I have to share this story here. I teach in an upper-class suburb and often have parents want to me to change various things about the way I teach, change testing days/times etc. to accommodate their schedules on a few days notice, and even the actual Art itself to fit their comfort level. That's why I was bit worried when a parent came to me a few days after I told his kids they were not ready to test. The kids are 9 & 12 years old.
I told the father that his kids are bright, funny & aren't discipline problems in my class. But, unless it's sparring, they just don't seem to care to be in class. After several missed testing cycles they still don't remember their forms, one steps, or even basic stances. Rather than get defensive or upset, he listened, asked questions about specific things his kid's were struggling with, & appreciated my point of view when I that I cannot teach them new forms (or test them for new rank) when they don't remember material we've worked on for 6 months. (Sometimes, they would be able to do a form they've known for 6 months, but not be able to remember it from Monday to Wednesday.) This father understood that it was his kid's lack of effort that was holding them back from testing. He appreciated that I couldn't/wouldn't "pass them on" because they had been that rank for some time. Nor did he expect me too. It was nice to work with a parent who understood this.
I told the father that his kids are bright, funny & aren't discipline problems in my class. But, unless it's sparring, they just don't seem to care to be in class. After several missed testing cycles they still don't remember their forms, one steps, or even basic stances. Rather than get defensive or upset, he listened, asked questions about specific things his kid's were struggling with, & appreciated my point of view when I that I cannot teach them new forms (or test them for new rank) when they don't remember material we've worked on for 6 months. (Sometimes, they would be able to do a form they've known for 6 months, but not be able to remember it from Monday to Wednesday.) This father understood that it was his kid's lack of effort that was holding them back from testing. He appreciated that I couldn't/wouldn't "pass them on" because they had been that rank for some time. Nor did he expect me too. It was nice to work with a parent who understood this.
