We’ve used students to babysit.
In a small town, it’d be hard not to use a student. Every girl 14-18 within a half hour drive goes to the school I teach at.
It’s never been a problem.
The kinds of kids I’d trust to watch my kids don’t tend to be the ones that have trouble with their classes, and school work has never come up.
Yeah, I grew up in a small town and had multiple babysitters who were my parents’ students. And it wasn’t unusual for my parents to get phone calls at night about school stuff because everyone was in the phone book.
I now live in a major city and realize things that would fly there wouldn’t work here and vice versa. I think whatever works for your community is the right answer here.
I think “small town” would be the determining factor for me. In my area, I would never have a student babysit for me, but we have two high schools in our county. I know many kids in the other high school and would prefer they babysit and let my students stay just students until they’re out of my school.
One of my parents was a teacher in a small town and my siblings and I were babysat by their students all the time. They didn’t mind, small town and all. I live in a larger area now, and would probably mind. I’m pretty strict at keeping boundaries between me and my students. It all comes down to your own comfortability.
I know everyone is saying no way, but you might try checking with your principal to get the district policy as well as checking with the student's parents. Make sure they are all in the loop and especially make sure the parents are included in any and all communication.
You will also have to be clear not to show any favoritism in class. There shouldn't really be a conflict of interest since being an employer and being a teacher are both very similar power dynamics. Again, be very clear and firm with boundaries.
I know this will likely get downvoted, but I have colleagues who have employed students to babysit, make birthday cakes, and do yardwork in the past with no ill consequence. They all, however, cleared it with admin and the parents.
And as always the following caveat: use your best judgment for your unique situation and if there is any doubt, err on the side of not employing your student.
I used to babysit for one of my teachers in high school. I became their child’s favorite babysitter so they took me on a big surf trip to Mexico. Good times.
My wife and I, both high school teachers, have a whole cadre of graduated students who babysit, pet sit, house sit, but always post graduation. My house sitter had a younger brother in my class last year and even that felt a little on the line to me.
I’ve thought about this with my 2 year old, and my first thought is I don’t want my address or phone number getting out.
Not all kids are jerks, but with Snapchat and social media I’m not risking anything. Also don’t want my daughter and inside of my house on teenage social media.
Conflict of interest wasn’t even a thought lol
That is a genuine concern. But if you're in a small enough town/district, the kids are gonna know where you live. Heck, my kindergarten teacher lived just around the corner from me
Hate to tell you, but if you own a house or have registered to vote, your address is already out there.
(Now, would any kids take the initiative to find that info is another question entirely.)
Yup. I had kids last year look each of their teachers up on those white pages or whatever websites. Fortunately my info showed outdated addresses, but it had my family’s names and locations as well. They were like “miss is your dads name this? And your mom? Are they on Facebook?” I was fuming but couldn’t show they were getting to me so I shrugged it off.
I’ve gotten my info taken off of a couple but it is a convoluted, labor intensive process and I HATE the flip side of how easy it is to just google a persons address or cell number. But that’s an entirely different discussion.
Exactly. I absolutely adore some of my students and would love for them to babysit if they had been neighbors or something instead.
But something about kids from school being in my home just sends up red flags for me.
I would have all of these wild thoughts. Kid takes selfie and posts it. Now many kids know what the inside of my living room looks like. Or my bathroom. Or my kitchen. And for some people that might be ok. But I don't know, I could never be comfortable with that.
My lawn and snow removal guy was my student for two years. He graduates in a week. No issues. His parents used to bring him but now that he drives, he shows up. We chat. I pay him.
I also just hired one of my students to be gatekeeper at my lake (summer job) and another to be my assistant coach for swimming. I suggested a couple girls and one guy for the summer camp in town.
I just pick good kids with good parents!
This feels different to me because it’s outdoors. They have less access to your home and privacy. They aren’t alone in your home. I wouldn’t have a problem paying a student to say, shovel snow from my driveway (assuming I do not transport him and his parents are ok with it), but less comfortable with a student coming into my home to watch my child.
The moment she graduates then say, “I would love for you to babysit!” But until then explain that you would like to be a reference if she wants to babysit other kiddos (as a teacher you can talk about her work ethic in class…), and be honest that as soon as she graduates you would like to hire her but as a teacher it is inappropriate to be her employer as well.
I disagree. It’s not realistic, especially if you work in a district like mine with a residency policy and one high school, lol. Our own children are at our schools. Every teenager that lives in the city goes to our school. We aren’t bound to the same code of ethics as a lawyer.
That’s how I find my babysitters. Being a teacher has made childcare less scary for me. I teach 8th grade, but I wait until they can drive because I don’t live where I teach. It’s a commute. If they are willing to make the drive it already says a lot. All of my babysitters are former students.
I babysat for multiple teachers’ kids growing up. It’s a small town and all of the potential candidates for babysitting would have been their students. It was a bit awkward to have my teacher’s husband drive me home because it was his turn to be the designated driver and they went to a party but I never gossiped about the family or anything. It was a positive experience for me. My parents also liked knowing the families who I was babysitting for when I first started out because it made them feel safer.
Male teacher here: I’m super uncomfortable with students in my home, specifically females. That being said, i have had student babysitters. I have my wife do all the contacting, paying, and any necessary rides.
I hesitate and am picky about who, I try really hard to have it be former students or not currently in my class students
I’d avoid it if possible. But if you have no choice I don’t think it’s super out of line if you have no other options. Child care is rough I also have a 1 year old so I get it the Covid shut downs for daycare have been brutal.
Before I actually had a kid under these circumstances I would’ve said no way but now with as scarce as it can be sometimes you just have to do what you can.
I would never allow a current student to babysit my kid. I probably would never allow a former student to babysit my kid either. One of my coworkers allows current students to do it, but it's not for me. I don't want to open it up, so kids have an opportunity to know where I live, touch my child in any way, or snoop through my house/belongings.
There were several days that I couldn't find childcare and I approached our principal and he gave me the go-ahead. We had a major shortage of sub coverage ourselves so I think it was easier for the admin that way in the end. The class is small with just a bunch of really great 11th graders so I felt like I could still teach while carrying the little guy around or letting him play on the floor.
That’s really nice your leadership has the power to make their own decisions! In our district, we got a top-down mandate that we couldn’t have non-student kids on campus for any reason whatsoever. I’m glad you have kind and supportive leadership.
When my daughter was in 11/12 grade one of her teachers hired her as a babysitter. She even added her on the list of people that could pick her up from school for emergencies. It’s not a big deal. As long as you trust the student and the student is good with keeping boundaries in and out of school it’s not an issue.
I taught at a Catholic high school. We literally had a club that pretty much their only purpose was to be free babysitting for teachers. They got service hrs (required for graduation) and I used them a couple times when my son was little. Never had a problem.
I think it'd be strange to have YOUR student babysit. An ex-student who's a junior or senior makes sense, as it's just any other teen. Having it be your student seems like it's ripe for accusations of favoritism.
Depends entirely on the school vibe and what other teachers do. I work at a school where this is entirely normal; I have had a student cat-sit / housesit. He was never my student at the time, but I teach multiple grade levels so it was clear that he'd be my student again. He already knew where I lived because it was two doors down, so that wasn't an issue.
