A student comes home from a long day of school, consisting of several quizzes. She feels she did poorly on one quiz, but knows she can fix it with corrections the next day. She decides to wait to tell her parents about it until she gets her revised grade. However, she doesn’t get to make that choice. The second she walks through the door, her parents bombard her with questions about the grade she got on the quiz. They checked their emails and already know how she did. 

At MCHS, parents have the option to be sent an email that consists of any new assignments that their child has gotten assigned, graded, or not turned in. This email also includes assignments they have turned in over the course of the day and their overall grade in every class. Many parents choose to have this email sent daily or weekly. 

The amount of access parents have to their student’s grades and overall schoolwork can cause added stress and pressure to students. Parents can abuse the power of knowing their child’s every move when it comes to schoolwork. This could be in the form of constantly reminding them of things they are already aware of, like upcoming assignments, or hounding them when their grade drops ever so slightly. This can be necessary for some students who struggle with keeping up with assignments but for those who can manage on their own, it can become an annoyance or stressor.

This is especially a struggle for those whose parents put pressure on them to get good grades. Since the parents can see when any grade drops, they are able to confront their child about it. Once again, those kids who are doing well in their classes may view this as an extra source of stress. These students may already feel pressured by their parents or peers to be perfect, having their parents know every time they make a small mistake doesn’t help. 

This system also counters the schools belief in preparing students for college. Having parents know all of their kids’ assignments and deadlines may be helpful, but isnt going to prepare them for the future. If students are relying on their parents to help them get their work done on time, they may struggle significantly when it comes to being on their own. Students should learn how to keep up with their work and make their own schedules in highschool to help better their college experience. 

However, parents believe that this is a positive thing, and it can be. Parents can use the reminder to help their kids when they need it or applaud them for their hard work. Certain kids may need more help keeping track of assignments or getting them turned in on time. For these kids it can be crucial for their parents to know how they are doing in class. However, this only benefits certain students. 

To resolve this issue, administration needs to get rid of the option to receive daily grade reminders. This would lower tensions and conflict between kids and their parents.