I would say that at Primary you are mostly OK. The smaller they are the better the behaviour.
However, there does seem to be a bit of a war going on in England. I mean that those in any sort of authority are seen as someone to push back against. Teachers are treated like fools, and the kids believe they are better to ignore them then to treat them and the work they set with derision.
As to advice, I’d say begin to instill a healthy respect for authority. Not robotic compliance, but not hatred out of hand. I see a lot of this in schools.
Teach your children also to do their work and to use the teacher as a resource. Teach them to be savvy about who they hang out with. Stay involved in their life. Have rules and inforce them. All the way up to year 11. Especially up to year 11. Make sure dad is more and more involved as they grow up. He’s important.
Believe the teacher and back her up. She’s not lying to you about what your student did or is not doing. He will have homework, don’t believe that he doesn’t. I would also check in with the teacher on a regular basis as your child goes through school. Not just the conferences since they are so often not useful. But more often. Three, four times a term make contact and encourage the teacher to speak frankly. Let her know you are supportive of her. Let her k ow that you understand that kids (even yours) aren’t always as wonderful as they think they are. They are human and do Questionable things.
Make sure there are unpleasant consequences each and every time he gets out of line. Stick to your guns...
(Teachers are under a lot of pressure to speak well of all students irregardless of what he’s doing in the classroom. We want to keep our jobs...).
Limit online use at home, and keep the phone at home as they grow up. Technology is one of the biggest problems teachers face in any country. The land line still works just fine, the students don’t need to be in constant contact with parents.
Strive to give your child experiences that will make them have to think on their own instead of being rescued. Forgot their lunch? They can eat it when they get home. No one needs to eat every hour. In fact that bad for their long term health. And if they have to wait until they get home, they will remember next morning.
You are raising an adult, not a child.
Make them strong rather than safe. Someone who is strong is already safe.
My son is 26 and is well adjusted and thriving on his own now. He went to school both in the States and in England. He would tell you exactly that same as I am telling you.
Good luck!
Apologies for the typos!
