Freshman Follies
by Kathy Jones, DHS Teacher/Parent

Complete the following statement: the most important thing in my life is (a) my physical appearance, (b) going to parties, (c) being popular, (d) my future success. No brainer, right? Not for ninth graders who are struggling to figure out who they are and where they fit in.

As parents, we can see the long term benefits of academic success; quite often ninth graders can't. Many seniors who find themselves crashing into reality at this point in their high school years will admit that they wish they had had it together when they were freshmen.

So what's a parent to do?

Many parents find that rewarding mature behavior and punishing immature behavior works. Kids who are getting D's or E's in courses should not be going out with friends, buying CD's, playing video games, getting a driver's license, etc. You know what your child loves to do. If he or she is not taking school seriously, you need to establish negative consequences.

Second quarter report cards went home on Monday, February 11, 2002. The Baltimore County School system has a few negative consequences that help motivate some students. If a student has failed two quarters, he or she must pass the third and fourth quarter and the final exam in order to pass the course. If the student fails both English 9 and Social Studies 9, he or she will repeat the ninth grade year.

You cannot miraculously save your child from this humiliation, but you can make him or her realize that school is his/her primary responsibility and that privileges depend on meeting that responsibility.

You can also contact your child's teachers to show that you care about academic performance and to find out what your child needs to do in order to improve his/her grades. Some students benefit from being forced to get their planners signed by every teacher every day. This way you can know what the homework is and whether or not your child is completing it.

(This article first appeared in the March 2002 issue of the PTSA Bulletin)