President Barack Obama had some interesting things to say this weekend regarding the importance of parental involvement in our education system. Rather than paraphrase, I've included an excerpt from his speech to the Congressional Black Caucus:
![obama_blackcaucus180[1].JPG](http://blogs.king5.com/obama_blackcaucus180%5B1%5D.JPG)
"I've said it before and I know I may sound like a broken record, but I'm going to say it again: Government alone cannot get our children to the Promised Land. Government can't put away the PlayStation. Government can't put our kids to bed at a reasonable hour. Government can't attend those parent-teacher conferences. Government can't read a book to your child at night. Government can't help them with their homework. Government can't make sure they leave to school on time. These are things only a mother can do and a father can do. These are things that a parent can do.
"We need to accept our responsibilities -- as parents and community leaders. We need to be good role models and encourage excellence in all our children, every last one of them. We need to let them know there are no excuses for not doing your best, every day, all the time, in order to achieve your dreams.
"We've got to push our kids to aim higher. I want them to have their sights set high. No excuses for mediocrity. If they come home with a B, don't tell them 'that's great.' I know some of you all do that. Tell them to work harder and get an A. Set their sights high." - Pres. Barack Obama
As Senior Assignments Editor at KING-5 News I have the opportunity to speak to parents who are having issues with their children's school - either they don't like the way a subject is being taught or how their child's teacher is handling situations in the classroom. I get to hear about their concerns that their child didn't pass the WASL or that they may not be able to graduate because they didn't take all the required courses. Frequently those calls reveal that the parent calling either doesn't know their child's teacher's name, hasn't helped their child with their homework (one parent even suggested that that was the school's responsibility) of that they hadn't read the student handbook provided by their child's school. That isn't always the case, but it happens often enough to be disturbing. One mother went so far as to suggest we do a story advocating to have her daughter's teacher fired - but she didn't know the teacher's name even though the school year was half over.
Schools across the region are holding "curriculum nights" this month. It is a chance for parents to get involved in their children's education, to learn about the subjects their children are being taught, about the curriculum being used to teach those subjects and to get to know their child's teacher. Teachers are busy scheduling parent/teacher conferences for later in the fall. As a working, single parent who also goes to school I know how difficult it is to schedule those conferences at a time that works with my schedule. I've found my daughter's teachers have been able and willing to work with me to make it work. If your child's teacher doesn't or won't do that - go to the principal. Find a way.
Studies show that a family's participation in a child's education is twice as predictive of a child's academic success as their socio-economic status and ten times greater than other factors (to include race and household make-up). Research also suggests that students whose parents and families are consistently involved have higher grades, lower rates of suspension, decreased use of drugs or alcohol and better self esteem. One study by the Michigan Department of Education goes so far as to suggest that the more parents participate in a sustained way - in booster clubs, in the PTA, and as volunteers in the classroom - the greater the likelihood of their children's academic success.
If you have questions as to how you might get involved, contact your child's school or the district they attend. I'm sure they will be able to help you.
(one parent even suggested that that was the school's responsibility)
It IS the school's responsibility to help the kids with their homework. If I knew how to do the homework, I would homeschool them. When I attended public school many years ago, the teacher would spend 15-20 minutes lecturing and the rest of the period was for the kids to do their homework. If the kids had questions, they could ask the expert. Many times, one student's question could answer the question of 10 other kids.
If you want to catch up with Japan, China, and soon to be India, the DOE needs to teach K - 12 with the same curriculum nationwide, and take into account that not all children are good at "read and memorize".
With the increase in Add, ADHD, dyslexia, and functional autism it is time to teach using all learning styles: reading, hands on, visual and auditory methods - and plan each class to complement other courses: Literature, use books that coincide with History class, for example. Science with Math or Art? English Composition with Business classes or Government? Teach smart and we will be number one again.
Wow, ignorance is bliss in some people's world. (Dennis). Your child has the opportunity to speak up themselves and ask. If you do not teach them to speak up, who's fault is that anyway? All my teachers are willing to answer any question any student has. Too many people teach their kids not to ask because it is a sign they are stupid and that is bad but how does one get smarter but by asking questions. While schools should offer help to students who are struggling, it is the PARENTS responsibility to check and see if their child is getting the help the need. The teachers have 28+ students per class and can not always catch every single struggling student. If you as a parent do not even know the name of your child's teacher, let alone have not even met them, how can you complain? It is your responsibilty to monitor your child progress as well as help them or get them the help they need if you do not know the answers. There are tutoring services offered everywhere and also friends who may know about the subject in question.
