Twice a year, parent-teacher conferences give parents the opportunity to meet with teachers about their child’s performance in a given subject. Heschel strongly encourages students to attend these conferences to further communication between families and teachers and give students an active role in their learning journey. While it may seem beneficial, this one-size-fits-all approach fails to recognize nuanced situations.
Parent-teacher conferences are designed to facilitate open and honest conversations about students, but when the students are present, the full parent-teacher transparency can feel restricted.
An anonymous Heschel parent said, “I felt that I couldn’t be one hundred percent open and honest next to my child because I didn’t want to make him feel more insecure and less confident.” The Heschel parent continued, “My child has some learning difficulties and he needs extra help in certain things, and it’s easier to talk about certain issues one-on-one.”
For parents with students who have learning difficulties, these conferences are especially crucial for coming up with plans and strategies. The parent explained that worrying about their child’s reactions is an unnecessary burden.
While students may benefit from certain feedback, not every student should participate in parent-teacher conferences. Teachers already update students through their comments on assessments, report cards, via emails, and discussions. Parent-teacher conferences are a select opportunity for parents to feel free to ask questions openly and have discussions about their child’s progress without the added pressure of their child’s presence.
As an 11th grader, I feel that my attendance at parent-teacher conferences is not always necessary or beneficial. It can sometimes complicate the conversation. When I am there, I feel that teachers soften their feedback and avoid bringing up certain points to spare my feelings, which makes it hard to get their full points across. I feel that these conversations are much more efficient when I am not in the room. It’s not about avoiding feedback, but rather allowing a more honest and direct conversation where my parents and teachers can be fully transparent with each other.
While some students may benefit from blunt and transparent feedback, it may destroy others’ confidence. The parent admitted that conferences “are not always a good fit, but it does depend on the student.”