How to politely phrase, "Don't lecture me, I don't even do that anyhow."

[kitkatbar]

Originally Posted by momtothree

Kid said the teacher wanted the kids that got them to have their parents sign them and turn it in. I only thought it was odd since all of a sudden she started to require this questionnaire. And honestly a bit condescending as its not elementary and nor are these kids in their first year of middle school.

I honestly don't see this as unusual. Kids at our school routinely have to have things signed all the time. Although they're not in elementary school any more, they are also not yet fully formed adults either and there can be a wide range of maturity when you look at a class of kids, even in 7th or 8th grade. You'll have some for whom the step of getting a parent signature is completely unnecessary. Those kids are self-motivated to get good grades and want to take any steps necessary to make that happen. Many of those kids probably didn't need the parent signature even when they were in elementary school. Other kids don't have the maturity to put two and two together. They shrug and say an "F" is fine with them. Still a third group of kids doesn't care or doesn't have the ability to get themselves back on track, but has parents who DO. Those parents want to hold their kids accountable and push them to do better but may not have a kid who communicates all the resources available to them. In the case of those kids, a required parent signature may make a difference. Those kids often go home and answer, "Nothing," to the question, "What did you do today in school?" and then when asked if the teacher offers tutoring or retakes or whatever, answers, "No. She never told me any of that." Typical middle school response.