does this sound rude?

lizzyfizzy

New member
a letter to our school principal:

Hey Ann,
I have a confession. I lost it today in the pick-up/drop-off lane. There was this Mom in front of me, the same Mom who represents 75% of the other pick-up/drop-off parents who take their sweet time fixing their child's pony tails, chatting it up with said child and then sitting and waiting in the lane while their child walks through the gate. I literally lost my mind. There are people who have places to go, etc. I guess these people don't realize that there are other people in that lane with them. In any case, I wondered what we could do about the lane. Could something be sent home letting parents know that the lane in front of the school is in fact for picking up and dropping off (in a timely fashion) and nothing more? This is especially imperative on bad weather days. I understand that this may be a small child and that the parents want to ensure they get in safe...I truly do. But, that is why we have parking spaces. I honestly thought I could let this go this school year and see how it went next year, but I really feel these parents need to be taught. I've never seen a line that moves so slow or soooo many parents who just seem to feel it's their God given right to take their sweet time in a lane that is intended to make things move faster. I sure hope you don't take this email as rude. I think you and the staff do a wonderful job!! I enjoy every minute at (our elem school name)...well except the 10 minutes I spend in the pick-up/drop-off lane. lol If nothing else, thanks for listening. :)

Have a good one,
Liz
 
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Its not rude at all. And the pick-up/drop-off lane is a problem at ALL schools, I think. You know the drama I've dealt with at Cam's school. I can't tell you how many times I've almost gone apeshit on some obnoxious parent.
 
Oh wow! I don't blame you AT ALL for being frustrated. At my daughter's school, they've got it down to a science, and they're sorta bossy about it if you disrupt the flow. LOL! I don't mind though because there is rarely any waiting to drop off or pick up.

Hope your letter makes them take notice!
 
what the hell is wrong with people. if they are that concerned or need to chat with their kiddos teacher or something...why don't they park and get out. it just blows my mind.
 
Oh wow! I don't blame you AT ALL for being frustrated. At my daughter's school, they've got it down to a science, and they're sorta bossy about it if you disrupt the flow. LOL! I don't mind though because there is rarely any waiting to drop off or pick up.

Hope your letter makes them take notice!

yes!!! see, the school we used to go to was like this and i appreciated it so much. esp on the days when i needed to pick up and it was friggin ice raining or something and my kiddos were out in the cold. UGH! these parents are a serious problem.
 
not rude at all Lizzy! some parents just moms who have the time to sit there... they need to realize not all moms have that luxury and they need to move along. You are doing better than me... I probably would have gotten out of my car right there and said something, but I have some mad road rage. *which yes I need to improve before I have kiddos* lol! ;)
 
lol!! i'm not really an angry driver. i just cannot wrap my head around why a parent would sit in their car and watch their kid walk up (it's a little bit of a walk) when there are 15 other parents behind them trying to do the same thing. *sigh* thanks for the support, darlings. email sent.
 
lol!! i'm not really an angry driver. i just cannot wrap my head around why a parent would sit in their car and watch their kid walk up (it's a little bit of a walk) when there are 15 other parents behind them trying to do the same thing. *sigh* thanks for the support, darlings. email sent.

perfect! honestly I just think there is nothing better for those parents to do, or they just aren't ready to let that child go.

I'm not a mom tho... so I'm not sure how hard it might be
 
They seriously do that? At our school there are 4 teachers that get the kids out of the cars and the line moves fast. And the mean PE teacher is in charge of the line and she lets you know if you aren't fast enough. LOL!
 
the only phrase that takes it to a bit of an edgy level is "their God given right" - were it from me, I'd take that phrase out.

Sounds like a really frustrating situation!
 
lol!! i'm not really an angry driver. i just cannot wrap my head around why a parent would sit in their car and watch their kid walk up (it's a little bit of a walk) when there are 15 other parents behind them trying to do the same thing. *sigh* thanks for the support, darlings. email sent.

