I had second semester parent-teacher conferences last week. And it's never a fun night unless you have some strange conferences! At least they make for good lunch conversation the next day....
I had a few strange parent conferences, but the one that stuck in my mind was actually a situation where I felt bad for the student. Really bad.
To give you some background information, as a middle school math teacher, I teach four different levels of math. One of the classes I teach is 8th grade geometry. These students are the top students in the school and have successfully completed algebra as 7th graders. Somehow, I got a few students this year who are taking BOTH geometry and algebra as 8th graders. Most of those who are taking both classes are taking geometry again next year.
One parent came to conferences quite upset that his daughter (who is taking both algebra and geometry) was recommended to take honors geometry again next year. He questioned this recommendation, claiming that he felt that his daughter was misplaced as a 7th grader (being in pre-algebra). So he took it upon himself to schedule her in both algebra and geometry this year.
This young lady, in my opinion, works very hard, but was not ready for the challenge of honors geometry this year. She'll be much more prepared for the class next year. Although I shared this opinion with the father, he is convinced that she is lazy. I am not. I even told him that at some point, a kid can work as hard as he/she can, but if they're not ready for the skills, it won't matter.
He kept going on and on about how she's lazy and that he thinks she can take algebra II/trigonometry next year. Yes, that's right.... these are freshmen taking algebra II/trigonometry! He wants her to get as far as she can. I shared my experience with him, to no avail. I went to a VERY small school where taking algebra wasn't an option until 9th grade. I took NO AP classes, because our school didn't have them. I was a math major and a quite successful one, at that.
So I left wondering, why do some parents push kids so hard? It feels like she is being set up for failure. A girl who is as smart and hard working as her shouldn't feel like a failure.
4 comments:
Sorry hon...I don't envy you. I know you'll find some way to continue giving her the positive guidance she needs and deserves and obviously, isn't getting elsewhere.
That is a very sad story.
I took algebra II/trig freshman year. We had to be bussed to Prep to take math classes in 8th grade because they didn't have them at Pius.
Keep in mind, I don't like math. I'm not that good at math. I'm a writer and photographer, for god's sake. It was miserable, and I hated it.
Poor girl. Thank goodness you are a good teacher, who can recognize her efforts. My kids have had two particularly fantastic teachers, and boy, you guys make a big difference. Thanks!
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