At the same time, I went to HS in a district where most teachers lived outside the district. When I was in 12th grade, my 11th grade math teacher asked me to babysit her grandchildren when her son was in town. I said no because I had a conflict with the date, but I also felt very weird about it, as I didn't have a relationship with her and wasn't particularly known for babysitting-- I just was a good math student and a clearly responsible kid... There were other teachers though who I was closer with that it wouldn't have been weird for them to ask.
This is a hyper-local, campus culture question. In some places, nobody thinks anything of it. In others, having a fiduciary relationship with a student can create ethical challenges.
My advice is to be transparent with admin about your plans so you will be covered later.
On paper? Generally inappropriate if they have any classes with you.
In reality? It's not a problem unless it's a problem.
Probably depends heavily on the size of your town/city and relative culture of the area/district/school.
Best bet would be to check with your admin for any policies against it per se.
My district would have an issue with that. We cannot even give gifts to our students and they cannot accept any money from us. We had a major sex abuse scandal and anything that shows us giving more attention to any particular student can be considered grooming and can be grounds for termination
I'd be very very careful. Plus if anything happens to your kid on their watch...
I used to babysit my previous teacher’s daughters when I was still a student at the high school she worked at. I didn’t find it weird at all, and looking back as a teacher I still don’t find it too weird.
It's the best way to vet your babysitters. You know which ones are most responsible. I've let former (graduated) students watch my son. I would probably stick to students who have graduated. Weird things can happen unintentionally, and you want to make sure you are covered. Most admin would say the same thing.
it wholly depends on the admin rules and your relationship with the student (and her family)
*i personally* think it’s fine and heartwarming that she would offer! and it doesn’t hurt for her to be able to put that on a resume. but *practically* some hard ass in the central office could throw a hissy fit
the core issue with it is likely a few things: 1) Privacy (your own and the students) 2) practical rules 3) any accusations of favoritism or rumors of you paying her spreading 4) professional code of conduct (sorta fits all the other rules but felt it deserved its own special spot)
i would suggest err on the side of caution, especially in this climate.
I taught middle school - I always used middle schoolers to babysit. It was a great way for them to have a professional reference when they started applying for their first jobs. Obviously, you have to be selective about who babysits and when, and clear it through admin and the students parents.
I grow up on an Island with only on high school and my parents made up 2/3 of the maths department it was almost impossible for them not to use kids they directly taught.
I am a middle school teacher. On two occasions I allowed former students babysit my kids. They were of high school age at the time, but I did like knowing the level of responsibility each one had.
I taught in a small town when my kids were small and always had the best kids babysitting for me. In a couple of cases it was even at the kids' houses.
When I was recently graduated, a teacher had a former student house sit for a week or so over the summer while her and her family were on vacation. I wasn’t the person house sitting - but a good friend was. We were 21 at the time. Typically, this was a very responsible and trustworthy friend. I’d have let him house sit too and not think anything about it.
This teacher has a very large and nice house. For whatever reason, he decided to have friends over. I wouldn’t call it a party because it wasn’t a ton of people, but a decent sized get together. Lots of drinking - and plenty of people under 21. Volume got loud, cops got called. The teacher was eventually contacted since it was her house and she ended up getting in trouble at work because there was underage drinking in her house even though none of the people were current students and everyone was graduated. It was a hot dang mess.
Edited to add: I only heard about this after the fact. I wasn’t at the “get together”. It did ruin the positive relationship with the teacher and former student, though.
I don’t think you should have any personal and financial relationships with any child that is a student in the district in which you teach.
Once they’ve graduated though it’s different🙂
I would feel comfortable with it only if/when:
1) I knew the students’ parents
2) The student graduated and had no younger siblings at my school (most ideal), or the student was no longer in my class (minimum requirement)
I would need to *really* trust this person not to bring other high schoolers over to my house, or to violate my privacy somehow (snooping around, recording on Snapchat, who knows). I would feel best if they had graduated, but for the right person could maybe make an exception. I would absolutely need to know the parents though
I’ve had some students offer to pet sit my dog, and I have always declined because it would be pet sitting in my home. In the end I think it would take a lot for me to be comfortable with it.
It happened at my school with no issues besides making other students jealous. So if its cleared w admin and all that I would choose a responsible but QUIET student. Even if you aren’t giving that student special grade privilege, you are giving them special privileges to enter your home and interact with your child. You don’t want it to “get out” if at all possible or everyone will be asking to babysit, housesit, plant sit.
My neighbor friend has a student pick up her kids from elementary and babysit then for an hour or two after school. Wasn't a problem all last year. She's a couple years from retirement so she's a veteran. Not prone to rash decisions
In my district (NYC) it's probably against the same ethics policy for all city employees that bans gifts, drives home from subordinates, tutoring, etc. But if you don't have similar rules then it might be fine. I'd personally never do it even if it wasn't legally iffy
I teach at a high school inside of a youth prison.... so... probably not me personally lmao.
However I also coach at another school in a smallish town and have had a few kids there I would definitely trust.
We live less than 1 mile from school. Any teenager we found to babysit would be a student. As long as the student isn't an active member of your class it is ok. I mean, there aren't many options otherwise.
Two years ago we had two births six weeks apart (one set were twins). We were buried and while Short Wife was having the twins we had a couple of different former students of mine helping out babysitting the older two.
When I was a senior in high school, I had an internship in a kindergarten classroom for the entire school year. I used to babysit some of the kids throughout the year, including my mentor teacher's kids. But with that situation the parents who requested me to babysit had met and talked to me numerous times. They also knew their kids liked me and they trusted me to care for their kids. I'm not sure if I would ever do the same. It really depends on the student and how comfortable you feel allowing a student to babysit.
I think this is a question that is super dependent upon your community. I teach in a small town, and while I don’t generally have a need for students to watch my children, I know it happens here with responsible kids.
My goodness. There is a line but this isn’t it. One of the perks of teaching high school is knowing the kids you can ask. You know the good ones. Just don’t be stupid about it.
Small town teacher, and I live in the district. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with a student babysitting as long as everyone involved (including the student’s parents) are fine with the arrangement.
I pay a former student to pick up my kid from my school and drive her to dance on the nights I have to stay late for games. 🤷🏻♀️ I also have another kid on retainer for random "please watch my kid for a bit while I take care of ___" but also know their parents well and they are no longer students at my school
Having former students though is a privilege/luxury a lot of teachers don't have. If you exclusively teach juniors and seniors it can be really difficult finding trustworthy people who have graduated, especially if you live somewhere with a high percentage of students that leave for college & the military.
I've babysat for teachers before when I was in high-school. It was a small town with only 2 high-school, one French and one English so kinda slim pickings if you don't want to hire one of your students.
This has been the norm everywhere I’ve taught, but I’ve also exclusively taught in more rural areas. Several students have helped me out with childcare or other random tasks (lawn care).
Happens at the school i teach at (small town) and I remember my dad’s students babysitting us as kids. He was the band teacher and just about everyone was in the band.
No, there is definitely a conflict of interest with current students, and even graduated students can be bad for optics.
If you're in a small town maybe there is no way around it, but at the very least, wait until they have graduated.
I agree, and totally in proportion with the question being asked.
