Southfield students won’t be able to hide their report cards from their parents anymore. That’s because student grades are now available 24 hours a day on the Internet.
Parent/Student Connect is a new system in Southfield Public Schools that allows parents and students to view a student’s grades, class rank, attendance and missing assignments over the Internet at any time.
Students, teachers and parents are all having different reactions to the high-tech system that eliminates the need for progress reports.
Senior Jessica Leavell said she fears the new system will allow parents to get too involved in their child’s grades, “I don’t think Parent Connect is that good of an idea. When it comes down to your school work, your parents can’t do the work for you. If parents become too involved, I feel it will take away the responsibility of students.”
But Assistant Band Director David Miller raves about the new ability for parents to keep a close eye on their child’s schoolwork through Parent/Student Connect. “It’s a good idea because too many parents don’t get involved in their kids’ schooling, but if the students know that their parents can pull up their grades at any time, the students will try to do better in school.”
Parent Connect is a system made to involve all the partners in education, said Assistant Principal Sharon Lewis. Educating students is a partnership between the student, the teacher, and the parent, Lewis explained. “The Connect system brings all the partners together in an effort to reach the ultimate goal of student betterment,” Lewis said.
Parent Linda Varner, whose son Michael Varner, is a junior, said, ”I like Parent Connect. It’s a good idea because it’s often hard to get in contact with teachers.”
In order for parents to access Parent Connect, they must pick up a registration packet from the A or D house office.
Students can access the program by going to www.southfield.k12.mi.us/lakezy and clicking on the Student Connect link on the left side of the screen.