If you missed Part 1, click here!
I wrote Part 1 last weekend and was then very interested to read another article elsewhere on Monday morning basically remonstrating schools and how much they ask parents to be involved.
After initially getting my ‘back up’ about it, I realised that this was written by a parent of a six year old, who has only just started school. I felt, and this is only my point of view, that the article was unfair. I’m sure they would disagree with mine, that’s ok as that’s their point of view.
Anyway, Part 1 was probably a bit more directed towards the early and primary years of schooling where parents are probably encouraged/invited/welcomed more into the school. In Part 2, my focus will be more on High School but of course take whatever you want from it for any part of the schooling process.
My two children are both now in high school. I remember when my daughter started in Year 7 a parent said to me that I would never enter the school and that my years as an ‘involved’ parent were over.
This has always stayed in my head and I have thought a lot about it. I am still an involved parent. As I said in Part 1, I have high expectations of my children, but I also have high expectations of those involved in their education process (and yes, I have high expectations of myself too!).
One way I am involved is that I always attend parent teacher interviews. At the high school mine attend, we have parent teacher interviews three times a year. After term 1 when an interim report comes out, at the start of term 3 when the mid year report is received and at the end of the year. Often, there is a note as to whether the teacher’s request an interview or not but I make appointments anyway. We are only given a 5 minute slot, but it is amazing what can be discussed in five minutes. If I need to have longer, I can make an alternative appointment to see this teacher.
I have had both parents and even their teachers ask me why I go to these if I haven’t received a request to attend. Because I want to be involved, and I want my kids to know I am involved in their learning and I want their teachers to know I am an involved and concerned parent.
As mentioned, I have high expectations of those around me and I have high expectations of those involved in my children’s education. I admit, the time when I sat through a 5 minute interview listening to a teacher talk about someone who obviously wasn’t my son (even though he was sitting there) did cause me great concern and I would not have known that if I didn’t attend.
Teachers do need to be held accountable, as do parents and do students. I find that the teachers who discuss ways that my children can improve or extend themselves are the ones who welcome parent involvement. So it took two hours on a cold miserable night last week for me to attend parent teacher interviews as a parent. But I now know where they are up to, I can ask them about certain parts of their schooling, and their teachers know I am involved in the education process.
Again, email is a perfectly feasible form of communication. I can easily email the teachers if I am concerned about anything. My children often email their teachers with a question or a query about part of their learning – this is an excellent process and encourages positive communication.
I have also been involved in committees and helped run fetes. This does take an inordinate amount of work, but with the right people (and a glass of wine) we pulled it off. Successfully. Now I know not everyone has the inclination to do this – that’s fine. But go to a function or an event. Even if it’s for 10 minutes. Put yourselves out there when you can. One size doesn’t fit all.
And continue your own education. No, I don’t mean that you have to enrol in university and complete a PHD unless you really want to. Learn anything. Hell, I learnt how to create a blog! Myself (still got a long way to go!).
Help your children learn – ensure they get enough sleep, enough exercise, time away from studies, nutritious food, and time to socialise with friends.
Learning is a lifelong process. It doesn’t stop when we leave the physical confines of an educational institution. It continues throughout our life. In various forms.
Embrace it. Welcome it. Enjoy it.
If your children see you enjoying it, they may just realise that their school days are some of their best days.
And be involved!
Are you involved in your child’s education?
Schoolopoly 