One of the comments was so unbelievably stupid that I just have to say something. Some dude said that his dad told him that when parents are involved in education everything goes to pot.
Every teacher in the country (except those who are high) will tell you that parental involvement in education is critical to the success of the student. As an educator the most frustrating thing in the world is trying to convince the kids that it’s worth their time to apply themselves when the parents are just using the school as free childcare. The heartaches that good teachers are trying to impact are the kids whose parents expect the society to raise their kids for them. It doesn’t work, and anybody who has ever worked with kids knows that.
Some kids can get away from their crack-head parents during school, but the truth of the matter is that very, very few of those acorns will fall far from the tree. Teachers try, but the general principle of nature is that people stick with what they are comfortable with, what they are used to. That is why the tons of money poured into education hasn’t made a lick of difference. The problem in our schools is the apathy of the parents and the society that has created that apathy, and no matter how the schools try to become mommy and daddy for these kids they can’t do it.
What this guy says embodies that whole society. In his view the parents have a DUTY to stay out of their kids’ lives and let the powers of the wind take their children wherever the wind blows. The schools are failing because of people like him in a society that creates people like him - people who don’t know how to think and know and care even less about facts and evidence.
Horse crap. My son was falling behind in reading because of poor curriculum. We spent 4-5 hours a day at home after school working with him. We were in daily contact with the teacher to ensure we were teaching the correct things.
The school was using sight words to teach him. We pulled him out and used phonics and within a year he was reading way ahead of his grade level. That was a nearly 3 year advancement from where he was. It was the school not us the parents.
I agree that there are many parents that do ignore their kids as you suggest but to say it is all the parent lack of participation is false.
I believe you just described "genetics".
At last week's football banquet, my 11YO son was called "cantankerous, nasty, and proud" by his coach.
Acorn...tree...his mother has a bit of Mescalero Apache in her. lol...mix that with my Scottish temper, it can be a lethal combination.
Heh ... I used to be a teacher ... big frustration was trying to convince etc. when the parents were welfare bums.