Truth About Pupils

Teachers Terri Hamlin and Lorian Elbert agree that many children come to school very poorly prepared to learn (Aug. 30). All too often, parents have abdicated their responsibilities in this regard, these teachers concur. Students commonly are “lazy, unwilling to do anything that would require work,” Elbert observes.

What have been teachers’ responses, however, to such negative attitudes, and to students’ disrespect shown them? Teachers frequently try to curry students’ favor by attempting to buy them off with higher and higher grades. Thus, during the recent decline in school achievement, student grade point averages have risen steadily.

This practice of hiding from parents the actual substandard achievement of students has had unintended consequences. It has contributed to the very problems about which teachers complain.

Teachers are not notably courageous people. Nonetheless, in the above situation they must bite the bullet, and begin reporting to parents the truth about their children’s school performance.

PATRICK GROFF, Professor Emeritus, San Diego State University, San Diego