Teaching reponsibility or irresponsible teaching?
Our tutors have been running into many situations where teachers' failed efforts to get students to take responsibility for their own assignments has led to student failure. It seems that many teachers want students to take control of their own academic path early--sometimes as early as 4th or 5th grade. This is a noble aim, and if teachers are successful in instilling a sense of responsibility and accountability into 10 and 11-year-old students, then they will have succeeded in preparing these students for the rigors of middle school and beyond.

But what happens to the students who struggle to get assignments turned in? What about those who need a support system to transition into taking 100% responsibility?

From what I and my tutors have seen, many of these students are left to wither--zeroes accumulate in the grade book, and parents are prevented from getting involved. Some teachers refuse to post assignments online so that parents cannot intervene (even though many high schools post their assignments online). The result? Students fall further behind, and parents are kept from helping them. This is a huge mistake. Teachers who employ this strategy alienate parents who are willing to lend a hand. If teachers are worried about parents doing the work for them or enabling their children, then they should set guidelines and tell parents what type of support is appropriate. Worst of all, this strategy allows bright students who struggle with organization to fail, striking a big blow to their self esteem.

We are all for nudging students towards responsibility and accountability for their own academic lives, but pushing them over a cliff at 11 years old seems a little over the top to us.