Whose School Report Is This?

A school report is offered at the end of each education period. The purpose of this report is to enable students and parents to see their own status at the end of a semester. It aims to reflect the learning outcomes gained in a period of time on the academic success scale. It shows the success of the students in school subjects that they achieved with their own study performance.

The report should be evaluated together with students and parents. In the past, we used to see the data contained in a school report on the last day of the education period. The students used to be excited and so did their families. Nowadays, it is possible to see the data of assessment on the e-school system and thus, precautions for the probable failure can be taken early.

Students and parents were given the school reports today. They will hold a “school report meeting” in the evening to discuss it. I recommend all families to hold this meeting. Let's do this work by dividing it into stages.

80% of the school report of the primary school student belongs to the family and 20% of it belongs to the student.

Families should evaluate the primary school report if there is failure. The aim should be to determine the reasons of the student's failure that was considered arising from the family. If the student has biological or pedagogical problems, a study should be planned to support him/her. If a problem based on the attitudes and behaviors of the family is identified, the parents should fulfill their duties in order to solve this problem, and if necessary, they should be able to get expert support. If there is a negative situation and this process started early, subsequent failures will be taken for granted over time. It will be more difficult to respond to the problems and take step for the improvement in the future.

65% of the secondary school report belongs to the family and 35% of it belongs to the student.

Although the share of the family in the report taken at secondary school has decreased slightly, it has not been transferred to the student completely. Families should follow their children continuously in order to manage this process, in which the student experiences adolescence, and make joint plans in order to create a sense of responsibility in them. Is the academic failure caused by the characteristics of the period or is the student not studying? This situation should be analyzed in detail and a strategy should be determined with teachers to make the summer holiday beneficial. Students should be actively involved in the process and never be subject to unfair judgment or accusation. Because, the responsibility of school report is not on the student yet; therefore the studies should be supported by parents and the burden should not be laid on the student completely.

35% of the high school report belongs to the family and 65% of it belongs to the students.

The high school student should take the responsibility of his/her school report more. However, responsibility of the family still exists. The family should definitely neither take all responsibility nor burden the student with responsibility. The student always needs to feel the support of the family. If a problem occurs, there is a need find out the sources of the problem instead of accusing the student. If necessary, a consultant support should be received.

20% of the university school report belongs to the family and 80% of it belongs to the students.

I hear you ask: “Is a university student given a school report?” Since it is an education process there is an assessment and evaluation system at the university, for sure. Parents should be able to trust their child, but they should ask questions to follow the process and, if necessary, analyze the exam results together on the Internet. Remember that if the student wants to become an academician or get a master’s degree in the future, they should consider that all grades and averages are important. Families who have a child at the university should try to solve the problems if exist. Although it may seem that the delay of graduation will not be a problem at first, it might cause some difficulties later.

In a nutshell, each member of the family should get their share while evaluating the school report and say: “This school report is mine”. If responsibility is shared, it will give happiness and together with happiness the probable sadness will decrease. And we should not create undesired situations during the period of getting a school report. Let's make a good “school report evaluation meeting” after Sunday breakfast this weekend. Good luck with your school reports.

Dr. Abdulrezzak ÇİL / Management Consultant and Executive Coach