[pencil]

I think our older children's high school sucks. I think the electives are largely stupid, the required classes not particularly great, and the teachers fairly useless.

That is what I think. But the school itself thinks they are great. They talk about parent/teacher communication, notifying parents if there are any concerns, stopping bullying in it's tracks, a personalised education, blah, blah, blah.

My SD gets back a paper with a Well Done! on it. It's a end of year revision in which she has hardly answered many of the questions, spelled almost every single word wrong, got a final score of 51/100, and it's a big scrawly mess. Pretty much all her work is of this standard. I have asked the school time, and time again, for extra help for her, told them of her frustration at 'not getting' the work, etc. All met with platitudes, assurances, garbage.

Am I wrong here? Is a Well Done! appropriate for a paper of this standard? Are Great Work!s acceptable on incorrect, misspelled English papers? Is sitting in front of me and my child at an interview and saying "She is going great, no problems, great work all round" okay, when obviously the child has really low quality work, and very basic skills considering her age?

Am I expecting miracles when the school is satisfied thrilled with mediocrity?

I can't even be bothered typing about the dramas we have had with my older child. Let's just say that I am considering switching schools for her. Is it worth my time and money? She hates school. I can't imagine any other school close enough will be much better then her current one, and due to freaking Facebook she won't even be having a 'clean slate' because she has ties to kids in pretty much every neighbouring suburb.

I'm just so, so disappointed. I can't get these guys into any better schools because they simply don't have any extra skills to get in. My next two due for high school will definitely be going to better schools, they are academically minded, and are cultivating extra skills as well. So long as they stay motivated while the kids around them are praised for mediocrity.

[kadoodle]

Is she old enough for TAFE? How about a apprenticeship or gap year? What does she want to do? School isn't the be all and end all. If she's wasting her own and everyone else's time by being there, maybe it's time for a change of direction?

[leisamd]

That sounds incredibly frustrating pencil!

I agree with kadoodle, if it IS broke(n)...

You could also look into homeschooling.

[Grey]

I have asked the school time, and time again, for extra help for her, told them of her frustration at 'not getting' the work, etc.

Have you considered the possibility that like many schools in Australia, they are already stretched to the limit resource-wise? Perhaps they cannot offer any extra help for her as there are too many other students there whose needs are much greater and their support staff are already over-extended.

Perhaps you could try supporting her education by helping her yourself where you can, or hiring a tutor.

[~maryanne~]

pencil - NO, it is not acceptable, and you shouldn't have to pull her out or accept a sub standard education. Nor should you have to pay for private tutoring. But in reality you may have to. The quality free education ideal seems to be a thing of the past. :-(

[~maryanne~]

Actually Pencil, I just wanted to add something. Is it possible the school is telling her it's great work and you are told she's doing well because she is improving and working to the best of her ability? I just ask because my son recieved glowing praise by his class teacher and learning enhancement teacher for just scraping in a sound and low achievements in reading and writing. However, I know this is in light of his Low and very low acheivements last year. He has always had excellent behaviour and attention span, so he is always praised for that, but the fact he covered so much ground this year was worth praising, even if he is not quite 'up to standard'.

I guess I am saying it may depend on the context.

[Mo2k]

..

This post has been edited by Mo2k: 01/02/2013, 12:59 PM

[~maryanne~]

A a family gathering my nephew came in and showed granny his report card. It was all 'C's and when granny nicely queried what happened to all of his 'B's from last time. He said "Oh I didn't get any this time but my teacher told me this is exactly where I should be". What the?! That's not the response I would have got!

Actually, the teacher is correct with the new way of grading students. It is exactly where he is supposed to be (I'm not sure our school has started this yet). That does not mean he can not achieve higher though if he is very smart and can apply his knowledge in unfamiliar situations.

I don't think it's too much different from when we were kids an an A meant you were exceptional in that area of study, only a few kids got them and the majority were c, or 'average'. Something had to be done about whole classes al receiving all A's and B's. They can't all be exceptional??

This post has been edited by ~maryanne~: 06/12/2012, 06:22 AM

[Niamh23]

Exactly. A C grade means that they are meeting the achievement standards for their year level. Anything higher means that they are going beyond the requirements.

[librablonde]

Have you considered the possibility that like many schools in Australia, they are already stretched to the limit resource-wise? Perhaps they cannot offer any extra help for her as there are too many other students there whose needs are much greater and their support staff are already over-extended.
Perhaps you could try supporting her education by helping her yourself where you can, or hiring a tutor.

OP, I totally understand your frustration b/c that's how I'm feeling right now with my DD's school and their idea of what is acceptable education-wise. I don't like the new grading system at all and the aim to have most kids achieving a C ( I know there's been a ton of EB debate about this so I won't continue it again). I agree with Grey and her comments, though. As I know my school currently provides a very mediocre level of education, I think it's now up to parents to provide even more additional education at home via learning websites and tutors. It's crappy but probably going to become a reality for those parents like me who can't change schools (due to travel distances).