Obama is completely right and so Cynthia, parents are the key and parents are getting a failing grade, not the teachers. If you are not involved with your child's education, they are completely losing out. Yet it seems anymore it is always the teachers fault your kid is not learning.
Take responsibility for your child or children first and only then will you have the right to complain about the educational system.
PS, Japan and China do not exceed us in education because of a standard format. They hold the parents accountable and it is a great dishonor to the family to do bad. And honestly, we have more creative students because we have a much broader focus on subjects. Their focus is mostly on math and science and they do not spend the time on other subjects that we do. Honestly, why do you think many international students come to the states to learn from us??? Do we have lessons we can learn from their systems? Yes but just as they can learn from how we do it also. Besides, those are also societies where there is less individualism than here and so everyone is forced to learn the same thing where as here in the states, we tend to allow for a more individualized eductation that allows for people to learn different things at different times so having a standard test that covers mathmatics that are above algebra 1-2 and Geometry in high school is ignorant of this fact. Students are not required to take anything other than the minimum years of math classes and there are subjects that cover that requirement that are not true math classes and students take those because they hate math and do not want to be forced to take those classes.
The purpose of homework is for the student to display proficiency with the skills taught in class outside of the classroom environment, when the teacher *isn't* there to show them how to do it.
Sorry, Dennis, but you're way off the mark here. Homework is called homework for a reason, not classwork.
There is, however, no easy solution. Our society does not, and has not, easily permitted families to have a single bread-winner parent and a stay-at-home parent for at least 2 generations now. This can be accomplished for a few lucky cases, but the norm is either a single-parent home (regardless of social class) or a two-parent home where both parents work full-time jobs. It's difficult (but not impossible) for parents to be involved in their children's school-life.
A whole lot of our general, societal ills might be alleviated if more parents took a more active role in their children's lives, starting at an earlier time and continuing onward into the later teens, at the least.
So, how is it that the kids can ask questions if the teacher hands out the homework as the bell is ringing, and the work is due the next morning? The kids are not allowed in the school prior to class in the morning and that would not leave enough time to do the work anyway. having a stay at home parent does no good if the parent does know how to do the work. I can understand the concept of homework. If the kids have 3 hours of homework, that is 3 hours that mom and dad can get rid of the kid while they are in their room doing the homework. The teachers get off the hook for teaching and the parents get off the hook for dealing with the kids. With some luck, by the time the homework is done, it will be time for bed. Oh, the parents are supposed to help with the homework? Then the kids are not showing their proficiency are they? Which is it?
I get the feeling from these posts that Dennis is speaking to either teachers themselves or people that work in the schools. Either way, I have my own comment and trust me, its not ignorance or bliss...its the facts.
When my kids were in school, I offered help to their teachers. I also went to conferences and worked with them to ensure things were going okay. It was the TEACHER that did not want my offer of help nor did they constructively give me any information I could use to assist my kids to ensure they were learning what they should be. I tried, repeatedly, and was basically blown off; the teachers even did what I call a "bashing session" on me, where when I came in to discuss an issue with a rather nasty teacher, she had other teachers in the meeting (which was not what I agreed to) and they spent most of the meeting time bashing my child. AND they wanted my child PRESENT for this bashing, which I refused to allow. It was absolutely so out of line, I could not believe it. My complaints to the principal went unnoticed. It took going to the district office to get their attention. My older son had gang member chasing him around between classes, and when this was reported to the school, they insisted there was no "gang" issue in that school. When my son left the school grounds so he would not be hurt by these gang members, he was then suspended even though I repeatedly discussed what had happened in an appeal hearing. Their decision was final.
If this is how schools treat parents that try to get involved, are you still surprised and shocked alot of parents don't bother? If they are working full time, it requires taking time off work which most employers do not understand or approve of. I was a single parent, worked with my kids every night and helped as much as I could. I did what I could do. But when I tried to bring issues to the school/teachers that were having a negative impact on my child, I got blown off. Not every school or every teacher is doing what all of you think they are. There ARE many parents that are fed up with how the schools are and what they are NOT doing to help educate our kids. My older son cannot spell very simple words and its not because I didn't work with him; its because the school passed him on! The same thing happened to my younger son. So don't place all the blame on PARENTS; there are many, many teachers and schools that do not do their part. It IS their responsibility to educate our kids, its what the tax money and levy money goes to the schools for. I understand parents must also help. But don't for one minute think its ONLY the parents that don't do their part. They try but not all schools and teachers work with them.