Last night, I found this in my son Kilian’s school “correspondance” book. This is the book that allows teachers (or, in this case, the headmistress) and parents to “talk” to each other, without the indignity of actually doing so.

“This is to inform you that your children arrived at 8:35 am this morning. [ie, 5 minutes late but a good 10 minutes or more before class actually starts]. This tardiness is becoming more and more frequent. Please provide me with a written justification as to why. May I remind you, that I also have a class to take care of. These continued late days disturb me in the preparation of said class. Please rectify it.”

The attitude of this missive just about sums up how teachers view parents in France. With disdain. Superiority. Essentially, parents are considered larger children. And simpletons to boot. It’s a bit maddening.

Are teachers like this everywhere?

However she put it, she may have a valid point. Despite the fact that she actually lives in the school as its caretaker. I looked at the note, then handed the book back to Kilian, “Give this to your Dad. He’s the one that drops you off in the mornings.”

Kilian gave it to his Dad.

He looked at me and burst out laughing, “I have this burning need to be insolent all of a sudden.”

“Careful,” I cautioned, “Kilian spends more time with this woman than we do.”

“You worry too much!”

He started to compose, chuckling all the while.

This is what he wrote: “Madame, I don’t recall the teachers giving the parents written justifications every single time they’ve decided to strike. Please keep this in mind before solliciting parents for justifications.“