Parent/Teacher Conferences – the very name induces fear and trembling in the heartiest of souls.
For teacher – the day is looked at from the perspective of, “How can I share the good and the not-so-good news about the child to the parent?” More often than not, it is the momma who sits across from the teacher wanting to discover the greatest in her child. Teachers struggle to find just the right balance between good news and not-so-good news. Sometimes the momma reveals a struggle in her life that was previously unknown. The teacher must then switch tack as the reason behind certain behaviors and nonperformance is brought to the surface. Children are very sensitive people. They react to every word, nuance and mannerism from their parent. Children will often internalize conflicts and the result is a drop in grades, acting up in class or unexpected absences. Teachers must be on guard not to judge too harshly when a child exhibits symptoms of a deeper problem. Sometimes teachers have the pure joy of sharing great news with a parent. Momma will begin to verbalize her feelings that her child certainly is faltering and failing, only to be stopped short by a teacher who can smile, sit back and tell momma, “Your child is doing absolutely great!” I lived for such conferences. Parents enter the conference with fear of the unknown – what will teacher report about my child? Every parent has sat in the chair to listen to a teacher explain how their child is living a different life in the classroom than what was reported at home. Parents must check their natural instinct to believe their child and try to listen rationally to a teacher. I have not always succeeded in hearing. I too often want to believe my child to the point of ignoring what is told to me. Sometimes I am the parent who can react in genuine surprise as the teacher tells me that my child is doing great! It is ice-cream-cones-around time! Students always dread the return of the parents from the conference, for they can be rewarded or grounded – for life. Students always know the truth, but somehow hope that their faults will be overlooked – forgiven – wiped clean. Does that sound familiar? Jesus is the one who wipes our slate clean! We do not live in dread of the conference; rather we look forward to it. We each must face our Father, but we know that when He looks at us, He is looking at us through His Son.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorRichard Cohrs Archives
December 2016
Categories |