Parents vs Schools: What's Best For Kids?

Bulldozer Parents? Administrators Who Won’t Listen?

Helicopter or bulldozer parents?
School leaders who simply won’t listen?
Has the parent–school partnership quietly shifted from collaboration to conflict?

In this episode of I Demand a Meeting, Jesse and I step into the tension many families and schools are feeling, but few are naming out loud. Trust feels harder to come by than it used to. Authority in education is less clear. And conversations that once started with shared purpose now too often begin with defensiveness.

We talk about how parenting styles have evolved, why parents are more engaged and informed than ever, and how schools are navigating expectations that didn’t exist a decade ago. We also explore how adolescent development complicates communication and why context matters when parents hear concerns directly from their children before schools have a chance to respond.

Most importantly, this conversation pushes back on the idea that parents and schools are on opposite sides. Children don’t need adults competing for control or credibility. They need adults willing to communicate, collaborate, and define together what “best” actually means.

As we say in the episode, it doesn’t work when it becomes adversarial.

If you’re a parent, educator, or school leader trying to rebuild trust and strengthen school culture, this episode is an honest starting point.

🎙 Listen to the full episode of I Demand a Meeting on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.