"Reverse" Home Visits?

Definitely unheard of here. We don't do home visits. The school social worker does home visits if there are issues- like frequent absences. I wouldn't want my students to come to my home and I wouldn't want to go to theirs.

 

This was me. I would have died if my teachers visited my home and learned about the problems I faced there. School was where I got to forget about all of that, and I was an extremely motivated, involved, and successful student. I think I would have shied away from all of that if I had known that the faculty knew about my family's skeletons. It also would have caused me to question whether the recognition I received for my successes was truly earned or if teachers were taking pity or trying to boost my confidence.

Looking at it from my current perspective as a teacher....well, if my school ever required me to make or receive home visits, I would have to find another school. I believe it is inappropriate to force myself into someone's home, for too many reasons to go into here.

I guess I don't see anything wrong with voluntarily allowing reverse home visits, though I would suggest having multiple families over at a time and clearing it with administration first, but it would certainly be wrong for a school to require teachers to open their homes to students and their families. I am dedicated and committed to my profession and my students, but my whole world and life does not revolve around them. It can't.

 

There was a new principal at a nearby suburban high school a few years ago that was pushing this "teachers of freshmen should visit their homes in August before school starts so they feel comfortable making the transition to the high school" nonsense. It was him and a handful of teachers his first year and in the newspaper article he said he was hoping that more would give part of their summer break and do it in subsequent years.

Interestingly, when the spotlight was turned off, the idea sort of died a quick, quiet death. (Just like most "Look at me!" ideas in education do.)

 

I have worked at two schools - middle and high that required home visits. I never went alone and only once felt like hmmm, this might not be so safe. But I also never felt that it had a payoff of any sort beyond oh so that's where little johnny lives. I'm not a fan personally. I do think it's very important to know my students' community, but honestly I have seen fabulous amazing teachers who connected with students based only on knowing them in the classroom.

 

I have been invited to students' homes at the end of the year for dinner a few times, and I have gone.

As a parent and a teacher, I don't think home visits as a school policy are appropriate, though. I think they are invasive, nosy, and have the potential to be dangerous for the staff and stigmatizing for the students.

As a parent I'd be really ****** if I felt like I had to let the school come over and check me out. And I've got nothing to hide and live in a nice house. I can only imagine how someone might feel who lives in a very humble abode, like a trailer, or worse.

Plus, school takes over my life as it is. You have to draw the line somewhere.

I think home visits start entering the territory of governmental interference.

 

As a high school teacher, did you really visit all 150+ students' homes?

 

No No, just picked about four focus students per semester - same in the middle school - only a handful - the middle schoolers we visited very early in the year and it went around that we came by and we started getting invitations. But, no, we weren't expected to visit everyone. We chose kids who either had attendance issues, grade issues, family stuff....with some it was also to the other extreme of great test scores and doing very well. This way there isn't a particular meaning put with teachers coming by. but some of those visits were...difficult. I just remember one home with roaches. lots of roaches. Lots. shudder. sorry. that was a difficult visit. BUT, the kid bragged to his friends that we came by to visit. and his behavior made a HUGE improvement. Would I do it again? Not bloody likely. Oh and t the high school our school paid us for our time for home visits. The middle school didn't but it was part of our contract to do extra stuff.

 

I get paid $70 per hour to tutor in student homes. Did your school pay competitive rates? I don't even do school paid tutoring...they pay waaaay less than the going rate.
:sorry: my noncontracted time is valuable...personally and monetarily

 

It wasn't close to competitive rates- but it was part of a grant the school had to bring up their test scores - Not all the teachers participated and I don't know if I would participate in that aspect again - I certainly don't think it made me a better teacher in any way - and I think I have learned enough about the community I teach in, thank you very much. I think I already said it, but I really think a teacher can be great and have a huge impact based on just their work in the classroom. Having said that, I tend to do a lot of activities with my students outside the classroom. I think I'm done with home visits, but I love love love school trips.

 

I've been invited to dinner, kids plays, sporting events...I've gone to some, but it's been my choice and by family invitation. I really think school imposed visits are a big imposition on families and could be uncomfortable, and perhaps unsafe, for educators.

 

Many of my students live in one bedroom apartments, or studio apartments or even temporary housing like shelters. I don't think all of their families would be comfortable having me into their homes. They might feel as if they were being judged or watched when they have no reason to be. Home visits here are for when the school is actually looking into a problem, like poor attendance. As I said previously those are conducted by the school social worker.

 

In my district they were called "In Person Parent Contact" (IPPC) we had to have 2 a semester.We had a half pager "report" we had to turn in it just required the student's name and a very very brief description (maybe one word) i.e.. Homework,Tardy, etc. At first I felt I was intruding in their home so I used a different tact. I counted every time I met parents out of school; in the market line, at the lumber yard, at the fast food place, at the library, at HS football games, at PopWarner Football games, little league games (the fact that I refereed and Umpired helped..) They may only last 5 min but you can give a positive and then "John needs to work on *subject/assignment*" and then end with a positive.
I had so many (well over 100 IPPCs) that the Superintendent had me give away my secret at a back to school whole district meeting one year.

One time at the supper Walmart I had a student's Mother in front of me and another student's parents behind me I had two contacts within 20 minutes of each other and technically I had my 2 contacts for the semester :lol:

The kids would spread the word "Don't let your parents talk to Mr P at Safeway or he'll tell your parents what's going on"

 

But they are being judged. You just said it is for when there is a problem.

 

Although I know it isn't unheard of, one of the issues I have with teachers doing this is that they don't have the training and insight to interpret what they see. Some may be rather obvious but other things can be easily misinterpreted or judged based on the individual's preconceived notions. Often we hear teachers judging parents based on the flimsiest circumstantial evidence or something they heard through the grapevine. I find going into homes increasing that level of intrusion.

But then again, I have personal experiences where I have dealt with people who are not qualified to work with my child or understand what is going on and then have them judge everything by the wrong measurement afterwards. That too colors my perception of this type of issue.

 

I would probably quit teaching if this became a requirement. I am well aware of the various neighborhoods that feed into my school, and know the basics of the dynamics in those areas. There are several I would be fearful of visiting. Between knowing siblings and speaking with other teachers, I have a pretty good idea of the backgrounds of most of my kids. I do plan on at least calling every home at the beginning of the year to welcome the parents/students to my class. I've fallen short other years, but am determined to do it this year.

There is no way I want students at my home. It is bad enough that I spend so much time on school-related work in my home office; I don't need to have students invading my private space. Many kids feel the same way. At least in middle school, the kids like to project a certain persona, which shields their home life from public viewing.

 

I'm glad you see the point

 

And that is to, what, rip them of that security? Expose their families? Make them feel judged and inferior?

Treat each child as you would want to be treated or as you would want your child to be treated and I think you'll make the right choices...with no need to pry into lives some students don't want you to see.

 

Middle school and high school are tough. Having a teacher visit your home adds an extra layer of unnecessary pressure and stress.

 

I would have DIED as a middle schooler if my teacher visited my house!

 

You used the word "project" not me. I've had tons of kids who have "projected" insecurities or vice versa that have seen huge improvements and relief in life when I broke through that projection.

And, were I projecting a false sense of security when I in fact had none I would very much want someone to pry to help me instead of pretending like everything was fine because I smiled at them.

 

Nope.