After taken from my fish-bowl mini-world yesterday (which
occurs periodically), I am left gasping, looking to catch my breath in the
sight of a huge component to our big picture, the educational system of this
world.
Never have the words “train
up your child” meant so much to me. Yes, as a mother, I am my child’s first
education source, and I view this role with highest regards. In addition, I have
the responsibility of monitoring all sorts of educational input as well.
And it’s not like the education system makes it easy for
parents. As a college-grad, I myself find following the maze of explanations to
the school system a tricky business. I can only imagine the frustrations from
other parents trying to get a grip on curriculum goals and expectations being
presented to their children. Most remain ignorant to what goes on in the
classroom while the remainder of parents who have a deep desire to be informed
are weighed down by confusion.
Granted not every parent has the opportunity to come sit in
a different classroom a couple days a week, but that is just how I have gained
a large portion of my knowledge to the working classroom concerning the school
system. (I’m a visual learner.)
Sure, board members may define learning standards, but as
those instructions trickle down through officials, staff and teachers, learning
standards are sometimes morphed by the time they reach students. Sadly, a child
attending a new school, in an upper-class neighborhood with a highly involved
principal may breed good ground for successful teachers planting seeds for
learning while 10 miles in another direction there are different circumstances.
Those different circumstances often lead to a student body scarce of the much
needed learning standards being preached to parents.
Many times a student’s education is directly related to the
teacher and for parents this is a risk they face in large public school systems.
Will my child fall into a well structured class where the teacher takes
measures necessary to make the environment positive and enriched with
appropriate learning or will they get a teacher with a personality clash, inflexible
and who falls into instilling unwanted morale lessons in the children’s minds?
The risk may seem of no importance to some or they may not
have other options to avoid this risk of the unknown. Others have sought out
additional educational choices through homeschooling or with private school,
and in some cases, a mixture of both.
Of course, no matter the decision parents make for their
children, they need to be mindful of the education their children are receiving.
I’ve set in classrooms where children progressed through the
day learning new concepts and building from previous gained knowledge in an
appropriate environment. However, I have also encountered burned-out teachers
wading in negativity, inappropriate music for movement time, staff more
concerned with screaming and surfing the Internet than with a teachable moment,
gossip running ramped, and that doesn't even dip into deep end of some things
happening across schools every day.
Now, I'm not saying private or home schools are immune, but
parents tend to have more proactive weight and involved decision making, and
that is what your role as a parent-educator is all about.
It’s about parents getting back into the driver’s seat when
it comes to all of their child’s education, not just occasionally in the areas
they feel most comfortable. If God holds a Pastor accountable for his sheep
(congregation), how much more are we responsible for the children we have in
our homes?
It frustrates me when parents hit roadblocks in their child’s
education and are left with the feeling they have no other option. There are
always choices to be made. Make the choice to push, to be involved, to be your
child’s advocate, to make sure your child has an appropriate education.
