I got an email from a website, “Online Degrees,” in which you can find a really interesting article, “Pressure from parents: Do students need more of it?”
It was interesting to read this after coming off parent/teacher conferences. I have one child that truly cares about their schoolwork and is doing well. I have another child who could take it or leave it. Then I have a child that really doesn’t seem to care.
Three very diverse students.
The article cites a study done by the “Pew Research Center,” in which 6 in 10 Americans believe that parents aren’t putting enough pressure on their kids. However, (surprise, surprise) the students don’t feel the same.
Pressure is difficult to define. What is considered to be pressure from one parent might be something different to another. I know of parents who punish their children if they get less than a B. I know of parents who reward their children for good grades. I know of parents who focus more on character and less on grades.
Just as diverse as my children are when it comes to being a student, so are we as parents. So my idea of putting pressure on my children may not be the same as yours.
But I can tell you this…it is difficult to sit through a conference and have your child read a letter to you explaining the reason for their grade. Not spending enough time on work, not making up missing work, talking too much. It was a bit uncomfortable and I have to tell you, for the first time (in front of a teacher) I felt like a bad parent.
I know my child’s choices aren’t necessarily a reflection of my parenting skills. After all, how do you then explain my other child who is the verge of getting straight A’s and was recommended to Art Honor Society?
I don’t know if we need to put more pressure on our students here in America. I know that in some countries, their students do much better than we do. What do you think?
In my next blog, we are going to look at some of the other interesting findings from this website with regard to homework and sleep.
Related Articles:
Being Balanced with Teen’s Grades
Giving Teens a Mental Health Day
A Shout Out to All the Great Teachers
Photo by ccarlstead in Flickr