His Grades

[Care-o-Bear]

So, to me this seems unfair. My boyfriend is incredibly smart, especially in science. He's really great at it and everything. He's also just smart in general. I'd say I'm about as smart as him, which is very, lol Anyway, I've got straight-A's, I've just always been a really good student. He's a good student too. I think he had mostly A's last year but I don't know for sure because we didn't talk back then. This year, he's been having a really hard time in Japanese and math. Math he's got a B, so he's ok on that, just having a hard time keeping up what with so much rehersal and all. Japanese (he's in Japanese 2), he's failed like the last 3 tests and just isn't understanding much and technically should have an F, but the teacher told him she makes grades based on what they learn not on actually grades, so he got a C+ on his progress report. Well, when I was at his house today, his parents got his progress report and I heard them talking about it in the kitchen while I was helping him with math. They were deciding if they should wait to "nail him" about his grades until after I left or not. In the end, his mom just came in and told him he had a C and that wasn't acceptable. He was saying how hard it was and he was surprised he didn't have an F. But then she was like "if you're not on honor roll, you're losing all your texting priveleges." I think that is a little extreme. I mean, yeah grades are important, but he's doing pretty well. Other than the B and C, he's got all A's. And he got accepted into National Honor Society (I did too). It just seems a little too harsh to take away his texting just because he's not on honor roll. Idk, what do other people think the line should be drawn at?

[Drey]

I know this may seem a little harsh for them to do but obviously his parents feel as though he isn't trying very hard, even though I'm sure he is. I think because of this it is resonable for them to take away something that he probably spends a lot of time on (ie texting) because that (in theory) should give him more time to study.

I would suggest getting him to talk with his Japanese teacher and seeing if they can help him a bit (before/after school or at lunch). It sounds like this teacher is seeing that he is in fact putting in the effort and therefore should be willing to work with him the little bit extra that it sounds like he needs. If that fails, perhaps the teacher can suggest someone who can tutor him in Japanese.

[Ellie]

I guess parents just want what is best for their children, and although I do agree that how they have reacted is on the harsh side, they are probably just wanting him to do as well as he can. I think it's difficult for parents because they don't actually get to see what goes on in the classroom so it is near impossible for them to know just how well their child is doing. I think that not only should your boyfriend talk to the teacher about getting extra help, as Drey suggested, but he should also ask his parents to talk to the teacher themselves. His teacher would be able to extend what the progress report has said, by going into detail about how he is doing as well as suggesting ways that his parents can help him at home. I really think that communication between teachers and parents can be so beneficial.

[udontno]

I think his parents are doing what they think is best, even though it might not be. Personally, my parents have never taken anything away from my sister or I because of grades. I think the line would be drawn if one of us brought home a D in a subject.