Student-teacher dynamics vs. parent-teacher dynamics

crimsongull20 said:My little one is four and a half, and I'm already dreading her first teacher. It’s such a critical role in a kid's life. Mine was incredible. I'll never forget her, and I'm still grateful today. During every long break, she’d stay behind in the classroom with me just so I could finish my sandwich. She’d also bring me reading passages and assignments to work on while the rest of the class was just learning their ABCs. She did all of this on her own—nobody asked her to, and nobody gave her any credit for it.

I wonder if teachers like that even exist anymore...

They certainly do exist. And frankly, they go far beyond just sitting with a student during recess. There are teachers who walk kids home because a parent forgot to pick them up, teachers who show up early to after-school programs just for the sake of one specific student, or those who will patiently endure having snakes, lizards, or spiders crawling around the classroom just because it makes a child with special needs happy. There are even those who pay for a student's snack out of their own pockets... and so much more.

By the way—why on earth was she helping you eat your sandwich? 🤔

Kate Cox2 said:They certainly do exist. And frankly, they go far beyond just sitting with a student during recess. There are teachers who walk kids home because a parent forgot to pick them up, teachers who show up early to after-school programs just for the sake of one specific student, or those who will patiently endure having snakes, lizards, or spiders crawling around the classroom just because it makes a child with special needs happy. There are even those who pay for a student's snack out of their own pockets... and so much more.

By the way—why on earth was she helping you eat your sandwich? 🤔

I barely felt hungry until high school. I was pretty skinny back then. Hardly ate anything at all.

I assume she just felt bad for her.

Glad there are still teachers like that. I’d be thrilled if my little girl ended up with someone similar. Seems like she’s cut from the same cloth as me...

Kate Cox2 said:Honestly, I am completely lost as to what you are getting at, I swear! 🤷
Do you truly harbor such a low opinion of educators that you believe every single one of them is just sitting there waiting for a child to make one tiny mistake so they can start retaliating against them?? 😕
You simply walk up to the woman, say good morning, and mention, "Excuse me, I think there might be a clerical error on the report card; my daughter isn't signed up for that after-school program. Also, while I have you, I was a bit surprised by this 'A' in PE, as we were expecting a 'C' or a 'B'... How did that happen?"
Then you listen to her explanation...
Perhaps everyone else in the class got an 'A' in PE, and since your daughter has straight 'As' otherwise, the teacher just defaulted to giving her top marks everywhere. Perhaps she has her own reasoning... It doesn't really matter...
Seriously, I genuinely cannot fathom why you didn't just ask her. At the end of the day, a report card is an official legal document, and every single piece of data entered into it must be perfectly accurate, down to the last decimal point...
Good grief, instead of being bewildered and seeking counsel from a bunch of strangers on a web forum, you should just sit down with the teacher and find out what occurred. After all, you've been perfectly honest with her up until now, so why change that pattern now? 🤷

It’s not that I have anything against teachers in general. I respect people based on how they act, just like anyone else. And let's be real, there are definitely people out there who love to hold a grudge, whether they admit it or not.

Are you telling me there's a chance two different mistakes happened on a single report card covering maybe 5 or 6 subjects? That seems pretty hard to swallow. But hey, I'm still waiting for some pedagogical reason why an unearned grade would be handed out... Because that's basically what you're doing by justifying it. If parents and kids start thinking, "Oh, she just hands out easy grades, I want that too," then things could get messy fast.

By the way, I happen to know that not everyone gets an A in PE (that would be super weird). As for being honest, I can only speak for myself. And like I said, since things can easily blow up on a kid, I'd much rather just keep a low profile.

crimsongull20 said:My little one is four and a half, and I'm already dreading her first teacher. It’s such a critical role in a kid's life. Mine was incredible. I'll never forget her, and I'm still grateful today. During every long break, she’d stay behind in the classroom with me just so I could finish my sandwich. She’d also bring me reading passages and assignments to work on while the rest of the class was just learning their ABCs. She did all of this on her own—nobody asked her to, and nobody gave her any credit for it.

I wonder if teachers like that even exist anymore...

They do. Both elementary teachers and high school instructors.

Personally, I know a few of them.

Back when I was in elementary school, if you managed to pull a B in PE, the school board would just bump it up to an A so it wouldn't tank your GPA—god forbid we mess with the grade point average.

She probably signed up for that activity by mistake. 😁 q

wanderingbadger44 said:Sorry, but am I really the only one here who thinks this kid is just being thick?

