Grinding My Teeth

Ah...the rollercoaster ride is still going strong.

Robbie, my high school senior is having a very successful first semester so far. Enjoying classes, teachers and extracurriculars. He is embracing the challenge Ron and I put forth for his graduation gift. A trip to Europe from EF College Breaks--straight A's, he picks (although we did put a deposit down already on the European Panorama trip, one that fits his summer schedule), and if he doesn't...we pick! So far, so good, straight A's, a focus on meeting his responsibilites and his is running the Academic Decathlon program with out an advisor.

Last night (and the night before) we pulled the chute on 4 out of 7 of his college applications. One, his CSU application, is for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and the other three were through the Common App (with Supplements) for Illinois Tech, NorthEastern and Syracuse Universities. Tulane is fast following, and that will just leave UC Berkeley and McGill.

Test reports were selected from his top, and sent, teacher recommendations were requested and followed up on...all that is left is an 'Official Transcript' to be ordered from his high school.

This is where things fell apart. Robbie was entitled to grade boosts in a number of his 11th grade courses due to excellent AP test scores. All of his teachers immediately, at the start of 12th grade, accomodated this process, and turned in the necessary paperwork so that the seniors could focus on the application and education process. Except...it didn't work. One of Robbie's teachers can't seem to get it right. First it didn't happen at all which Robbie followed up on, then the 'Registar' was blamed (why, if all the other teachers didn't have the problem, did this teacher?) and now, at the 11th hour, the wrong grade (the high grade for the second semester was boosted). Needless to say Robbie is freaking out. He has now pushed the button on his apps and his self reported grades no longer match his transcript.

My first instinct is to drive to the school, grab the teacher and shake her. I know, as a parent of a senior who is off to college with out 'mommy' this would be frowned upon. Time and time again you hear from people 'well he won't have his mommy to fight his battles in the 'real world''.

The problem is, the school system and the teachers aren't operating in the 'real world'. The kind of flakiness this teacher has exhibited wouldn't fly in the real world. Real mistakes that have real world consequences to your clients (translation students) are grounds for firing. In the 'real world' a manager may actually step in an engage with a vendor who has made a mistake that cost the company time and money. Why, in this case, is this any different. If Robbie didn't have to spend multiple cycles on rectifying someone (a teachers) errors, he could be focusing on portfolio projects, community service, extra curriculars or even doing his homework because he goes to work on Friday's after school. Why, I wonder, is there a difference???

Bottom line...is, of course, if things aren't resolved by COB today, the 'manager' will step in and force the vendor to correct the problem and maybe even exert a 'pound of flesh' for the lost time and 'money'.