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Some families use tutors as often as five days a week, saying it reduces stress while smoothing the educational trajectory of their children. “I stopped having to say: ‘Did you write that paper? Did you do your math homework? Why not?’ ” Melanie Barnes said. “It takes that piece out of it, and then mom can be like, ‘Oh, honey, you’re tired? I made cookies, have one.’ ”
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The lines between trusted mentor and family member can be murky. Mr. Levine has received requests for tutors to travel with families. He also has two tutors who are on call to “manage the entire college career” of the scions of two high-profile families. “The students were very used to having a tutor and assistants throughout their entire life,” he said, “and the family was very nervous about sending the kid to college without help.” The tutors make sure the students are awake in the morning, help them with papers and update their parents on their academic progress.
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“You have to think about what this kid actually needs,” said Joshua Brown, the chief executive of Brownstone Tutors, whose services range from $200 to $400 an hour.
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<p>I wonder if the tutors who have to make sure their charges are awake in the morning also have to wipe the kids' runny noses.</p>
<p>I wonder if people who hire these tutors are the same who feel that those of us whose kids are in boarding school are outsourcing our parenting responsibilities?</p>
<p>@ Peri, I was just thinking it was all very Jamesian myself. </p>
<p>@ Friendly, it does make one ponder. I especially liked the mom who decided to homeschool but hired a tutor because she “didn’t want the hassle.” As a former homeschool parent, I have nothing against tutors, but… um… “hassle” and “homeschooling” should only be used in the same sentence interspersed by “not.”</p>
<p>They probably think we’re sending our kids off to the wilderness to be raised by wolves. I can’t wait to show my b.s children this article!</p>
<p>I assume some kids who have been held together by dint of tutors during k-12 fall apart in college. That means standardized testing will be with us forever! And, a kid with a 3.2 who doesn’t use tutors could be a stronger student than the “supported” 4.0 student.</p>
<p>The sad thing is, these kids probably have the potential to learn from experience. Does this support the child, or the parent?</p>
<p>Actually the concept of tutoring has been completely distorted! If a student is not comprehending calculus or physics, a tutor can simplify the concepts and clarify areas which require further explanation. However, you can’t tutor carelessness, laziness, or refusal to memorize by being diligent and practicing over and over again. Much like a musical instrument, one becomes excellent at that instrument, not by having lessons seven days a week, rather by practicing 6 of those days and having a lesson on the seventh day! If a student does not know what he/ she doesn’t know, all the tutoring in the world will be costly and ineffective ! A tutor of high character will convey this to both student & parent! I’ve been surprised in a good way from tutors and also ripped by unscrupulous tutors as well!</p>
<p>It’s like a lot of things - there are parents out there who are willing to pay $$$ so that they don’t have to deal with the unpleasant side of being a parent. Are the people who take advantage of that unscrupulous? I don’t know.</p>
This thought also passed my mind. Probably a lot of folks see us b.s. parents as Tiger Parent rabenmutters. </p>
<p>The rationalization for our family to pack Junior to b.s. is the lack of quality local schooling options. From the article, I assume that these families that can afford $200-$400/hr tutoring fees are probably not constrained for quality schooling options. </p>