arrived from China, in my 8th grade Algebra class. "Back to School Night" was held about two weeks after the beginning of the school year. It's a chance to have a brief interaction between teacher and the student's parents. Both parents attended with their child and after explaining my math program and expectations, I reassured them extra help was always available, especially for students newly arrived from outside the US.

The parents thanked me and then turned to their son and calmly said, "Is there any reason you cannot get an "A" in Mr. Colbert's class ?" He said "no".

He earned all "A"s, had time for sports - and girls. His parents expected no less.