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Post by coachy71 on Apr 4, 2007 10:23:01 GMT -6
OK here's the deal. Our superintendent thinks it would be a great idea to have parents evaluate the different athletic programs at our school. The AD presented the information and now (rightfully so) our coaches (me included) are in an uproar. Does anyone else in the entire nation have parents evaluate programs? What a way to open yourself up to disaster. Just wanting input. Thanks, Coachy
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Post by spartancoach on Apr 4, 2007 10:24:33 GMT -6
Unfortunately, our parents constantly evaluate our program to the administration.
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Post by superpower on Apr 4, 2007 10:37:31 GMT -6
I once worked under a supt. who sent home evaluations to the parents of every athlete for each program. It was a mess because then the parents who had complaints expected the admin. to act on their complaints.
I think admin. who take this path simply don't want to accept the responsibility that goes with their job title (and for which they make the big $$$).
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Post by coachveer on Apr 4, 2007 10:41:13 GMT -6
Coach, Are all after school activities going to be doing an eval ie (Band, Drama, and Quiz bowl)? Also, does the teachers union have any input in this process?
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Post by coachbw on Apr 4, 2007 10:49:24 GMT -6
I look at this sort of a different way . . . what a great opportunity to get some ammo to work with. If it is actually a program evaluation than I am sure they will be asked about facilities and equipment (which our parents always think we should have the best of).
I guess the bottom line for me is if it is a program evaluation and not an evaluation of coaches I don't know what negatives could really come from it. That is a fine line, but if done in a way where they aren't just taking pot shots at playing time, etc. I think it could have potential . . . maybe that is wishful thinking on my part.
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Post by knight9299 on Apr 4, 2007 11:01:01 GMT -6
OK here's the deal. Our superintendent thinks it would be a great idea to have parents evaluate the different athletic programs at our school. The AD presented the information and now (rightfully so) our coaches (me included) are in an uproar. Does anyone else in the entire nation have parents evaluate programs? What a way to open yourself up to disaster. Just wanting input. Thanks, Coachy We went through this in November. AD sent out evaluations to all the football parents. Honestly it was more of a move to get more ammo to take down the HC. In the end the HC was informed he wouldn't be offered the HC contract next year. The rest of the staff hasn't been informed what exactly those evals said. Which bothers me a little bit. I have yet to talk to the AD about the evals. Mainly because my brother and another assistant on the staff were up for the job and I didn't want to rock the boat.
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Post by CoachMikeJudy on Apr 4, 2007 11:09:24 GMT -6
I think it could be a great opportunity if the parents point out concerns and/or facility problems/suggestions. My only concern would be that the questions should not be geared towards the quality of the coaching, or anything that allows bashing of staff.
Every disgruntled parent out there, whose son has been riding pine will point out that "the coaches suck..."
If admin thinks that giving parents' the opportunity to anonymously bash the staff is a good idea, then they're asking for a witch hunt every year and I would hit the road!
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Post by 3rdandlong on Apr 4, 2007 11:19:57 GMT -6
The problem with this is that 90% of the parents who complain don't have a friggin clue what they are talking about. I know that because unfortunately my dad (who I love dearly) was one of those parents while I was growing up. Also, the few parents that do know what they're talking about usually act in a very irrational and immature manner. This is just what I've experienced.
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Post by knight9299 on Apr 4, 2007 11:27:28 GMT -6
The problem with this is that 90% of the parents who complain don't have a friggin clue what they are talking about. I know that because unfortunately my dad (who I love dearly) was one of those parents while I was growing up. Also, the few parents that do know what they're talking about usually act in a very irrational and immature manner. This is just what I've experienced. At the same time, if a staff gets to see what the parents view as the staff's weaknesses, the staff can address those areas. It could be as simple as explaining your philosophies to parents in a meeting. In my case I just want to see what the parents said. I sat through a meeting this season where parents called out the sophomore/freshman coaches. I'm a big boy I can take criticism. Half way through the meeting it was obvious that the parents weren't properly informed of the situation they were complaining about. They realized this and basically all was better. Same thing could happen with evals. Of course it could go the other way. But I'm an optimist.