What kind of "ignorance" are we even talking about? The kid wrote a sentence on the chalkboard. He messed it up. How much actual knowledge does it take to read a sentence you just wrote? Did his fifth-grade teacher forget to teach him how to read and write? It's just wild to me that she could expect that from a ten-year-old.

He was overwhelmed?
I’m asking again, and my post will probably get flagged for it anyway: did this kid suddenly develop dyslexia during that specific lesson, or has he been dealing with it all along? Has he ever run into a situation before where he misread or misspelled something? Has he? You can't just assume, based on what happened after the teacher told him to reread and fix it, that he likely made the exact same mistake again and simply couldn't see it.

If he can't see the error, then the teacher reached the right conclusion—that he's struggling—she just shouldn't have said it like that. ☕

Oh, so he was embarrassed in front of the class. 🙄
But wasn't it you who said it's a problem if someone hides something for four years and keeps it a secret from everyone else? Is dyslexia some kind of shameful thing?

If that's how he was raised to view it, then the poor kid is just stuck. 😢

edit: Not you, but Katy Perry concluded that it's a serious issue if a child hasn't learned to manage dyslexia in earlier grades and has been forced to hide it.

It’s a bit of a tangent, I know, but this really struck a chord with me: I actually know people who have been actively hiding the fact that their kid has dyslexia since they were in middle school—and I mean *hiding* it—all because some psychologist advised them that it was better to keep it under wraps. So, the rest of the class is completely in the dark, the teacher is the only one in on the secret, and the kid themselves? They haven't a clue, I suppose, probably just figuring things out on their own as they go along. It feels like such a strange way to handle things, honestly.

I mean, I guess you could argue that finding out something like that might actually be a bit much for a kid, especially one who’s already a high achiever and really stays on top of their schoolwork. It feels like it might just end up overwhelming them, maybe even weighing them down more than they can handle. 😕

I honestly can't make heads or tails of that advice, and frankly, I find the whole way those parents handled the situation completely baffling, but hey, I guess you see all kinds of examples like this once in a while.

I've been wondering lately if a third-grade teacher should really wrap up the school year by grading a student based solely on mastery. For instance, what about a boy who tries his absolute best, turns in all his homework, shows up to every tutoring session, and is just a polite, hardworking kid, yet he simply struggles to grasp math and numbers?

It seems like the same situation as when your own child might receive an undeserved A in PE for a specific drill, even though they truly earned their grade through sheer effort!

Jason Ortiz5, why on earth do you think she didn't earn that A? Back in my day at public school, PE grades were based on effort. If someone couldn't sprint a mile in under a certain time, but they actually showed up and gave it their all three or four times, they still walked away with an A.
I wasn't exactly an athlete growing up—honestly, I’m still not much of an athlete 😁—but I always pulled straight As in PE regardless of which teacher I had. It wasn't a handout; I just worked as hard as I possibly could, and teachers recognized that grit and rewarded it. 🤷

Paul Martinez2 said:I've been wondering lately if a third-grade teacher should really wrap up the school year by grading a student based solely on mastery. For instance, what about a boy who tries his absolute best, turns in all his homework, shows up to every tutoring session, and is just a polite, hardworking kid, yet he simply struggles to grasp math and numbers?

It seems like the same situation as when your own child might receive an undeserved A in PE for a specific drill, even though they truly earned their grade through sheer effort!

Math is something you can practice and eventually master. If someone isn't born with the talent to sing, run fast, or paint like a pro, no amount of drilling is going to change that. But any average, intelligent kid can learn math. Some will pick it up instantly without trying, while others will grind for hours, but they'll get there.

You really can't compare math to PE, music, or art.

Juniper said:Personally, I’d rather give an A to a kid who struggles but gives it their absolute all, instead of some naturally gifted athlete who just messes around, forgets their gym clothes, and acts like they can't be bothered...

In elementary school, if a kid isn't the most athletic but they actually try, aren't being obnoxious, and remember their gear for PE, they should get an A.

On the flip side, if someone is incredibly talented but spends the whole period goofing off, forgetting their equipment, or just acting entitled, they shouldn't be getting an A in PE.

My son's classmate goes to a specialized performing arts academy where she's actually quite talented. However, back in her regular public school classes, she wouldn't even bother bringing her sheet music; she seemingly thought she could just coast to an A because of her extracurricular training.
Her mom's face was basically this 😲, when the music teacher explained why she was only getting a B.☕

Jason Ortiz5 said:It’s not that I have anything against teachers in general. I respect people based on how they act, just like anyone else. And let's be real, there are definitely people out there who love to hold a grudge, whether they admit it or not.

