Why do upper middle class parents allow their teens to get B's?

[Anonymous]

Because middle school does not count. My kid found ms boring. Lots of memorizing and a dull, monotonous curriculum. Ha had A's amd B's and dd not care to jump through hoops for mediocre teachers.

Fast forward, it is sophomore year and he is killing it at a very competitive school in all subjects. Engaged and challenged, school is going very well.

Middle school and th grading is often more about executive functioning skills than intellect. Many of the brightest kids refuse to play along.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With online grading and access to private tutoring, there's no reason your healthy rich kid needs to get Bs. Most parents are just too self-absorbed and don't really care that much. A's and B's is great!

If you believe this you're sadly mistaken. There really are good, responsible kids out there who just cannot reliably get A's in all of their classes. I know because I have one of those kids. I also have two other kids who were straight A students throughout high school and graduated in the top 5% of their classes, so I know it's not about us as the parents. I think it's just falt out wrong to act as if your children are entirely within your control to mold and shape as you the parent see fit. It doesn't work that way. Parents are given a child, and we are stewards of that child and supposed to nurture and shape their potential, whatever it may be. Not every kid is supposed to be a top student. Not every kid is a gifted athlete. Some kids even have disabilities.

[Anonymous]

Our children are very bright & does their very best. Having said that, they go to a prestigious school that is exceptionally rigorous. The bottom line is for our children to work @ their optimum. At our school, there is absolutely no grade inflation & there are no easy "A's". I challenge the author of this to become a little more educated in their school profile & focus on allowing their child to go their very best. Think again my friend at our school, which shall be nameless, you would be terribly disappointed as there isn't any grade inflation & they focus on the love of learning. Signed highly educated parents w/very bright children w/outstanding mental health. Happy Holidays!

[Anonymous]

Correction... do their very best.

[Anonymous]

Because one of my DC cannot. He is wonderful and we love him. We provide help and pay for tutoring. He is a B/C student. Our other child is straight A's and I've never even looked on- line at his grades/student account unless he pulls it up. I have many neighborhood friends like OP who look at it daily - crazy!

In our small sample size of 2, our A student is an A student. No true parental involvement. I'm being very honest. Our B/C student we do have to sit and review blackboard, assignments, planning, and test prep. However none of that has gotten him more than the occassional A. So I guess we " let" him not get A's. Did I mention we still love him!

[Anonymous]

First of all (this is directed at one poster in particular), teachers do not GIVE grades; students EARN them. I know that sounds cliche, and I am probably going to get people jumping all over me for saying that, but it is true. Some students do little to try to earn high grades.

Second, there is NOTHING wrong with a B. It means "above average." We LEARN from our mistakes, and if a student is earning all A's all the time, he/she is likely not learning much from any mistakes he/she makes.

Third, some students struggle in certain subjects, so a B or C might reflect their incredible effort and hard work. For example, I rarely studied in high school, and I was able to EASILY earn A's in English, social studies, biology, health, etc. While I didn't study, I worked EXTREMELY hard in math, doing extra practice, getting tutors, etc., and I struggled to earn anything higher than a C in Algebra II, pre-calculus, and Calculus. Math just wasn't my strength. My parents were much more impressed with my C in Algebra II, which I had to work HARD to earn, than they were my A's in English and social studies, for which I had to do very little.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because one of my DC cannot. He is wonderful and we love him. We provide help and pay for tutoring. He is a B/C student. Our other child is straight A's and I've never even looked on- line at his grades/student account unless he pulls it up. I have many neighborhood friends like OP who look at it daily - crazy!

In our small sample size of 2, our A student is an A student. No true parental involvement. I'm being very honest. Our B/C student we do have to sit and review blackboard, assignments, planning, and test prep. However none of that has gotten him more than the occassional A. So I guess we " let" him not get A's. Did I mention we still love him!

The B/C kid doesn't have any health or vision issues? I'd say you've given up on him. Cs might as well be failing in 2017.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because one of my DC cannot. He is wonderful and we love him. We provide help and pay for tutoring. He is a B/C student. Our other child is straight A's and I've never even looked on- line at his grades/student account unless he pulls it up. I have many neighborhood friends like OP who look at it daily - crazy!

In our small sample size of 2, our A student is an A student. No true parental involvement. I'm being very honest. Our B/C student we do have to sit and review blackboard, assignments, planning, and test prep. However none of that has gotten him more than the occassional A. So I guess we " let" him not get A's. Did I mention we still love him!

The B/C kid doesn't have any health or vision issues? I'd say you've given up on him. Cs might as well be failing in 2017.

Really? You're an idiot. I am so glad I did not have you as a parent.

[Anonymous]

What are you going to do to ensure A's? Beat them? Stalk their teachers? Sue?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are you going to do to ensure A's? Beat them? Stalk their teachers? Sue?

This will sound terrible but my step daughter is dumb as doornails and we bribe her and spend a lot on private tutoring. Healthy kids with resources and supportive parents can easily get all As at most high schools — but I'm sure grading is different at Andover or Sidwell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are you going to do to ensure A's? Beat them? Stalk their teachers? Sue?

This will sound terrible but my step daughter is dumb as doornails and we bribe her and spend a lot on private tutoring. Healthy kids with resources and supportive parents can easily get all As at most high schools — but I'm sure grading is different at Andover or Sidwell.

Well, my kid has a B+ right now in a highly regarded public in AP Calc. That is the median grade. I think all the kids are middle class or higher and mostly they are white.

Apparently more than half the parents in this class are losers and pushovers. Seems a bit harsh.

I can't say I am thrilled with the B+ but he studies hard and takes advantage of the extra resources available so I don't think this B is a failure by us or my kid.

[Anonymous]

Op is a troll and having some fun

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are you going to do to ensure A's? Beat them? Stalk their teachers? Sue?

This will sound terrible but my step daughter is dumb as doornails and we bribe her and spend a lot on private tutoring. Healthy kids with resources and supportive parents can easily get all As at most high schools — but I'm sure grading is different at Andover or Sidwell.

Well, my kid has a B+ right now in a highly regarded public in AP Calc. That is the median grade. I think all the kids are middle class or higher and mostly they are white.

Apparently more than half the parents in this class are losers and pushovers. Seems a bit harsh.

I can't say I am thrilled with the B+ but he studies hard and takes advantage of the extra resources available so I don't think this B is a failure by us or my kid.

I think most people, including the OP, recognize AP subjects like calc chemistry and physics may be exceptions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are you going to do to ensure A's? Beat them? Stalk their teachers? Sue?

This will sound terrible but my step daughter is dumb as doornails and we bribe her and spend a lot on private tutoring. Healthy kids with resources and supportive parents can easily get all As at most high schools — but I'm sure grading is different at Andover or Sidwell.

Well, my kid has a B+ right now in a highly regarded public in AP Calc. That is the median grade. I think all the kids are middle class or higher and mostly they are white.

Apparently more than half the parents in this class are losers and pushovers. Seems a bit harsh.

I can't say I am thrilled with the B+ but he studies hard and takes advantage of the extra resources available so I don't think this B is a failure by us or my kid.

I think most people, including the OP, recognize AP subjects like calc chemistry and physics may be exceptions.

well, for my kid English is WAAAAY harder than those three.

[Anonymous]

Most students at my daughter's school say all the humanity APs are cake.