To all parents out there, what type of reinforcement would YOU regarding a child

1. 84

   gmwilliamsposted 8 years ago

   To all parents out there, what type of reinforcement would YOU regarding a child who is a C
   
   student to impart the IMPORTANCE of making As and the strict correlation between making As, academic/career success, and BETTER, SUPERIOR life choices/options?  Dr. Phil McCraw  inculcated his sons in the premise that grades are correlated to a quality of life.  He indicated that making As equals a great life full of options and choices while making Cs indicate a mediocre life at best.  Do YOU agree that making As means a better educational and quality of life for children while being a C student equals to a mediocre or worse life?
   
   

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2. 60

   BumblelyBeeposted 8 years ago

   Oh wow but that is a pass... well done kid! Aww, ok so you would love to see your kid get A's every parent does and not every parent can because only a certain percentage of kids can get that grade a C is a good pass, a C at A-level will help give a kid UCAS points towards getting into University. Well done!
   
   The kid did good, not all of his or her's peers would have passed with a C some would have got U's. When you try and try to do well for someone and no mater how hard you try it is still not good enough then that just makes you want to give up.
   
   If you handed out loads of CV's and you got few responses then would you want to keep going after say several months for example? If your kid got a B would you still be like where is my A? Why ask a kid to give you something you want instead of celebrating the fact that they achieved something? Why make it about pleasing you instead of them being allowed to enjoy their life and celebrate their achievements, a C is an achievement, yeah they could improve we all improve but anything before University is going to be irrelevant someday anyway as soon as you have that degree no one cares about A-levels getting qualified to get into a University is an achievement and C's will get you there (at least in the UK, ok higher grades mean more options but once your in then that degree is what matters and they will need to want to do something for themselves and have passion because you won't be there to tell them off). Your kid did good, be proud for him/ her.
   
   Honestly sometimes parents need reinforcement.

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   1. 84

      gmwilliamsposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      A C grade in the United States is considered to be mediocre or worse.  C students aren't considered smart in the American educational system. In my high school, C students WEREN'T considered college material at all!

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   2. 60

      BumblelyBeeposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I'm sure there are other ways the requirements for my uni are one of...
      High School Diploma, SAT1 and 3 APs Advanced Placement
      test
      • 3 A levels at grades BCC to BBB
      • IB diploma at 26 – 34 points
      • ACT score of 26 or above

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   3. 85

      Express10posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      A "C" is considered average & leaves a LOT of room for improvement. Average does not cut it in the working world. I would positively encourage & provide all the support & resources needed for my child to do their absolute best in their ed

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3. 63

   Tusitala Tomposted 8 years ago

   As a father of three and a grandfather of four, I would say that the best way to motivate a child is to be an exemplar of what one is trying to teach or impart.  If your kids see that you value study, perhaps even have a room set aside AS a study and are seen in it, reading, writing, pondering and thinking, they will imitate and copy that. 
   
   From their own studies - motivated by watching and emulating you - they will find their own interests and their own motivation.   And don't knock 'em if they want to be rock stars or astronauts.  Let them sort out their own lives, but be ready to help with advice, but not too much of it.  And certainly not when it is unsolicited - unless it is vital to their health, or they're in REAL danger.
   
   And remember, school or even university qualifications don't automatically mean success.  Winston Churchill was considered a dunce, until he attened a military school.  Self-motivation in what one is really passionate about is the key to success.   So teach them patience, persistence, and remember that 'Success is the progressive realization of a worthwhile ideal,' not a diploma on the wall.

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   1. 65

      KrystalDposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Amen

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4. 65

   KrystalDposted 8 years ago

   While it makes perfect sense that a parent would want their child to do well in school, the fact is a child's performance is based on their own motivation and skill level. Encouraging your child to put their best effort into their work is important but ultimately, it's the child's own motivation, engagement and aptitude that will determine their performance in school.
   
   I do not agree with Dr. Phil's method because I do not agree with the ideology he is grounding his method in. The grading scale is objective in many cases. Also, it does not account for students individual skills, interests and needs. Once we are adults, we choose the work that is given to us versus being forced to perform highly at a set of tasks that may not suite our areas of strength.
   
   In a time that children are experiencing high stakes pressure, I believe it is even more important that parents let their children know that their worth and capabilities are not encapsulated in a grade. In a world that seems to be pushing us all towards BETTER, BIGGER, FASTER, SMARTER and STRONGER, don't we want our children to know they, in and of themselves, are enough?
   
   Grades are important but pressuring children can lead towards very negative consequences. Encourage, support and yes, BE PATIENT! Each human is different and deserves the respect to grow and learn in the only way they can: at their own pace.

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