An Angry Mother’s Take on The Firing of Central Falls’ Teachers

[FBaggins]

There’s a very big hole in the center of the story about the firing of all teachers at Central Falls High School in Rhode Island.

This article features quotes by students and teachers.

This one includes quotes by administration and union officials.

And this one includes quotes by education big wigs and pundits.

Notice the hole? It’s big, very, VERY big.

Where the hell are the parents?


...snip...


While teachers may deliver and teach the content, grade students based on the work performed in learning the content, they cannot do what parents are supposed to do. They already have to do far too much that parents used to do — like providing materials paid for out of their own pockets, when school systems have cut back deeply on spending, or providing food and even personal hygiene products when kids show up unkempt with empty stomachs, when some households have difficulty pulling together one meal a day. I know this because I’ve talked frankly and candidly with my kids’ teachers; parents who are paying attention already know which children in the classroom are challenged, because the situation impacts their own kids.


...snip...

Some parents will complain that they don’t have the money to make sure their kids get better grades. But this doesn’t take money. It takes personal discipline, and without exercising personal discipline as an adult, kids won’t have role models and learn how to acquire personal discipline of their own.

Plenty more at the link

http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/33823

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. I guess the parents who don't speak English could write letters in Spanish

:shrug:

[FBaggins]

2. Indeed... or have multiple jobs or little to no education.

The author makes a few such errors (that boil down to the presumption that every parent has her options)... but her larger point is still a good one. We cannot turn out children over to the school and expect that they will "take it from there." There are still things that these parents can do (high expectations,etc) that make a difference.

My frequent point is that (to some extent) every child is "homeschooled"

[dkf]

3. The teachers didn't want to teach more hours for the same pay.

I don't get what that has to do with parental involvement or expectation.