| Schools behave badly sometimes. Systems and | | | | anything and she was told she had not. You can |
| people are imperfect, so it's really unavoidable. | | | | imagine the shock when we got the half year |
| However, some schools behave badly more often | | | | report, with a mark of 36% on it. Her only |
| than others. The purpose of this article is not to | | | | assessment mark was 36 out of 40. You can see |
| bash schools, but to acknowledge that parents | | | | that the class work was given a mark of 60%. I |
| are often disadvantaged in the power stakes and | | | | addressed this with the Director of Studies, who |
| can be left feeling alienated, talked about and | | | | told me the teacher had been unwell and she |
| treated with disrespect. The parents most likely | | | | would get it marked. I got no response, but the |
| to end up feeling this way are actually caring | | | | final report indicated the class work had been |
| parents who try to address issues with the school | | | | marked but only given a bare pass. We decided |
| on behalf of their children. This usually doesn't go | | | | that since it didn't count we'd let it go at that, but |
| down too well, as these parents are simply | | | | we wanted the work back to see how it was |
| causing a problem from the school's point of view. | | | | marked. We asked, we waited and we asked |
| Schools play by their own rules a lot of the time | | | | again. Finally, my daughter received back three |
| and those rules can be applied with partiality and | | | | pages out of the one and a half inch pile of |
| changed on a whim. | | | | papers taken from her folder in my presence, |
| Parents who are feeling let down by a school in | | | | with the comment that that was all the teacher |
| how they or their children are being treated, need | | | | said she was given. At around this time, my |
| to seriously consider whether the problem is | | | | daughter sat an Advanced English exam. It was |
| cultural. If the school culture is such that your | | | | lost. Just hers. I didn't find out till the Christmas |
| concerns are dismissed, gossiped about or | | | | holidays. By the time she went back to school, I |
| generally belittled, you need to consider whether | | | | was concerned that the school's actions had the |
| or not you should change schools or look for an | | | | potential to derail her HSC year. |
| educational alternative. It does need to be | | | | I made an appointment, wrote a formal letter and |
| acknowledged, though, that teachers and | | | | asked for the work back or an explanation. I was |
| administrative staff may well believe they are | | | | assured very nicely that the teacher's motives |
| right and your problem is fundamentally one of | | | | were only good, and paranoia in me was implied. |
| viewpoint. If it is a significant difference in point of | | | | However, it has been at least 6 weeks now since |
| view, however, it still comes back to culture and | | | | that interview. There has been no response to |
| is not likely to change. | | | | my meeting. The year 11 work was not returned |
| My children are in a Christian private school. My | | | | and no explanation was offered. We are well into |
| experience has been that there are teachers who | | | | year 12 now and the lost test was retaken. My |
| have behaved well and those who have behaved | | | | concerns about the school's organization and |
| badly at times. That is to be expected.. The | | | | management of the HSC year, and their |
| fundamental mistake I have made in dealing with | | | | competence in teaching to the requirements of |
| the school is in believing the advertising material | | | | the syllabus and not overloading students with |
| that initially influenced me. The promise of a | | | | unnecessary work has not diminished. My options? |
| Christian environment, where children are nurtured | | | | Absolutely none. It's too late to do anything but |
| and supported and where parents are partners, | | | | provide as much help external to the school as |
| was alluring to say the least. However, it is a | | | | possible. |
| mistake to treat a Christian School differently | | | | My daughter is basically an A level student in |
| than you would any other school, because it is no | | | | English, in courses that have high standards and |
| different. | | | | rigorous requirements. So you would think that |
| The difficulty in deciding how to respond to | | | | my concerns would be clearly understood by the |
| schools when an impasse has occurred lies in the | | | | school. This, however, is not the case because |
| overall assessment of the benefit of that | | | | the culture of the school defines their integrity |
| educational environment for your children. For me, | | | | and honor as support and defense of their |
| my eldest daughter is in year 12 and it is her final | | | | teachers. The religious mindset actually causes the |
| year. Has the school been good for her? In many | | | | individuals involved in a dispute to be offended |
| ways, yes! She has a great circle of friends. She | | | | that anyone could even think they might have |
| is in a safe and moral environment. She has had | | | | done something wrong. This effectively means |
| some very good teachers over the years. Yet, | | | | that from their point of view, they are always |
| the work load is very high and on the whole the | | | | right. |
| school's ability to convert that high standard to | | | | Parents come up against strong group dynamics |
| good university entrance results is poor. Have I | | | | in a school. You will know if this is occurring in |
| made the right decision to stay? From a purely | | | | your child's school if one of two things happens: if |
| educational perspective, probably not. From my | | | | you are actually abused or disrespected and |
| daughter's point of view, she has probably made | | | | dismissed when you are trying to communicate, |
| some good friends for life. Priceless! | | | | or if you are spoken to politely (if a little |
| My daughter is studying the NSW HSC (Higher | | | | condescendingly) and promised action that never |
| School Certificate). It is the make or break final | | | | materializes. |
| year and the university admission index given with | | | | What can you do? Carefully consider all aspects |
| it, if desired, is what allows access to university | | | | of the situation. Overall, your child might be much |
| courses. The HSC is a rigorous course. All Board | | | | happier at his or her school than anywhere else. |
| of Studies Assessments must be in writing and | | | | However, your child's desires cannot be the only |
| everything is very legal, but class work | | | | consideration, though they are very important. |
| requirements do not have to be in writing | | | | Children do not always know what is best for |
| because they don't count towards the HSC. | | | | them. No-one likes the upheaval of moving |
| Year 11 in many ways was a trial run for this, but | | | | schools, but as parents we also have more |
| the marks don't count towards the HSC. In her | | | | experience than our children, we know that good |
| extension English class, in year 11, class work | | | | credentials are very important in this modern |
| (including non-assessment essays and | | | | world and we do not want to see our children |
| assignments) was collected without prior notice | | | | sabotaged by an unhelpful environment. |
| and on a day when my daughter was away. She | | | | Sometimes we just need to make a tough |
| was never told. She asked if she had missed | | | | decision. |