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[Michael] Steele once told me a story that speaks volumes about his determination to succeed: Steele attended college at Johns Hopkins University. In his freshman year, Steele said, his grades were so bad that the dean of students told him he would not be invited to return. His mother forced him to go back to the dean and insist he was prepared to do anything to continue his studies. The dean said "no," but Steele's mother made him confront the dean again. This went on for weeks until the dean, in desperation, agreed to readmit Steele with the proviso that any bad grades would end in his dismissal, mother or no mother. Steele went on to graduate near the top of his class at Johns Hopkins and was elected student body president.
Democrats: Beware of Michael Steel
by Bob Beckel
February 06, 2009
realclearpolitics
She sounds like a real pistol, that one.
I like that in a mother.
6 comments:
What I especially like is that it does not appear that she herself ever went to the dean. Instead, she lit a proverbial fire under her son's keester, but expected him to do the work. It's the difference between giving him a fish and telling him to get his posterior back down to the lake and not come back without one.
Obi,
Exactly my thought. I'd have never categorized this mother as a helicopter parent, simply because though she wielded her power as a parent, she empowered and insisted her son confront the issues.
A helicopter parent, in my mind, is one who fights the battles for their child, stepping in as the protector rather than supporting the child's development through experience - win or fail.
A helicopter parent, in my mind, is one who fights the battles for their child, stepping in as the protector rather than supporting the child's development through experience - win or fail.
There are times when parents must do this, however, particularly when fighting for decent math programs, and protesting against teachers who do not teach, and grading policies that hurt the child. Students simply are viewed as having no standing in such instances. If a parent fights for what is right, they are then labeled as "helicopter parent"; win or fail.
One of the annoying things about the term "helicopter parent" is how high schools and middle schools co-opted it from colleges. It is one thing to say that the parent of a 22 year old shouldn't come into their professors office and ask why their child got a C on the exam, or come with their child to a job interview, or (as I've had happen) ask the professor to tell them when the student will have finals (including for classes that instructor isn't teaching) so they can buy the plane ticket home. But the students here, like Michael Steele, are adults or near adults, and should be able to take some responsibility for themselves, even if they need someone at home putting their feet to the fire.
To use that argument when the child in question is a thirteen year old struggling with math or a bad curriculum is nonsense. It is really just a way to try to get parents to go away.
A teenager can't be expected to "take responsibility for their own learning" the way that a young adult can. Heck, one reason that I'm successful in teaching General Chemistry is that I don't expect the 16-18 year olds who make up most of my class to be able to take complete responsibility yet. Instead there's lots of scaffolding (notes on the board in outline form, the next week's assignments written up every day including the date for the next exam, etc.) until they learn how to be college students.
Barry, you're right. I was focused on the college level of the student in my comment about helicopter parents. (note to self: people STILL cannot read my mind.)
As a high school teacher, I am with ChemProf: there is much still to be learned, and I try not to write off my students as irresponsible or apathetic when they come to me not knowing something.
this story sounds made up and probably is.
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