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Parents Gone Wild: An Impediment to Education

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By CHRISTIE GOLD

Special to the Tribune

Published: May 30, 2008

Lightning bolts illuminated the dark skies over New Tampa, and thunder shook the foundation of the high school campus. It was one of those Florida afternoons that make it seem as if the universe is unleashing anger.

It was the end of the school day, but the administration decided to keep students in class until the storm subsided. On our open campus, it is far too dangerous to release students in such weather, and putting teachers and other staff members at posts to monitor hallways and bus ramps would put them in jeopardy
Several teachers, administrators and secretaries stood with me that day, wide-eyed witnesses to Mother Nature's wrath, when suddenly an irate mother entered the office demanding that her child be released from class. After all, he had an orthodontist appointment. My principal refused, explaining it was far too dangerous to allow anyone out of class.

As the storm continued to crash, she railed against the school and threatened to call the superintendent.

Such parental outbursts are not isolated. It's an increasingly common scene at schools across the country.

For years in education, we addressed the problem of the absentee parent, but an equally troublesome type has emerged: the vigilante parent. These are the adults who ignore policies and believe that rules should not apply to their children or them.

When they don't get their way, they file grievances against the school, call the media and threaten lawsuits as they work their way to the upper ranks of the school system.

I'm often asked the biggest differences between high school today and when I was a teenager. When I was a kid, I knew I was part of my parent's universe but not the center of anybody's universe. I had a cadre of adults - parents, neighbors, bosses and teachers - surrounding me who reminded me of this whenever I overstepped the boundaries.

Today's climate is far different. The yearbook adviser hears endless complaints: There wasn't enough coverage of the golf team. A child was identified as a sophomore instead of a junior, "humiliating her beyond belief." The band didn't receive enough coverage.

Then there are blogs, irate parents' latest tool. Hiding behind screen names they pen libelous statements and display behavior befitting a group of catty middle-schoolers, not only attacking the school staff member's performance but his or her personal life, character or appearance in a perversion of the First Amendment.

As a public school teacher, I am a member of a profession that has taken a beating lately - much of it deserved. Never mind that there are 14,000 public school teachers in Hillsborough County and most of us are trying to do the right thing.

Parents put their trust in us. We are held to a higher moral standard. When one of us screws up, the domino effect topples the integrity of every one of us.

Similarly, the majority of parents still are supportive role models who are doing their best to raise upstanding young people.

I commend parents who still attend conference night and open house because they understand their job is not over just because their child is in high school. Is it any wonder these parents are usually the ones whose students excel and emerge as editors of school publications, captains of athletic teams, concert masters of the orchestra or presidents of their class councils?

Most of our student leaders come from homes not only where they are supported but where they've learned they must take responsibility for their actions. They understand boundaries; there are consequences for their actions. These parents work with educators instead of against us.

As a result, we work harmoniously toward a similar goal - the education of our youth.

Christie Gold, who lives in Wesley Chapel, teaches English and journalism at Freedom High School in Tampa.

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