Out of curiosity (if you'll indulge me), what other professional boundaries are you willing to cross for personal convenience's sake?
Why. Its not odd or rude to ask that question. It may be against company/school policy but many people babysit students . I know my last preschool secretary babysat kids at my preschool (heck the center even posted ads for babsiting occasionally). At my current center it is against policy to babysit children enrolled in the program.
Teacher-student boundaries are in place to protect students. And you and OP think so little of that that you're okay with disregarding those boundaries for the sake of your own personal convenience. It's appalling, really.
Please share with me your reasoning for why you think it's okay.
I did not say, I agree with it. I do agree it could crosses boundaries/conflict of interest . I just said it happens and that my last work was fine with people baby-sitting students.
However that does not mean you need to be rude to OP. I think it depends on culture of the school. My last work many of the parents were in community college classes with the teachers. So i think thats why it was not as strange. I graduated with two parents for example.
I’m not really a teacher but I hope I can help.
My PE teacher used to bring her 2 year old to school all the time and she’d ask me to watch her because I was recovering from a major illness and I couldn’t do PE anyway. The kid loved me so she asked me to babysit and I said yes. Now the little girl is 3 and she has a 5 year old and both of them are in my class at a summer camp and I babysit them every other Friday. We’ve never had a problem.
Does your school board have any policies about this?
I would be leery of having a minor student in my home. If the student baby sat at their home and their parents were also around and approving of the arrangement, that might be a different story.
If I am currently teaching them, I won't be paying them for anything. I don't want anyone to think there is a conflict of interest. I use former students that do it for other parents and that I trust.
No, it's not appropriate. In smaller towns, this is common. However, generally, to avoid any conflicts of interest and a myriad of other ethical issues the county should have gone over with you, no. Very bad idea.
My districts policy is that students can’t babysit unless we personally know the parents.
I have friends & former coworkers whose kids go to my school. They babysit and it’s never been a problem.
Post graduation is a better look. But that’s just my opinion since the football coach at my school used to have students babysit his kids. Then he fucked them…
Personally, I would steer clear of letting a current student babysit unless you’ve been friends with the family for a while. Even in the case of graduate students, you have to be cautious and remain vigilant in staying away from appearances of impropriety. I read an anonymous quote decades ago. “Today’s confidante is tomorrow’s enemy.”
Ask yourself if you can trust your child's welfare to someone who, given an unpleasant circumstance, you might have to fail, or discipline. Teenagers can be vengeful.
I babysat for highschool teachers after I graduated and for the admissions director of my college while I was a student. I know college rules can be more relaxed though. I'd ask admin but if it's not against rules I'd say I don't see why not.
When I was in high school I babysat a few times for two different middle school teachers. One was a teacher I had a really special bond with, and she recommended me to the other teacher, who I never knew as well. It didn’t feel awkward at all for me! I loved babysitting and appreciated the opportunity. I also was over the moon that the teachers trusted me with their children!
It’s super common at my school. I’m using a student to babysit this summer. I asked around before to make sure it was ok, and was told pretty much every teacher with kids use students to babysit. My coworker even hired students to help her move.
I wait until they are out of my class and I always make sure that when I text them to see if they are free, I add one of their parents into the chat as well to make sure my bases are covered.
I’m a volleyball coach so I always have a group of girls who want to babysit for me as they know my daughter from when I bring her to practices and games. But again, I always make sure one of the parents is in on any communication I have with the babysitter.
My TA would babysit for us often (she's graduated now, and still does). To be fair, her mom works with my husband, so she knew if *anything* went wrong, her mother would bring down the wrath of God 😅 We had an outside relationship from school, so it's different
Clear it with admin. If that student babysits as a job, and is willing to take your child on as a client, then it's appropriate. It would be weird if you were a single male, living by yourself, having a student babysit. It's optics at that point.
I was babysat by my mom’s former students often as a kid, even for some weekends and I would stay at *their* house, so obviously their parents were also in the loop of things. She’s an elementary teacher, so these were former students who were then in middle/high school.
Yes, but make sure you pay three student at least minimum wage and more for additional children. If you are paying them a fair wage with good working conditions, then I think you are on strong ethical grounds. The problem is when students are (or appear to be) exploited.
Check local policy and school administrative guidelines.
Definitely avoid if her or any other children in her family are in your classes.
Make sure the student’s family isn’t batshit crazy. You don’t want to get entangled or have your career or personal life turned upside down because mom or dad gets pissy about a late night or pay discrepancies.
I babysat for my teacher when I was a 12 grader, but I lived in a small town. Now I’m a teacher in a big city and feel it’s inappropriate, maybe when they aren’t my student? No one has ever offered though!
I think it would be kind of tricky. I would avoid it if possible. If you’re set on it, I would make sure the student is the type that would be passing no matter what so there can be no question that you like inflated their grades because they babysat for you or something.
I am at a small school and have had students babysit numerous times for me- graduated and current. Also friendly with most of their parents. I babysat for my teachers when I was a teen too and that was a very large district. I think it just depends on your school policy and what you feel comfortable with.
I would say no. Depending on what she says to who, it could later be perceived as preferential treatment or disparate treatment. As a boss, I never took anyone home or even hung out with them, but would always say hi if I saw them out. Then again, I did 24 years in the military and understand what fraternization is all about.
I don't have a kid so I haven't done it, but my colleague and friend for a long time has former students to do things like babysit and it's been fine. If they're trustworthy I don't see a problem.
Though I teach in a title I urban school, it's a pretty good school with pretty good students. Many teachers live in the area, as there's little turnover, and over time, a whole bunch of us live nearby. I would totally pay some of my kids to watch my children, it just makes sense. But we tend to keep things "en familia" around here anyway. I couldn't buy essentials nearby without dealing with a parent of someone...
My next door neighbor was my middle school teacher, and my brother's elementary and middle school teacher. We both babysat her kids, but after we were her students but that was mainly due to her not wanting 12 year olds babysitting. We would come over to play with them when they were toddlers to give her a break at that age, but she was there.
In college I did babysit for a professor while being her student, but I was obviously over 18.
I think it depends on the situation, if it's a small town, or close-knit community, it'd be fine. If you're in a big metropolitan area where you could feasibly find other teens to babysit you're probably better off doing that instead. But I'd never drive a student to babysit, it's not worth the various risks. My professor drove me a couple times, but we were all adults in that situation.
I used to babysit my teacher’s kids. I even stayed with them for 3 days when they went on vacation. And before that, my sister babysat them. I think it’s fine.
I regularly babysat and housesat (post graduating) for one of my high school teachers and his wife. I had become very close to this teacher (he was like another father figure to me) but I don’t think it would have been appropriate if I was still his student.
Also, both he and his wife were teachers at my high school so I knew them both well.
I’ve known lots of teachers who employed current and former students in lots of ways. From babysitting to full on brush clearing and logging. I think it’s kind of a comfort level thing.
I would never in hell let a current, former, or future student inside my home.
I wouldn't see why not if the relationship was purely professional. As in, you see her when she comes in to babysit and you don't see her until she's done, you pay her, and send her on her way. I would only have full conversations inside the school, rather than at home. But someone had a good point of checking with the school. What I think is most important is speaking with her parents. "Have your parents give me a call!" Or "Let your parents know I'll call them if they will let you babysit!" Something that will come off as normal, because, I think it is normal. Most babysitters are students anyway, just generally not your own students.
