HOW ARE YOU MONITORING YOUR CHILDREN IN SCHOOL?

By: John Paul Beyuo 

Some time ago, I had several encounters with the teachers of my children. I’m the type of parent who always wants to know how my children are performing in school. From time to time, I either visit in person or call the teacher to check in.
At home, I go the extra mile. I check their exercise books, their notes, their spellings, and even their handwriting. My father was very particular about these things, and I’ve inherited that discipline.
I once had to complain about how one of my children’s names was consistently misspelt. The teacher would write “Jeremaih” instead of Jeremiah. Another child’s name, Jesse, was written as “Jessy”. I couldn’t ignore it. These are foundational errors, and if not nipped in the bud, they can have long-term consequences on a child’s identity and confidence.
One child of mine had always topped the class from crèche up till now. But there was a particular term where, despite scoring 💯 in all end-of-term exams, he was placed 23rd. Naturally, I questioned it. The proprietor’s response? “Your child doesn’t need to be first all the time.” Really? So my child must be sacrificed for another so you can impress another parent? I allowed it to slide—but I didn’t forget.
Recently, another incident occurred. Once again, this child scored 💯, but some of his marks were deliberately reduced. I asked why, and the answer I got was: “There’s pressure.” Pressure? So we sacrifice truth and merit because of pressure?
Then there’s the issue of homework. A teacher writes “DEFIND” instead of “DEFINE”, and when pupils attempt to correct him, he boldly claims: “It’s another way of writing it.” Since when? I have NEVER come across “defind” in the English language. I will not allow you to mislead my child at this crucial, formative stage, when minds are shaped and teachers are meant to be their shining examples.
To my dear private school proprietor: I understand this is a business, but remember it’s a business built on shaping lives. Don’t take that lightly. I urge you to audit your teachers regularly, not just by what they say in class, but by checking the homework and classwork they assign. You can do this discreetly: pick a few books from your most trusted pupils from time to time. Look through them. See what’s truly being taught.
Let me give you a warning: if someone who used to speak up suddenly goes quiet, be very worried. Silence doesn’t always mean satisfaction. Sometimes, it means we’ve seen too much, and we’re watching to see if you’ll course-correct.
I didn’t attend a big-name school—I went to a “syto”, and I am proud of that. I didn’t go far in formal education, but trust me, I would have been a scholar if I had. My father corrected my English even in the streets of Accra.
Maybe I’m obsessed. Maybe I’m overly involved. But don’t blame me. It’s in my bloodline. I am not being “too known.” I just care too much. And for that, I won’t apologize.