Parents and School

[Schumi48]

I'm German 53 y/o and brought up three
daughters which are adult.
Now I have two boys 6/14 with my second wife.
I have the impression that parents take less and less
care of their children in school things.
Some never join the class-meeetings, nobody is willing
to take over some kind of tasks and if there
are any celebrations they show up with a bag
of potatoe chips instead of a salad or cake.
All the years, first for my daughters now for my sons I
have been engaged as first or second representative
for parents, and we always donate salads and cakes.
How is the situation in your country?

Schumi48

 

[MidnightAngel]

My two cents......

While I do agree that some parents don't take enough interest in their childrens educations, I would like to say a few things in defense of the parents that seem to "not care" or "not take an interest". Things are not always as they appear.

Many years ago when my son was in pre-school and elementary school, I was put on the defensive many many times by the teachers who wanted me be there to volunteer and help out and bring things to the school, etc, etc.. At that time, I worked two jobs and just plainly did not have time to do it. *shrug*. Sometimes you don't always know the whole story.

 

[lovetoread]

Hello,nice to meet you.

I am one of the "moms" that is always at school. Either in the room with my child, or working say at the book fair,fun days,etc. I am involved in everything that involves my children.

When it comes to what to bring to a school function(party),usually you get a note home telling you what that teacher wants you to bring. I have brought everything from paper plates to cupcakes. I almost always (here in my time of budget woes,not as much) send more than what is requested to make up for the ones that are unable to bring anything.

I help set it up,serve the kids,and clean up afterward. I am lucky to have wonderful teachers that I really have liked.

I dont care what the other parents send to school,as long as there is enough for the whole class,kids will enjoy it,even if it is only a cookie or a piece of candy.

 

[Andreina]

i guess it also depends if you live in a more rural or more urban environment. in my school we always brought 'substantial' food for festivities.


anyways.... Schumi sucks... Coulthard rulez! hehe

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

We're incredibly involved (even to the point of creating and teaching enrichment programs). Most parents we know are deeply involved. Schools require the support of the community to help kids learn and grow, now more than ever, and I think the community realizes this.

 

[ranajja]

Right on!

Schools require the support of the community to help kids learn and grow, now more than ever, and I think the community realizes this.

Amen! We are very lucky--the school my children attend has an incredible amount of parent participation.

We are very involved in our school booster clubs--music and athletics. We require that each of our kids be a member of something at school--whether it's athletics, music, theatre, etc.--so they can have the experience of working as a "team" toward a goal. Needless to say, we are constantly at some event to support our kids, or heading up one committee or other.

When I was in school, my dad was teaching and was very involved in my school activities. This went an awful long way in keeping me well behaved and out of trouble. Seems to be working the same for my own children--so far, anyway...

 

[SweetCherry]

My kids are 4 and 5. I've gone to every parent-teacher conference they've had since my dughter started pre school at 3. I send snacks with them to school when it's requested. I don't volunteer in the clssroom, tho, because I also babysit and by me volunteering, it would cause hardship for the mom of the kids I watch.

I'm not sure how it is anywhere else, but the school my kids go to won't allow homemade snacks or treats. Everything has to be store bought, so showing up with a salad isn't something tht would work here.

I have, however, been sked to come nd speak to my daughter's class about braille. Seems the teacher is teaching them sign lnguage as she teaches them the letters of the alphabet, and she thought braille might be something interesting for the kids to learn s well. I've still not decided if I'm comfortable with it.

 

[*bratcat*]

 

[morninggirl5]

Please accept my heartfelt gratitude for those parents who are involved in their child's lives. I understand parents who are working, struggling to survive and realize volunteering in the classroom, chaperoning field trips, etc. is often simply not possible.


To me, being involved also includes helping the child with homework, listening to them talk about school, respecting the importance of education, and supporting the school in the ways that are possible.



Unfortunately, I'm seeing more parents like the two I spoke with today. I'm thoroughly disgusted with one of them and I will not request another conference with her.

This was the third conference this year and there has been NO improvement in the targeted issues at all. The final straw was when the older (age 8) sibling of my student gave me the brand new eraser the child had stolen from my classroom today. The 8 year-old had taken it from my student and returned it because she knew it wasn't hers and stealing was wrong. The mother's response, "Oh, she does this all the time." The woman was totally expressionless.

The 8 year-old was also able to tell me where the library book that has been overdue since early January was and promised to bring it in tomorrow. The mother didn't even know that a library book had been brought home.

The mother did, however, ask if we were having a party for Valentines.


[/rant]

 

[daughter]

I won't ever win

the Parent of the Year Award

I'm one of the parents who improved with help and hard work. Like Midnight Angel said, we don't always know the whole story.

My daughter's school is almost an hour away and I work full-time. I won't ever be a lunchroom mom or at after school activities. There are times I have to do phone conferences.

My ex wasn't sending my daughter's assignments and activities to me. When I realized he wasn't communicating with me about her work, I had to request duplicates of everything the teacher put in her folder. I wonder what the teacher was thinking when my daughter came to school on Mondays and she didn't have items. Before my request, I didn't know that things weren't always being turned in.

I'm not advocating that we absolve parents, but I understand that some of us are lacking because we started out with a deficit. I feel most inadequate when I think of my parenting skills. Shame keeps a lot of folk from seeking help, too. Who's going to admit that she is simply so unorganized that she forgot the conference or tell a teacher that she's eating cereal every night so her daughter has lunch money let alone bring a dish to a function?

Some folks are simply worn out, it's all they can do to get everyone out the door in the morning. I realize there's no excuse for failing, but I empathize with some who do.

Some parents do learn to become better parents.

Peace,

daughter

 

[J.B.]

nobody is willing to take over some kind of tasks and if there
are any celebrations they show up with a bag
of potatoe chips instead of a salad or cake.

Well, I act as a stand in for my mom with my 10 year old sister since my mom's working most of the time... & participate as much as I can... When Thanksgiving rolled around the kids were asked not to bring home-made food such as cakes or brownies... I guess it was for the safety of the children... but I can tell you that when schools ask you to participate & then give these kind of ristriction... people just get upset & give up...

 

[SweetCherry]

SweetCherry? I didn't know that you knew braille. Apparently, braille and drawing letters in sand, etc is a newer form of combatting dyslexia.

Braille is also a handy way of reading when you're either blind or heading that direction.

My 5 yr old bugs me to teach her so she can write me a letter when my "eyes stop working", as she says.