Has college changed that much?

[Myriad2112]

My son has recently left school and started college. He has only been there a couple of weeks and we have already had emails regarding his attendance and a date for a parents evening. When I was at college in the early 80's this never happened. As it's not compulsary, why are they treating students like school children? I'm not even sure my parents knew which college I was at never mind which course I was taking. Is it me or has it all changed?

[bert_h]

I think the colleges are nowadays more answerable to their funding authorities than they used to be.

[factor-fiction]

If he is under 18 I assume the Education Department are paying for the cost of the education and it seems reasonable to check that he is turning up and not taking up a place that could have been better used by someone else

[bednobs]

in my experience, 6th form colleges are stricter than for example tech colleges. You are right it is not (yet) compulsory, therefore the taxpayer is paying for him to be there, therefore it's in the interest of every single taxpayer (like yourself(?)) to ensure he goes. You don't get nothing for nothing. the college agrees to teach him therefore he should agree to turn up! If not, he should leave and get a job. I for one think it's a good idea that they are stricter than in our day

[bednobs]

too many therefore's in that post!

[bednobs]

and snap factor!

[Marijn]

They chase up absences as they need to know if he's dropped out or not. And if he has dropped out they want to know why, so that they can improve things for him. The college where I work are obliged to chase up any unexplained absences and to remedy the problems the student may have.

[Old_Geezer]

Parents evening at college ?!? Must be a reflection on the maturity of the folk they let in now-a-days I guess.

[factor-fiction]

I went to sixth form college in the 1970s -registers were taken then and parents evenings were held.

[EcclesCake]

Do you not think it is admirable that the college is following up on the whereabouts of your son? They want him to learn, to gain skills that he can take forward into a career.

I think it is terribly sad that neither you nor your son seem to value of the privilege he has, i.e. free education/training.

[Myriad2112]

Sorry Eccles cake, I didn't make that very clear, he hasn't missed anything as such. He turned up once a few minutes late and it was reported to me. I'm not even sure they would bother with that if he was still at school. I'm not complaining as such, the rules just seem to a little strict.

[EcclesCake]

Oh yes, I see where you are coming from. They do seem a little keen!

[factor-fiction]

I'd rather know about my child's attendance (and then have the choice of whether to ignore it or address it) than to be kept in the dark. I can see why the lateness email might seem a little over-zealous but you also expressed surprise that they had notified you of a parents' evening. Again you have the choice as to whether to attend or not. We always attended our children's parents evenings in 6th form but I can see there's a case for saying they should stand on their own two feet at that age. Once they go are in higher education, of course, at age 18+ there will be no parents' evenings

[shoota]

Is he getting EMA? They are very keen on attendance as it can lead to EMA being stopped.

[Myriad2112]

Yes you are probably right Factor 30 it's nice to have the option however parents evening was a bore when he was at school, I will doing my best to avoid the non compulsary ones thank you.

[factor-fiction]

Yes, I'm a teacher and maybe people like me were the cause of your boredom. Some parents did appreciate the chance though to find out how their child was doing, get ideas on how they could improve and discuss any concerns.

[factor-fiction]

Incidentally, parents' evenings have never been compulsory as far as I know. With higher sets I used to get a turnout of over 80%, maybe 40 for middle sets and less than 20% for bottom sets. There does seem to me be a positive correlation between parental attendance/involvement and student attitudes/progress. There are of course exceptions and some students do not need what they see as parental interference.

[Myriad2112]

You must be one of the good teachers then. I used to wait for ages to be seen by some old codger that stated little more than the obvious. Needless to say my school report was the one marked 'must try harder'.

[sherrardk]

I think it is an excellent idea, mainly because a large number of college students/sixth form students have shaky attendance records and easily fall through the net if not monitored. I would rather know about what's happpening than find out some time down the line that one of my children has dropped out or is failing.

[factor-fiction]

I may have been that "old codger" you used to see

[Myriad2112]

No Factor 30, I'm sure you are not one of those, by the weay shouldn't you marking homework and not mucking about on the internet?