We home schooled, but our daughter went to HS for 3 years. In a discussion I had with the superintendent of schools I politely but firmly told him “The school system is assisting us in the education of our child. We are in charge of her education, you are here to assist us, not the other way around.”
My daughter was quite well instructed as to what her rights were and that no one at the school was to violate them. Period. There is no way this could have happened to her. She would never have let anyone working for the school lay a hand on her. We told her that you do what is right and tell us the truth and we will back you to the Supreme Court. She did, and I never let the system bully her on anything of consequence.
I suspect they were quite pleased when she graduated....to see the last of both of us. /chuckle
I was going to add what you just articulated here. Parents’ telling informing their children of their rights and who support them (consistently, for the sake of trust, of course), is an important aspect to this.
The truth is that the educational system is there to serve parents by assisting them to educate their children. No one, even a principal, has to agree with this, it is simply the truth. Children need a lot more oversight than they’re getting on this. I feel so sorry for them, they’re so neglected and aimless/leaderless.