I don't care about my kids grades

Key Concepts

• Parental priorities in education
• Critique of standardized testing
• Definition of "homeschooling"
• Importance of social-emotional skills over academic metrics

Critique of Standardized Testing and Academic Metrics

The speaker expresses a lack of concern regarding their child's school grades. The primary reason cited is a fundamental disagreement with the testing system itself. The speaker states, "I don't care about my kid's school grade." This sentiment stems from several points of contention:

• Lack of understanding of the test: "I don't even know what it's supposed to test."
• Disagreement with the test's validity: "I don't know if I agree with the test."
• Uncertainty about teaching methods: "I don't know how they were taught."
• Doubt about teacher qualifications: "I don't know the qualifications of the teacher."

The speaker's educational philosophy is limited to the foundational skills of "read, write, and basic math." Beyond these, the focus shifts away from traditional academic achievement.

Redefining "Homeschooling" and Parental Accountability

A core belief presented is that "all kids are homeschooled. It's whether the parents realize it or not." This perspective implies that parents are the primary educators, regardless of formal schooling. Consequently, when a child struggles academically, the speaker believes parents should "take accountability." This is contrasted with the external pressures of the school system.

Prioritizing Social-Emotional Skills

The speaker explicitly states what they do care about, which are qualities beyond rote memorization or test performance. These include:

• Kindness: "Are they kind?"
• Resourcefulness: "Are they resourceful?"
• Creativity: "Are they creative?"

A concrete example is provided to illustrate this priority: "I just don't care if they can't memorize the Egyptian gods. I care more that they ask the person their name." The speaker elaborates on this by describing an ideal interaction: "Like if you met my kids, they would come up to you shaking hands, say, 'I'm Max or Noah. What's your name?' What a crazy idea." This highlights the value placed on social interaction, politeness, and personal connection.

Conclusion: Rejection of External Validation

The overarching message is a rejection of external validation through standardized tests. The speaker concludes, "So, I don't care what some test that somebody else created about my kids winning or not." This signifies a personal definition of success for their children, one that is rooted in character and social competence rather than academic scores.