-behaved in general, but also because there would have been no mercy if it got back to her that I was acting up. I think I went to the "nurse" (whatever health aide worked in the front office, we definitely didn't have an RN) a total of 2, maybe 3 times in my K-5 career, genuinely sick. My biggest disturbance as a teacher's kid in elementary school was probably dropping into her classroom to ask for ice cream money!

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