Should Have, Could Have: What Parents Regret About High School

EducationWeek ^ | February 23, 2010 | Robert L. Hampel

[Sopater]

What are the implications of these responses? First, that grassroots dissatisfaction with high schools may be less acute than policymakers’. Motivation and perseverance come from within, these parents seem to be saying, even if rules and regulations provide a system of incentives and penalties. Many know from experience that change begins when a student decides to push a bit more.

Student's will decide to push a bit more when they have clear goals, both short-term and long-term, and they know what they need to do to reach those goals and what kind of things will hamper those goals.

Their goals don't need to be too specific, and they can change and evolve, but we need to be sure and teach kids that the consequences of many bad decisions will derail most goals and will close a lot of doors.

Doors can be re-opened and goals can still be reached, but it becomes exponentially more difficult when you have a child, drop out of school, get arrested, get poor grades, etc.

[lesko]

I regret not punching the SOB squarely in the nose who called me a terrible nickname that followed me throughout my freshman through junior year. He was too big for me - couldn’t do a damn thing about it.

[proxy_user]

I’ll tell you the significance: you are much wiser and more mature at 50 than you are at 16!

[Drawsing]

Graduated in ‘75. I think I saw my guidance counselor once from a distance. I showed up for school one day and was informed that this was the day for the ACT test. I didn’t know what it was. I won’t tell you what I scored...but it was pretty low. I had heard of college scholarships, but no one ever mentioned their variety or possible availability.

[sniper63]

At 16 you are thinking with hormones, at 50 you are thinking with your head.

Students should be matched with their strengths ie, if they excel at math why do they need to take physical education?

[MamaB]

My only regret is that I did not make better grades. All of my teachers told me I was a lot smarter than my tests grades showed. That goes for college, too. I loved going to school. My IQ tests showed I was a lot smartyer, too. I do not have a clue as to why I did not make better grades because I did not party, have a bf, etc. I did have a good excuse my senior year but will not go into that.

[Sopater]

I’ll tell you the significance: you are much wiser and more mature at 50 than you are at 16!

Absolutely. At 16, I would not listen to any advice that I would now like to give myself... (does that make any sense at all)?

[wtc911]

My only regret from HS?

Theresa Fabianski...

[MamaB]

Sorry, smarter not what I typed. Hate this laptop. I thought about sending an email with all of the mistakes to see if someone could make sense of it. Used spell check, too.

[goseminoles]

I would have made every effort to date Sara Blakely. (Spanx).

[bgill]

I will NEVER my parents for moving me to the arm pit of the world for my high school years. It was pure hell for four years of nothing but inbreeds getting smashed and inbreeding more every night of the week. Two weeks after graduation I put that nothing little pissant place in my rear view mirror.

[NavyCanDo]

I regret not puting a patent on the words; Ipod, Starbucks, Wii, and Xbox.

[dfwgator]

You mean it wasn’t, deciding to go to FSU?

(Ducking for cover)

[bgill]

Graduated in ‘75. I think I saw my guidance counselor once from a distance. I showed up for school one day and was informed that this was the day for the ACT test. I didn’t know what it was. I won’t tell you what I scored...but it was pretty low. I had heard of college scholarships, but no one ever mentioned their variety or possible availability.

I think we must have passed in the hall once, sigh.

[NavyCanDo]

“Graduated in ‘75. I think I saw my guidance counselor once from a distance.”

Class of 77 here. Same story. But the Navy Recruiter had no trouble finding me.

[Sopater]

I regret sticking with my girlfriend all through highschool. My life didn’t begin to get good until she was gone.

I also regret not having a “plan B” in case I didn’t become a rock star.

[Sopater]

Graduated in ‘75. I think I saw my guidance counselor once from a distance.

My guidance counselor talked me into coming back to school after dropping out... twice. I'm thankful for that.

[goseminoles]

Haha!!! I knew that girl from primer through college. You never know who’s gonna be rich.

I loved FSU. I’m just waiting for the g-friend to finish her phd so I can get out of Tallahassee.

[stormer]

What was it?

[stormer]

So did you do her or not?