Parents’ Day
By KAYLA MATHIEU ‘21
Parents’ day. Many mixed emotions come along with this day, but one thing's for sure: it is most definitely not a regular Friday at Milton Academy. From students, to dining, even to teachers, the campus develops a whole new atmosphere. While I’m sure parents would like to think that what they see on this one day every year is daily conduct, I don’t think anyone is buying the act.
The day starts off with an awkward morning assembly as your parents trail behind you. You check in with your deans who are just hoping that they remember your name in front of your parents instead of mistaking you for someone who “looks like you” as they usually do. For those who haven't already lost (or ditched) your parents by the end of assembly, you head to first period with them. Your first class could go a few ways. If you are not really an avid talker, you might start by surprising your class with your sudden and significant contributions to the conversation.What may be even harder than speaking up, however, is toning it down for those with strong opinions. Milton is a place that encourages students to speak their minds, but just because the school encourages this verbosity does not mean parents accept all opinions; kids on parents’ day recognize that fact. A strong advocate for racial equality turns into an apathetic bystander in witness of racism. Someone who is proud to call themselves non-binary reverts back to she/her pronouns. These changes are a result of the conflict between home values and the values developed in the absence of one's parents. While behavioral shifts are expected with your parents present, is it fair to say that your values must change as well?
Lunch time comes around, and by now you are hungry, exhausted, and so ready for your parents to stop watching your every move. But somehow, with the thought of the extra care that went into preparing the food on parents’ day, you manage to make it down to Forbes for lunch. As you sit down to eat, your mom critiques your unbalanced meal as your dad asks you why you didn’t answer that easy question in math. Meanwhile, you think to yourself “this is a more balanced meal than my usual lunch, and I didn’t answer that question because I didn’t know the answer.” What have become your daily practices at school become jumbled when suddenly your parents are there critiquing you on everything from what you eat to what you believe. A large part of what a school is meant to do is to help students grow not only through learning in the classroom, but also through a development of their own values.While Milton gives students the space to cultivate their own beliefs, the carrying out of these ideas may be hindered by the values of one's parents.
The end of the day comes and you leave your parents for your afterschool activities. Finally, something you do without your parents breathing down your neck. The day of suddenly becoming the most talkative member of the class or no longer speaking up about liberal ideas comes to end. However, I can’t help but wonder whether or not the space that Milton gives students to explore their values is null and void when competing against parental values.