Fairness and trust impacts every kid. If you read kids comments when they encountering teachers teaching their kid they cite reasons of fairness. It is possible that the kids are looking for it and are wrong but I do think that in sports or academics that when parents teach their kids they are not always objective. It happens all the time in athletics that the coaches kid makes the team when they shouldn't. They get more playing time when they shoudn't. I do not think that academics would be so different. I would think that schools would not want the appearance of favoritism.

With multiple choice questions, there is still one correct answer and someone can easily see if you got 8/10 vs. 10/10. It is hard if a child selects A when the answer is B to give them credit. I do not think the vast majority of teachers would blatantly cheat by giving their kid the test. However, I think they know the content that will be tested and in working with their kid like normal parents they may steer their kids to the questions and answers.

Classes may not be graded on a curve but at some point there is a funnel narrowing kids into more selective classes and more selective schools when it comes time to graduate from lower, middle or upper school. Guidance Counselors often tell kids which schools to apply to and there are only going to a certain amount of kids from any one school selected to go to that school. It is easy to steer kids away or to certain places and to increase or decrease their odds of getting in.

I do not have this issue but I have read students comments that mentioned this happening. I was surprised at the number of teachers with students in the school and it made me think about the comments that I say. Of course it could just be that the kids are spoiled brats and jealous but I would think that you would try to prevent teachers from teaching their kids. I think it is best for eveyone.

Anonymous wrote:Teachers should not teach their own kids. Just like your spouse, child or relative should not work for you. They can not be truly objective. Also, there parent knows the content of the class, curriculum and grade which is a big advantage. Also, some grades are subjective. The only completely objective grades are questions were there is yes/no, multiple choice. Does a kid get to make up assignments, do extra work, partial credit. Plus the other teachers have to evaluate your child and they may show favoritism. I think it would be difficult to fail the head of the school or a division's kid. At the end of the day the are a parent and your boss. Also, just like parents can not be always be objective, teachers will have the same issue. They are not immune to basic human nature.

I went to school where my mom taught but I was never formally taught by her.

OK, let's say that what you say is true. How does that affect your kid at all? Seems like it would be damaging to the teacher's child, not anyone else's child. It's not like classes are graded on a curve.

And all grades are subjective. Even mulitple choice. Sure, there's only one "correct" answer, but who do you think writes the test?

I would agree that a teacher should not directly teach their own child, for the reasons generally cited above. However, I've never seen any issue arising with faculty kids in general being part of the school. I've seen exceptionally bright faculty kids excel all along the way and in college admissions; I've seen academically average faculty kids get average grades and what would be "average" college admissions for the school; and I've seen faculty kids who were not a good academic fit and struggled transfer to other schools.

There are a lot of things to worry about as a parent, but worrying that faculty kids are going to be like cowbirds in the nest (really, it's a good analogy, google it!) and divert resources from your child is really not worth worrying about.

Speaking of paranoia, it must suck to be a teacher who reads this board. Gotta wonder how many of the posters are people whom you deal with every day and whether they're the obvious jerks vs folks who seem nice enough but who are just being careful not to let you see their resentment and/or contempt.

What if there are no grades? (True at my DC's lower school, for example.) Once you get beyond education as ranking does the favoritism issue disappear?

Teachers' kids leave DC's school all the time. Doesn't seem to be an issue. In fact, the teachers may be in a position to make better/quicker judgments when the school isn't the best fit -- they know they school well and they see which kids flourish and which flounder over time.

Anonymous wrote:Teacher’s kids are always favored and the only people who don’t believe that are teachers.

You sound bitter and paranoid (two-fer!), if you are wondering.

Teachers should not teach their own kids. Just like your spouse, child or relative should not work for you. They can not be truly objective. Also, there parent knows the content of the class, curriculum and grade which is a big advantage. Also, some grades are subjective. The only completely objective grades are questions were there is yes/no, multiple choice. Does a kid get to make up assignments, do extra work, partial credit. Plus the other teachers have to evaluate your child and they may show favoritism. I think it would be difficult to fail the head of the school or a division's kid. At the end of the day the are a parent and your boss. Also, just like parents can not be always be objective, teachers will have the same issue. They are not immune to basic human nature.

I went to school where my mom taught but I was never formally taught by her.

Teacher’s kids are always favored and the only people who don’t believe that are teachers.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's no "true test." It matters whether you do your job well -- not whether you could do somebody else's job well. Find the job that plays to your strengths and interests/goals and take satisfaction in that.

Exactly. It's beyond ridiculous that people are saying that a good private school teacher is not REALLY a good teacher because s/he couldn't be successful in a different environment. First, how would you even know that? Second-- what the hell difference does it make? The important thing is, are that teacher's students well served?

It's like saying you can't be considered a great parent until you've tried to get by on welfare and food stamps while living next door to a crack house. Those parents REALLY have it tough! Those of you with lots of money, nannies, and housekeepers-- you have it easy! I'd rather have my kid parented by someone who's been in the trenches and made it work!!

+100 and hilariously expressed

Anonymous wrote:There's no "true test." It matters whether you do your job well -- not whether you could do somebody else's job well. Find the job that plays to your strengths and interests/goals and take satisfaction in that.

Exactly. It's beyond ridiculous that people are saying that a good private school teacher is not REALLY a good teacher because s/he couldn't be successful in a different environment. First, how would you even know that? Second-- what the hell difference does it make? The important thing is, are that teacher's students well served?

It's like saying you can't be considered a great parent until you've tried to get by on welfare and food stamps while living next door to a crack house. Those parents REALLY have it tough! Those of you with lots of money, nannies, and housekeepers-- you have it easy! I'd rather have my kid parented by someone who's been in the trenches and made it work!!

pp, I totally agree with you. I think the poster who is afraid that faculty kids are being favored etc. may be insecure about her own kid's progress. I know at my school, faculty kids are not singled out for honors and theater roles to avoid the appearance of favoritism, but grades are grades and speak for themselves. It would be incredibly unprofessional if a teacher or administrator did that, and then that teacher with the lack of integrety needs to be fired. Many of the comments on this thread are disturbing to read as a teacher. I have had many difficult parents over the decade but these seem beyond. I do think they may be at the wrong schools or need to take a look at them selves to figure out why they feel their kid is being shoved aside. Why cant they accept the possibility that perhaps a few faculty kids are very smart or talented and have earned their place. I love teaching but dread parents like this. It is sad.

I must admit, parents teaching their kids is a big concern of mine in private school. I question whether they can be completely objective. .