Princess is in daycare now.
But in just a few years, she’ll be starting elementary school. My hubby and I are already discussing plans
for her education. Our main priority is
to make sure that she attends a great school district. I’ve been reading about so many city schools
being shut down due to poor test scores and/or lack of funding. Even though we don’t live within the five
boroughs, we are not exempt. A friend
tells me that the Long Island School she planned to send her son has already
closed. I worry that many other suburban
schools will follow.
Quality of education is the key to any child’s future. It bugs me that some children aren’t given a
chance at a solid education. It makes me sad to see parents and students on the
news pleading with education officials to leave these schools open. I often ask myself, “Why are school officials
allowing this to happen?”
There may be a number of reasons why our education system is
failing our kids. Fingers are being
pointed in every direction. Some may
feel that parents are at fault for not getting involved in helping their
kids. Others may think the government is
to blame for being tightwads.
Authors Eva Moskowitz and Arin Lavania, break down ways
Principals and teachers can work together toward educational excellence in
their book- Mission Possible: How the Secrets of the Success Academies Can Workin Any School. They claim that if the
bar is set high, then children will rise to the occasion.
My daughter will be two soon, and it amazes me
how much she learns everyday. She’s like
a sponge, and that’s the message I get from this book. Children will be able to learn as long as
they are being challenged. It seems like
not enough support is being given to our
teachers which leads to our children being left out in the cold.
The authors give examples on how Principals can train teachers for the
classroom. Apparently this idea has been
proven. A charter school in Harlem has
become one of the top schools in New York City in just three years. If we apply this same method across all
schools, we may be on to something. In
fact, I wouldn’t have to worry about whether or not my child will be in
jeopardy of getting a solid education. Better trained teachers will lead to higher grades and more schools staying open.
If you’re interested in learning more about this book, feel
free to connect with Eva Moskowitz via Facebook and Twitter. I’ll also be giving away a copy of Mission
Possible: How the Secrets of the Success Academies Can Work in Any School. You can find all the details below.
Hi, I honestly feel that education begins in the home and needs to always be there in the home, I never looked to any public or private schools as the 'only way' to educate my children, hope this helps you guys...
ReplyDeleteI agree with Joe 1000000000000%, I have never relied solely on daycare/school to educate Cam. When he was in daycare I had a ton of workbooks that he would work on at home. I've always pushed him to read at least 1 book a week. Now he is going into middle school and he has spent the entire summer reading, reviewing what he learned last year, and getting a head start on whatever he will learn next year. I've always made learning fun and I honestly believe that's why he loves school so much now.
ReplyDeleteOverall, I think there's a lack of accountability within the education system and I extend that into the homes as well. Parents are quick to point finger at the schools, teachers, and principals. Schools are quick to point to the home. Some say public schools, others say charter schools. I really think it's a community thing. At some point, all facets of the education system need to truly "do it together." And the same goes for poor grades. I think it's a rare occasion where a student will teach himself. If a parent, teacher, or community leader notices a student not performing well, why not look for more info from the other role model(s) and enact a plan into action?
ReplyDeleteIt's a complicated issue, with so many competing goals and ideas of what schools are for (to raise the next generation of service workers, in the case of big business perhaps, OR to inspire and nurture young minds in whatever direction they seem to have a natural talent for, or interest in)... How to go about the process of schooling, and how to measure growth (testing or learning...improvement or standardization... Who should be the judge, parents, teachers, students, or employers.. It's messy messy messy. And that's before you throw race, socioeconomic status, and all of that into the pot. And you've already mentioned $$...
ReplyDeleteThere are so many things that can contibute to a child's successes or failures. Parents, teachers, "the system" but the truth is that its different in every circumstance and we as parents just have to try our best and make the most of whatever situations
ReplyDeleteAs a teacher, I have to say there is no 1 problem that can be pinpointed. There are an abundance of issues that have spiraled over the years to create the current situation. I think it is important for all stakeholders, parents, teachers, etc, to look at what they can do in the current situation to make it better and not focus on placing blame. I do the best that I can in my classroom with the materials that I can get my hands on. Whether this means finding grants to supplement or buying things with my own money. I think its important for parents to realize what a critical role they have in their child's lives and really maximize that connection. That extra time spent working on school work at home, reading with parents, and doing educational activities not only helps the children learn, but also helps them to see that their parents value education.
ReplyDeleteTeachers should be paid a good wage and children should be provided with the materials they need (including healthy meals). Schools should encourage creativity and employ a variety of learning techniques because the same things don't work for every child. Parents should be involved as much as possible and some of them need to be educated on how to encourage their children to love learning as well. When a child is enthusiastic about learning, it will become a lifelong journey.
ReplyDeleteThe problem would be bureaucrats who do not know what it means to be a teacher.
ReplyDeletetheyyyguy@yahoo.com