From the perspective of "education investment", it is important to see whether universities should send transcripts to parents

Recently, Zhejiang University sent transcripts to students' parents, which caused a lot of discussion.

On social media, almost all students were against it – understandably because students didn't want their parents to know about their academic performance. There are also scholars who believe that college students are adults and that they are about to enter society. Sending report cards to parents is treating them as children, which is not conducive to cultivating the spirit of self-reliance and self-improvement.

Respecting privacy and cultivating a spirit of self-reliance are both good to talk about, but it's debatable here. Students have the right to privacy, and the school and parents should respect it, and in principle, it is true. Privacy is private information that is owned and does not have to be made public. But this "need not be disclosed" is only relative: an individual's secret physical characteristics are considered absolutely private and protected in court, and if there is other information and there are interested parties, the degree of secrecy is greatly reduced until it must be disclosed.

When a man and a woman are about to get married, asking each other about their marital history and hidden diseases cannot be regarded as an invasion of privacy; within the scope of the company's management, the educational background and resume of employees are not privacy. The academic performance of college students is an important basis for receiving scholarships and honors, and the judges have a reason to get the details. From the point of view of openness and fairness, the winners even have to be disclosed to their classmates or students at the same level – because they are stakeholders.

Self-reliance of university students

Are parents considered stakeholders in college students' grades? This brings us to the second topic, the self-reliance of college students.

College students should indeed be self-reliant. Wishes are wishes, except for a very small number of inspirational teenagers who do not need to be supported by their parents and pay their own tuition fees to go to school, the vast majority of college students also need their parents to pay tuition fees and send living expenses. Is this "stakeholder" qualified enough for college students to obtain scholarships and honors, but still have to disclose their results to stakeholders, and parents who support their children's schooling to read their report cards?

Think of your child's college as an educational investment, and student performance is the return on investment. Parents spend a lot of money, and they have reason to know how well their children are learning in school. As some netizens commented: The company pays to train employees, will look at his training effect, shareholders invest in a stock, to see the year-end financial statements, isn't this a normal thing?

Colleges and universities send transcripts to parents and have nothing to do with whether college students are adults or self-reliant. The essence of education is the service industry, parents pay tuition, schools educate students, and report regularly, which is entrusted and delivered in cooperation. Entrusted by others, loyal to others, such professional ethics should be respected. It would be strange if the school only asked the parents for money, but did not keep up with the students.

College students are in the midst of this, if they want to talk about the spirit of self-reliance, the correct conclusion should be: do a good job and live up to the expectations of parents, this is the responsibility that adults should have, instead of taking money to go to school and spending with one hand, while refusing to ask parents in the name of privacy.

In fact, in the West, this situation is very common. High schools and universities in the United States generally send transcripts to parents. The content of the American school is a study report, a life report, and a comprehensive evaluation. The report is mostly sent in paper letters, and it will also be signed by the teacher or principal, which looks serious and solemn. Most of the postage of the report is paid by the parents, and it is often lost (some are intercepted by students), which is a disadvantage.

In the matter of sending transcripts, the correct approach of Chinese universities is not to cancel them directly in response to the call, but to regulate the system. When the school collects tuition, it is necessary to fully communicate with parents to confirm the delivery of transcripts. If possible, report in detail.

Preventing a small number of students from cheating their parents and falling into school is only one of the benefits. The greater significance lies in the fact that the school should set an example and complete its work loyally and conscientiously. Students learn the correct spirit of the world: the equality of interests and responsibilities is the law of the adult world.

"Schrödinger's Growth"

Some people may say: Since parents are paying for college students, can they manage everything for their children? In recent years, some college classes have set up parent groups, and college counselors will send notices in the group whenever something happens. From the schoolwork situation, to the diet and daily life, and the weather changes, the school will notify parents to cooperate with the work. Many people replied "received", like a group of parents of elementary school students.

Such a group of parents is, of course, ridiculous. Except for temporary functional arrangements (such as colleges and universities organizing parents to visit campus), the vast majority of parent groups should not exist. In the name of strengthening communication services, the group of parents in colleges and universities has made it easier for schools to shirk their own work to parents. In his position but not in his own government, and in the trust of others but not in the affairs of others, this is precisely the lack of professionalism.

From the perspective of students, they have full behavioral ability and can learn and live independently. It's really embarrassing to have a parent support group to help. A good school should wean students and develop their independence. It is not necessary to notify parents at any time unless there is a serious illness, injury, serious disciplinary infraction or violation of the law.

Sounds like a contradiction to the previous statement? Just a simple example. Many adolescent children complain that they are sometimes grown up and sometimes children in the eyes of their parents. When children are forbidden to exceed the rules (such as smoking and drinking), they will warn that you are not yet grown up and cannot do these things, and when they are asked to consciously study and develop good habits, they will warn them that you are not young anymore......

This "Schrödinger's upbringing" is not a contradiction, but a demarcation of the line and the assumption of due responsibility at the appropriate age. College students should have the ability to learn and live on their own, and should not need the assistance of their parents; no matter how old they are, as long as they are still dependent on their parents for support, they should accept the supervision of their parents in important matters. The main business of college students is studying, and grades are obviously crucial.

The academic performance of college students is related to whether they successfully graduate, continue their studies or find a job. The follow-up costs are also borne by the parents, who of course have the right to know everything and make a decision. It's not something that can be dismissed with the phrase "academic performance is my privacy".

This is where many family conflicts come from. The children do not want to find a job after graduation, and they gnaw at home in the name of the postgraduate entrance examination, and become full-time children. Until it can't be concealed anymore, family relations break down. Children bear the main responsibility for this kind of thing, and the school does not inform the parents of the student's learning at school, and there is obviously also a responsibility for dereliction of duty.

• (This article is the author's personal opinion and does not represent the position of this newspaper)

Distant mountains

Editor-in-charge: Chen Bin