ShawneeDispatch.com

Advances in technology have improved communication between parents and teachers, but Hocker Grove Middle School Principal Debbie Pfortmiller is a strong believer that there is no substitute for personal contact.

"A grade report may show the grade, but that grade report doesn't give the teacher the chance to say this student really excels at this in my classroom and have they thought about this as a career," she said.

In order to encourage direct communication between teachers and parents, Hocker Grove has open parent/teacher conferences where parents can come during the day without making an appointment and visit with their child's teachers.

"Parents really like being able to drop in throughout the day so they don't have to say 'I will take off from 10 to 11,'" Pfortmiller said.

Years ago, Pfortmiller said parents would have been required to make an appointment to meet with their child's teachers and would come without their children.

Hocker Grove wanted to approach parent/teacher conferences in a way that is most beneficial for parents, Pfortmiller said.

"We discussed how can we best give parents an opportunity to meet privately with us and still use their times effectively," she said.

Parents also are encouraged to bring their child to the conferences.

"There are positives about every student," Pfortmiller said. "That is why I like for the kids to come so that they hear it straight from the teacher."

Marianne D'Amato, parent of four and president of Hocker Grove PTA, said while she understands the benefits of having a child attend his or her conference, she thinks there are benefits to having a child absent from a conference as well.

"Sometimes you feel you can speak more candidly with your teacher," she said. "I think a lot of parents, like if you think your son or daughter might be having a social interaction issue with another child, you are going to be a little apprehensive to ask about that.

"I think that does inhibit the parent a little bit as far as getting a candid opinion from a teacher on how your child acts at school compared to how they act at home."

D'Amato said she does appreciate the ability to view her children's progress easily over the Internet, as she has children in elementary, middle and high school.

"I can see what assignments are turned in and what assignments are not turned in," she said. "The Internet has done wonders for the parent-teacher relationship."

D'Amato said she also liked that she could quickly e-mail her children's teachers about questions or concerns.

"I think that there will come a time open conferences won't be attended at all because it is easy to communicate in other ways," she said. "It gives me more time to spend with my kids if I can do business related to my kids from home."