There are parental interviews and there are parental interviews

As a busy Head of Year, and someone not over enamoured with extensive paperwork, I decided to take a child home to his parents after his behaviour had been less than acceptable during the morning. Taking the boy home to his parents, I felt, would save lots of in school organisation and would serve as his punishment for his latest misdemeanour. Whilst that was regarded as an acceptable approach to managing behaviour in the early eighties, clearly not a tactic that any teacher would employ these days. What could possibly go wrong?!
At around midday, we arrived at the miscreant’s house, and he let us both in. As we entered, a male voice from upstairs called down, asking who it was. The boy sheepishly called back explaining that he had been brought home by me because of his poor behaviour. I also called back and apologised for interrupting and asked if I could just have a quick word with him. Of course, he said. So I waited. After a pause I next heard “Come up then”. So, and equally sheepishly, I walked up the stairs and waited on the landing. “Well come in then” came after another pregnant pause. And so, seconds later I found that I was conducting a parental interview in a bedroom, at the foot of a bed        belonging to a parent who was naked to the waist and wrapped up in a duvet. I was quite proud of myself for professionally conducting an interview under these circumstances which must have lasted around five minutes. I even managed to retain my composure when, mid-sentence, there was a rustling under the duvet and a woman’s head popped out. “Good morning” I said, and carried on with my interview. There’s professional for you!