Education

Total words: 1509

"It amazes me, how often during a week, I hear "It's not my fault, it's not my responsibility". It seems that in today's society no one wants to take responsibility for anything. Parents don't or won't take the responsibility of how their children turn out. It's the daycare's fault, the school's fault, the college's fault, the owners fault. It's most likely everyone else's fault."

When a baby is born the parents take on endless responsibilities. They take on the physical aspects from providing the baby with diaper changes, proper nutrition and a safe environment, to teaching that child how to care for him/herself and become independent as they grow. They also take on the emotional and mental responsibilities from giving love, affection and encouragement, to teaching appropriate ways of expressing ones emotion. The parent must also be available to answer questions and provide opportunities, to teaching thinking skills. These are also important aspects of parenting. The different manifestations of responsibility all boil down to one principle; to support and guide your child's growth. To find your child's potential in this way is to educate. The care and teachings that a parent provides aren't just in the early years, but continue throughout childhood and beyond.

The failures of the educational system have been blamed on many different things through the years. In general, people's view on the educational system vary depending on their experience with schools, their children's experience with schools, and with what it is that they expect from schools. Schools are expected to accomplish a lot with society's children. It seems, however, that the general public feels that's schools are failing to meet their obligations. Even though there are differing views as to why the educational system is struggling, there is one significant reason that seems to be the root cause: The disintegrating family unit is a prime cause for the failure of the educational system.
It is no wonder that parent involvement with the schools has become a major educational issue. This is an era of increasing concern about the quality of education in this country. Marianna M. Jennings, a professor of legal, ethical and business studies of Arizona State University is highly concerned with this matter. In her article, she brings out her point by speaking of Mayor Giuliani's observation. "If skills actually determined entrance into the New York system of higher education three of every four students would probably be denied admission." After reading Jennings article, I felt cheated.

Although holding somewhat of a truth, it's unfair that she is almost pointing fingers at my generation for lack of teaching. She then goes on to explain that parents need to be more effective, and teach truth to their children. This is true to a degree. Children are supposed to gain the truth of knowledge from school, and then it's the parent's job to further the knowledge or help them understand what they have learned. Parents must also provide an early foundation for their children so that they enter school with the early literacy and basic conceptual skills they need to meet with academic success beginning with kindergarten. The kindergarten of today is very different than a generation ago. Today children are expected to leave kindergarten reading and writing. Children entering school without early literacy and concepts are at a deficit from the very beginning and then must strive to catch up in order to move through the grades with any modicum of success. . Therefore, education isn't something separate from parenting; it's the definition of parenting

Even though numerous people would like to place all of the blame on the schools, there are other factors that are influential. Family is one of them. Many different educational authors cite the family as being a source of support. Family plays an important role in reinforcing the school's goals and standards at home. If a child is raised in a family where school and education are stressed, the child is more likely to take school more seriously. Although many families today have one or two parents working full time, they should still have an opportunity to discuss school. Parents can do this by asking their children questions about school, talking to them about what is happening in school, and seeing if they need any help with their homework. Some parents have trouble assisting their children with their homework if it is above their own educational level. Regardless of that, they can still be supportive of their children doing well in school, getting their homework done, and most importantly, seeing how their children enjoy school. Although Jennings feels that students should have more effective homework and less project oriented work, some people believe homework is tearing families apart. Romesh Ratnesar, a staff writer for the TIMES magazine feels that the amount of work consumed by children today, is destroying his family. Romesh isn't the only person with these believes. There are many people with children in school that do believe that the schooling process isn't as strong because of the battles with homework, and the effects it has on the children and parents as well. Instead of fighting with the school system we must work with it. As Jennings believes, it is about parents becoming more aware with the kind of HW your child has, and taking action. If a parent doesn't like the amount of homework given to children he should speak out and do something about this. "We must exert pressure on superintendents, principals, and teachers. We must take the initiative and run for positions on school boards and city councils" (Jennings: 311) I feel very strongly about parents speaking up, and caring about what goes on in their child's education. More and more it is becoming evident that academic success relies on a partnership of the family and school community. The school must strive to involve parents at every level, and fund ways the make it inviting and welcoming, specifically for the parents who do not have higher education. .

When a parent shows interest in their child's education, the child is more likely to show interest in their education. Instead of destroying a family, Homework can actually help parents and children learn from each other. While Ratenar feels that HW is a mistake, Howard Gardner, a professor at the Harvard Graduate school of Education, believes that showing interest in your child's education is one of the most effective ways you can make progress during your child's education. "We should bone up on the knowledge we value and teach it to our children. Sometimes it will be academic subject matter, but just as often it will be a value or an attitude" (Gardner: 322). Children look up to their parents, and they see them as role models. If a parent is not concerned with their child's schooling, then why should the child? Unless someone who has an impact on a child is there to reinforce the fact that education is important, the child will not fully understand the significance of doing well in school. "Perhaps the greatest gift my mother gave me when I was young was her commitment to sit just behind me each day when I practiced piano" (Gardner:322) The family plays a huge role in how well America's educational system does. With the family being more involved, the school becomes more of a community instead of just an educational facility. Jennings and Gardner both advocated this a lot through their writing. They talked about the importance of quality parenting throughout the stages of education- and how important it is to get involved. With their family supporting them, children are able to do better in school, therefore causing our educational system to do better as well. Even parents with cognitive deficits can impart to their children that education is to be valued and help them by making sure that their child is clean and gets to school every day on time with as much work done as possible. Sometimes the family- school connection must become a three way partnership if parents need social services assistance to help them become better more capable parents. IN this instance it truly takes a village to raise a child.

When the family is there to support the child in their educational endeavors, the child will do better in school. If every family does this, or at least the large majority, the differences in our schools will be tremendous. With every child realizing the importance of receiving a good education and actually being interested in school, the changes in America's schools will be breathtaking. When society stops assuming that the educational system is destined to fail, as Jennings article, only pointed at the bad and not mentioning any good, then the schools will have the ability to stop failing. Once society takes a stand and gathers its strength and knowledge to change America's schools, only then they will change. When society fosters and assists all families to become partners with the school community then all children will have the opportunity to succeed.

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