Parent projects: When homework help goes too far

Bonnie Miller Rubin & Tara Malone:

Anyone who has ever proudly carried Junior's papier-mache heart into the science fair--only to run into the cardiologist's kid with the medical school model--has seen what happens when the line between parental involvement and parental takeover gets crossed.

Science fair season is in full swing, but meddling by mom and dad is not limited to budding scientists. It spans childhood, from the Cub Scouts Pinewood Derby to college essays.

Parents may try to help a struggling child, allow a perfectionist streak to get the best of them or get carried away by their own interest in the topic. But one way or another, dad's or mom's work gets turned in, giving the student an unfair advantage.

In response, several school districts are opting for more in-class assignments, studying the meaning of grades and flat-out reminding parents not to do their child's homework.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at March 28, 2009 10:35 AM
Subscribe to this site via RSS/Atom: Newsletter signup | Send us your ideas