OT but from my observation (4 years in the classroom and 6 years in admin) I'd say that 80% of the parents that come in are pretty much wrong. They either have total rose colored glasses on about their own child, they have only impressions but no facts to back up their ideas or they are certain that the teacher is out to get their child.
I have an HG+ kid who is grade skipped and subject accelerated- so I am not quick to judge parents! But a small example- I had a parent recently demand that her child be accelerated two years in math. She wanted her eligible for a special summer program next year and was insisting that her daughter was ready.
With no debate at all, we gave her the placement test for one year up... she scored 47%. Mom insisted the test was unfair and demanded a different test (after calling the school board to complain about me being anti-gifted LOL). So we gave her daughter a different placement test, designed by the university, for Algebra readiness. She bombed- less than 30%.
Mom is still insistent now a month into school that her daughter needs more. But her performance, her grades, her standardized test scores, her homework and her attitude show that she is very properly placed.
This happens to me about once a week, in all levels and all subjects. By the time the parents get to me, they've already tried to work it out with the teacher. Granted, there are times where the teacher is wrong and it does happen! But there are far more times that I see with general population of students where the parent is just off base. This makes it hard for the teacher to listen, even when a parent has a totally valid concern.
Last edited by CAMom; 09/09/10 01:15 PM. Reason: forgot a sentence