I'm that parent who would sit and watch my kid walk in, but probably only until I was certain she knew for certain what to do, a couple days to a week until it was habit. KWIM? IDK, I guess I could see both sides. :) I can certainly understand your frustration though.
 
They seriously do that? At our school there are 4 teachers that get the kids out of the cars and the line moves fast. And the mean PE teacher is in charge of the line and she lets you know if you aren't fast enough. LOL!

same..they open the door and close it for us..and make sure to tell us to have a good day all in about 20 seconds lol
 
lol emmy. i agree their God given right was a bit much. i already sent it though and a little bit much is kinda my style. i'm sure i will pay the price. lmbo! p.s. all 3 of my attending children are A students, have NEVER gotten in trouble, are never late or absent (unless sick, etc.) and my DD is the student body president. lmbo. i'm hoping my good kids will get me out of any pickle i may have just created for myself. :D
 
At dd's school they have a "safety patrol" made up of about 10 5th graders that stand on the curb and open the doors for each car that pulls up. It's like an assembly line - 10 cars pull up, stop, the satety patrol steps forward & opens the door, kids get out, the cars pull off and the next ten pull forward, etc.... They mean business! The carline after school is similiar they call 10 names on a microphone - those kids go to the cars and by the time those cars pull off the next 10 kids are already lined up.
 
At dd's school they have a "safety patrol" made up of about 10 5th graders that stand on the curb and open the doors for each car that pulls up. It's like an assembly line - 10 cars pull up, stop, the satety patrol steps forward & opens the door, kids get out, the cars pull off and the next ten pull forward, etc.... They mean business! The carline after school is similiar they call 10 names on a microphone - those kids go to the cars and by the time those cars pull off the next 10 kids are already lined up.

WHOA!!! now this is amazing!!!!
 
At dd's school they have a "safety patrol" made up of about 10 5th graders that stand on the curb and open the doors for each car that pulls up. It's like an assembly line - 10 cars pull up, stop, the satety patrol steps forward & opens the door, kids get out, the cars pull off and the next ten pull forward, etc.... They mean business! The carline after school is similiar they call 10 names on a microphone - those kids go to the cars and by the time those cars pull off the next 10 kids are already lined up.

LOLOLOL Oh the memories. I was on the safety patrol when I was in elem. school. I had a lovely orange safety belt and sash. :D :D :D
 
Not a'tall. I mean, yeah, waiting to see that you kid gets in safely is one thing... but chit-chatting and fixing hair needs to be done elsewhere. It's downright disrespectful and selfish. So I say "Go withya bad self."
 
I'm that parent who would sit and watch my kid walk in, but probably only until I was certain she knew for certain what to do, a couple days to a week until it was habit. KWIM? IDK, I guess I could see both sides. :) I can certainly understand your frustration though.

ya, but why wouldn't you park and walk em in if you were concerned? we have parking spaces 15 feet from where you would drop off. kwim? i've been the concerned mom of a little one i didn't trust to walk in until i saw them in past that gate so i do understand your side, but at that time i also parked and walked them in myself. :)
 
Our principal is VERY serious about the parent pick-up lane. Most days she is out there herself waving her arms to get things moving along and if you sit...she comes to your window and makes you roll it down so she can tell you to MOVE ALONG PLEASE!!! Cell phone calls are also a BIG no-no.

Not rude at all...she can use it as an excuse to make a reminder to all parents, i.e. "Parents are complaining..."
 
ya, but why wouldn't you park and walk em in if you were concerned? we have parking spaces 15 feet from where you would drop off. kwim? i've been the concerned mom of a little one i didn't trust to walk in until i saw them in past that gate so i do understand your side, but at that time i also parked and walked them in myself. :)

The good thing is that I'm nowhere near the time for that! :) And after I posted, I was thinking to myself "you know, I would probably park and just walk her in, anyway." LOL
 
I'm a lollygagger.

=P

Neither of my kids are in school yet... man... I'm gonna be such a headache when they start.
 
Emma's school doesn't even have a parent pick up/drop off lane for that very reason. The busses use the drop off area and parents have to park to drop them off. I can totally see how annoying that would be...
 
