Report Card 'Shock'

It's that time of year...not the leaves in the street...not the football playoffs (congrats Ridgewood!)...it's time for Huntington Learning Center's TV ad, the glowing testimony to parent-child non-communication that starts running constantly right about the time that first quarter grades are released. You know the one:

Mom waving the report card, "But we tried everything! What about college?"
Kid with headphones and surly expression, "Face it, I'm not getting into college!"
Mom grabs the phone: "That's it, I should have done this long ago!"

Is she calling her child's teacher? Perhaps the guidance counselor? The principal? Anybody connected with the school?

Nope, she's just been shocked, shocked! by a bad report card and her response is to call Huntington for help.

Even before I was on the Board of Education, that commercial bugged me. How is this woman (or Dad, in an alternate version) so surprised by the report card? Why is waiting for the report card portrayed like waiting for the publisher's clearninghouse drawing? Each quarter is 10 weeks or so...what have you been doing during those 10 weeks? Just sending your kid to his room to do homework, without checking in? No conversations at the dinner table about classes or quizzes or assignment grades? No looking at notebooks or returned papers?

The commercial bugs me for two reasons: 1) because it shows parents who are completely unaware of what's going on at school until that report card arrives; and 2) because it misrepresents the reality of our schools. I'm not saying there are not situations where Huntington or private tutors can help, but too often, parents get word of some trouble and jump right to tutors or "learning centers." We already have "learning centers." They're our schools and they are filled with teachers and staff who can help when a student is struggling. I've heard many stories, and have my own stories, about contacting teachers or counselors with concerns -- and getting offers for help, be it after-school sessions, suggestions for homework help, or conversations with the child study team. There's a lot of help available, and my hope is that parents avail themselves of all the resources and energy and options within their schools (and for which our taxes already pay), before turning to expensive companies with big marketing budgets.

Not thrilled with your child's report card? By all means, reach for that phone...and call the school!