If you're looking for a tutor, it's likely because the standard education system has left gaps in your child's learning. Many parents assume that hiring a current school teacher as a tutor is the safest choice. However, before making that decision, it's important to reflect on why you need a tutor in the first place.
The Problems in Traditional Education
From our experience as educators, we have observed several major issues with how subjects, especially math and science, are taught in schools:
Inadequate Curriculum Design – Many programs spend too much time on simple topics while rushing through the more difficult ones. This imbalance can leave students unprepared for advanced concepts.
Overloaded Materia – Schools often cram excessive content into a single year, causing even strong students to struggle. Instead of fostering mastery, this approach leads to frustration and burnout.
Rigid Teaching Methods – Many schools penalize students not for incorrect answers, but for solving problems in a way that differs from the teacher’s preferred method. This discourages independent thinking and problem-solving skills.
Lack of Personalization – With large class sizes and standardized teaching methods, there’s little room for addressing individual student needs.
Why Not Just Hire a School Teacher as a Tutor?
While some school teachers are excellent, remember that the system they operate in may have already failed your child. A tutor should offer more than just a repeat of the same ineffective methods. Instead, they should:
Focus on Understanding, Not Just Memorization – A good tutor adapts to the student’s needs rather than rigidly following a set curriculum.
Teach Problem-Solving Skills – Encouraging students to approach problems from multiple angles fosters deeper learning.
Provide a Customized Learning Experience – Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, tutoring should be tailored to the student’s strengths and weaknesses.
Making the Right Choice
When selecting a tutor, ask yourself:
Does this tutor teach differently from the traditional system, or is it just more of the same?
Do they adapt their methods based on the student’s needs?
Will they help my child truly understand the material rather than just memorizing steps?
The goal of tutoring should not just be to catch up—it should be to excel. Choose a tutor who offers a new approach, not just a repeat of what hasn’t worked before.
A Little Humor
Why did the math book look sad? Because it had too many problems!
