Dear Gwendolyn:
I have two boys in the same grade, the 3rd grade. One was left behind and the younger caught up with him.This is the problem:
The younger son is smart, quite smart. The older son (who was left behind) feels bad when his brother outshines him. I have made several trips to the school to talk with the principal about this matter. The principal says there is nothing he can do except place my older son into a special class. That is something I don’t want. What I want is for the teacher to go ahead and give my older boy a good grade when she gives my younger a good mark.
Gwendolyn, I’m getting mad. She doesn’t know me. I will “jack” her up.
Tara
Dear Tara:
Giving your son who is slow in learning a high grade just to make him feel better doesn’t make any sense at all. Have another talk with the principal and find out specifics about the class for the difficult to learn. Let me tell you this: I understand your concerns about the special class because parents are discovering too late that their child cannot read or write. This is mainly because in the special class the teacher or teachers either neglect them or they are short staffed.
This is where parents are to step in and teach their children at home. Although many parents are illiterate themselves. I don’t know your level of education, but I do know that it is not high. People with high skills and knowledge do not have the vocabulary that contains the word “jack-up.”
Tara, think about it. If your older son cannot deal with the high praises of his brother, then he won’t be able to deal with it later. That is the mistake parents make. They try to soften or smooth an issue feeling the child is too young to understand. The older brother will turn to a dangerous form of jealousy. It seems the only thing that needs to be jacked-up is – your attitude and understanding.
***Got a problem? Don’t solve it alone. Write to Gwendolyn Baines at: P. O. Box 10066, Raleigh, N.C. 27605-0066 or email her at: gwenbaines@hotmail.com and visit her website at: www.gwenbaines.com
