'Report cards' tell only part of the story

Recently, I have been reading your articles entitled "School Report Cards." As a teacher with more than 42 years of experience and as an adjunct professor in the education department of a local university, I believe I have the credibility to offer some insights into the topic.

The issue of a student's success in schools is not a one-dimensional matter. There are four aspects to the problem.

1. The first conundrum is the home and the parenting that occurs within its confines. For many years, I have watched the parents demand that educators water down the curriculum to ensure that their "Johnny" maintain a good "self image." There are parents who hover over their children so they are never really exposed to the consequences of their actions.

The title "helicopter parents" has been given to parents who inappropriately intervene when their child needs to meet a challenge. Why should the children be concerned about their educational performance when they have a parent who will step in and solve their problems for them?

Many children arrive home when no adult is present to supervise. How much guidance and assistance with school issues can occur within such an environment?

Perhaps we should establish a "Parental Report Card" for the parents and hold them accountable for the achievements of their children. Parenting takes time and discipline. Perhaps the blame for poor education should be laid at another doorstep closer to home!

2. Students attend class with varying agendas and goals. Many come to school purely for the social interaction with their peers. Class activities are peripheral. Some believe they are going "to be like Mike" and do not need to be attentive to any academic issues.

3. We need to examine the environment outside of the home and school that surrounds children of today. We need to look at the fact that our society has not encouraged children to respect authority. Television programs such as "The Simpsons" have programmed many children to think that all adults are ignorant fools. Much of the entertainment industry has promoted violence as a means to resolve problems.

4. Schools are caught in a vice. The public wants to hold them accountable, as they should. The problem is that they believe that testing is the most effective way. That is simply not true. Tests cannot measure the relational climate, the values acquired, and the attitudes portrayed within classrooms. These are some of the things that are most meaningful to children and many times are what carry them through life much more effectively than cognitive material.

Many students perform well when doing daily work and during class activities, but test poorly because they become over-anxious during a test or don't know how to take a test effectively. But, because of the hue and cry, many schools are basing their curriculum on the tests. This greatly limits the creativity teachers can exercise in their area of expertise.

Your articles disturbed me because the public is not offered a wide enough perspective about all the variables involved. Perhaps your "Report Card" should include more aspects of the educational environment.

Charles Peraino

Cary