Originally posted by Kfamr
Teachers are MORE than willing to fail students. I've even had teachers say, while kids were failing.. "Oh well, I get paid either way".. And when a child is failing, maybe by .1%, they'll still fail them. They let them fall asleep in class everyday, even refuse to give them make-up work when they've been out.
The teachers may be saying that to rile those around them (though I know there are bad eggs out there, I'm not saying all teachers are saints). However, like numbers matter to you (60% on a test, etc.), numbers matter to teachers too. If they have a steady number of failures in their classes every year it doesn't reflect poorly on the children, it reflects poorly on the teacher. Their pay could be docked, they could be required to take refresher courses, etc. So while I'm not saying I don't believe some teachers out there don't care and would say that, I have to believe that most of them care enough about a steady income and respect among their colleagues to let it happen often.

I know parents want what's best for their children, but taking away things that make them happy is NOT helpful. AS A CHILD who experiences crap like this on a day to day basis, with her father, being angry because of grades DOES NOT HELP. It makes me feel worthless and as if no matter what I do ( and I TRY my hardest) will never be good enough. It makes you feel like scum.
I've never personally settled with a D or F. I always try to get atleast a C, and when I do i'm especially proud of myself. B's and A's are like trophies for me. when I get them i'm very happy. D's and F's? I'm upset, especially after trying my hardest.. and after beating myself up over it, I do NOT need anyone else doing it for me, especially people who are "so understanding" like my parents.
And that's where a happy medium must be found. To be honest, my parents were a lot like yours sounds. If I tried my absolute best and did everything I possibly could to prepare for a test and still came home with a D or F, I didn't get in trouble. They signed it, talked to me about why I didn't do well (like you, I was a horrible test-taker), and told me that they were proud of me for trying. It was the tests that I'd bring home to have them sign, that they had no knowledge of (which meant I hadn't prepared) that I got in trouble over. And rightfully so, looking back - though at the time I thought they were horrible and not the least bit understanding and mean. Eventually, I got it through my thick skull that I didn't like it when that happened so by mid-sophomore year, I studied for my tests.

No, my parents will never understand what it's like to be a child going to school, my school especially, if they never listen. Listening is key in a relationship, between anyone. You've got to listen to the other side, and after you've listened you've got to be helpful.
You're right - listening is the key to any relationship, BUT! (and you knew that was coming ) - it goes both ways. As much as you (generally, not YOU personally) may not want to hear what your parents have to say, you owe it to them. And unfortunately, until you're legally an adult, you kinda have to do what they say. Is it always right? No. Is it always fair? Nope. But that's life and you'll get over it.

Not everyone has to live life in a sky-rise executive building with a shiney BMW in the parking garage.
I agree, and that's not at all what I meant by your parents wanting better for you than they had. You won't understand a parents' love until you are a mother yourself. Heck, I'm not a mom yet and I'm starting to understand but I won't know totally until I have a baby. But I can tell you that last month, when I had the slightest suspicion that I *could* be pregnant, everything was different. I can't explain how, and maybe one day you'll experience that and understand, but that suspicion gave me a little tiny view into how a mother's love is. I don't mean that parents want their kids to be rich. What I mean is that to create a child out of love, to nurture it in your womb for 9 months, to raise that child - teach it, love it - to watch that child grow up and little by little, become less and less dependant on you is difficult. And parents want to make sure that after they're gone, their child will be okay. That's what I meant. It's hard to explain and probably hard for you to comprehend but again, give it time. You'll eventually get it.

I think about my future all the time. I discuss it with my parents all the time.
Good. Keep it up. Seriously.

NO ONE will know what it's like for a specific person to go through highschool, unless you are that person.
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Every person's different.. every person learns differently.. Teacher's in general don't care. I've had maybe, 3 or 4 teachers in my whole highschool career who actually gave somewhat of a damn. That's 3 or 4 out of around 24+. Guess what? I passed their classes with A's everytime.
True, but in actuality, the names may be different but the situations play over in our world time and time again. Notice when someone posts a problem on here. How many people reply to that thread with something similar to "Hey, something like that happened to me and here's how I dealt with it..." Lots! So yeah, while the school experience is different for everyone... it isn't so much so. Again, you'll see it more when you're my age and you hear people who are 15, 16 complaining about the same sort of stuff you did at that age. (It's actually pretty funny.)

As for the teacher thing, I'm with you in that I did MUCH better with teachers who gave a damn. In fourth grade, I was doing so well in math I was moved into the most advanced class. In fifth grade, I had a horrible teacher, wouldn't take the time to explain it to people who didn't get it *LIKETHAT*. That woman ruined my math career UNLESS I was lucky enough to get a teacher who cared. From 6th to 11th grade (I didn't take a math my senior year), it happened twice. Those years, I got Bs and Cs in math. Otherwise, it was usually Ds and only Ds because my teachers knew that I was trying my best. So I agree, the teacher makes all the difference. I wish more of them realized that.

I'm horrible with tests. I could sit there and answer questions all day, but when it comes time to take the test.. I freeze up, get nervous. 99.9% of that is because i'm pressured into getting the best grade possible, not the grade that I AM capable of doing.
I'd understand if the child was getting into trouble on a daily basis, doing bad things, using drugs, ect.. But i'm not that type of child and I feel I should get support no matter if I get 100% A or 60% F, but instead I get pressured into things i'm sometimes not capable of doing.
Kay, you sound almost just like me. I was horrible at tests too - especially math and science. I would study for eons and think I had it down, but when the test was in front of me it was like I never prepared at all. None of the questions seemed to be the same type I'd studied. It is very discouraging to spend a week or two weeks or whatever, studying your heart out and still only pull out a C or even worse, a D. I know that disappointment all too well. I never claimed to be a straight A student. Not even close. But you're not the only person with those problems and teachers, no matter what you think, actually DO realize that. Most of them, anyway.

You are a very bright person, Kay. You're very well spoken and have shown time and time again your intelligence. Any parent would be proud to have a daughter like you. Just remember that one day though, you'll have a kid and your hopes and dreams for them will be out of this world (and again, I'm not talking money) and all you want is what's best for them.

Hope I haven't bored you too much.