Are you telling me there's a chance two different mistakes happened on a single report card covering maybe 5 or 6 subjects? That seems pretty hard to swallow. But hey, I'm still waiting for some pedagogical reason why an unearned grade would be handed out... Because that's basically what you're doing by justifying it. If parents and kids start thinking, "Oh, she just hands out easy grades, I want that too," then things could get messy fast.

By the way, I happen to know that not everyone gets an A in PE (that would be super weird). As for being honest, I can only speak for myself. And like I said, since things can easily blow up on a kid, I'd much rather just keep a low profile.

Even though I think you might be overreacting, I still believe you ought to go and resolve that elective credit issue. It is entirely possible a mistake was made there, and it needs to be fixed because a transcript is an official document and it must be filled out perfectly.
Even if you don't want to bring up the PE situation—this elective matter absolutely has to be corrected.

melloworca6 said:Jason Ortiz5, why on earth do you think she didn't earn that A? Back in my day at public school, PE grades were based on effort. If someone couldn't sprint a mile in under a certain time, but they actually showed up and gave it their all three or four times, they still walked away with an A.
I wasn't exactly an athlete growing up—honestly, I’m still not much of an athlete 😁—but I always pulled straight As in PE regardless of which teacher I had. It wasn't a handout; I just worked as hard as I possibly could, and teachers recognized that grit and rewarded it. 🤷

Math is something you can practice and eventually master. If someone isn't born with the talent to sing, run fast, or paint like a pro, no amount of drilling is going to change that. But any average, intelligent kid can learn math. Some will pick it up instantly without trying, while others will grind for hours, but they'll get there.

You really can't compare math to PE, music, or art.

It’s honestly just because her teacher spent the whole year drilling it into my head that she wasn't exactly crushing it. There was zero mention of how hard she was actually trying. It was always stuff like, "The candle isn't at the right angle," or "Her form is slightly off," or "This part isn't quite right," or "She got a C on this and a B on that..." And honestly, I have no clue what the actual grading criteria are for PE (I'm basically all thumbs myself and nobody ever gave me a trophy—getting a C felt like winning the lottery 😁). So, after a full year of hearing "she's struggling," I definitely wasn't expecting an A. :cofused:

Jason Ortiz5 said:It’s honestly just because her teacher spent the whole year drilling it into my head that she wasn't exactly crushing it. There was zero mention of how hard she was actually trying. It was always stuff like, "The candle isn't at the right angle," or "Her form is slightly off," or "This part isn't quite right," or "She got a C on this and a B on that..." And honestly, I have no clue what the actual grading criteria are for PE (I'm basically all thumbs myself and nobody ever gave me a trophy—getting a C felt like winning the lottery 😁). So, after a full year of hearing "she's struggling," I definitely wasn't expecting an A. :cofused:

Let's clear a few things up here:
PE isn't one of those core academic subjects where you're fighting for a GPA boost; at this age, the whole point is just getting kids into the habit of staying active.
If a kid hasn't fully nailed their coordination, speed, or agility yet, it’s not a big deal. The teacher is grading based on the fact that the kid is showing up, trying hard, and actually putting energy into the activity.
There's no mystery to it.
Also, I really don't get why someone wouldn't mention something like, "Hey, she seems to be improving in PE..." during a parent-teacher conference.
It breaks my heart that some parents genuinely believe teachers just hate kids.
I mean, why would they go through all that training just to dislike children? For the massive salary and the crazy career ladder?

Jason Ortiz5 said:By the way, isn't giving a bad grade actually a fair response to just not knowing the material? I mean, setting aside the dyslexia issue for a second, is this teacher experiencing student ignorance for the very first time? Probably not. Yet, every single time a kid doesn't know an answer, she asks if they're just being dim or if they're playing dumb.

Maybe teaching just isn't her calling after all. She should probably just pivot careers and become another Jason Betts. :coffee

When you ask a fifth grader to write a sentence on the chalkboard, you aren't testing their knowledge.

I realize it’s apparently a massive stretch for some people here to accept the idea that by fifth grade, children are expected to have mastered reading and writing—usually well before they even step foot in an elementary school classroom—and that those basic skills aren't subject to grading. It's just a given.

I think I've already explained this once before.

crimsongull20 said:If you get a choice next time, just skip the ones who spend all their time bragging about themselves.

