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Monday, April 14, 2008
Is it an excuse or explanation?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A student walks into class and tells the teacher she didn’t finish her paper. The student explains the computer broke. Maybe she says she was too busy helping her parents with her siblings. Or maybe the student says her mom forgot to pay the electricity bill.
The student thinks she’s explaining why she couldn’t do the work. All the teacher hears are excuses.
The same conversation has been taking place with school leaders across the area.
Teachers, principals and school board members all say many students struggle in school because of off-campus problems. They cite problems of violence, family crises, financial difficulties, health issues and much more. They discuss these issues during community meetings and in letters to the editor.
Countless studies show these home issues affect student learning. How can they not?
Educators have long argued the public needs to know the challenges students and schools face. That’s true. But at what point do these explanations become excuses? How important are the reasons when what we care about are results?
