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So what inspired this?
This article popped up in my email the other day, and I have been hot & bothered ever since.
Adults Blame Parents For Education Problems!
My first thought, as a mother, was pure outrage! Most parents are quite aware of our own inadequacies and failings. We don't need to know that there are people out there, voting on how horrible we are! Why are we so focused, as a society on finding someone to BLAME for the failings in our education system? Why must we demonize parents and teachers? We seem to be focused on crushing the spirits of the very people we expect to inspire our youth.I do not argue with the need for accountability, I do not question the need for parents and teachers to take responsibility for how they treat students. I do question the need of society as a whole to find a scape goat, rather than focusing on looking for solutions that will actually benefit our kids!
Let's face it, parents and teachers really need a better publicity campaign, but we're not set up for it. Politicians, the media, people who make a living studying education and taking polls are set up for publicity, but not the day to day workers in the field.
We juggle work and family obligations, correct homework and strange concepts, bandage hurt knees and crushed ideals, protect, house, and try to encourage, goad, and push our kids on to greater things. In return, we are told we are worthless; undeserving of compensation, resources or respect. We are the demons corrupting society, and we certainly don't have the time or resources to convince the public otherwise. Read that description again, and tell me if I am talking about the teachers or the parents, here. Kind of hard to distinguish, huh?
So, if the two guilty camps are more or less running on the same motives and resources and problems, to which side should we push the blame?
What if, instead of demonizing people who care about our youth, we spend our political energy and finances on encouraging, training and supporting these people. Parents and teachers (whether in a school district or volunteer organization or arts program or other less formal teaching situation) are the BEDROCK of our society. How we treat them, even in the headlines, is ultimately both a reflection and predictor of the health and well being of our society. No wonder we aren't doing so well right now!
I will not take that same route. I am going to do something about it and I encourage you to do the same. Lets help raise awareness about the worth and necessity of encouraging parents and teachers. You might want to start like I did & write to NPR about that headline up there...