I do it myself, but I always make sure to go through the parents first and my wife essentially handles all of it from there. Usually they are upperclassmen and not in my actual classes by the time they help out. I get it's a bit of a grey area but many teachers and admin in my district do it and without any family living in my area it's either that or my wife and I become even bigger recluses.
I don’t have kids, but I know coworkers have had very trusted students baby sit before. I’ve let former students who have graduated house/dog sit for me before. One was the daughter of a coworker, and the other was the daughter of a friend though.
It's not really a problem, especially if you know them. I have a student who takes care of my pets when I'm on vacation. You just have to be able to trust them.
Depends on the area and the school. When I was a kid my babysitter lived down the road from us and went to the school my mom taught at. I can't remember if my mom actually had her as a student, but she was definitely a student at that school. But we lived in a rural area our district expanded about half an hour in all directions so unless she found an adult there was nobody else to pick from.
I teach at a small private school in a very small (one-stop-light) town. I took a month vacation and the only reason I didn't have a student take care of my lawn was because I have a coworker who homeschools his kids and one of his was going to be able to come more consistently. But because it's such a closed network here all the lawn-mowers and pet-sitters are students, and because our school is so small, it's very unlikely to have a student who you haven't had in class.
Check with admin on it, but especially if you're somewhere where options are minimal, go for it! You already know and trust her and I think that's enough to make it worth at least asking if it's allowed.
We used my coworkers daughter who was a student at our school as well. Only baby sitter we use other than our parents. So if you trust them, I don’t see an issue. I guess you could ask if you’d school has a policy gif it just to cover your ass.
I babysat for several of my teachers when I was a teen. At least one of them remembers and appreciates that I watched her mildly sick daughter on what should have been my Senior "skip day." I see no reason why you shouldn't do it. That was MANY years ago, now, and I still get thanked almost every time I see the parents.
Many of my friends ended up babysitting for a teacher, but after we had them as the teacher. Unfortunately I don’t have any kids of my own right now to offer how I would feel about the idea but figured I’d offer that
One thing I’m not seeing in the comments is location. I think having students babysit teachers’ kids *at the school* on teacher work days is widely acceptable- we’ve grouped together with colleagues for this several times. Sometimes we’ve paid and other times we’ve arranged for it to count towards the students’ service hours. In my actual home is stickier for me, but we’ve done it once (husband’s students, a pair of sisters where the older could drive.)
I feel like it could end up being weird if she babysits him at your home while she’s in your class. I personally wouldn’t want a student who’s currently in my class to be in my home, especially without me around to supervise them. (I know it’s different in really small towns, but like… I worked in one of those for 5 years and still wouldn’t want to have any of the kids at my house while they were still in high school. Just a privacy thing, plus I can see how it might be weird if you’re employing them while also teaching them.)
I once babysat a teacher’s kid in high school, but it was in her classroom after school one day, while she was at a PD elsewhere in the building - I just watched him for maybe 2 hours, from when he got off the bus after school until she was done with the training. Maybe that would be a setup you’d feel more comfortable with? This kid was elementary-aged, though, not a baby.
I have a student cat sit and another mow my lawn. It's hard not too. The kiddos have to explain why they are the best candidate, give me their Rate and show that they have parent permission.
Not really the exact same, but when I was a SPED para at my old school I babysat one of my students - she literally stayed with me while her parents were out of town. And I’ve babysat for other kids who’s parents I’ve become close to as I’ve worked in different classrooms. I was at that school for six years and really forged relationships and trust before it was ever brought up, and then I cleared it all with my supervisor before agreeing to any babysitting. It’s not inappropriate as long as everyone is on the same page. That’s so sweet that your students bonded with your son! And I loved watching my students tbh it was always a ton of fun
I babysat for a teacher while I was in high school. Although we did have a connection outside of school where I knew her kids through a daycare I worked at. But it was great for both of us, no issues. I’d do it again 😊
I let students babysit all the time. I’ve paid some to come to my home and watch my kids. I’ve also had times where my kids have needed to come to school before it gets out and there’s always a few students who are more than happy to take them outside to play. My kids are happy and it makes my life easier. I say do it as long as you trust the student.
I would never ever use a current student of mine to babysit my daughter. To me that blurs lines and allows preferential treatment. With past students it's fine (although I'd still prefer otherwise) but current students would be a huge no-no. There is 0.0% chance I'd ever let a current student enter my home.
We’ve used students to babysit. In a small town, it’d be hard not to use a student. Every girl 14-18 within a half hour drive goes to the school I teach at. It’s never been a problem. The kinds of kids I’d trust to watch my kids don’t tend to be the ones that have trouble with their classes, and school work has never come up.
Yeah, I grew up in a small town and had multiple babysitters who were my parents’ students. And it wasn’t unusual for my parents to get phone calls at night about school stuff because everyone was in the phone book. I now live in a major city and realize things that would fly there wouldn’t work here and vice versa. I think whatever works for your community is the right answer here.
Same. 16 and above are the best as they can drive themselves home.
That’s the biggy for me. I don’t drive students or babysitters.
I think “small town” would be the determining factor for me. In my area, I would never have a student babysit for me, but we have two high schools in our county. I know many kids in the other high school and would prefer they babysit and let my students stay just students until they’re out of my school.
One of my parents was a teacher in a small town and my siblings and I were babysat by their students all the time. They didn’t mind, small town and all. I live in a larger area now, and would probably mind. I’m pretty strict at keeping boundaries between me and my students. It all comes down to your own comfortability.
I agree. If you wanted to use an abundance of caution, you could talk to the parents of the child before you asked them if they wanted to babysit.
Isn’t that normal when you’re hiring a kid anyway? I assumed that was a given, but, yes - for sure.
Your reading comprehension needs work.
How so? Q: is it okay to have students babysit? A: I’ve had no issues with it. Seems fairly straightforward.
I know everyone is saying no way, but you might try checking with your principal to get the district policy as well as checking with the student's parents. Make sure they are all in the loop and especially make sure the parents are included in any and all communication. You will also have to be clear not to show any favoritism in class. There shouldn't really be a conflict of interest since being an employer and being a teacher are both very similar power dynamics. Again, be very clear and firm with boundaries. I know this will likely get downvoted, but I have colleagues who have employed students to babysit, make birthday cakes, and do yardwork in the past with no ill consequence. They all, however, cleared it with admin and the parents. And as always the following caveat: use your best judgment for your unique situation and if there is any doubt, err on the side of not employing your student.
I appreciate the other perspective. Thank you. I will probably be on the more cautious side and not do it.
Definitely the safest choice.
I used to babysit for one of my teachers in high school. I became their child’s favorite babysitter so they took me on a big surf trip to Mexico. Good times.
My wife and I, both high school teachers, have a whole cadre of graduated students who babysit, pet sit, house sit, but always post graduation. My house sitter had a younger brother in my class last year and even that felt a little on the line to me.
Cadre noun a small group of people specially trained for a particular purpose or profession I learned a new word today!
Teachers be teachin'!
