Getting More Involved

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The biggest problem I see at our school is lack of parent involvement. We always say we want the schools to be better, for the teachers to listen more, but when it comes down to it...are we really all that involved ourseves? My 6th grader's teacher sent home notes for parent teacher conferences before the end of the first semester, and I was only the fourth parent to come..with two more scheduled. How are the schools ever gonna get better if we as parents don't step up and help them out?

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I first of all did not say anything negative about teachers. They work so hard and get paid not enough. What i said was we as parents need to help out and get involved. PTA, asking the teachers if and how we can help out. I have 2 children. My daughter is 9 and adopted her from Russia. My son is 7 and has autism. I see parents who as I say, "Blow and Go". Then they say not my kid. They are not involved in their childrens life!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This idea of getting involved in schools is a purely western idea. In Eritrea and Ethiopia, where I grew up, parents checked thoroughly into their children's education but left the task of teaching to teachers.
They provided their children with the appropriate tools and resources for class projects etc... as well as
monitored their children's expected progress. Don't misunderstand, parents in these countries are totally aware of what their children are up to, who their friends are and how they spend their time. They have input and give guidance to most of what their children are involved in. Now in these communities it is expected that teachers are invested in their students' education as much as a parent would be. Parents in these communities, feel that questioning curriculum and teachers is disrespectful because they don't expect the practice of favoritism due to racist, sexist or economic disadvantage to exist in schools. In conclusion the emphasis should be on thourgh teacher education that takes these problems seriously.

I totally agree. I was interview on KTAR with Kevin Tripp and Blake is not a bad boy he just has autism.

There are a lot of issues, and no one answer for them all. Kids are Just that ...KIDS! They are not adults yet... as much as they try to spread their wings they are still ...kids. The job of teaching them is the main job of the parent!!! If the parents don't do their part... how can the school do theirs? I was an instructor for a short time, and not for the money, the pay was terrible, but because of the kids...
I have fantastic stories and terrible ones, but if I only dwell on the negative, what does that teach my children.... to be negitive. Look for ways to make things better. If the teacher isn't talking to you, go talk to her/him. They are people too, sometimes they don't talk to you because they don't know you yet.
Belive me they want you to be involved! some just dont know how to ask you. Maybe drop off a personal letter to the front office, addressed to your childs teacher(s) and let them know that you are limited on how much time you can volunteer, but please keep your name handy for small tasks that you can help with. Or just a note "at dinner last night, Jack told me about the upcomming project for your class. We look forward to guiding him on his research, do you have any suggestions?"
Some kids spend more time with their teachers in a day, than they do with their own family... It would be great if the teacher feels valued by you, the parent!
They do their job not for the money- because it is a love of education and watching that moment when they "get it" what ever "it" is....

you said it. the "climate" at my kids' school is very simliar. the majority of parents i see being involved are the ones whose kids do sports. the teachers don't (seem to) care if we show or not for anything other than conferences. but they sure will let us know if bobby and suzie are misbehaving.
we need to talk to other parents and find out how to get a foot in the door (since most are locked methaphorically and literally), see what worked for them - beyond getting our kids on the court or field.
here's a tip, though, if i may. contact your state's PIRC
www.nationalpirc.org/directory to find it. ask them what ways will be successful in getting into the school to help.

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