Don’t Forget to Ask Your Child How School is Going
Don’t Forget to Ask Your Child How School is Going
Editor,
I feel honored to be a teacher and to have the privilege of serving the children of Hollister. I receive great satisfaction when former students come by to visit and let me know how they are doing and when parents request that I teach their first-grade child because I previously taught a sibling, cousin or neighbor. I am deeply gratified for having chosen this profession, which also requires me to be a nurturer, psychologist, friend, mentor, counselor, nurse and problem solver.
Having had negative experiences as a student, including being expelled from school, I knew that I had to work with young children to give them a positive experience so they could enjoy learning. I try to maintain my enthusiasm for teaching in spite of ridiculous (sometimes unachievable) standards, politicization of education, endless tests, increased use of scripted lessons, test-driven curriculum, poor budgets, dwindling school supplies, drill-n-skill approach to education and the systematic devaluation of multicultural education.
I believe that in addition to teaching important academic skills, students also should learn to respect themselves and others and ultimately learn how to get along and live with each other. However, the increasingly narrowed scope of teaching limits the multidimensional growth of our children. I will try to continue to teach to the whole person so that each one can make positive contributions to our society.
To parents who want to know how they can help their children in school, I offer the following advice:
1. Ask you child daily about what she/he learned in school.
2. Help your child with her/his homework daily.
3. If you do not understand something about the school curriculum, ask.
4. Discuss current events with your child. Ask her/him to tell you what she/he thinks.
5. Encourage your child to read and write everyday for enjoyment.
6. Get involved in your child’s school, in the classroom, on school committees, especially committees where the curriculum is discussed, and attend school board meetings.
7. Support politicians and legislation that improve funding of education and curriculum standards that are meaningful and achievable.
Joe Navarro,
Hollister
