Yesterday’s New York Times “Motherlode Blog”, found here, featured advice from a middle school teacher on how parents can best and most productively interact with teachers when problems arise. The teacher, who is also the mother of two boys, acknowledges that as much as she dreads facing angry parents with issues, she has had her moments as an angry parent with teacher issues as well. Having been on both sides of the battleground, she shares her rules of parent-teacher engagement.

This is a worthwhile quick read from someone with a valuable perspective. While none of her advice is groundbreaking, her tips are all valid and worth hearing, even if we have heard them before. When we are outraged with a teacher’s behavior, and are about to make our next move loaded for bear, it is good to remember that it is not about us against them, but about us working with them towards the common goal of a successful educational experience for our children.