| Recently my 11 year old daughter Brooke brought | | | | missing assignments that was causing her less than |
| home a list of rules offered to her by her best | | | | favorable grade in a particular class. Over that |
| friend, Julia. Now, I have no idea where these rules | | | | weekend, Teacher Mom insisted that all assignments |
| originated and if memory serves me correctly, I've | | | | get completed. She turned them in on Monday and |
| probably seen these rules as a forwarded email at | | | | her barely "C" went to an "A"...the teacher sent a |
| least once or twice. But as I read them, I realized I | | | | note home telling me how proud she was of my |
| really like most of them and I wished that all parents | | | | daughter's efforts. |
| would agree and adopt these rules. | | | | My daughter thought all was well, but I was not as |
| Rule #4 is this: "If you think your teacher is tough, | | | | easy to please as her teacher. Together we went |
| wait until you get a boss". | | | | through her planner of upcoming assignments and |
| This is one of my most favorite rules. School | | | | scheduled time to ensure completion of each of |
| systems vary from place to place and in my rural | | | | them prior to the due date. My daughter still thinks I |
| community, our teachers and administrators are | | | | was over reacting. I think the teacher should have |
| some of the best. However, we do have those | | | | higher standards and insist that due dates be |
| teachers that allow students to go an entire 9 week | | | | honored. |
| grading period without completing any assignments. | | | | I have a contract position with an agency in the next |
| Just before grades are due, the teacher allows the | | | | town over. I am in their office 2 days a week and |
| students to complete and submit all assignments. No | | | | work remotely for a few additional hours each week |
| penalties, no consequences and the student gets an | | | | as well. I can assure you that if the Executive |
| "A". | | | | Director needs something from me, she calls or |
| Adults know that is not indicative of the real world. If | | | | emails me and expects an immediate response, |
| your supervisor asks for a report, changes are he | | | | whether it's my assigned day or not. |
| she will not be waiting for 9 weeks. If that is the | | | | Teachers should be helping parents by preparing |
| case, then consequences such as disciplinary action or | | | | students for the real world, where deadlines are |
| termination will surely occur. | | | | adhered to and extra time is not a given, but rather |
| I speak from experience. My 8th grade daughter | | | | the exception for true emergencies. |
| recently brought home a progress report and a list of | | | | |