On \u2018Teachers\u2019 Choice\u2026\u2019<\/b><\/p>\n
Almost every time there is a discussion about children and education, someone suggests that the educational process is a collaborative effort between parents, teachers and students. Some people event put forth the idea that parents play the biggest role in the equation, saying stuff like: \u201cIt starts at home,\u201d or \u201chow can the teachers teach them if the parents can\u2019t do anything with them?\u201d Sounds logical, right?<\/p>\n
There are two types of people in the world; people who see the world as it \u201cshould be\u201d and people who see the world as it really is. I agree that parents (should) play an important role in the development of their child(ren), including their education. I also agree that students should attend school eager to learn. However, the unfortunate reality is that social circumstances in this society are not equal for all parents and children.<\/p>\n
There are no standard requirements for parenthood. And so, many children have parents with poor parenting skills, who are just a few years older than they, who are financially struggling, who can barely read, write and manipulate more than basic mathematics, who are wrestling with addictions and\/or convictions, if they have parents present in their lives at all. Generally speaking, this fact makes it difficult for those parents, to do what they \u201cshould do\u201d for their children\u2019s development and for those children to be what they \u201cshould be\u201d in school.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, there are standard requirements for teachers. Number one, teachers must choose to be teachers (unless there\u2019s a teacher draft of which I\u2019m unaware). Secondly, teachers must complete college and pass certifications. Lastly, in HillsboroughCounty, teachers have the Hillsborough<\/b> County School<\/b> Board\u2019s<\/b> mission statement: \u201cto provide an education that enables each student to excel as a successful and responsible citizen,\u201d as a guide to follow.<\/p>\n
In my mind, \u201ceach student\u201d includes the most difficult to teach student with the most uninvolved parents. When teachers sign up to be teachers, the challenge they agree to undertake is to be dynamic enough and creative enough to compel their students to want to learn what\u2019s being taught.<\/p>\n
Teaching ain\u2019t for everybody. People who choose the profession should be commended, but if and only if their mission, for which they have been trained and tested, extends to each student- each of them.<\/p>\n
Salute!<\/p>\n