Plan to Grade Parents Flunks Out

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Florida representative Kelli Stargel has proposed a bill requiring the state’s teachers to grade parents of children aged kindergarten to third grade.

Stargel suggests parents be graded “satisfactory,” “unsatisfactory” or “needs improvement,” based on whether their children arrive at school well-rested, well-fed and on time with homework completed. Her bill also requires regular communication between parents and teachers.

The intent of the grading system is to encourage greater parental participation in schools. That, in turn, should increase student achievement. Stargel says: 

"We have student accountability, we have teacher accountability, and we have administration accountability, This was the missing link, which was, look at the parent and making sure the parents are held accountable."

Stargel’s intentions are obviously good. Parental participation is indeed a key factor in student success. However, the idea of teachers grading—and thus judging—parents has disaster written all over it.  

“Grading parents can only have one outcome—more barriers and more hostility,” says Jacqueline Jordan Irvine, an education specialist and professor emeritus at Emory University. “And who is caught in the middle—the children.”

In exchange for the rising barriers and greater hostility, what will teachers get? Nothing good. The parents who are involved will be offended at the idea that they are being “graded.” And the uninvolved parents could probably care less about getting a “needs improvement.”

Yes, parents should be more involved in their children’s schooling. That’s a worthy goal. But there are no shortcuts to get there. Good teachers know they have to build bridges to all parents. It takes hard work, skill, creativity and determination. As is, Stargel’s idea doesn’t make the grade.

Williamson is associate editor of Teaching Tolerance.