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Case: My Child is an "A". I had the pleasure of meeting a parent who thought her child never should receive any grade below an A. She asked for the student's work. I reviewed the work with her and the student. She started putting out the fact that she felt the subject was not being taught correctly. I had a meeting with the mother, father, assistant principal, principal, and curriculum coordinator. It seemed as if I was a villain all because the student was to be an "A." Of course it came out that the student was not very bright but because her mother was a teacher and the father was a board member, she was to always be an "A" student. It was clear that the student was under much pressure. This student of course passed my class with an 85 average. She did well and understood majority of what the student was to learn. The student received good grades (per past teachers) because they feared the inevitable. Of course, I was new to the school system. I did not know who knew who and who was related to who. I felt all students were to be taught and assessed fairly. Of course, after this many others were waiting in line for their "A" child. I feel parents should be confident in their children but never labeled them as always making an A. I find that when students understand what they got wrong, they are successful at getting it right the next time. Every child that participates in their own learning would like to succeed. I feel that the system is set up to categorize students achievements with letter grades verse what they have actually learned through progression. Therefore, parents like the one above feel that a child being an "An" in high school is superlative. However, how was the child assessed? Or was she? What foundation has the student built for college? This same student went to college but ended up dropping out because she could not compete with the students in college. She ended up being chemically dependent in order to deal with her inferiorities of not being an "A". How do you get parents to validate the student by their progression, good habits, and inquisitiveness? Will the school systems have to change their grading system in order to change the parents' frame of mind? Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!) A good all-round teaching practice is to manage student's data effectively. This includes reviewing student's performance with them after each assessments. This is especially important when dealing with difficult parents. For lower schools, student led parent conference is a good place to start. Students are generally honest with themselves and will sometimes keep the parents straight when the parents blame the teachers. I have seen it work multiple times before. |
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