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Post by ajreaper on Apr 4, 2007 12:28:24 GMT -6
I would have to believe that there would be far more positive comments then negative- and if there are not then perhaps the adminstration does need to closely evaluate the coaching staff. The only way this could be constructive is my mind is-
1) They share the responses with the coaching staff- if they do not it serves no practical positive purpose what so ever. You cannot fix something you do not know is broken.
2) Like other have mentioned it should not be geared toward bashing coaches but truly an evaluation of the "program"- facilities, equipment, athletic administration, academic support, etc.
3) They must include all extra curricular activities not just athletics (I'm assuming they already do something similar for all academic programs and if not why just athletics?)- band, drama, ROTC, etc
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Post by touchdowng on Apr 4, 2007 16:01:07 GMT -6
I like to think of myself as an open minded person. Getting more open minded every year.
BUT.....what a dumb idea. If coaches (from all sports) were allowed to write up the questions for the evaluation/survey, that could be different but I doubt this happened. Somebody with no spine probably thought up this cheap idea. He may have to purchase neck braces for his school's coaches as they will be looking over their shoulders as long as they coach at this school.
Coaches are leaders who need strong leaders supporting (or not supporting) them to do their best. If a coach needs to be non-renewed, it needs to be handled apart from parents and unless the ethic or moral line has been crossed, should be handled in a step by step fashion. A parent eval should not be part of the steps. This is true cheapness at its best.
This is a can of worms that should have remained closed.
Sorry some of you have to put up with this.
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Post by airman on Apr 4, 2007 18:57:24 GMT -6
I would have not problem with parents doing evaluations under the following guidline. parents would get a evaluation form and then they would be expected to do a town meeting, run by the administration, where they can deliever their complaints to my face.
people will write things which they will never say in public. just like I do not take emails or phone calls from a parent who has a complaint. they have to come visit me or meet me in a public place. this usually takes care of wantabe parents. just like a parent has a right to be angery at a problem but when they start attacking me they get asked to leave.
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Post by coachcb on Apr 4, 2007 19:23:57 GMT -6
Paren evaluation; WHO GIVES A CRAP!!!! Their opinions (yes, they are opinions, not the word from the burning bush), don't mean a thing.
If an administration truly wants to evaluate a program, they should give an evaluation form to the out going seniors. The players are who matter, not mommy and daddy.
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Post by airman on Apr 4, 2007 19:34:27 GMT -6
Paren evaluation; WHO GIVES A CRAP!!!! Their opinions (yes, they are opinions, not the word from the burning bush), don't mean a thing. If an administration truly wants to evaluate a program, they should give an evaluation form to the out going seniors. The players are who matter, not mommy and daddy. I can see parents caring espcially now that parents are being asked to pay for their children to play sports. costs 100 bucks to join the football team at my school. you quit, you do not get it back. it was only a matter of time before parents are going to want a say in what goes on. this is why sports should remain free to belong to IMO. I think any coach should welcome a evlaution. you progrom is going to speak for its self either good or bad. constructive comments can help.
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Post by touchdowng on Apr 4, 2007 23:38:17 GMT -6
Perhaps parent could also do a formal survey to decide; kick, receive, or defer?; punt or go for it?; Go for one or go for two?; Pass or run?
Some things are just sacred.
Players play, Coaches coach, Officials officiate, and Parents parent.
Leave the program evaluation to the coaches and their supervisors. If a superintendent has the time to put together athletic evals, (s)he better have a huge handle on student achievement and passing levies and bonds. If not, better prioritize their energies better.
Outgoing seniors? You'll get a good eval from those that played and for those that had an underclassman play ahead of them, it probably won't be too objective.
C'mon everyone!!
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Post by coachjd on Apr 5, 2007 4:47:43 GMT -6
Ask your admin if you get to evaluate them? Or do you get to evaluate the parents at their place of work? This is BS!
