Interesting Listserv Letters...

Here's another letter about the lack of student/parent accountability in education...

And a key part to the problem - parent enabling.

I had a young man not complete a science fair project this spring. On the last day the projects could be presented, he came with a note from Mom. Mom wanted me to extend the already 7 week due date "just until over the weekend." Never mind that this young man had 7 weeks to complete the assignment, and that his parent had signed-off on knowing the dates, rules and regulations. Just "Please change the rules for my son." I called and left the message that "Sorry, but the due date would not be extended." Her son took the "0". (He later ended up suspended out of school for a more serious infraction, and he has been retained to repeat the 7th grade.) The English teacher actually called this same student out for having his older sister complete a project/assignment for him. Mom was called, but Mom defended it as the sister helping her little brother. Ugh....

How do we teach responsibility, ethics and timeliness, if we do not get support from home? It seems like such an uphill battle...

-Anonymous