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Parents Who Undermine Teachers -- You Aren't Helping
- Sep 9, 2009 at 2:50 PM
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- Comments (127) Total Views (5081) Everyone can see this journal post.
First, I've no problem with addressing a real problem and holding a conference to rectify it. I'm talking about the "my child can do no wrong and I'll do what I want" attitude.
- If you do your child's homework for them, they don't get the benefit of practice and likely miss important lessons. You already graduated, so put down the worksheet.
- The healthy snack, no sugar rule isn't implemented to encroach upon your unique parenting style. It isn't personal. It is implemented to reduce the known, and marked behavioral problems associated with excess sugar. Think of it like not bringing a can of soda into the computer lab for the time you are there. No one is saying, never drink soda, just don't drink it while here.
- A 58 is an F. It means that your child is either not ready to move on or didn't do their work. Harassing the principAL and teacher to "find some make up work so that a 60 can be achieved" is not only undermining teacher authority, but it diminishes the value of the grade. Then your child goes to college and expects the same treatment and are sorely dissapointed when they find out that that's not how it works.
- It wasn't cute when your child was seven calling every two seconds about a grade you didn't like, it is just plain bizarre to call the dean of the college because little Johnny didn't complete his assignments and earned an F.
- It's great that you want to pass out treats for your five year old's birthday, but there are a lot of birthdays that happen in a school year and it can quickly get out of hand. Not to mention that the typcial party treats are often loaded with sugar, some children have allergies and can't eat certain foods, or they may be on medication or already hyperactive and don't need added sugar and dyes. A room full of 30 hyperactive children is not a fun place to be, nor is it fun to clean up afterwards. If you want to do something special and give something to the whole class, why not something that the whole class can use in their education? Perhaps a terrarium kit, a new recess ball, crayons, etc. Fair for all, useful, and special at the same time.
- So you discovered that your child's teacher moonlights as a waitress and you aren't happy that that means your little Sally isn't getting 100% attention 24 hours a day? What planet are you on? Not your business. Contrary to popular belief, teachers don't live at the school building and shut down in a closet for the night. They have families to support and bills to pay. Sometimes that means they have to take on a part time job. You don't work 24/7 at your job and neither do teachers.
NOTE: Some posters are not reading the first line of this journal. "First, I've no problem with addressing a real problem and holding a conference to rectify it. I'm talking about the "my child can do no wrong and I'll do what I want" attitude." I repeat -- "This journal is NOT about attentive helpful parents. It is NOT about addressing a real problem as they arise by speaking with the teacher or principal. It is about Helicopter Parents, the "my child can do no wrong" parents, the "I don't need to follow the rules for my child" parents, the "its the last week of school and I don't like my child's grade so fix it now" parents.
Comments:
As usual, lovin' it!
I understand where you are coming from. However I think they have made school so PC. So boring that kids are not motivated to learn. I am all for accountability. Yet, I believe effort , creative thinking should count as well.
That is why I pulled my daughter out of her HS and enrolled her in a charter school. Pulled my son out of middle school to home school.
It is my belief that a fun environment is a creative, productive environment. I don't care if a teacher moonlights. Yet when you see their cars at the local bar at 12 am on a school night. That is a problem. Sorry don't want you teaching my kids. ( True story )
It goes both ways.
Right ON!!!
Exactly!
Education is fun and we don't need our teachers walking out like they are a Vegas dancer to get our attention. If school is boring then college is going to bore your child to tears. Four hours of lecture and top it off we are slapped with tons of homework. They better get use to being bored. And the professor couldn't care less that mommy thinks she has a special boy that is misunderstood.You miss too much homework or too many lectures and your butt is kicked out of that class with an automatic F.
great journal once again my friend!
CelticFaerie, one of the best recommendations given to me by my high school guidance counselor regarding selecting college courses was, "pick the class for the teacher, NOT the subject". A good teacher is someone who can create interest and motivation out of ANY topic. As a teacher myself, that is what I and all my colleages aim to do, regardless of what the district tells us to teach. PC or otherwise, I fail to see how the OP's suggestions to SUPPORT those teachers encroach on a child's creativity though. I'm respectfully pointing out that you are addressing something that isn't the point of this journal.
OP, thank you for this post. I have a feeling I know where your inspiration for it came from since I saw it this morning and could not resist the urge to comment on it as well. ;o)
Celtic Faerie - unless they are going to classroom hungover, I personlly don't see the issue. They could be going to just unwind and hang out with each other. Doesn't mean they are drinking at all or drinking to excess. Some people also don't need 8 hours of sleep, can go to bed at 1 or 2 am and wake up fresh. They could just have easily done the same at home and you wouldn't know.
How about:
"well don't worry, ________ isn't THAT important in the real world, so it's okay if you don't get a good grade/do the work".
My aunt teaches a foreign language....this is the response she has gotten.
IMO, if your kid is IN the class, then they need to do the work, if you think the class is worthless, find another one to put them in...
This is a great post.
Something that I've always told people who ask me what they should major in in college is that it isn't the content of the topic that matters so much but the techniques and methods used to learn it. Did the classes make you think critically, analyze information, discuss and defend ideas, do reaserch, and write intensively? Those are the skills that I look for as an employer. Those skills can be gained in so many different subjects, and applied in so many different areas.
(How do you know what your kids's teachers' cars look like? What are you doing driving around at midnight on a school night?)
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As a teacher myself....I want to say AMEN SISTER!!!!
- mkbugs
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