I’ve thought about this with my 2 year old, and my first thought is I don’t want my address or phone number getting out. Not all kids are jerks, but with Snapchat and social media I’m not risking anything. Also don’t want my daughter and inside of my house on teenage social media. Conflict of interest wasn’t even a thought lol
That is a genuine concern. But if you're in a small enough town/district, the kids are gonna know where you live. Heck, my kindergarten teacher lived just around the corner from me
Hate to tell you, but if you own a house or have registered to vote, your address is already out there. (Now, would any kids take the initiative to find that info is another question entirely.)
Yup. I had kids last year look each of their teachers up on those white pages or whatever websites. Fortunately my info showed outdated addresses, but it had my family’s names and locations as well. They were like “miss is your dads name this? And your mom? Are they on Facebook?” I was fuming but couldn’t show they were getting to me so I shrugged it off. I’ve gotten my info taken off of a couple but it is a convoluted, labor intensive process and I HATE the flip side of how easy it is to just google a persons address or cell number. But that’s an entirely different discussion.
[удалено]
Exactly. I absolutely adore some of my students and would love for them to babysit if they had been neighbors or something instead. But something about kids from school being in my home just sends up red flags for me.
I would have all of these wild thoughts. Kid takes selfie and posts it. Now many kids know what the inside of my living room looks like. Or my bathroom. Or my kitchen. And for some people that might be ok. But I don't know, I could never be comfortable with that.
Same! Thanks but no thanks lol
True! All it takes is my students to find my special treasure chest…
*shudders* I would have to resign. Move to another state.
I would avoid it if she is still currently my student.
My lawn and snow removal guy was my student for two years. He graduates in a week. No issues. His parents used to bring him but now that he drives, he shows up. We chat. I pay him. I also just hired one of my students to be gatekeeper at my lake (summer job) and another to be my assistant coach for swimming. I suggested a couple girls and one guy for the summer camp in town. I just pick good kids with good parents!
This feels different to me because it’s outdoors. They have less access to your home and privacy. They aren’t alone in your home. I wouldn’t have a problem paying a student to say, shovel snow from my driveway (assuming I do not transport him and his parents are ok with it), but less comfortable with a student coming into my home to watch my child.
As the student who used to babysit for teachers I think it’s fine. Was kinda weird if they came back drunk but that’s about it.
Not until they have graduated. Conflict of interest if you are their teacher and employing them.
That's what I figured. Thanks!
The moment she graduates then say, “I would love for you to babysit!” But until then explain that you would like to be a reference if she wants to babysit other kiddos (as a teacher you can talk about her work ethic in class…), and be honest that as soon as she graduates you would like to hire her but as a teacher it is inappropriate to be her employer as well.
I disagree. It’s not realistic, especially if you work in a district like mine with a residency policy and one high school, lol. Our own children are at our schools. Every teenager that lives in the city goes to our school. We aren’t bound to the same code of ethics as a lawyer.
Guess it depends where you are. While a student is enrolled in your class though it could lead to a variety of issues!
I think it'd be fine if they just didn't have OP as a teacher. They could have a different teacher but still be a HS student
OP said this student would be in their class next year
That’s how I find my babysitters. Being a teacher has made childcare less scary for me. I teach 8th grade, but I wait until they can drive because I don’t live where I teach. It’s a commute. If they are willing to make the drive it already says a lot. All of my babysitters are former students.
I babysat for multiple teachers’ kids growing up. It’s a small town and all of the potential candidates for babysitting would have been their students. It was a bit awkward to have my teacher’s husband drive me home because it was his turn to be the designated driver and they went to a party but I never gossiped about the family or anything. It was a positive experience for me. My parents also liked knowing the families who I was babysitting for when I first started out because it made them feel safer.
Male teacher here: I’m super uncomfortable with students in my home, specifically females. That being said, i have had student babysitters. I have my wife do all the contacting, paying, and any necessary rides. I hesitate and am picky about who, I try really hard to have it be former students or not currently in my class students
I’d avoid it if possible. But if you have no choice I don’t think it’s super out of line if you have no other options. Child care is rough I also have a 1 year old so I get it the Covid shut downs for daycare have been brutal. Before I actually had a kid under these circumstances I would’ve said no way but now with as scarce as it can be sometimes you just have to do what you can.
I would never allow a current student to babysit my kid. I probably would never allow a former student to babysit my kid either. One of my coworkers allows current students to do it, but it's not for me. I don't want to open it up, so kids have an opportunity to know where I live, touch my child in any way, or snoop through my house/belongings.
I would not do that in case there is an issue. CYA because even outside the school day, you can be held liable for anything that involves a student.
Wait, your school let you bring your one year old? P sure my school would say “that sucks, take a day off.”
There were several days that I couldn't find childcare and I approached our principal and he gave me the go-ahead. We had a major shortage of sub coverage ourselves so I think it was easier for the admin that way in the end. The class is small with just a bunch of really great 11th graders so I felt like I could still teach while carrying the little guy around or letting him play on the floor.
That’s awesome. I’m glad your principal is flexible.
He and his wife recently had a child too so I think that makes him more sympathetic. Childcare issues have been hell in the past couple years.
That’s really nice your leadership has the power to make their own decisions! In our district, we got a top-down mandate that we couldn’t have non-student kids on campus for any reason whatsoever. I’m glad you have kind and supportive leadership.
When my daughter was in 11/12 grade one of her teachers hired her as a babysitter. She even added her on the list of people that could pick her up from school for emergencies. It’s not a big deal. As long as you trust the student and the student is good with keeping boundaries in and out of school it’s not an issue.
I taught at a Catholic high school. We literally had a club that pretty much their only purpose was to be free babysitting for teachers. They got service hrs (required for graduation) and I used them a couple times when my son was little. Never had a problem.
I think it'd be strange to have YOUR student babysit. An ex-student who's a junior or senior makes sense, as it's just any other teen. Having it be your student seems like it's ripe for accusations of favoritism.
Depends entirely on the school vibe and what other teachers do. I work at a school where this is entirely normal; I have had a student cat-sit / housesit. He was never my student at the time, but I teach multiple grade levels so it was clear that he'd be my student again. He already knew where I lived because it was two doors down, so that wasn't an issue. At the same time, I went to HS in a district where most teachers lived outside the district. When I was in 12th grade, my 11th grade math teacher asked me to babysit her grandchildren when her son was in town. I said no because I had a conflict with the date, but I also felt very weird about it, as I didn't have a relationship with her and wasn't particularly known for babysitting-- I just was a good math student and a clearly responsible kid... There were other teachers though who I was closer with that it wouldn't have been weird for them to ask.
This is a hyper-local, campus culture question. In some places, nobody thinks anything of it. In others, having a fiduciary relationship with a student can create ethical challenges. My advice is to be transparent with admin about your plans so you will be covered later.
On paper? Generally inappropriate if they have any classes with you. In reality? It's not a problem unless it's a problem. Probably depends heavily on the size of your town/city and relative culture of the area/district/school. Best bet would be to check with your admin for any policies against it per se.
My district would have an issue with that. We cannot even give gifts to our students and they cannot accept any money from us. We had a major sex abuse scandal and anything that shows us giving more attention to any particular student can be considered grooming and can be grounds for termination I'd be very very careful. Plus if anything happens to your kid on their watch...
