Happened last night at the high belt testing at my TKD school. Brown belts, purple belts and green belts were testing, including quite a few children. I don't know if it was summer vacation or what, but it wasn't an especially strong group. After the test, instead of the usual belt ceremony and group picture, the head instructor thanked everybody for participating, and said those who passed would be awarded their new belts in class, and he would individually inform a small number of students who failed, and would be given an opportunity to re test the end of next week.
Was this a belt test only for the school, or was it several schools testing at your school like an organizational exam?
One Dad got right up in my teacher's face, accusing him of favoritism, or politics, or something. When my teacher tried to tell him why the boy failed (a number of things, but the most significant was, the boy forgot his yellow belt form, which isn't acceptable for a brown belt under any circumstances). But the Dad and the boy both started yelling at the teacher (I guess the boy forgot all that TKD stuff like Respect, Courtesy, Perseverance, and Self control, as well as a children's rule never to interrupt an adult conversation), and the whole thing ended with the Dad saying he was pulling his boy out of class and expected a refund for any advance fees paid.
First off the behavior of the boy and his dad is totally wrong, and I'd gladly have them leave after that. In fact it wouldn't be because the dad wanted to leave, it'd be because they were removed from the school and their money would be refunded. Make an example of them to everyone else; remain clam, polite, respectful, but make the point that you (not meaning the OP) are the chief instructor and that behavior is not tolerated and not approved of in his school and show them the door along with a fairly quick refund. You don't want families like that no matter how green their money is.
I disagree with forgetting the kata part though. In the big scheme of things on my exams, forgetting a kata much less a low kata isn't something I would flunk a student for. I mean if their higher forms looked good and you've seen the student perform the kata in class over and over again then they have a brain lock on the exam I don't it as a big deal. If the sparring was good, one steps, basics, etc. etc. were all good then it's obvious the student had a brain lock, then to me that wouldn't be an issue.
However if the other areas were suffering and they weren't really prepared for the exam then that might be the straw that brakes the camel's back.
My take is, man, these stage parents need to get a grip. It isn't fun to see your kid fail, but despite what some think, a belt promotion isn't a participation trophy. It is actually a good thing if your instructor doesn't promote everybody who shows up. That shows that if you do get promoted, it actually means something.
I get your point but rather than fail a student I just don't let them test. Like my last test (last week) I kept telling everyone about the upcoming exam and some corrected what I wanted and some were just to far behind and wouldn't be able to get ready in time. Finally I told the whole class I'm looking at these three students, the rest will have to wait until the next test in a couple of months. Sure enough one boy comes up to me afterwards and asks about testing I told him he wouldn't test this time but...... I would help him get ready for the next test if he put forth the effort. Since then he has been working harder so he can catch up to his sister who tested.
I realize all these kids is what keeps the doors open, so I suppose that is what a professional TKD teacher needs to deal with.
Any professional teacher/coach regardless of the activity sometimes has to deal with parents such as this kid's It's not just TKD. It can be other sports as well.
Thankfully I've never had to have this problem with any of my students parents.
And maybe these schools have themselves to blame for recruiting young kids. It stands to reason that parents get antsy wondering when TKD will turn their little genius into a killing machine, but the truth is, people come into any activity with different abilities.
I don't think the school's to blame for recruiting young kids. I think the schools (not necessarily this one but schools in general) to blame for possibly other things but not for teaching young kids. Young kids are the future of the arts it's how or what we teach them that is a problem.
However parents want to see their child progress, the student wants to progress, they both want approval from others and higher authorities. They want to belong, they want to feel special. Belt exams should do that to some degree. By passing the exam they see progress, they get approval from friends, family, and most importantly from their instructor as well. They passed a goal so they feel special.
So parents do want to see their kids progress, but in my experience it's not because they are "getting antsy wondering when TKD will turn their little genius into a killing machine".
Students do come into my school with all sorts of different abilities and goals, its up to me as the head instructor to help the student reach them.
And especially younger students won't always have the concentration to bring their A game every time.
True and that is why, my students earn their rank in class overall rather than a pass fail exam such as what you witnessed (or took art in).
