Our schools are at a crossroads where discipline is concerned. The intersection of these roads is labeled HOME AVE and SCHOOL ST.
At my school some students spend an average of seven hours in the school environment, with approximately six of these considered contact hours where they received academic or technical instructions. Hence the child spent one quarter of the day with a teacher.
The problem arises when the values the children are taught at school are different from those been taught at home, and this as proven to be a nightmare for teachers. The PTA route is tried , tested and proven but he problem is that not many parents attend these meetings.There is approximately six hundred students at my school and at our open house on Wednesday only four(4) parents showed up.
Teachers have to be acting as surrogate parents, trying to make-up for the void left by the mothers and fathers who are never at home. This situation has been generating little success , as is evedent in the disruptive behavior of some students.
Employing metal dectors in our schools may deter wrongdoers from bringing weapons to school without necessarily changing their mindset.
Remember "A change is not a change until you change"
Trevor, this is a great article. Yes, the crossroads of Home Ave and School St is definitely a problem. If only we could get more parents involved. I think by the time kids get to high school the parents are just plain tired and worn out. Maybe the parent is having to work two jobs to make ends meet. Maybe there are other issues the parent is dealing with. But I do think parents drop the ball when their kids get to high school. If only more parents understood that high school age kids need their time, love, and attention, and guidance just as much, if not more, than they did when they were in elementary school.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this article. I enjoyed reading it.
As always, Trevor, you are quite insightful. Dr. J.
ReplyDeleteI have read studies that say a persons mind is still developing until the age of 25. We must be more aware of how to manage the social behavioral issues of the students. I believe these concerns are the true art of teaching and probably more important than subject knowledge.
ReplyDeleteI at least want to do my part even if someone else fails.
This is great information as always Trevor! This is all so very true, and very very sad.
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