Exam Time Creates Stress Between Parent & Child

Dear Dr. Fournier: Our three children are in a school that is known as one of the best in the community because of its excellent credentials. When did “best” become math equations in second grade; concepts of force, motion, lever, pulleys and leverage in third grade; and the Krebs cycle in fourth grade? Teachers are teaching more of what our children can’t comprehend at their ages and less of what they should be teaching, grade appropriate content and a love for learning. Instead we have a second grader that the teacher feels should be tested for ADHD, even though he has all A’s (he fidgets), a third grader who gets in the car crying each morning saying, “I hate school,” and a fourth grader who gets mad at me or her father when we try to help her with homework because, “The teacher said that’s cheating.” What recourse besides home schooling do we have?

The Assessment: In 1957, the United States went through the shock of a lifetime. The Russians developed Sputnik and landed it on the moon first, thereby passing the country that was supposed to be the World Super Power and best at everything. The Space Race (also called the arms race by some) was ignited. The United States had to regain it crown of glory, power and military supremacy. Not only was culture, technology, political ideology and military supremacy at stake, the finger of the Cold War was pointed at education as the axis of evil for such a disgrace. All of a sudden, teachers were given the ultimatum that math and science had to be taught and learned beyond the expectations of any other country, thus the “push-down” syndrome of math and science at an earlier age was born.

With the “push-down” syndrome can Standardized Testing. To this day, our education leaders are still desperately clinging to the outdated idea that teaching to the test will work. Strange that the more microscopic the scrutiny has become, less is achieved, more students are rejecting education, and diplomas are handed out to socially promoted illiterates, all while the world’s momentum to super achieve academically increases every day.

The morale of the story is that when you have a problem and you choose the wrong solution, the problem gets worse. There is a right solution but the problem is just like the one on Wall Street and Detroit. You still have the same people who ran the business or institution into the ground as the people you are still relying on to right the ship.

What To Do: As long as you are a parent of a dependent child, you are in charge of your child’s education. Teachers are transitory people who instruct a portion of the big picture. Get over your fear of the person you hired to teach your child and assert your authority. Make regular appointments and talk with your children’s teachers, not just when parent-teacher conference time comes around. Don’t be afraid to ask teachers to help you solve the problems you have at home with your children that have been created because of school. For extra courage, write down what you want to discuss with your children’s teachers but make sure you talk to them in a civil and diplomatic way. If you do not get satisfaction and solutions, go up the chain of command just like you would do at your job if you had a problem. If this is a public school, write your state representatives and set up face-to-face meetings with them if possible to ask for help in changing the system. If this is a private school, and you do not get satisfaction from teacher or headmaster/board, then look for another school you can work with. Your children’s education and mental health is too important not to take immediate action.

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Tags: Study, Homework

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Dr. Yvonne Fournier :: Article Archive 2009

Exam Time Creates Stress Between Parent & Child

Why Treat Children Like Dogs?

College Students Do Not Lack Concentration

Parents Mean Well But Could Do More Harm

Child Sets Himself Up For Failure This School Year

Trying to keep pace

Hassle-Free Homework®

Dr. Yvonne Fournier :: Article Archive 2009

Exam Time Creates Stress Between Parent & Child

Why Treat Children Like Dogs?

College Students Do Not Lack Concentration

Parents Mean Well But Could Do More Harm

Child Sets Himself Up For Failure This School Year

Trying to keep pace

Hassle-Free Homework^{^®}