Educational Editorials # 6

                                               cleophas9@aol.com                June 6, 2002

                                         How to Destroy a Giant

I am saddened by the fact that someone could have destroyed a giant. That giant comes in the form of one of my "A" students. This student is way above average, having absorbed most of my lectures in trigonometry, calculus, biology, history, chemistry, government, and every other subject taught in the Tutoring Service. That student excelled in every facet of the tutoring service and that excellence propelled him through Middle School while gaining accolades from his schoolteachers all of the way. 

Could his motivation have been destroyed by one of his closest friends when his grades suddenly plummeted to "D's" and "F's"? In High School?

This student was pulled from the Tutoring Service by jealousy. Parental jealousy is one of the worst evils that I have faced in my 4 years of tutoring. That jealousy leads some parents to think they can do what a tutor can do, and even better. The parent is fearful they won't be given any credit for contributing to the education of their child. The parent is afraid of what others might think. That parent is way, way below the educational level of a tutor who has attended major universities and has enough credits to teach at Harvard or Yale.

The student became lackadaisical about his education when he was denied field trips and tutoring sessions by his parent. He had bonded with other tutoring students for over 3 years and now those bonds were disturbed.His absenteeism drove the Tutor (me) up the wall. Whenever I complained, I was told that he "was not my child". 

He simply lost his motivation to learn. He seemingly became depressed and would skip school on numerous occasions. It was like fighting a losing battle for the Tutor and so he decided to back away from this most disturbing situation. Then the parent backed away. Never showing up at Teacher-Parent conferences; never calling to check on grades and attendance; never doing anything but dishing out punishment when grades plummeted.

I took the students to the Los Angeles Science Center to study human digestion, homeostasis, and human surgical procedures. It's all there in our lesson reviews. That student could not attend these field trips. I took the students to Hoover Dam to study the generation of electricity. That student could not attend. That students missed one of my field trips to Las Vegas and another to San Francisco. Why? The jealously of a parent!

I have decided that this giant will not be slain. I had a motivational lecture with the student and he responded to it by saying he will study at least 5-6 hours a day to improve his grades before the semester ends. He promised to explain his behavior to his instructors and to let them know that he is simply a "fallen A student" who is going to do all within his power to pull up his grades. I promised to be with him all of the way and I will. I will call his instructors today to let them know who I am and who the student is that they are dealing with. I will work with him, in spite of his parent, even if it means going to school with him each and every day.

No, this giant will not be slain!  For a similar story, click on