Am I being to tough on my middle school daughter ?

My daughter is a very good student. She is on the on honor roll and has had all A's except for math. I was never good at math either. She's had a B-, and two C's in math so far this year. As a 5th grader she was priviledged to be invited to be on the yearbook committee next year ( which is a big honor usually reserved for 6th and 7th graders) which means she would have an "A" period and have to be at school at 7:45 instead of 8:40. I got a letter today saying that if she would like additional math help next year she could either take the math tutor class as an elective, which means she would lose Spanish which she really wants to take...or take it as an "A" period...which would mean that she would lose the yearbook thing...which she also really wants. I told her if she brings her math grade up to a B she can keep yearbook, otherwise she has to choose between Spanish and Yearbook.


She thinks I'm the meanest mom in the world. I just want her to be prepared for college.

Am I being to tough on my middle school daughter ?
Its great that you are such a concerned parent and actually take a personal involvement in your childs education. Not a lot of parents care that much, they figure a C is a passing grade and let little Johnny/Susie do as they please. I think at the particular grade level that your daughter is at (5th grade I think you said) is still quite a bit young for added scholastic pressure. Its good that you are preparing her for the adult world and what she will face when in college, but face it...college is 7 years away. Let her know that if Yearbook is what she really wants to do, then she can always take spanish class next year. If you cut her out of her interests, then her interest in school and learning will diminish and she will burn out quickly. Sit her down and openly give her advice. Help her to build a two or three year plan. Put together mock schedules and go over her choices of electives. Help her choose but at the same time do not chastise or belittle her if she opts for something out of the ordinary. Kids want to be unique and explore new things. I say if yearbook is important to her then help her to decide to take spanish another year and get that extra help in math. Good luck.
Reply:Excellent move!


When she gets into a good college and graduates- she won't even remember their year book in the 5th grade, only that her mom loved her enough to be hated for a while.


A year book (especially in the fifth grade) is nonsense-how often does anyone actually look at their HSYB? An education will be put to better use for much longer than a 5th grade year book.
Reply:I'd have her skip Spanish and do the yearbook. She's not going to get middle or high school credit for it (atleast nothing that will count towards graduation) so she might as well take it next year. Yearbook committee is an honor.
Reply:Math is 10 times more important that Spanish. She can take Spanish in High School. If she gets behind in Math, it is very hard to catch up.
Reply:You sound reasonable to me.
Reply:She makes good grades...maybe you should let her decide...
Reply:let her decide!!
Reply:ur not being hard on her
Reply:I don't think you're being too hard on her, I'm a teen...I think you've just showed her her options and there's nothing you can do about the school's guidelines in offereing stuff to her. If she's aggregratign A's great! I think you've done a great job with her...let her choose what she wants though.. masybe sit down and talk 2 her about this...I think you're a fine mum..alll kids go through periods where their parents are the worst in the world...she should feel different in a while, I think.
Reply:The modern education system indoctrinatesTthe main function of education is to instruct in Reading,Writing,


Mathematics,and how to think logically.It is not the responsibilty of the State to instruct languges,social studies,music drama,how to avoid the usage of drugs,or any of the other crap that is taught.Why would any sane parent


permit their child to be involved in any committee at this tender age,and attend school at 7:45 am? Education in the aforemention basics,need not


begin until the age of 12,when a student has had the opportunity to be a child.Your child is being prepared for


Aldous Huxley's Brave New World.
Reply:I think you're right about the math thing. When I was in fifth grade a lot of the things that my teacher taught me I didn't understand, so when I got into 6th grade I ended up with the first C I'd ever gotten in my life on my report card. You should let her keep the classes she wants, as long as she keeps her grades up. And instead of getting tutoring in school, if you're willing to pay a small fee, you can just get some outside tutoring, that way you'll both get what you want.
Reply:Prepared for college? She's only in the 5th grade!! And honestly, not every child is going to get an A or B in math, some are only going to get C's and that's not something to be punished for at all. As long as you see her doing her best, then it's fine. Now, if she's totally slacking and being lazy, and THAT's why she's not getting A's in math, then I can see your frustration. Otherwise, cut her a break. She's on the honor roll, and has A's in every other class, she deserves to be rewarded for that BIG time, and I think the yearbook would be a perfect way to do that :)
Reply:Well speaking as someone who worked her butt off just to please her parents I would like to say ease up. She's only in the 5th grade. She'll have plenty of time to get ready for college. Let her take the yearbook class. As long as she is not failing math I wouldn't worry. She can only have fun for so long. Don't be one of those parents who put their kids in an academic stranglehold. I do applaud you for caring and worrying about her future.