Reevaluating Back to School Night
What used to be a time to talk about the value of learning has morphed into a dull discussion centered on process.
 Teachers used to preview their curriculum for parents on Back to School Night. These days, the talk more often is dominated by grading rubrics, class rules, point deductions and preparation for the state's standardized tests. (Illustration by David Suter / For The Times) |
After 24 years of attending Back to School Night at my kids' schools, it's taking more self-discipline to show up. The traditional parents' night has changed over the decades, and not for the better.
I'm not even sure when I first noticed the shift. But in the earlier years, teachers spent most of their allotted time — admittedly, in the upper grades they're given just 10 minutes per subject — previewing a year of learning. They skimmed the curriculum. Sometimes they lingered on a favorite topic or an important project. Some spoke lyrically about their long-term goals for our children — newfound confidence, the ability to work cooperatively with others, a lifelong love of reading.
These days, however, the talk more often is dominated by grading rubrics, class rules, point deductions for various classroom misdemeanors and preparation for the state's
I'm not even sure when I first noticed the shift. But in the earlier years, teachers spent most of their allotted time — admittedly, in the upper grades they're given just 10 minutes per subject — previewing a year of learning. They skimmed the curriculum. Sometimes they lingered on a favorite topic or an important project. Some spoke lyrically about their long-term goals for our children — newfound confidence, the ability to work cooperatively with others, a lifelong love of reading.
These days, however, the talk more often is dominated by grading rubrics, class rules, point deductions for various classroom misdemeanors and preparation for the state's
