[user104658]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Are you one of those parents who sit for well over the allotted time at parents evening while the line of waiting parents grows I agree with what you are saying in some ways and whilst critical thinking is great, I would also throw in that children need to learn respect, discipline and self restraint

The two are not mutually exclusive, but interestingly enough, respect, discipline and self restraint REQUIRE critical thinking and autonomy. It's not respect if it's simple conformity, it's not restraint or discipline if there's no individual thought to keep restrained or under discipline. "Auto-pilot kids" aren't doing any of those things, they're just trundling along on preset rails. They might outwardly appear to be respectful, but if you quiz them on why it's important you get nonsensical answers like "because I don't want the teacher to put my name on yellow warning". Fear is not respect. And kids who are too advanced for the work that is being given to them being held back because little suzy can't count past ten yet is already inexcusable... To then punish them for coming forward and saying "this **** is too easy for me" is utter madness.

And nah, our parents evenings go pretty quickly... Her teacher is already abundantly aware of our thoughts and feelings on the traffic light system. We're THOSE annoying parents... The ones who get a letter asking us to reinforce the use of the traffic light system at home, and send a reply stating that we will happily reinforce that it is meaningless nonsense. Then set up a traffic light board in our daughter's room with only her teacher's name on it, so that she can choose each day how well her teacher behaved .

Yeah. We're pretty irritating.