I couldn't agree more. If only we had the luxury of skipping over those parents who insist, "Oh, grades don't matter to us!"

Usually, when someone says that, you have to read it as "...as long as it's an A."

Experienced, wise teachers definitely pick up on that subtext immediately. 😉

For any reasonable parent, grades matter. And for the child, they matter too.

Jason Ortiz5 said:I’m going to go on a bit of a rant here, but honestly, this feels like it’s all tied back to how teachers view their students...

Back during the first parent-teacher meeting in first grade, I made my stance crystal clear to the teacher: I don't care about the grades; I care about actual learning. My reason? Well, she started nitpicking during PE; like, "she’s trying hard, but some moves aren't quite there," or "her form could be better," or "that candle pose needs work..." I told her straight up that as long as my daughter is putting in the effort, the PE grade is secondary to me, provided it stays at a C or better. We talked about other subjects too, and I reiterated that I want my kid to actually absorb the material—I’m not looking for any coddling or empty praise. We had similar chats during subsequent meetings.

Throughout the year, she mostly pulled A's. There were a few B's here and there, but overall, the grades were totally fine. For PE, we were expecting a C or maybe a B if we were being generous, and nobody was sweating it. But when the report card finally came home, I was floored. My girl had straight A's (which, let's be honest, she would have earned anyway, minus the PE thing), but there was also an elective listed that she hasn't even heard of, let alone attended. 😲 So, there I was, having to explain to my little one that I have no clue why that showed up, that it wasn't right, and that she shouldn't have been signed up for something without being asked. I don't even dare say anything to the teacher because my daughter still has three years of elementary school left to get through. And believe me, I have plenty to say. ☕

So, I’m asking any educators out there to please explain the motivation and the logic behind this teacher's actions. Aside from the fact that nobody asked for this, I think it could actually be harmful. At best, it just makes zero sense to me. 🤷

No one ever asked the teacher to inflate any grades. I truly thought the teacher and I were on the same page regarding the balance of knowledge, effort, and grading. Our talks were always pleasant; we’d even share a laugh. I genuinely felt our communication was constructive and that we were working well together. Instead, I ended up having to sit my child down and explain that her teacher made a mistake. 😵

My middle child basically got handed an A in PE throughout high school, mostly because the teachers don't really want to mess with a kid's GPA, and honestly, she does try. Toward the end of freshman year, the teacher even asked the class if anyone minded if she got an A to help out a student who had skipped a grade for other reasons. I guess that extra grade doesn't hurt anyone much.😉

She was even signed up for an extracurricular activity she never missed, yet somehow she hadn't even heard it existed. 😲

The youngest managed to bring home an A in Religion despite never showing up to a single class. We went down to the school and they gave us a corrected report card. Maybe the teacher just made a typo when entering the grades into the system.🤷

wanderingbadger44 said:When you ask a fifth grader to write a sentence on the chalkboard, you aren't testing their knowledge.

I realize it’s apparently a massive stretch for some people here to accept the idea that by fifth grade, children are expected to have mastered reading and writing—usually well before they even step foot in an elementary school classroom—and that those basic skills aren't subject to grading. It's just a given.

I think I've already explained this once before.

I couldn't agree more. If only we had the luxury of skipping over those parents who insist, "Oh, grades don't matter to us!"

Usually, when someone says that, you have to read it as "...as long as it's an A."

Experienced, wise teachers definitely pick up on that subtext immediately. 😉

For any reasonable parent, grades matter. And for the child, they matter too.

And if the kid doesn't write that sentence correctly, then obviously it's assumed they're either dim or just acting dumb. And you really need to let the kid know that. ☕

Quinn:

I agree. If only we could just pick and choose which parents to skip—you know, the ones who say, "Grades don't matter to me!" Usually, you have to read that as "...as long as it's an A." Wise, veteran teachers definitely know that. 😉 For a normal parent, grades matter. And they matter to the kid, too.

For a teacher, you either have reading comprehension issues or you're pretending you do just to get your own way. 🥳

No, I don't care about my kid's PE grade, and honestly, I don't care if you believe me or what you think about it. As for the other grades, I didn't say they weren't important; I said I want them to be based on actual knowledge. Because one day, my kid is going to move on from that teacher. And we all know what happens when kids are handed easy grades. I don't want that for my child.

Look, being an educator involves cooperation and communication—whatever you want to call it—not just with students, but with parents too. You can't have one without the other. Teachers who don't realize that, or don't want to, or expect parents to just be a bunch of yes-men who cheer or clap at every single thing a teacher does... well, they clearly haven't thought about whether they actually want to deal with that kind of life.

