Parent power
I teach in the English programme department at a school in the north of Thailand. We are currently halfway through the mid-term exams. Yesterday, a colleague and I were called into a meeting with some of the senior secondary students' parents, and the assistant director and a few of his cronies. The meeting started with one of the parents stating that he had been assured, by the school, that his son would be given a high-grade, because his son is going to be a doctor!! I responded by saying, that if his son has a test-score of 80%-100% then he will be given a high-grade. He interupted me, and said, regardless of his test score he is to be given a high-grade! My colleague and I laughed and stated that this would not be the case. Several of the parents went into a rage, and we were asked by the assistant director to leave the meeting. Two hours went by, then we were told that if we did not award high-grades, then the academic office would change them anyway. I ask. What is the point of even giving a test in the first place?
Keith Evans