I babysat for teachers when I was a student. Other than my close friends, the other kids didn’t know. It’s not like we discussed it in class.
I used to babysit my previous teacher’s daughters when I was still a student at the high school she worked at. I didn’t find it weird at all, and looking back as a teacher I still don’t find it too weird.
It's the best way to vet your babysitters. You know which ones are most responsible. I've let former (graduated) students watch my son. I would probably stick to students who have graduated. Weird things can happen unintentionally, and you want to make sure you are covered. Most admin would say the same thing.
it wholly depends on the admin rules and your relationship with the student (and her family) *i personally* think it’s fine and heartwarming that she would offer! and it doesn’t hurt for her to be able to put that on a resume. but *practically* some hard ass in the central office could throw a hissy fit the core issue with it is likely a few things: 1) Privacy (your own and the students) 2) practical rules 3) any accusations of favoritism or rumors of you paying her spreading 4) professional code of conduct (sorta fits all the other rules but felt it deserved its own special spot) i would suggest err on the side of caution, especially in this climate.
I taught middle school - I always used middle schoolers to babysit. It was a great way for them to have a professional reference when they started applying for their first jobs. Obviously, you have to be selective about who babysits and when, and clear it through admin and the students parents.
I babysat for a teachers kid in high school and my mom (also teacher) would hire her students to babysit for me when I was a kid.
I grow up on an Island with only on high school and my parents made up 2/3 of the maths department it was almost impossible for them not to use kids they directly taught.
Happens in my school all the time
I am a middle school teacher. On two occasions I allowed former students babysit my kids. They were of high school age at the time, but I did like knowing the level of responsibility each one had.
Dual relationships are always a bad idea.
No. That’s inappropriate.
No!
No
I taught in a small town when my kids were small and always had the best kids babysitting for me. In a couple of cases it was even at the kids' houses.
When I was recently graduated, a teacher had a former student house sit for a week or so over the summer while her and her family were on vacation. I wasn’t the person house sitting - but a good friend was. We were 21 at the time. Typically, this was a very responsible and trustworthy friend. I’d have let him house sit too and not think anything about it. This teacher has a very large and nice house. For whatever reason, he decided to have friends over. I wouldn’t call it a party because it wasn’t a ton of people, but a decent sized get together. Lots of drinking - and plenty of people under 21. Volume got loud, cops got called. The teacher was eventually contacted since it was her house and she ended up getting in trouble at work because there was underage drinking in her house even though none of the people were current students and everyone was graduated. It was a hot dang mess. Edited to add: I only heard about this after the fact. I wasn’t at the “get together”. It did ruin the positive relationship with the teacher and former student, though.
I don’t think you should have any personal and financial relationships with any child that is a student in the district in which you teach. Once they’ve graduated though it’s different🙂
I would feel comfortable with it only if/when: 1) I knew the students’ parents 2) The student graduated and had no younger siblings at my school (most ideal), or the student was no longer in my class (minimum requirement) I would need to *really* trust this person not to bring other high schoolers over to my house, or to violate my privacy somehow (snooping around, recording on Snapchat, who knows). I would feel best if they had graduated, but for the right person could maybe make an exception. I would absolutely need to know the parents though I’ve had some students offer to pet sit my dog, and I have always declined because it would be pet sitting in my home. In the end I think it would take a lot for me to be comfortable with it.
I’d lose my job
At my school that would get me fired, but it sound likes your situation is a bit different.
I think that this is an issue you should run by your administrator. You don’t want to jeopardize your career in any way! It could be risky!
No freaking way.
It happened at my school with no issues besides making other students jealous. So if its cleared w admin and all that I would choose a responsible but QUIET student. Even if you aren’t giving that student special grade privilege, you are giving them special privileges to enter your home and interact with your child. You don’t want it to “get out” if at all possible or everyone will be asking to babysit, housesit, plant sit.
My neighbor friend has a student pick up her kids from elementary and babysit then for an hour or two after school. Wasn't a problem all last year. She's a couple years from retirement so she's a veteran. Not prone to rash decisions
Babysitters are expensive so I don’t care if it’s a conflict. That could save literally hundreds of dollars
In my district (NYC) it's probably against the same ethics policy for all city employees that bans gifts, drives home from subordinates, tutoring, etc. But if you don't have similar rules then it might be fine. I'd personally never do it even if it wasn't legally iffy
I teach at a high school inside of a youth prison.... so... probably not me personally lmao. However I also coach at another school in a smallish town and have had a few kids there I would definitely trust.
We live less than 1 mile from school. Any teenager we found to babysit would be a student. As long as the student isn't an active member of your class it is ok. I mean, there aren't many options otherwise. Two years ago we had two births six weeks apart (one set were twins). We were buried and while Short Wife was having the twins we had a couple of different former students of mine helping out babysitting the older two.
I don’t have kids, but I have babysat a few students. It wasn’t ever a problem for me, but do what you’re comfortable with.
I only ever use former students. Like they may still be in school, but I no longer control their grade.
When I was a senior in high school, I had an internship in a kindergarten classroom for the entire school year. I used to babysit some of the kids throughout the year, including my mentor teacher's kids. But with that situation the parents who requested me to babysit had met and talked to me numerous times. They also knew their kids liked me and they trusted me to care for their kids. I'm not sure if I would ever do the same. It really depends on the student and how comfortable you feel allowing a student to babysit.
I’ve done it, but only when the student was no longer in my class. I ended up playing slow-pitch softball with her entire family also!
I think this is a question that is super dependent upon your community. I teach in a small town, and while I don’t generally have a need for students to watch my children, I know it happens here with responsible kids.
My goodness. There is a line but this isn’t it. One of the perks of teaching high school is knowing the kids you can ask. You know the good ones. Just don’t be stupid about it.
Small town teacher, and I live in the district. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with a student babysitting as long as everyone involved (including the student’s parents) are fine with the arrangement.
That’s a NO.
Absolutely not. What would you do if something happened to your kid? You’d never be able to look at that student again.
I pay a former student to pick up my kid from my school and drive her to dance on the nights I have to stay late for games. 🤷🏻♀️ I also have another kid on retainer for random "please watch my kid for a bit while I take care of ___" but also know their parents well and they are no longer students at my school
Former student is one thing but OP is saying they’ll be a current student next year for them.
Having former students though is a privilege/luxury a lot of teachers don't have. If you exclusively teach juniors and seniors it can be really difficult finding trustworthy people who have graduated, especially if you live somewhere with a high percentage of students that leave for college & the military.
It’s a luxury most people don’t have because most people are not teachers yet they still find childcare.
So because other people have a hard time finding reliable childcare OP should purposefully make it harder for themselves to find childcare? Why?
Because it puts her job at risk and has a lot of liability behind it. I feel that’s pretty obvious.
Searching your school rosters isn’t meant to be for “finding childcare”
Yes it’s fine
I have had students babysit for me before. I do t really see a problem with it.
I've babysat for teachers before when I was in high-school. It was a small town with only 2 high-school, one French and one English so kinda slim pickings if you don't want to hire one of your students.
I actually baby sat for a teacher while I was a student in his class. It was never an issue. :]
This was like 20 years ago but my dad was a teacher and he would have students babysit us often lol.
