If We Want to Grow as a Nation, We Must Invest More in Education than Incarceration

BlackAmericaWeb.com ^ | December 15, 2006 | Judge Greg Mathis

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These are the parents who exercise little or no control over where their children are when, over what they watch on TV, what sort of music they listen to, or what sorts of grades they achieve in school. They are also in large part the parents of the children who give public schools a bad name. ( Amelia)

As far as kids that can't be controlled--you can spot those at 2 or 3. ( softballmom)

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You are heaping tons of blame on parents, and yet, you work for a system that does precious little to help these parents improve.

The government school is doing precious little to help these inexperienced parents. In fact, if the government school teacher or principal were to insist that parents sign a contract that TV and such would be strictly controlled, that government principal or teacher would likely be fired. If a government teacher or principal would say to their students that the best situation to raise a child is in a **marriage** with a committed father they would be fired. ( too judgmental you see.) Sex within marriage? Principles of thrift and hard work ( too judgmental) In fact, there are HUNDREDS of moral, ethical, and values issues that government teachers and principals must tiptoe around due to political correctness and also the establishment clause of the Constitution.

Parents today are moral, ethical, and values mess precisely because they attended government schools that did NOT teach the sound moral, ethical, and values that they needed to be good parents.

I once attended a private school that mandated a monthly meeting for all parents. ( Older children babysat the younger). At this meeting the principal lectured on a good parenting principle. Then the parent separated into groups for the mothers and groups for the fathers. These discussion groups were led by an experienced teacher and/or parent. In these informal groups parents could ask question about any challenges they were facing.

This private school also had many social events, theater and talent show productions, and fund raisers. In this area too the inexperienced parent had ample opportunity to learn leadership skills, for friendships, and get the metoring they needed.

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That should be "mentoring".

[Amelia]

If a government teacher or principal would say to their students that the best situation to raise a child is in a **marriage** with a committed father they would be fired.

Odd, I suppose I should have been fired over a decade ago.

[Amelia]

I once attended a private school that mandated a monthly meeting for all parents.

You notice that the parents chose to send their children to this school, and most probably paid for the priviledge. I believe that Catholic schools do extend scholarships for churchmembers who can't afford the tuition but wish a religious education for their children, however?

How many drug and alcohol addicted single parents do you suppose would choose to have their children attend such a school, knowing they would be required to attend these meetings?

You don't seem to understand that there are parents out there who can't seem to be bothered to be concerned about their children.

Our school has at least three events each year for parents to come meet the teachers. In addition, parents can schedule conferences at any time, call, or email. I never see or hear from most of my students' parents. I have had several students I'm aware of whose parents did not know what grade their children were in -- they were not aware that their children had failed one or more grades.

In my area, we have something called Student Support Teams, to try to help students who are struggling or failing academically. The team is supposed to consist of teachers, counselors, and the parents. The parents have to give consent for the students to be placed, but 90% or more of them never bother to attend the meetings.

[SoftballMominVA]

I'm hired to teach reading. I do a good job of it. I do not presume to tell others how to raise their kids. Making comments on unruly behavior is not the same as stepping in and telling parents what to do and how to do it.

I wouldn't ask parents to sign a contract limiting TV because it is out of what I am hired -- and qualified to do. Now I do use quite a bit of conservative material in my day to day teaching, and I have never been called on the carpet for it. I use Bennett's 'Big Book of Virtues' just about daily. This does emphasize good moral conduct. There are teachers in my school that have used the Bible in context with their teaching. Since this teacher taught my older daughter who is now in college and she is still here, I assume it is allowed in our school.

Beyond that, I suppose I could go to houses and tuck kids in and lecture parents in a harsh, disapproving tone, but I don't make that choice.

I doubt that any private school holds the types of meetings you described from 'back in the day.' Those types of meetings would be considered too judgmental and too 'nosy.' I got news for you, private schools are not known for being the beacons of virtue you seem to think they are. When the kids are kicked out of public school--they go to the private schools. As long as the parents continue to pay, the kids continue to attend.

[SoftballMominVA]

I just came from a concert at my daughter's public school. Parents minded a table where they sold goodies, band shirts, pillows and scarfs. According to you, those types of public school parents don't exist. How odd. In addition, during the intermission, a young lady announced that the bands, orchestras and chorus would be performing Tuesday night at a benefit concert to support the local Boys and Girls Clubs.

What callous, unfeeling young people are at my child's school!!! I am appalled at such senseless, uncaring attittudes!! /sarcasm OFF

[SoftballMominVA]

Thank you Amelia--she is a joy and a delight. We are crossing our fingers that she will be Valedictorian her senior year (2008) So far, so good. She will have 11 AP classes (the only classes with weight) and straight A's. She wants to be the first valedictorian that also lettered in sports and music and wasn't just a slave to the books.

Cross fingers! You KNOW I will let you know when it happens!

[Amelia]

Fingers crossed! It's always seemed to me that the best students also are active in other activities - they seem to have the self-discipline and time-management skills to juggle a variety of activities!