Should parents focus less on grades and more on character?

Question

Accepted Answer

Parents should focus less on grades and more on character

The view presented is that academic results are not a strong predictor of long-term success, so parents should place greater emphasis on character and guidance rather than grades. The writer points to former students who struggled in subjects like Geography and History, yet later became a managing editor of online newspapers, earned a PhD in Aeronautical Engineering, and became a surgeon. The piece also cites personal and family examples, including people described as poor performers in school who later became Chief Marketing Officers, Financial Directors, and business owners.
Former students’ careers do not match their school marks
The writer recalls an ex-student who was “hopeless in Geography” in Year 7 and later became managing editor of two online newspapers. Another student who struggled in Year 8 History later earned a PhD in Aeronautical Engineering, while a Year 10 Geography student who could not answer questions became a surgeon in Portugal. The overall pattern described is that school academic performance did not prevent these individuals from reaching professional outcomes.
LinkedIn profiles and relatives show varied paths from low performance
The writer says that on LinkedIn, former students often look and work very differently from what was expected two decades earlier. A quiet student for three years is described as later becoming a Chief Marketing Officer, and a student who was in the bottom 20 per cent in class in 2006 is described as being based in Cardiff as a Financial Director in 2022. Similar examples are given from public-school relatives, including one cousin running about three car repair businesses and owning multiple houses.
School still matters, but grades should not dominate identity
The piece does not argue for abandoning school; it says school is essential for formative years and for character formation and socialisation skills. At the same time, it argues against demanding unrealistic grades and against practices that turn report cards into an identity marker. The writer describes the goal as keeping the positive parts of schooling, like learning and friendship, while reducing academic pressure and comparison.
Parents should avoid constant “helicopter” control and focus on guidance
The writer argues that the future is uncertain and parents lack reliable predictive ability about how children will develop expertise over time. Because of that uncertainty, the piece calls for less 24/7 management of homework and tuition and more patience and understanding. It frames the parental role as focusing on guidance, encouragement, imparting principles, and warning against dangers, alongside giving children space.

Reading history

Hide →

This history is cleared when the page is closed.

Should parents focus less on grades and more on character?

Loading

Was this article helpful?

Helpful

Not helpful

Report an issue

1

0

0

Share with friends