How to Avoid Being Punished Because of Bad Grades

Bad grades are one of the few things that cause parents to dish out punishment reflexively. Despite the parental predisposition to punishment, a little bit of explanation and some wise spin can help you avoid the nasty bad grades punishment. Read on to learn how to avoid being punished because of bad grades.

Instructions

1. Spend a few days (or weeks if your grades are really poor) preparing your parents for the grades by providing a few different, unconnected explanations for bad performance in different classes. In some cases, complain about the teacher, in other cases say you're having trouble understanding and in very few cases admit that you're really just not interested.

2. Dissect the report card when it arrives at home so your parent sees that you're "interested" in your grades and aren't just shrugging off responsibility for your grades (even if you are). Go through each grade one by one, protest a few of the really bad ones and, to maintain credibility, tell your parent that you actually deserved one of the bad but not terrible grades.

3. Act really disappointed and angry at yourself instead of at your teachers or at the idea of school itself. Allow your parents to ask you what's wrong and, after a little bit of quiet resistance, tell them about your academic disappointment, making it difficult for them to punish since you're already punishing yourself.

4. Cancel a few scheduled activities like sports games or parties "so you can study." While you actually should go and study, since not getting bad grades is the best way to avoid punishment for bad grades, what you do is up to you.

5. Start to do your homework and studying in plain view and look very serious as you do it to show your parents you're making a good effort and have already turned a new leaf, preempting the need for punishment.