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One of the most unenviable components of a principal's job is interacting with angry parents. Learning effective strategies can help defuse tense situations and build trust.
One of the most daunting tasks principals face is interacting with hostile or aggressive parents. Quite often, the principal had no direct role in the original conflict. A faculty member did or said something to the parent or, more likely, his or her son or daughter, and the principal receives the brunt of the parent's complaints. Being able to appropriately and effectively deal with parents in such situations is one of the most challenging tasks principals face, especially when the parents may be right.
We Are Doing the Best We Know How
Fortunately, in most schools, only a few students are a real struggle. Although all students have strengths and areas for growth, for the most part, parents do a good job rearing their children. The students whom principals must meet with often have parents who demand the most time, worry, and energy from principals. It is important to think positively about these students, and it is equally important to keep that focus when we think of and work with their parents. After all, they are the best parents the students have.
At times, maintaining a positive focus may take effort. Every principal encounters frustrations when dealing with parents. For example, a principal might be disappointed because parent attendance at back-to-school night is low. It's important for the principal to realize that the parents who did attend are important, and he or she cannot give in to the temptation to let the lack of attendance ruin the experience for the parents who did show up. If only 10% of the parents attended the back-to-school night, then it's the principal's responsibility to make sure those 10% feel so special that they not only will attend similar events in the future but also will speak positively about the back-to-school night to others.
Dealing With Yourself
Dealing with difficult parents requires that principals first deal with themselves. There are few absolutes in education. Every rule has an exception and no matter how consistent principals attempt to be, there are times when plans must be adjusted. But however flexible principals must...