Emma's school doesn't even have a parent pick up/drop off lane for that very reason. The busses use the drop off area and parents have to park to drop them off. I can totally see how annoying that would be...

this is us too. Buses use the lane/parking lot. If you are dropping your child off, you have to park on the street and let them out or walk them in. And there is no actual parking right by the parking lot entrance, so that the buses can get in and out.
The school that mine went to last year (that closed this year) had a loop in front of it, but it was also for buses, not parents. The only time you could use the loop was during the day when there was no bus pick-up/drop-off (after a doctor's appointment, kid is sick & had to pick them up an hour into school, etc).
 
Ugh! As a former teacher, i don't think it's rude at all. We had our pick-up lane down to a science, and I think that's necessary for any school.
 
Yep...at our school, the drop off lane is for buses only (and our preschool is an integrated preschool with typical and special children). The only time we are allowed in the lane is on days that drop below freezing. Then the teachers are out there getting the kids out of the cars. You can't even get out of your car to see your kids off.....it is drop and go. Period.

Susan

PS - I really hate dropping off....hence the reason my son will be on the bus next year when he starts Kindergarten.
 
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Well honestly I can tell you are REALLY frustrated. It is hard to tell with words what is meant and sometimes things can be taken in a wrong way. I dont think it is really rude but I also do not think it would really help. I just see this kind of behavior more and more everywhere and it does not matter if you say something all that really does is make them more conscious of it and usually makes them worse just out of spite.
 
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When my daughter was in primary school, they actually had a very good system for drop off with 2 lanes. Eight cars in total would pull forward (4 in each lane). They had aides and teachers that would walk to the cars, open the doors and make sure the kids reached the safety of the walkway. Those cars would leave. In the afternoon, same way, except while we are waiting in line with our little car tags (that have our child's number on them), the principal or vice principal would be calling the numbers over the walkie-talkie to an aide waiting with the children. Their numbers were called, and then they would be brought out. Same thing, same cars pull forward and then the aides/teachers would walk the kids to the cars. Of course, this was only K through 2nd that did this. 3rd through 5th was at the intermediate school, and they had FOUR lanes.

Soooooo, no, I don't think it's rude at all for you to voice your concerns. Sounds like they need to try some other methods . . . good luck!
 
We'll be walking to school next year, but let me tell you living in the neighborhood next to the school, it also is frustrating when parents BLOCK the street going into the drop off lane. I'm trying to get by (going slow of course) and someone HAS to get their spot first, so they pull in and can't clear the road. So then I have to stop and wait, when they could have waited just two more seconds and been further in the lane! So yeah...drivers in general are just rude! IMHO!
 
Sounds frustrating. These are the kinds of situations I try to find my happy place knowing beforehand that situational awareness is not an asset everyone is blessed with. LOL!

Though I have to confess, the first thing I thought of when reading, was that bit from Mr. Mom when he goes to the school and the lady shouts at him: "North to pick up, south to drop off MORON!!!" At least you didn't have to resort to that, lol! Your way is much better. And much more proactive.

Hopefully the pace picks up soon!
 
I'm so glad my boys ride the bus!

I'm the parent with no clue in the pick up lane. Do I pull up? Do I buckle them, no one else buckles them, are they supposed to be able to buckle themselves? They didn't shut the door, do I get out, go around to the other side & shut the door? I've picked my kids up maybe 3 times. I find it exceedingly stressful, so much so that if I have to pick them up, I pick them up an half hour before school lets out so I don't have to deal with the line.
 
We don't even have a pick-up/drop off lane! We have to park across the road and walk our kids over. Some days there's a police car sitting there to make sure no one pulls off to the side of the road to drop their kid off. Some people still do it though. Now that it's nicer weather I don't mind as much, but when it's freezing out or raining, I don't think I should have to take myself and my 3 year old out of the car just to get my 6 year old into the school! I'm so glad we're moving soon where she'll be bussed...
 
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