Jason Ortiz5 said:And if the kid doesn't write that sentence correctly, then obviously it's assumed they're either dim or just acting dumb. And you really need to let the kid know that. ☕

Quinn:

I agree. If only we could just pick and choose which parents to skip—you know, the ones who say, "Grades don't matter to me!" Usually, you have to read that as "...as long as it's an A." Wise, veteran teachers definitely know that. 😉 For a normal parent, grades matter. And they matter to the kid, too.

For a teacher, you either have reading comprehension issues or you're pretending you do just to get your own way. 🥳

No, I don't care about my kid's PE grade, and honestly, I don't care if you believe me or what you think about it. As for the other grades, I didn't say they weren't important; I said I want them to be based on actual knowledge. Because one day, my kid is going to move on from that teacher. And we all know what happens when kids are handed easy grades. I don't want that for my child.

Look, being an educator involves cooperation and communication—whatever you want to call it—not just with students, but with parents too. You can't have one without the other. Teachers who don't realize that, or don't want to, or expect parents to just be a bunch of yes-men who cheer or clap at every single thing a teacher does... well, they clearly haven't thought about whether they actually want to deal with that kind of life.

It’s a bit like when you point out a mistake to someone, show them exactly where they tripped up, and ask them to fix it, yet they just stare at you blankly—it really does leave you feeling like there's a disconnect in their understanding.
Quinn:

We have to make sure the child understands what happened. ☕

That sounds like your personal take, though. I didn't say that, and honestly, I don't think anyone else in this thread did either.

Quinn:

For a teacher, you're either having trouble with reading comprehension or you're just pretending to have issues to suit your own agenda.🥳 Look, I couldn't care less about a grade in PE class, and frankly, whether you believe me or not doesn't change anything for me. As for the other subjects, it isn't that the grades don't matter, it's just that I want them to actually reflect what the student knows. Eventually, a student moves on from that teacher, and we all know how much weight those unearned grades carry in the long run; I just don't want that for my child. See, being an educator involves so much more than just lecturing; it requires genuine partnership and communication, not just with the students, but with the parents too. It’s a two-way street, and you can't have one without the other. Teachers who miss that, or who expect parents to just be a silent audience that nods along to everything they say without question, clearly haven't thought about whether they actually want to handle that kind of dynamic.

I hear you. Though, you could have put it more simply: just playing favorites with the parents. 😉 It can actually be quite entertaining to watch.

Jason Ortiz5 said:And if the kid doesn't write that sentence correctly, then obviously it's assumed they're either dim or just acting dumb. And you really need to let the kid know that. ☕

Quinn:

I agree. If only we could just pick and choose which parents to skip—you know, the ones who say, "Grades don't matter to me!" Usually, you have to read that as "...as long as it's an A." Wise, veteran teachers definitely know that. 😉 For a normal parent, grades matter. And they matter to the kid, too.

For a teacher, you either have reading comprehension issues or you're pretending you do just to get your own way. 🥳

No, I don't care about my kid's PE grade, and honestly, I don't care if you believe me or what you think about it. As for the other grades, I didn't say they weren't important; I said I want them to be based on actual knowledge. Because one day, my kid is going to move on from that teacher. And we all know what happens when kids are handed easy grades. I don't want that for my child.

Look, being an educator involves cooperation and communication—whatever you want to call it—not just with students, but with parents too. You can't have one without the other. Teachers who don't realize that, or don't want to, or expect parents to just be a bunch of yes-men who cheer or clap at every single thing a teacher does... well, they clearly haven't thought about whether they actually want to deal with that kind of life.

Personally, I don't mind if a parent has questions, complaints, or praise, provided it's actually about their kid's progress or absences. Luckily, those extreme pests are rare enough that they don't need much mention.

BUT: When the first person in line realizes there are 15 other parents waiting behind them, yet decides to launch into a monologue about their weekend wedding trip—complete with a play-by-play of the catering and decor—and then pivots into a laundry list of grievances about work, inflation, the weather, and their recent knee MRI... all while barely asking about their child and forcing everyone else to stand there because there aren't enough chairs, despite subtle hints that people are waiting... yeah. In those moments, I'd love to just take my heavy desk organizer and give them a little tap on the head...

wanderingbadger44 said:It’s a bit like when you point out a mistake to someone, show them exactly where they tripped up, and ask them to fix it, yet they just stare at you blankly—it really does leave you feeling like there's a disconnect in their understanding.
Quinn:

We have to make sure the child understands what happened. ☕

That sounds like your personal take, though. I didn't say that, and honestly, I don't think anyone else in this thread did either.

