HONEST REPORT CARDS AND CONFERENCES ARE ESSENTIAL FOR STUDENT IMPROVEMENT AND INDEPENDENCE

HONEST REPORT CARDS AND CONFERENCES ARE ESSENTIAL FOR STUDENT IMPROVEMENT AND INDEPENDENCE 

By Domenick J. Maglio Ph.D. Traditional Realist

When a student, teacher and parents meet together, many positive things can take place. By honestly interacting with each other, pertinent information can be exchanged that will be an accurate snapshot of the child’s present strengths and weaknesses. This picture will certainly change over time although the strategy developed by the process will hopefully keep the student moving in the positive direction.

Most parents want their child to do well from the beginning to the end of their education. They often have difficulty accepting teacher conference statements and report card comments. When their child does not do as well as the parent’s expectations, most parents view it as a negative reflection on their parenting.  A student receiving outstanding grades provides the parent with bragging rights to put a decal on their bumper that says  “My child is on the honor roll.” Most modern parent wants their child to be a winner in every endeavor attempted.  This is unrealistic and unfair for the child’s emotional development. No one can be the best in everything.

Report cards in preschool are not the same as transcripts for college. The type of courses and grades are evaluated by college search committees to decide on students who are acceptable for their college. However, preschool through eighth grade is the interval for the development of social, academic, time management and critical thinking skills, which are essential for doing well in future endeavors including academics.

When the child complains that he received lower grades than he expected, instead of the parent saying work harder and your grades will go up, the modern parents become an advocate for their child’s grades.  The parents want a grade to be changed upward to make the child happier for being recognized. These parents fail to understand that the lower grades than they expected can motivate students to do better the next marking period. Starting the first marking period with high grades can result in student complacency and grade inflation for a student and eventually for the entire class.

Besides the fact that no one is perfect, the parents who expect and demand their child be straight A in all subjects is missing the point that we all have to learn how to overcome our shortcomings. These are healthy challenges. The straight A student will hit a wall in learning in a particular subject. It is up to the student to figure out a beneficial means of getting to the other side of the wall. These self compensation experiments might not be emphasized or even mentioned on the report card although in the long run is often more important than a GPA (Grade Point Average.) In the lower grades report cards are more subjective than they are in higher grades where there is more objective subject material. In the lower grades skills, attitude and discipline issues have to be taken into consideration too.

The student needs to view the report as an honest assessment of his improvement as a student. A report card to parents should demonstrate their child’s actual growth in all areas not just how well he is doing compared to fellow students. Growth, not bragging rights should be the criteria of the evaluation of their child’s educational development. They are insisting on high grades for their child from the first day he enters school. Parental rages have been the impetus for bureaucratic appeasement.

Inflated grades have become a disincentive for students.

Students need to realize their effort and studying have a direct impact on their increased comprehension of the subject matter. Each person involved in the conference deserves the respect of being part of this process especially in the higher grades. An honest attempt to present the student’s behavior and attitude in an accurate manner encourages everyone involved to view this educational event as a productive and positive one.

The evaluative process is a necessary one to keep everyone on the same page. It informs the child that there are real consequences for his effort and attitude.  Parents and teachers become aware of the growth of the student’s academic attributes and maturing behavior. This feedback assists everyone. It keeps everyone on his toes to motivate the student at home and at school.

Ultimately it is the student with or without the support of his parents, teachers or administrators who has to take control of his own education. Becoming an independent learner even with the help of others is a decision made by the individual.

Domenick Maglio, PhD. is a columnist carried by various newspapers, an author of several books and owner/director of Wider Horizons School, a college prep program. Dr. Maglio is an author of weekly newspaper articles, INVASION WITHIN  and a new just published book, entitled, IN CHARGE PARENTING In a PC World. You can visit Dr. Maglio at www.drmaglio.blogspot.com.