I think calling it bad parenting is too simplistic. When my children were in school during the 80’sand 90’s their reading list consisted of classics. Today’s children are allowed to read comic books for their summer reading. Many of the books they read in class are about social reengineering. It’s a different world and it needs to change.
The sad thing is parents are actually more involved in their children’s education today. My daughter is constantly getting text messages about her children’s grades and homework assignments. Teachers are making the parents responsible for their children’s schoolwork instead of making students take personal responsibility. It’s a total mess.
I think parents have to consider supplementing the education they get from school, because more and more they teach to the lowest common denominator.
I taught in high school for three years following retirement from engineering. Most of the inference with teaching came from parents. They get angry when you assign too much homework and when you don't assign enough. They get angry when their baby gets bad grades, insisting that the teacher is expecting too much. They get angry if you attempt to discipline their kid, angry if you don't discipline some other parent's kid. They get angry if you don't use a Merry Christmas grading system, rounding up by at least thirty points. Parents take all of these issues to court, and usually win.
Then you have parents of virtually retarded kids who sue to have their student placed in advanced classes. Schools are no longer allowed to place students into "tracks" that suit their aptitudes. Parents send young wolves to class who prey on more timid students. Teachers by law must each deal with a full spectrum of aptitudes, behaviors, and desires to learn. Now throw in those God-forsaken cell phones.
Many of today's students think that everything taught in school is unnecessary. They can get away with anything and everything.
Oh, yes, its the teachers' fault.