The Franklin News-Post
P. O. Box 250
310 Main Street, SW
Rocky Mount, Virginia 24151
540-483-5113
Fax: 540-483-8013
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Friday, March 5, 2010
Gov. Bob McDonnell, while proclaiming March 8-12 School Principals Week, made a statement related to education that is a crucial but often overlooked component of good schools. McDonnell said parents are responsible for the education of their children, while principals and teachers are entrusted by parents to guide, direct and impart knowledge to their children while at school.
Far too often these days, schools are seen as the be-all and end-all for a child's education and well-being, often to the point of taking care of needs that should be met in the home. In reality, that's asking far too much, although schools generally do as good as they can given the demands and available resources.
We all hear stories about children who come to school with no academic preparation, parental support or proper nutrition. In other words, these children are neglected at home, and it's up to the schools to try to fill in the gaps left by parents.
Obviously, there are situations where the parents themselves need help and are hard-pressed to have either the means or the ability to properly care for their children. We can only hope the social programs available to help these families can remedy the problems.
How often does this happen? We don't really know. You can't simply look at income guidelines and decide. Many parents who are struggling financially still manage to put their children first, supporting their education and providing nurturing and proper nutrition.
And we're sure there are some parents who are okay financially yet still don't support or get involved in their children's education.
The point Gov. McDonnell was making is that parents should be very involved in their child's education, from making sure their children are healthy to helping with homework to visiting the school and having talks with teachers. With parental support and encouragement, and growing up in an atmosphere of learning, children are far more likely to excel in school.
Discipline is also a factor. Parents must be taskmasters and be supportive of schools in enforcing strict disciplinary rules. Discipline does indeed start at home, and it should be carried over directly into schools that need strict, effective disciplinary policies that are consistently enforced.
Study after study has shown that discipline and parental involvement are key elements in a successful school system, and they are certainly crucial to a child's development.
We agree with Gov. McDonnell that parents are responsible for the education of their children, and they simply cannot and should not rely on schools do it all.
After all, in a year's time, schools have children only a fraction of the time they are under their parents' tutelage. When parents use even part of that time wisely, we all benefit.
|
| |
|
|
|
