Why do so many high school students have tutors nowadays?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:neither of my parents went to college
no tutors
i made it to a top 20 US News school
tenure professor at top 30 US News school
it's called hard work

How old are you? It was VERY uncommon to have a tutor when I was growing up (I’m 42).

34

[Anonymous]

I think people have tutors now because parents don't want to see their kids get less than an A. We have not used tutors for my high schoolers (yet), partly because we cannot afford a tutor and partly because my kids' issues have nothing to do with the content of the material (rather, it's mostly about effort - or lack thereof - and I will not pay someone else to make my child study when he can do it himself).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because our public school failed our kids in writing and math

This +1 million

My kid barely gets feedback on her writing. How will she improve? A tutor helps with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At a tutoring center, I’ve seen first and second graders coming in and out while their parents have coffee next door. I feel sorry for the little kids.

Wait for the last laugh.
It’s the norm in many countries and their kids will take over the world, one step at at time.
The poster who mentioned middle America is spot on.
It used to work when the US was somewhat self-contained. With immigration, there is much steeper competition.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:neither of my parents went to college
no tutors
i made it to a top 20 US News school
tenure professor at top 30 US News school
it's called hard work

How old are you? It was VERY uncommon to have a tutor when I was growing up (I’m 42).

34

Check out the college admissions rates for the most competitive universities, 13 years ago vs today.

[Anonymous]

DC is in 9th grade and no tutors yet, not aware of any of her friends with tutor either. when does these start? Is it more for AP Calc BC, AP Physics C, AP Chem in junior/senior year??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a PP talking about inappropriate placement - there isn't much to do. I love our school system and think my kids are getting a good education.

But, in our area, Algebra 1 is grade level placement for 8th grade. Advanced students are above that but there most kids are there. (there are a few kids below this but at my kids' private school, there are no kids in 8th not taking Algebra and at my other kids' public, there are just a handful of kids not taking Algebra).

In other parts of the country, Algebra 1 is a 9th grade class.

So, if you forget about the math outliers, most kids are probably a bit ahead of themselves, causing the need for tutors since there isn't much you can do. And some kids are often pushed much further ahead, one or two more years isn't uncommon.

Of course, I think it's great that my "average" math students are getting to calculus by senior year, but since neither of my kids are going to be math majors or related science fields, I kind of wish they weren't pushed that much.

Algebra is 7th grade for most in APS. Geometry is 8th. The county is finally pulling back on this because statistics showed the majority that pushed ahead fall of the path and don’t have a solid foundation. 90% of kids on this path have math tutors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a PP talking about inappropriate placement - there isn't much to do. I love our school system and think my kids are getting a good education.

But, in our area, Algebra 1 is grade level placement for 8th grade. Advanced students are above that but there most kids are there. (there are a few kids below this but at my kids' private school, there are no kids in 8th not taking Algebra and at my other kids' public, there are just a handful of kids not taking Algebra).

In other parts of the country, Algebra 1 is a 9th grade class.

So, if you forget about the math outliers, most kids are probably a bit ahead of themselves, causing the need for tutors since there isn't much you can do. And some kids are often pushed much further ahead, one or two more years isn't uncommon.

Of course, I think it's great that my "average" math students are getting to calculus by senior year, but since neither of my kids are going to be math majors or related science fields, I kind of wish they weren't pushed that much.

Algebra is 7th grade for most in APS. Geometry is 8th. The county is finally pulling back on this because statistics showed the majority that pushed ahead fall of the path and don’t have a solid foundation. 90% of kids on this path have math tutors.

Where I live almost no one takes algebra in 8th grade. 90% take algebra in 9th. The school districts pushed it all back because kids were dropping math during high school after they hit the requirements for college.

[Anonymous]

My son used to be at a progressive school. Zero math taught. Packets and group work. My husband worked with him daily.

Moved schools (different private) because the progressive school wasn’t a good fit and my son is loving math again. He has an incredible teacher. We feel so fortunate.

[Anonymous]

In the same breath, why do many HS kids in wealthy areas have mental health issues these days (anxiety, stress, depression, suicide, etc.)? The environment created for them set at a young age isn’t healthy. Palo Alto, Dc area, etc.

https://www.prweb.com/releases/world_premiere_of_the_edge_of_success_doc_features_startling_insight_into_silicon_valley_teen_suicide_clusters/prweb15828821.htm

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because so many of you have convinced yourselves that your kids are special learners who need special attention, accommodations, extra time, tutors and trainers and specialists, etc. and can’t face up to the fact that your kid is just...average. You are setting them up for colossal failure when they have been overachieving their entire lives with the help of a whole team of specialists and one day they have to be grown ups all by their little selves.

Oh dear, did you wander in from the wrong forum embittered spinster?
You really should have another go at learning to read. I don't think anyone here said their kid was special. But a lot of people have said they are unable to do the normal daily homework help with their kids.
You are a horrible person. But you know that don't you.

But that’s the thing - daily homework help is not normal, unless there are legitimate special needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because so many of you have convinced yourselves that your kids are special learners who need special attention, accommodations, extra time, tutors and trainers and specialists, etc. and can’t face up to the fact that your kid is just...average. You are setting them up for colossal failure when they have been overachieving their entire lives with the help of a whole team of specialists and one day they have to be grown ups all by their little selves.

Oh dear, did you wander in from the wrong forum embittered spinster?
You really should have another go at learning to read. I don't think anyone here said their kid was special. But a lot of people have said they are unable to do the normal daily homework help with their kids.
You are a horrible person. But you know that don't you.

But that’s the thing - daily homework help is not normal, unless there are legitimate special needs.

No, if the classes are fast paced and the teacher is not good at clear explanations, a lot of people are turning to tutors for help with the HOMEWORK and basic understanding of the class, after the event. You are not experiencing this, but plenty of people are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We decided on public school even though If we really stretched we could have afforded private school. However, we couldn't afford private school AND tutors so if our child struggled in a subject we wouldn't be able to pay for a tutor. So we enrolled them in public school but anytime they get a weak teacher or a difficult subject for them we get them a tutor to make sure they really understand the subject. Als a writing tutor has been worth it because they don't get enough feedback on any written work.

Yup, this is what we do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We got a math tutor (high school) because the math teacher doesn't teach. She just hands out packets and expects the kids to teach themselves in small groups. And, as a PP noted, there is no textbook.

This is the norm nowadays.
The teacher explains for about 5 minutes and hands out packages.
Students either learn by online YouTube teachers or get a tutor.

Lots of teachers are bad and without textbooks, you go to YouTube, Khan Academy, and a tutor. The point at which you start this depends on how smart the student is, how hard/what level their classes are, and how good or bad the teacher is.

And also it’s partly because we are in a large metro area. If you’re in the Midwest or a rural area, things are just less competitive and it’s easier for a given student to get into good schools from there than here.

And I’m a good student from a rural area, so don’t yell at me for saying that lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:More parents have more cash than time.
Outsourced parenting.

I have plenty of time, but I don't know a thing about AP Calc BC.

OP here. If they don’t understand a concept, isn’t the teacher available to explain it again or help them in class?

If you’re lucky and have a great teacher, then yes they probably have time to help you because they don’t have a lot of students in after school. If the teacher sucks, then there are a ton of kids in after school and the kid gets only a few minutes of help. And it’s not realistic for this teacher – who might be bad anyway – to help throughout the year consistently after school