Teacher's Need Parent's Support

Dear Dr. LeCrone:

I have been a public school teacher in a small Texas town for the past 22 years. For the most part, I have enjoyed teaching but I feel parental support and participation in children’s education has been decreasing over the years. Could you please write a column on this subject as the school year is about to start?

- A reader in Texas

Dear reader:

Classroom teachers, school counselors, administrators, and other personnel are responsible for providing the tools and environment that make it possible for our children to learn. These educators are under a great deal of pressure to prepare the students to pass academic achievement tests and manage the children’s behavior which is sometimes difficult. Additionally, school personnel often have to teach basic social skills such as empathy, respect, tolerance, etc.

Many of these educators suffer from work overload, lack of appropriate reward and recognition for their work, unrealistic expectations from those they serve, pervasive feelings of lack of control in their profession, lack of positive feedback from students and parents, working environments that are overcrowded, outdated or in high crime areas, and personal pressures produced by the need to take care of their own families.

Often we expect educators to have no personal problems, no worries or concerns outside of their teaching.

Parents can assist those responsible for educating their children by doing some of the following things:
Increase efforts at home to teach such virtues as self discipline, delayed gratification, striving for personal responsibility and being compassionate and empathetic to those less fortunate than themselves.

Develop children’s respect for authority, rules, and personal boundaries. Additionally, emphasize respect for other people’s property and non-violent means of conflict resolution.

Provide the proper environment for home study which is free from distraction. By assisting children when appropriate with homework and special assignments, the parent can place the children’s education in a healthy perspective.

Show support for teachers by becoming involved in school activities such as PTA, homeroom parents, and field trip chaperons.

Encourage the child to put a high priority on education and take advantage of the opportunities that the school offers in both classroom studies and extracurricular activities.

Give teachers more positive recognition. Help encourage higher salaries, more benefits, and increased public support.

Let’s all give educators the credit and help they deserve. This support will benefit our children as well as the educators.