Quinn:

For a teacher, you're either having trouble with reading comprehension or you're just pretending to have issues to suit your own agenda.🥳 Look, I couldn't care less about a grade in PE class, and frankly, whether you believe me or not doesn't change anything for me. As for the other subjects, it isn't that the grades don't matter, it's just that I want them to actually reflect what the student knows. Eventually, a student moves on from that teacher, and we all know how much weight those unearned grades carry in the long run; I just don't want that for my child. See, being an educator involves so much more than just lecturing; it requires genuine partnership and communication, not just with the students, but with the parents too. It’s a two-way street, and you can't have one without the other. Teachers who miss that, or who expect parents to just be a silent audience that nods along to everything they say without question, clearly haven't thought about whether they actually want to handle that kind of dynamic.

I hear you. Though, you could have put it more simply: just playing favorites with the parents. 😉 It can actually be quite entertaining to watch.

But if they genuinely don't know, how are they supposed to fix it?
I guess you didn't always have all the answers back in school, right?

Why would a child be considered slow just because they don't know something yet? 🤷

Alex Barnes8 said:But if they genuinely don't know, how are they supposed to fix it?
I guess you didn't always have all the answers back in school, right?

Why would a child be considered slow just because they don't know something yet? 🤷

How many times do I have to say this? The teacher wasn't testing his knowledge. What exactly does the kid "not know"? Why are you all painting him in such a bad light? It’s more like he knows, but he just can't visually process it. If he’s made it all the way to fifth grade with this struggle, then he’s certainly aware of it. And if he isn't aware, well, you can finish that thought yourself...

Were you always an honor student in school?

Let me put this plainly: reading and writing aren't pieces of knowledge, they are functional skills. Thanks for asking about my academic track record, though.

Why would a child be considered stupid just because they don't know something? 🤷

Then you tell me. Is a person unintelligent if they think they understand something, even when life keeps showing them they actually don't?

I put "knowing" in quotes because reading and writing are skills rather than static facts.

Not to mention, we are looking at a scenario that seems almost impossible in a typical American classroom: a student actually asks the teacher to show them exactly where they went wrong. This student isn't shocked or caught off guard by the fact that they scrambled their letters. In fact, they saw it coming. They scan their own work, hunt for the error, and then turn to the teacher to ask for help finding it.

Of course, the student might struggle with that, or deal with anxiety or whatever else comes with it.

The teacher might be some cold, arrogant person who dismisses them with a sharp, sarcastic, and blunt command to just go fix the mistake themselves. We don't know.

Until we know for sure, I'm going to assume that a child standing there silently and motionless before a teacher—offering no reaction to prompts to look at and correct their spelling—is justified in causing a teacher to wonder if the kid is struggling or just acting out. Something the teacher wasn't allowed to say out loud.

wanderingbadger44 said:It’s a bit like when you point out a mistake to someone, show them exactly where they tripped up, and ask them to fix it, yet they just stare at you blankly—it really does leave you feeling like there's a disconnect in their understanding.
Quinn:

We have to make sure the child understands what happened. ☕

That sounds like your personal take, though. I didn't say that, and honestly, I don't think anyone else in this thread did either.

Quinn:

For a teacher, you're either having trouble with reading comprehension or you're just pretending to have issues to suit your own agenda.🥳 Look, I couldn't care less about a grade in PE class, and frankly, whether you believe me or not doesn't change anything for me. As for the other subjects, it isn't that the grades don't matter, it's just that I want them to actually reflect what the student knows. Eventually, a student moves on from that teacher, and we all know how much weight those unearned grades carry in the long run; I just don't want that for my child. See, being an educator involves so much more than just lecturing; it requires genuine partnership and communication, not just with the students, but with the parents too. It’s a two-way street, and you can't have one without the other. Teachers who miss that, or who expect parents to just be a silent audience that nods along to everything they say without question, clearly haven't thought about whether they actually want to handle that kind of dynamic.

I hear you. Though, you could have put it more simply: just playing favorites with the parents. 😉 It can actually be quite entertaining to watch.

If you feel like all the parents (or even just most of them—which is plenty 🤷 ) are just an unreasonable mob looking for handouts, and we’ve already agreed on this forum a million times that kids are basically a mirror of how they were raised, then why are you even working in the school system?