When parents send children to school and cannot regularly communicate with or attend in-school activities and experiences, the message is that the children are mini-adults who must advocate for themselves. When behavioral corrections need to be made, teachers who should be interacting with families are now talking with children who have taken on the responsibility of doing "mom's or dad's" jobs. CHILDREN ARE NOT GOOD COMMUNICATORS. They do not understand adult nuances even after repeated explanations. As a result, these students end up facing punitive measures such as detention, in or out-of-school suspension, etc.
The moral of the story is a message to us all. Regardless of your child's age, stay involved with the school and your child's life at school.
It feels a little hypocritical for me to make this statement because I am a mom and a teacher who struggles to stay involved. But, my years of experience have proven my theory over and over again. Children are not mini-adults. We, the educators and we, the teachers, need this reminder.
Happy Friday the 13th.