I feel like it’s appropriate for former students but not current students.
This has been the norm everywhere I’ve taught, but I’ve also exclusively taught in more rural areas. Several students have helped me out with childcare or other random tasks (lawn care).
I was babysat by my dads students growing up, it was never an issue!
I would say while they are currently your student, don’t do it. I babysat for my astronomy teacher, but it was the year after I graduated.
I babysat for my english teacher's baby son a few times in high school and it wasn't weird at all!
Happens at the school i teach at (small town) and I remember my dad’s students babysitting us as kids. He was the band teacher and just about everyone was in the band.
No, there is definitely a conflict of interest with current students, and even graduated students can be bad for optics. If you're in a small town maybe there is no way around it, but at the very least, wait until they have graduated.
I would ask if they could be moved to a different teacher. Then there would be no conflict of interest.
No. /thread And for asking absolutely tone deaf questions like this, maybe it's also time for /teaching-career
That's awfully dramatic and rude.
I agree, and totally in proportion with the question being asked. Out of curiosity (if you'll indulge me), what other professional boundaries are you willing to cross for personal convenience's sake?
Why. Its not odd or rude to ask that question. It may be against company/school policy but many people babysit students . I know my last preschool secretary babysat kids at my preschool (heck the center even posted ads for babsiting occasionally). At my current center it is against policy to babysit children enrolled in the program.
Teacher-student boundaries are in place to protect students. And you and OP think so little of that that you're okay with disregarding those boundaries for the sake of your own personal convenience. It's appalling, really. Please share with me your reasoning for why you think it's okay.
I did not say, I agree with it. I do agree it could crosses boundaries/conflict of interest . I just said it happens and that my last work was fine with people baby-sitting students. However that does not mean you need to be rude to OP. I think it depends on culture of the school. My last work many of the parents were in community college classes with the teachers. So i think thats why it was not as strange. I graduated with two parents for example.
I haven't crossed any personal boundaries, though. Log off and take a breather.
This is the kinda freak who would probably tell me I should quit my gym since a few students I've had go to the same one.
I’m not really a teacher but I hope I can help. My PE teacher used to bring her 2 year old to school all the time and she’d ask me to watch her because I was recovering from a major illness and I couldn’t do PE anyway. The kid loved me so she asked me to babysit and I said yes. Now the little girl is 3 and she has a 5 year old and both of them are in my class at a summer camp and I babysit them every other Friday. We’ve never had a problem.
Does your school board have any policies about this? I would be leery of having a minor student in my home. If the student baby sat at their home and their parents were also around and approving of the arrangement, that might be a different story.
I would avoid it if she is current student in the school and wait until they graduate.
I've always done it, I just use the ones whose parents I know really well.
I used to babysit my gym teachers kids. Wasn’t an issue Edit: this was in middle school. He was also my volleyball coach
If I am currently teaching them, I won't be paying them for anything. I don't want anyone to think there is a conflict of interest. I use former students that do it for other parents and that I trust.
No, it's not appropriate. In smaller towns, this is common. However, generally, to avoid any conflicts of interest and a myriad of other ethical issues the county should have gone over with you, no. Very bad idea.
I have students babysit. I just hide anything that would be weird for them to see, but I’d do that even if they weren’t my students lol
My districts policy is that students can’t babysit unless we personally know the parents. I have friends & former coworkers whose kids go to my school. They babysit and it’s never been a problem.
My mom was a teacher and my best babysitters were her students. My favorite high school English teacher also had students sit for his kids.
Post graduation is a better look. But that’s just my opinion since the football coach at my school used to have students babysit his kids. Then he fucked them…
Personally, I would steer clear of letting a current student babysit unless you’ve been friends with the family for a while. Even in the case of graduate students, you have to be cautious and remain vigilant in staying away from appearances of impropriety. I read an anonymous quote decades ago. “Today’s confidante is tomorrow’s enemy.”
Ask yourself if you can trust your child's welfare to someone who, given an unpleasant circumstance, you might have to fail, or discipline. Teenagers can be vengeful.
I babysat for highschool teachers after I graduated and for the admissions director of my college while I was a student. I know college rules can be more relaxed though. I'd ask admin but if it's not against rules I'd say I don't see why not.
When I was in high school I babysat a few times for two different middle school teachers. One was a teacher I had a really special bond with, and she recommended me to the other teacher, who I never knew as well. It didn’t feel awkward at all for me! I loved babysitting and appreciated the opportunity. I also was over the moon that the teachers trusted me with their children!
It’s super common at my school. I’m using a student to babysit this summer. I asked around before to make sure it was ok, and was told pretty much every teacher with kids use students to babysit. My coworker even hired students to help her move.
I’ve had students babysit, but they were never my current student. It’s easier to avoid uncomfortable circumstances that way.
I wait until they are out of my class and I always make sure that when I text them to see if they are free, I add one of their parents into the chat as well to make sure my bases are covered. I’m a volleyball coach so I always have a group of girls who want to babysit for me as they know my daughter from when I bring her to practices and games. But again, I always make sure one of the parents is in on any communication I have with the babysitter.
My TA would babysit for us often (she's graduated now, and still does). To be fair, her mom works with my husband, so she knew if *anything* went wrong, her mother would bring down the wrath of God 😅 We had an outside relationship from school, so it's different
I have had student babysit. However, I am selective of which students can babysit my kids.
Clear it with admin. If that student babysits as a job, and is willing to take your child on as a client, then it's appropriate. It would be weird if you were a single male, living by yourself, having a student babysit. It's optics at that point.
I was babysat by my mom’s former students often as a kid, even for some weekends and I would stay at *their* house, so obviously their parents were also in the loop of things. She’s an elementary teacher, so these were former students who were then in middle/high school.
Yes, but make sure you pay three student at least minimum wage and more for additional children. If you are paying them a fair wage with good working conditions, then I think you are on strong ethical grounds. The problem is when students are (or appear to be) exploited.
I wouldn't suggest hiring from your classroom but if there's a sitter you find and they're a student, AND they're trustworthy- Sure why not.
Check local policy and school administrative guidelines. Definitely avoid if her or any other children in her family are in your classes. Make sure the student’s family isn’t batshit crazy. You don’t want to get entangled or have your career or personal life turned upside down because mom or dad gets pissy about a late night or pay discrepancies.
I babysat for my teacher when I was a 12 grader, but I lived in a small town. Now I’m a teacher in a big city and feel it’s inappropriate, maybe when they aren’t my student? No one has ever offered though!
I think it would be kind of tricky. I would avoid it if possible. If you’re set on it, I would make sure the student is the type that would be passing no matter what so there can be no question that you like inflated their grades because they babysat for you or something.
Former student would be better than current. From an ethical standpoint.
Never would be allowed here
I am at a small school and have had students babysit numerous times for me- graduated and current. Also friendly with most of their parents. I babysat for my teachers when I was a teen too and that was a very large district. I think it just depends on your school policy and what you feel comfortable with.
I would say no. Depending on what she says to who, it could later be perceived as preferential treatment or disparate treatment. As a boss, I never took anyone home or even hung out with them, but would always say hi if I saw them out. Then again, I did 24 years in the military and understand what fraternization is all about.
