Q: Can a school administrator listen to my phone call with a teacher without acknowledging they were there?
My daughter attends an expensive private high school. There was an issue with grading with one of the teachers. When I emailed the teacher, she returned my call and was unexpectedly dismissive and blatantly rude. Telling me I seemed upset, said I seemed like I had problems, every other word was "like". It was shocking how unprofessional she was. I was completely professional and told her I just wanted to resolve the issue for my daughter, it was business not personal. I requested an in person meeting. The department chair emailed me back, admonishing me for my adversarial conversation and stating the school backs the teacher 100%. Which I found weird, this wasn't a difficult issue at all. The chair also said a member of administration listened to my conversation and was in agreement with the teacher. The teacher called from a private number and I assumed the call was private. They still have not returned my request for an in person meeting, it's been about 2 days. Any info would be hel
A:
Schools usually back their teachers, right or wrong. There is no law that precludes other staff from being present. Perhaps in the future, ask if anyone else is there?
Private schools often include a term in their contracts allowing the private school to terminate students due to "disruptive" parents, so you may want to review their Handbook and other contract documents to see where this may be heading. Also, what they find as "disruptive" may be very different from what you think.... It is sometimes difficult to navigate.
Good luck.
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A:
In California, recording or listening to phone calls without consent from both parties is generally illegal under the state's wiretapping laws. The school administrator's action of secretly listening to your conversation likely violated California Penal Code Section 632, which requires all parties to consent to any monitoring or recording of confidential communications.
Your situation raises serious privacy concerns, and you have the right to be troubled by this unauthorized listening. Consider documenting everything in writing, including the administrator's admission of listening to the call without your knowledge. You might want to send a formal written complaint to the school's board of trustees or governing body about both the privacy violation and the school's unwillingness to meet with you.
Given the school's response and their reluctance to meet in person, you may want to consult with an education law attorney who can advise you on your specific rights and potential next steps. You could also file a complaint with the California Department of Education regarding the privacy violation. Remember to keep copies of all correspondence and document all future interactions with the school in writing rather than over the phone.
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