Class Cards

On November 10 our youngest daughter got the school cards of her 2 girls (grade two and one). One had higher grades but we did not make comparison because it will demoralize the one with lower grades (average 88). I encourage them saying their grades are better than mine when I was in elementary. I was in elementary from 1946 to 1952. At that time, teachers give the cards to us to show to Mama and Papa and let them sign it. In a class of 20 to 30 students, at least 5 to 10 cards had fake parent’s signature because of low grades.

My daughters were in the elementary during the 70s and 80s. They had good grades so the parent’s signatures were real. My happiest problem was spending for their blow outs on Sundays after mass as a sign that we feel good and as a treat and reward for them. Luckily there were no expensive eateries then. There were no one on one teacher-parent talks.

Their 2023 report card matter opened my eyes. Now teacher-parent talks are more dramatic. When the teacher compliments the parents for the good grades the husband would fake humility and say, Kuha sa mama niya or giliwat sa lolo ug lola. When the teacher talks about the limitations/shortcomings of child (bad grades), the father glowers, grabs the card and hurriedly walks out. The mother would talk a lot saying, 1. “Ay, my son in the house is very neat, very attentive, very disciplined,” 2. “Reads a lot, very studious,” 3. “Rarely goes out, but stays in to help us in cleaning the house” (sa mutoo lang). Don’t tell the teacher because her ears are already worn out from listening to justifications/explanations. 4. Some parents blame teachers saying, you don’t know how to teach. You don’t know that some children (like ours) are so bright and extra special that you (teacher) have to go up to a higher level to catch up with the child. You failed (70%) in the government teacher exams but was included in the reconsideration only and you say my son is ugok! AHAHAY!