Education Reform Begins at Home

(con't) Most of us recall a time when parents didn't question their children's teachers. If a teacher called home to discuss bad behavior or poor effort on the part of a student, his mom and dad were solidly in the teacher's corner and if that student was you, you pretty much knew you were in big trouble. That's not how it works these days. If a teacher calls home - something most of them avoid at all costs - they're likely to face an angry, suspicious, defensive parent who can't fathom that his or her child is capable of the behavior that prompted the call. It's typical for a teacher to hear, "Obviously, you've made a mistake. My son told me you would be calling but he wasn't involved. He told me so." Rather than see themselves as allies working in the best interest of children, parents and teachers have too often become adversaries, pointing fingers and blaming each other for the failure of kids to behave appropriately and learn effectively. How do we change this?

I can speak as a SLCSD parent and aplaud the teachers in their efforts to do most everything you referenced. KUDOS to Petrova!!!!!!!

It is all well and good, but when you have several children and they each have an hour or so of homework (that you must help with) it can be overwhelming for all. HOmework should be truly beneficial items, not just something to say you assigned homework. On another note, sure parents must be responsible but it can get tricky with changing work schedules and kids are shuffled from place to place. It was not that long ago that kids were not dealing with parents who worked 3-11pm. 2011 is a much different time.