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Post by groundchuck on Apr 5, 2007 6:31:55 GMT -6
Ask your admin if you get to evaluate them? [glow=red,2,300] Or do you get to evaluate the parents at their place of work?[/glow] This is BS! That's it right there. I think if this goes through the coaches should all take a personal day, then show up at various parent's palces of employment to shadow them and evaluate thier performance. Which would probably be more accurate then what the parents could base thier eval on since I doubt a single one of them has actually been behind the scenes in a football program or any other program for that matter.
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Post by superpower on Apr 5, 2007 7:16:36 GMT -6
Do the parents get to evaluate all the teachers at the school as well? If not, then they certainly should not be evaluating coaches. And I don't believe that most parents are qualified to evaluate coaches or teachers. What qualifies them other than their opinion? As I stated earlier, the administrators need to do the evaluations, but some don't have the stones to do their job.
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Post by touchdowng on Apr 5, 2007 9:01:20 GMT -6
Once had a parent hound me about his kid should be a TE and not a Tackle. He kept this up for two years but mostly did it in a friendly way. He actually called me at home when his kid was about to start his senior season and was begging me to move his kid to TE even though he was penciled in as a starter at OT. The kid was 6'5 240 pounds with a nice frame and very slow feet. He couldn't get open in on Mars.
I finally said, "If you let me come over to your house and let me paint your house any color I want, maybe we'd have a deal."
Without hesitation he said, "okay."
He was absolutely serious about this.
The majority of parents have a different agenda for our sport programs than coaches or athletes do. Their evaluations would not be congruent with what we really are about. A parent could not be objective about what we are doing because they see the program through a different lens and at best could evaluate how their athlete is being treated as a person.
If a parent truly has something important to say. Positive or negative, it will be well received.
Mr. Superintendent - burn the evaluations and get back to your real job!
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Post by coachbw on Apr 5, 2007 9:11:18 GMT -6
I am in absolute agreement, parents shouldn't be able to evaluate coaches and teachers. However, the 3 schools I have taught in have each had a formal survey at either the district or school level for parents to give feedback on what the school is doing. Like I said in my earlier post, if you could find a way to make it so it isn't an easy way for everyone to take shots at a coach of their choice, I think you could get some valuable information from this. I know parents have a different point of view than us and on some things we can't discuss it with them. Every once in a while they will come up with something that you haven't even thought about. For example, I was asked last fall why every other school in our conference has programs with color pictures, and ours doesn't. I can't say that I have ever even thought about it, but there were a group of parents mad about it and we didn't even know. Now do we have to do everything they suggest, certainly not . . . but it can't hurt to know more about where they are coming from.
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Post by calicoachh on Apr 5, 2007 10:41:09 GMT -6
we have always said the ideal place to coach is at an orphanage...
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Post by playfast on Apr 5, 2007 11:46:28 GMT -6
I say send an eval. of each player home to their parents!!!
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Post by wingman on Apr 6, 2007 23:46:01 GMT -6
I'd say if your parents know even one tenth of what you do about football and running a program, you need to get a new job. The only ones whose opinions I respect are the few coaches I have seen get the absolute best from their talent every year. We have good parents but the amount of football they know nothing about is staggering. I'm talking about dads. Moms don't even count.
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Post by saintrad on Apr 7, 2007 10:56:13 GMT -6
COOL! THE COACHING STAFF GETS TO EVALUATE THE PARENTS? SIGN ME UP! All fun aside, my concerns are the same as everyone else's, but just think how fun it would be to get to evaluate the parents. What a hoot!
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Post by coachjim on Apr 15, 2007 5:13:48 GMT -6
*cringe* This topic is like fingernails on a chalkboard. Rofl playfast. Nice! Good idea, do it! That'd be a classic.
Seriously, even a newer coach like me can think of a hundred reasons to slug the Super in the gut for giving the parents an opinion with some weight. Print out some of Jack Reeds articles on the subject for him but somehow, I don't think it'll do much good. There is obviously some other motivation to his actions. Hopefully, its not to try and get you out of there, as someone else mentioned. Good luck with that. *cringe*
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