Opinion: Gen X 'snowplow' parents need to be partners in children's education - San Jose Mercury
By Ole Jorgenson Special to the Mercury News Posted: 04/26/2011 08:00:00 PM PDT Updated: 04/28/2011 12:49:23 PM PDT
Criticism of America's schools abounds in the media, but we've missed something: Today's parents pose a huge obstacle for schools.
That may seem a dramatic assertion, unless you spend your days working with modern parents. In my role as a school administrator, I interact with them daily; in 2011, drama and conflict can be hallmarks of the experience.
Members of Generation X, born between 1965 and 1979, now constitute most parents of school-age children. As an educator, I can identify a typical Gen X parent immediately.
Gen Xers orchestrate every move of their preschoolers, from perfect play dates and obsessively healthy diets, to instructional flashcards and hypoallergenic socks.
Once school starts, Gen X parents may become upset to discover other students doing more advanced work than their own, demanding a meeting with the principal about why the teacher is "letting their child fall behind." Of course the parents have done their research, identified the problem, and it's clearly the school's fault that their child is "underperforming" -- in kindergarten.
Indeed, a Gen X parent holds her child's self-esteem as something to be protected at any cost. Gone are the days of the "helicopter parent," hovering obsessively to make sure little Taylor is prepared for success. Gen Xers are "snowplow parents," knocking all potential obstacles out of their children's paths to pack their young résumés with successes.