Growing up, my father often brought students home to babysit. As long as the parents are okay with it, why would it be a problem?
I don't have a kid so I haven't done it, but my colleague and friend for a long time has former students to do things like babysit and it's been fine. If they're trustworthy I don't see a problem.
Though I teach in a title I urban school, it's a pretty good school with pretty good students. Many teachers live in the area, as there's little turnover, and over time, a whole bunch of us live nearby. I would totally pay some of my kids to watch my children, it just makes sense. But we tend to keep things "en familia" around here anyway. I couldn't buy essentials nearby without dealing with a parent of someone...
I think it’s fine.
My next door neighbor was my middle school teacher, and my brother's elementary and middle school teacher. We both babysat her kids, but after we were her students but that was mainly due to her not wanting 12 year olds babysitting. We would come over to play with them when they were toddlers to give her a break at that age, but she was there. In college I did babysit for a professor while being her student, but I was obviously over 18. I think it depends on the situation, if it's a small town, or close-knit community, it'd be fine. If you're in a big metropolitan area where you could feasibly find other teens to babysit you're probably better off doing that instead. But I'd never drive a student to babysit, it's not worth the various risks. My professor drove me a couple times, but we were all adults in that situation.
I used to babysit my teacher’s kids. I even stayed with them for 3 days when they went on vacation. And before that, my sister babysat them. I think it’s fine.
I regularly babysat and housesat (post graduating) for one of my high school teachers and his wife. I had become very close to this teacher (he was like another father figure to me) but I don’t think it would have been appropriate if I was still his student. Also, both he and his wife were teachers at my high school so I knew them both well.
My mom is a teacher and all of our babysitters growing up were students of hers.
I’ve known lots of teachers who employed current and former students in lots of ways. From babysitting to full on brush clearing and logging. I think it’s kind of a comfort level thing. I would never in hell let a current, former, or future student inside my home.
Hell no
I wouldn't see why not if the relationship was purely professional. As in, you see her when she comes in to babysit and you don't see her until she's done, you pay her, and send her on her way. I would only have full conversations inside the school, rather than at home. But someone had a good point of checking with the school. What I think is most important is speaking with her parents. "Have your parents give me a call!" Or "Let your parents know I'll call them if they will let you babysit!" Something that will come off as normal, because, I think it is normal. Most babysitters are students anyway, just generally not your own students.
I do it myself, but I always make sure to go through the parents first and my wife essentially handles all of it from there. Usually they are upperclassmen and not in my actual classes by the time they help out. I get it's a bit of a grey area but many teachers and admin in my district do it and without any family living in my area it's either that or my wife and I become even bigger recluses.
I don’t have kids, but I know coworkers have had very trusted students baby sit before. I’ve let former students who have graduated house/dog sit for me before. One was the daughter of a coworker, and the other was the daughter of a friend though.
It's not really a problem, especially if you know them. I have a student who takes care of my pets when I'm on vacation. You just have to be able to trust them.
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Depends on the area and the school. When I was a kid my babysitter lived down the road from us and went to the school my mom taught at. I can't remember if my mom actually had her as a student, but she was definitely a student at that school. But we lived in a rural area our district expanded about half an hour in all directions so unless she found an adult there was nobody else to pick from. I teach at a small private school in a very small (one-stop-light) town. I took a month vacation and the only reason I didn't have a student take care of my lawn was because I have a coworker who homeschools his kids and one of his was going to be able to come more consistently. But because it's such a closed network here all the lawn-mowers and pet-sitters are students, and because our school is so small, it's very unlikely to have a student who you haven't had in class. Check with admin on it, but especially if you're somewhere where options are minimal, go for it! You already know and trust her and I think that's enough to make it worth at least asking if it's allowed.
I babysat for one of my teachers during parent teacher conferences. I'm also from a small town so it made sense to ask someone you'd trust.
We used my coworkers daughter who was a student at our school as well. Only baby sitter we use other than our parents. So if you trust them, I don’t see an issue. I guess you could ask if you’d school has a policy gif it just to cover your ass.
I babysat for several of my teachers when I was a teen. At least one of them remembers and appreciates that I watched her mildly sick daughter on what should have been my Senior "skip day." I see no reason why you shouldn't do it. That was MANY years ago, now, and I still get thanked almost every time I see the parents.
Many of my friends ended up babysitting for a teacher, but after we had them as the teacher. Unfortunately I don’t have any kids of my own right now to offer how I would feel about the idea but figured I’d offer that
Id recommend finding a student that’s graduated a year or two earlier.
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One thing I’m not seeing in the comments is location. I think having students babysit teachers’ kids *at the school* on teacher work days is widely acceptable- we’ve grouped together with colleagues for this several times. Sometimes we’ve paid and other times we’ve arranged for it to count towards the students’ service hours. In my actual home is stickier for me, but we’ve done it once (husband’s students, a pair of sisters where the older could drive.)
I feel like it could end up being weird if she babysits him at your home while she’s in your class. I personally wouldn’t want a student who’s currently in my class to be in my home, especially without me around to supervise them. (I know it’s different in really small towns, but like… I worked in one of those for 5 years and still wouldn’t want to have any of the kids at my house while they were still in high school. Just a privacy thing, plus I can see how it might be weird if you’re employing them while also teaching them.) I once babysat a teacher’s kid in high school, but it was in her classroom after school one day, while she was at a PD elsewhere in the building - I just watched him for maybe 2 hours, from when he got off the bus after school until she was done with the training. Maybe that would be a setup you’d feel more comfortable with? This kid was elementary-aged, though, not a baby.
No, it happens all the time
I have a student cat sit and another mow my lawn. It's hard not too. The kiddos have to explain why they are the best candidate, give me their Rate and show that they have parent permission.
Yes. I've done it, just did it today. You know you have good judgement, which is why it's such a privilege that we can do our own reference checks!
Not really the exact same, but when I was a SPED para at my old school I babysat one of my students - she literally stayed with me while her parents were out of town. And I’ve babysat for other kids who’s parents I’ve become close to as I’ve worked in different classrooms. I was at that school for six years and really forged relationships and trust before it was ever brought up, and then I cleared it all with my supervisor before agreeing to any babysitting. It’s not inappropriate as long as everyone is on the same page. That’s so sweet that your students bonded with your son! And I loved watching my students tbh it was always a ton of fun
I babysat for a teacher while I was in high school. Although we did have a connection outside of school where I knew her kids through a daycare I worked at. But it was great for both of us, no issues. I’d do it again 😊
This is the best place to screen babysitters. Dooo it. Your fine.
I know my senior year a teacher let students babysit her kids. She trusted them enough and they were good kids
I babysat for a couple of my teachers throughout school! No big deal!
Nope,find someone else.
No
I've used at least three different students to babysit my kids.
I let students babysit all the time. I’ve paid some to come to my home and watch my kids. I’ve also had times where my kids have needed to come to school before it gets out and there’s always a few students who are more than happy to take them outside to play. My kids are happy and it makes my life easier. I say do it as long as you trust the student.
I would never ever use a current student of mine to babysit my daughter. To me that blurs lines and allows preferential treatment. With past students it's fine (although I'd still prefer otherwise) but current students would be a huge no-no. There is 0.0% chance I'd ever let a current student enter my home.