Once again last week, the active expression of a spectacularly successful MPA partnership was on display – at conferences. When parents and teachers and students all work together towards the same goal, the results are incredible.

I asked our teachers to send me examples of how MPA parents support their children’s learning process and was immediately deluged with responses. Here are a few samples of how MPA teachers experience MPA parents doing right by their children:  

“We have wonderful parents here at MPA.  I experienced no sense of entitlement or ownership from them, which I have seen in the past at other independent schools.”

“I like the attitude of many that take the “long road” view. They are concerned about specific behaviors, skills and attitudes, but they also recognize that while change does happen, it takes time, and that they were once much like the child they are now raising.”

“I held 32 conferences last week and had not a single negative encounter.  Each parent was supportive, positive and encouraging.  I felt like we were (are) on the same team where their children are concerned.  I especially was impressed with the parents of my children who may be struggling a bit at this juncture.  The parents, instead of berating the children or attacking me and my teaching ability, immediately set out looking to the next step in helping their child succeed.  I received much encouragement and some even voiced that their child ‘enjoys’ English and said it is ‘fun.’ Imagine that!”

Some of the comments received from teachers belong in the it-can-only-happen-here column: “We had some parents compliment soccer referees on the fine job they did in one of our recent games. Very nice.” If you’ve spent much time at high school soccer games, “very nice” is an understatement. More importantly, the players notice and learn from this.

A sophistication and parental maturity continually emerges in descriptions from teachers: “There is a freedom here in that it seems as if these parents are better at judging what are appropriate situations to really be concerned about.”

“Here’s another example of good parenting at MPA — when their kid screws up, they remain calm, they are firm in their resolve to back the school’s disciplinary or academic consequences, and they understand that once the punishment has been delivered, we all start fresh again.  That clarity from adults is greatly appreciated by adolescents.”

“I think the best type of parent support for students I have encountered this year has been from parents who are willing to let their students fail.  Assurance from a parent that forgetting an assignment, or making mistakes is OK goes a long way in helping the child develop resilience as they move along through school.” 

Sometimes, it is simply a matter of taking the time to create the conditions for learning: “I have a parent who created a practice area at home for their 5th grade student who is new to the instrument world, a parent who ordered tickets for their student to attend MN Orchestra concerts and a parent who sent me information about a cello choir that may be of interest to the cellists here at school.”

Or taking the time to stay on top of things at home: ”The most important thing that parents do is to go through the Daily Homework folder with their child and to review their work with them. It made the conference go so well because they knew how their child was doing on a day to day basis.”

 
Or just showing up: “This may sound kind of lame, but I was thinking about how much I appreciate it when, to put it simply, both parents show up for conferences. I know how busy these families are, and how pressing their work lives are. I am grateful when they make conferences a priority (or other school events). Taking that one step further, I am very impressed when parents who are divorced or separated show up together to support their kid. Or when blended families make an obvious effort to cooperate.”

Teachers always appreciate it when parents remember to go right to the source when there are concerns: “Another parent with a concern came to me directly with questions about what was happening in class. I appreciate that.”

Many teachers commented on how much it meant to them to know that MPA parents support them and appreciate the work that they do. “A mother of two former students introduced me to a present parent at homecoming,” wrote one teacher, “as the person most responsible for making her sons the young men they are today - truly wonderful human beings who continue to love to learn.”

Or this comment from a parent: “Thank you for sharing your passion for your subject and quest for quality. It shows at our dinner conversations. And thank you for being concerned about how much sleep they are getting, being willing to move a deadline to facilitate this. It is appreciated.”

“I have had more positive feedback than usual this year regarding the curriculum in my classroom,” wrote another teacher, “and it serves as a stimulus to be even better. Just a casual positive comment from a parent regarding a change they’ve observed in their child or a new skill they’ve acquired means so much!”

"Our son reported that yesterday was the BEST day of his MPA career,” wrote one parent to a teacher. “I thought you would like to know."  

MPA teachers understand that the right path is not always the easiest one. As one teacher wrote in relation to MPA night at the Dome, “One of the many parents I spoke with at the game last night left one of their children at home because of the way the child was behaving. As much as they wanted to bring the child, they were consistent and followed through.”

And in the spirit of the true three-way partnership between parent, student and school, one teacher writes “I have another parent who encourages her son to come to me for clarification on his own instead of intervening for him. They have done this since kindergarten. This is a child who is learning to become an advocate for himself and to function independently.”

So parents, take note: MPA teachers really notice and appreciate all that you do to support the learning process here. We thank you for being excellent partners in this grand enterprise!