Have you wondered what it would be like if one of your parents taught at your school? As someone whose parent taught dance at their middle school, I will be the first to admit that it has its pros and cons.

As far as pros go, it definitely made me feel safer in middle school knowing that I had a parent right there if something were to go wrong, like a code red, for example. I also found it useful that I could wait in my mom’s office before and after school, which gave me time to get caught up on homework and studying. I also knew a lot of people, especially people whom my mom taught in dance.

Ada Shingler, junior, said over text, “My dad [Mr. Shingler] teaches art, and my mom [Mrs. Shingler] is the secretary at student services [at LRHS].” Shingler said having both her parents work at her school is strange, but she’s gotten used to it by now. “A pro [having my parents work at Leesville] would be always having someone to be there for me at school. A con would be not being able to get away with bad grades.”

For the cons, people liked to assume that because my mom was well-educated in dance, and since I was the son of the dance teacher, I was also very good at dance (which is unfortunately not true). I am sure many students who have parents who work at their school have experienced this same thing, depending on what their parents teach.

Eli Key, freshman, said, “Sometimes [having a parent at school is] nice, you know. She has pretty much like eyes everywhere. I mean, she knows every teacher, so like, you can’t really do anything you’re not supposed to… You gotta be a good kid and not do anything wrong.” Key’s mom, Mrs. Key, is an occupational therapist. Key said it’s nice having his mom work at Leesville because he doesn’t have to take the bus and can ride home with her instead. 

Key said, “She’s always checking in on me.”

Although it is definitely strange having a parent work at school and then seeing them back at home later that day, it doesn’t go without having many positive aspects.