A Weighty Subject

This week I became increasingly aware (and annoyed, I might add) by parents. No, not my own. And no, not being a parent myself.

But I witnessed two incidents this week that showed me exactly why teachers and school administrators get so burned out so quickly. For a brief moment, I really felt helpless and as though I can’t do anything to help my kids (my school kids) when they’re surrounded by the negativity of their parents.

The first little episode occurred outside the elementary building where I work 3 or 4 days each week. A mother had shown up to pick up her son from school early enough that she was able to hear the principal’s afternoon announcements. During those announcements, the principal reminded students of the school rule and policy regarding shorts - that none are to be worn before April 1st. She warned the students that she would be issuing demerits for anyone who chose to break the rule. To myself, I thought, “Good for her!” Then I went outside to get in my car, where I heard this mother yelling into her cell phone (to whom, I don’t know) that her son would wear shorts whenever he felt like it and whenever she put shorts on him in the morning. Her child, along with several others, was sitting in the car next to his mom the whole time, hearing her completely inane rant. Never mind that there were 2 days left until April 1. Never mind that this was a school rule, not something dreamed up to single out her child. Never mind that in the grand scheme, shorts are hardly something to, well, get your shorts in a bunch about.

The second episode occurred when our neighbor girl brought over her homework from kindergarten, complaining that she hates school and can’t do the assignment. Her mother was close behind, going on about how she just can’t believe that in kindergarten they get homework and how ridiculous that is. That no kindergartener should have to take a proficiency test. And on she went. Right in front of her child. And mine, for that matter.

My whole opinion of education has changed significantly since I began working in the schools. I see how absolutely different districts can be (the two for which I work are polar opposites) and what a huge difference the school environment alone makes. I’m not sure where I come down on the issues of No Child Left Behind, proficiency testing, and graduation testing. I’m pretty sure that some such system needs to be in place...I’m just not sure we’ve gotten it right yet. But what could be wrong with holding students and teachers accountable and responsible for what goes on in the classroom (in ways other than telling them that they have to pass a test because the school’s funding rests on their scores...as happened to our babysitter)? I’m not saying that teachers need to teach for a test, but I am saying that they need to be held to a higher standard...to be creative and thoughtful about their work, and that presumably the test issues would fall in line.

Obviously this system doesn’t work for every child. Most of the kids I work with will probably never take a proficiency test or worry about getting into college. But these students represent a minority of the school population and I think that their needs could be met in better ways as well. Can’t we come up with a better way to include different learners? And back to my original issue...shouldn’t parents be involved and supportive rather than negative and adversarial? Isn’t there some way to impart the importance of education? Living in Appalachia, we see how graduation from high school is sometimes seen as “wow you got through it” rather than as a stepping stone on to something different. It’s part of the culture here, and while it may not be a good thing, it is what it is. I really feel like we ought to be expecting more, demanding more, and doing more. Of teachers, of schools, of students, and of parents.